Child Bike Trailer
Discussion
As my daughter is approaching one year old my wife is keen for us all to get out on the bikes. We have discussed this and as we used to do quite a bit of cycling before the little one came along, she seems keen for us to get a trailer for the bike.
Mrs P has found a cheap one in halfords but with the possibility of camping holidays on the bike I would prefer something with some storage space for the tent, sleeping bags and cooking equipment.
Does anyone have any experience of child bike trailers? What are they like to tow? Is there really that much difference between halfords £75 and a Thule £900?
Single or double seater, not sure on size or if we'll be adding any more children to it at a later date.
Budget wise I think over £300 might be pushing it, although I would consider second hand. (rather annoyed just missed a Giant Peapod locally)
Thinking along the lines of;
Halfords £85
Giant Peapod (second hand £100-150)
Mrs P has found a cheap one in halfords but with the possibility of camping holidays on the bike I would prefer something with some storage space for the tent, sleeping bags and cooking equipment.
Does anyone have any experience of child bike trailers? What are they like to tow? Is there really that much difference between halfords £75 and a Thule £900?
Single or double seater, not sure on size or if we'll be adding any more children to it at a later date.
Budget wise I think over £300 might be pushing it, although I would consider second hand. (rather annoyed just missed a Giant Peapod locally)
Thinking along the lines of;
Halfords £85
Giant Peapod (second hand £100-150)
I got a secondhand Chariot Cougar 1 (the company got bought by Thule, who still sell them) on ebay.
It wasn't cheap, but they cost a fortune new and I got all the bits and pieces (single front wheel for running or rough ground, infant sling, etc) with it, and it should still be worth most of what we paid when we're done with it.
It tows brilliantly, seems to give a nice smooth ride even on forest tracks / fireroads (it has adjustable leaf springs) and is versatile as an "action" pushchair - my parents have a dog so when we visit we're often off for a walk down muddy tracks and footpaths and it copes with that fine. I like too that the pivoting wheels stow on there, so I can cycle somewhere, lock the bike up and turn it into a pushchair easily. Also has rain cover, a mesh if you want airflow but not stones/mud flicked up, a neat sun cover, vents that open, etc.
There's a bit of storage on the back, plenty for spare clothes, snacks, change bag, etc but not for a full-on camping trip - you'd probably want a cargo trailer on the other bike for that sort of thing.
IMG_1288.JPG by kiteless, on Flickr
It wasn't cheap, but they cost a fortune new and I got all the bits and pieces (single front wheel for running or rough ground, infant sling, etc) with it, and it should still be worth most of what we paid when we're done with it.
It tows brilliantly, seems to give a nice smooth ride even on forest tracks / fireroads (it has adjustable leaf springs) and is versatile as an "action" pushchair - my parents have a dog so when we visit we're often off for a walk down muddy tracks and footpaths and it copes with that fine. I like too that the pivoting wheels stow on there, so I can cycle somewhere, lock the bike up and turn it into a pushchair easily. Also has rain cover, a mesh if you want airflow but not stones/mud flicked up, a neat sun cover, vents that open, etc.
There's a bit of storage on the back, plenty for spare clothes, snacks, change bag, etc but not for a full-on camping trip - you'd probably want a cargo trailer on the other bike for that sort of thing.
IMG_1288.JPG by kiteless, on FlickrEdited by sjg on Thursday 13th April 10:44
I'll be watching this thread with interest. Our eldest of 2 starts primary school in Sept, and I'm very keen that the car doesn't get used each day for the run.
I've been looking at cargo bikes, electric cargo bikes and trailers. It's looking like a really good solution for the wife (for it is she who will do the school run) is an electric bike and a trailer.
I've been looking at cargo bikes, electric cargo bikes and trailers. It's looking like a really good solution for the wife (for it is she who will do the school run) is an electric bike and a trailer.
Blimey £300 is a lot, I guess worth it if you use it lots, I see so may get bought and never used!
I bought a double Raleigh trailer off gumtree for £40: one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raleigh-Bike-Trailer/dp/B...
