Anyone Have Experience with a Bike Trailer?

I have a bike trailer, that I use hardly ever. I have a 5yo and a 3yo and they are only good for about 15 min in it before they are completely bored. I ordered mine online because it was so much wider than the ones that I could find in the store but they are still scrunched in there (and neither of them are big!). If it isnt too long of a ride to school then I would say it would work but if it is too long I know my girls even w snacks, drinks and a book would never do it. I have probably only used mine like 10 times in the 2 years that I have had they dislike it so much. Sorry! But hoep this helps!

We bought one at Walmart. It's completely enclosed in order to keep the little one warm, but it also unzips to a screen for summer time use. My daughter is only 14 months and she LOVES it!

I had one when my kids were little and we LOVED it. Can't remember what brand. One of my kids favorite things to do on a warm Summer night was to get in their jammies, crawl in the trailer and take a stroll around the neighborhood while listening to stories on tape.

We used it all the time!!! It is so nice to use on long walks that the kids aren't ready for. My dd would follow on her bike as long as she could, then when she got tierd she'd climb in and I'd hang her bike on the handle bar while I pushed everyone home............those were the days:)

Get one..........you will NOT regret it!

We have one. Bought a cheap one at walmart ($99) and got it home and it was broken (needed to be assembled too... Took it back and got one at Target ($89) and it's been GREAT. I don't remember the brand name, but the more expensive ones just have more bells and whistles, the cheap ones seem to work fine. They fit either one or two children, the straps can be adjusted either way. They're great! We really like it!

In step Rocket is a good one.. We have it and love it.

Hi B.,

We use a trailer a lot. There are two things I would recommend 1)your kids wear helmets while in the trailer 2) put an orange flag on your trailer so cars pay attention to it.

B. ~

As a bike shop owner, we highly recommend the child trailers for numerous reasons... (I apologize in advance if this is a novel, LOL.)

Your child is very securely buckled in. Good models have 3- or 5-point padded harnesses much like a good stroller.

The trailer is very safe. Should the parent hit a rock, loose their balance, or have any type of mishap, if the bike falls the trailer stays upright and does not tip over due to the swivel on the hitch. Because of this, the child also does not cause your bike to shift or sway if they shift their weight or move around like a seat does.

Also with a quick-release style hitch, you can easily remove the trailer if you want to go somewhere without it. The quick-release is sometimes an accessory, so be sure to look for it. Much easier attachment and removal. Some models also have a stroller attachment to convert it to a pushable stroller. Some people like this. I don't use the feature on ours as I feel it is too bulky as a stroller and I love the stroller I own. But it is an available option on some models.

The trailer can be used for larger children so it will last you a long time. Even though our oldest son loves to ride his bike, if we go on a long trip or are going into town when we're camping he rides in the trailer with his little brother. (We own a Burley D-lite double).

The trailer is enclosed giving you lots of nice features... The screen keeps bugs, leaves, etc. off of the child but allows the breeze in. Ours has an adjustable sun shield to block the rays, and also has a clear vinyl zip cover so should it rain or get too windy or is a little chilly, the kids are protected but can still see where they're going.

The kids can easily have a book, toy, sippy cup, blanket etc. in the trailer with them. A GREAT benefit!

There is room in the trailer behind the seat to store things like coats, change of clothes, diapers/pull-ups, snacks, whatever...

Good trailers can be pricey, but worth the investment. Good trailers also tend to hold their value for resale when they've been well taken care of.

As far as safety - if you're on the city streets to/from school then you'll definitely want helmets. We generally don't use them if we're on sidewalks or bike trails, but wouldn't be without them in the city. Also, be sure to use the flags and all of the reflectors. If you'll be out in the early a.m. on the way to school or near dusk you may want a couple of blinking lights to increase visibility.

Hope this helps you in your decision. If you have any questions in your search, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you - ____@____.com luck!

~ V.

I got a Trek Go Bug for Mother's day last year and it's wonderful. It's a two-seater and can convert into a jogging stroller as well. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hi B.,

We have a Burley D-lite double rider for our daughter. It is one of the top brands and is very safe. She loves it and has even fallen asleep in it. She is 15months old now. I would definitely put a helmet on your child while riding in it. They are a lot of fun and very practical with gas prices now a days. The Burley is an expensive brand, but well worth. You are toting around very precious cargo. We got ours at the REI store. Hope this helps. Have fun!

I love my bike trailer! We even used it to go get groceries, for fun, a few times! The kids love it even though I do make them wear a helmet in there and they get all buckled in. If it is just around the block, I do sometimes let the helmet stay home. Have fun!

I'm guessing you have a trailer already and just want to start using it? Safety tips, helmets on all, buckle kids in, flag on the back of the trailer and stay on the sidewalks. If you have to go on the road, ride with traffic and learn the hand signals. I asked the fire department the same question when we started using ours and this was their answer.