My boy's trail-a-bike was delivered mid last week. With sub-freezing temps, I wasn't about to take him out on it. Saturday, it was GORGEOUS! We went for a ride around the block. Glad we didn't go farther.... cause 3/4 of the way around the block, I hear *SKIIIIDDDDD*... WTF?! I carry the contraption home. Turns out the freewheel wasn't tightened down properly. The thing unscrewed to the point it wedged up against the frame and locked up the wheel. DOH! I went over EVERY SINGLE screw, bolt, connection twice... then went on with my day.

So Sunday, I decide we're going to try again. Evan (my boy) is REAL apprehensive. He doesn't want to go over any curbs. He doesn't want to go in the street. He was yammering about going "way too fast" at 5mph. If you've ever tried to pull one of those things, 5mph feels like torture. We go around the block... most of the way. I decide I'm not ready to go home yet and I'm going to try to push the boy a little bit. CURB! :) I warn him that it's coming (like a good pilot) and he comments about how the bumps feel a lot better than they did with his trailer. Cool!

We went a half mile still on the sidewalks and made it to the elementary school. A couple of laps around the schoolyard.. 'Daddy, the street feels a lot nicer than the sidewalks!' Hooray! We headed out for more of a ride, never considering the sidewalk again. . . We ended up doing 5 miles before his little hands got too cold. He's excited about his new ride. He's looking forward to our long rides again (HURRY UP, SPRING!!!) And I'm ecstatic because my boy's even more enthusiastic about riding.

Take it easy till he gets used to it but don't let the kids be in charge of what you do with them. Likely someday he is going to be a good rider thanks to the example you are setting.

Right on daddy!

My boy's trail-a-bike was delivered mid last week. With sub-freezing temps, I wasn't about to take him out on it. Saturday, it was GORGEOUS! We went for a ride around the block. Glad we didn't go farther.... cause 3/4 of the way around the block, I hear *SKIIIIDDDDD*... WTF?! I carry the contraption home. Turns out the freewheel wasn't tightened down properly. The thing unscrewed to the point it wedged up against the frame and locked up the wheel. DOH! I went over EVERY SINGLE screw, bolt, connection twice... then went on with my day.

So Sunday, I decide we're going to try again. Evan (my boy) is REAL apprehensive. He doesn't want to go over any curbs. He doesn't want to go in the street. He was yammering about going "way too fast" at 5mph. If you've ever tried to pull one of those things, 5mph feels like torture. We go around the block... most of the way. I decide I'm not ready to go home yet and I'm going to try to push the boy a little bit. CURB! :) I warn him that it's coming (like a good pilot) and he comments about how the bumps feel a lot better than they did with his trailer. Cool!

We went a half mile still on the sidewalks and made it to the elementary school. A couple of laps around the schoolyard.. 'Daddy, the street feels a lot nicer than the sidewalks!' Hooray! We headed out for more of a ride, never considering the sidewalk again. . . We ended up doing 5 miles before his little hands got too cold. He's excited about his new ride. He's looking forward to our long rides again (HURRY UP, SPRING!!!) And I'm ecstatic because my boy's even more enthusiastic about riding.

result and well done

>>Turns out the freewheel wasn't tightened down properly. The thing unscrewed to the point it wedged up against the frame and locked up the wheel. <<

I suffered the same problem on the first ride of the tag-a-long. Pedaling started to get REALLY difficult. Fortunately an easy fix and it hasn't happened again. Definitely a fun way to ride with children. Now I'm looking to add a child stoker setup to the tandem...

Take it easy till he gets used to it but don't let the kids be in charge of what you do with them. Likely someday he is going to be a good rider thanks to the example you are setting.

Right on daddy!


My boy, unfortunately, is a bit of a scaredy cat. FORTUNATELY, he trusts me enough to let me push him a bit. He was scared of the bumps... I showed him that it wasn't anything to worry about. He was scared of the street... no big deal! He thought it was fun when we got up to speed as well.... 20mph on that thing and he was making all sorts of motorcycle sounds and having a blast.

He also likes the fact (and I do, too) that we can TALK now.... the burley was almost impossible to carry on a conversation... too far, too low, too enclosed. With the Trail-a-bike, I can just talk like he was next to me and we can carry on a conversation. It's rather nice. :)