Think it was £120 new, guy I bought it off kept it in really good condition and it works perfectly
The easiest bit about my trailer is that it has a clamp, so you can clamp it on any bike in seconds, the trailers that require you to fit the bracket to the drop outs look a faff and not so easy for swapping bikes
Mine has no suspension, I don't really need it, I just tow down gravel tracks and tarmac
A double trailer is great if you want to carry lots , ive fitted in a weeks shop and a two year old and still had loads of space spare
The downside to a double trailer is its width, its quite wide, so once you get on narrow cycle paths and meet walkers the other way it can be a pain, going over narrow bridges/gates/alleyways can be a pain. Its not a show stopper, but I do find that the width is an issue at times.
My daughter (been using it since 18 months) loves it and begs to go out on it
Another issue I find is on gravel roads some of the gravel and dust gets flicked into the trailer
I prefer a trailer to a bike seat mounted on bike (I have that as well) as you can get out the saddle with a trailer, a trailer also slows you down more, I found I went too fast really with a bike seat on and because im only 10 stone I didnt have enough weight at times to balance the bike seat
My trailer also folds and I remove the wheels in winter, although when built up it is big!!
I bought a double Raleigh trailer off gumtree for £40: one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raleigh-Bike-Trailer/dp/B...
Think it was £120 new, guy I bought it off kept it in really good condition and it works perfectly
The easiest bit about my trailer is that it has a clamp, so you can clamp it on any bike in seconds, the trailers that require you to fit the bracket to the drop outs look a faff and not so easy for swapping bikes
Mine has no suspension, I don't really need it, I just tow down gravel tracks and tarmac
A double trailer is great if you want to carry lots , ive fitted in a weeks shop and a two year old and still had loads of space spare
The downside to a double trailer is its width, its quite wide, so once you get on narrow cycle paths and meet walkers the other way it can be a pain, going over narrow bridges/gates/alleyways can be a pain. Its not a show stopper, but I do find that the width is an issue at times.
My daughter (been using it since 18 months) loves it and begs to go out on it
Another issue I find is on gravel roads some of the gravel and dust gets flicked into the trailer
I prefer a trailer to a bike seat mounted on bike (I have that as well) as you can get out the saddle with a trailer, a trailer also slows you down more, I found I went too fast really with a bike seat on and because im only 10 stone I didnt have enough weight at times to balance the bike seat
My trailer also folds and I remove the wheels in winter, although when built up it is big!!
We had a Burley D'Lite for a few years, used it everyday to take twins to and from nursery. Was epic, kept them perfectly warm and was weatherproof. Nice and light and no issues pulling it with my 16 year old Specialized mountain bike. We bought it brand new for about £500 and sold it for £350 so held it's value well considering how much we used it for. Look on Ebay always ones for sale with hardly any use.
I bought a burley d'lite from eBay for about £100 which is superb. The build quality is very good, everything is well thought out and the cold had good protection from spray. I don't use our on the road though, just traffic free paths. it's stable and tows well. It's wide though because it's designed for two children so just having one means it has space for dolls, books and toys too. The weather protection is good and fits well and easily.
I looked at the cheaper ones but they just felt flimsy and weren't as well built. The burley even folds down quite flat and the wheels are on quick releases so they can be removed for storage.
I guess it's like islabikes, there are loads of kids bikes out there but they just look and feel better made, same with the burley.
I looked at the cheaper ones but they just felt flimsy and weren't as well built. The burley even folds down quite flat and the wheels are on quick releases so they can be removed for storage.
I guess it's like islabikes, there are loads of kids bikes out there but they just look and feel better made, same with the burley.
Thanks for all the replies.
Has anyone done any decent camping trips, we're looking at the outer Hebrides for a week of cycling/camping.
I have just won a Giant Peapod on Ebay, bought it without seeing pictures
but its supposedly only been used 3 times.
If its no good I think I could possibly even make a profit shifting it on.
I'm picking it up at lunch time so I will update this thread once I've had a good look at it.
Has anyone done any decent camping trips, we're looking at the outer Hebrides for a week of cycling/camping.
I have just won a Giant Peapod on Ebay, bought it without seeing pictures
but its supposedly only been used 3 times.If its no good I think I could possibly even make a profit shifting it on.
I'm picking it up at lunch time so I will update this thread once I've had a good look at it.
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