One of the areas we have discussed before is the difficulty in finding time to spend time with your children as well as enough time to keep fit.
Rather than splitting these two activities, bike trailers offer the opportunity to combine them. Essentially, a bike trailer can hook on to the back of most bikes by way of a small and easy to fit adaptor. There is a broad range of styles and products available. A few big questions for us were:
How many children will it hold?
If you are certain you will only need to carry one child, the single seaters are narrower and often lighter. By keeping the child in the middle of the trailer, the weight is less uneven (compared to sat on one side of a double trailer with an empty space beside them) and they may also be slightly further from overtaking traffic. A double seater obviously offers a little more internal space, and may have a wider wheelbase, potentially allowing for more stability on corners.
Is there a separate space for storage?
You might not think you need much, but a few nappies, a snack, a drink and some sun cream are not a great mix for your toddler to be able to reach and blend together. When you are riding, it’s harder to keep a continual eye on their fast-moving little hands. Not only is “sandwich and suncream soup” a disappointment at the end of a trip, but loose objects can potentially cause your children some injury in the event of an accident, so having somewhere to store your things out of the immediate reach of little hands and somewhere which won’t allow them to fall forward into the child compartment is very useful.
Is it suitable for my ride?
Some riders will intend on riding relatively quickly on smooth surfaces whereas others will need a little more in the way of suspension or shock absorption. Some will be using the trailer with an electric bike. Think about how you will use the trailer and whether it is worth spending a little more for a lighter frame, or a better shock absorption set-up, or whether actually these aren’t worth the money for the use you have planned. Also review how the trailer will fit in your vehicle if you plan to travel somewhere before riding. Not all trailers collapse equally, and trying to piece together a multi-stage construction while impatient tots are straining to get going is not ideal.
Do I want to use it as a stroller?
This might seem a daft question, but the generally weatherproof design of bike trailers means that they can sometimes go where a regular buggy may struggle. Including in the rain and on quite rough terrain. If there are times where your buggy just doesn’t cut it, it’s worth thinking about the “2 in 1” options. Essentially, they come with an extra (usually removable for towing) front wheel and a stroller handle so that you can push it along instead of simply towing by bike. These are also useful if your destination may involve some walk from the end of the bike trail, even if just across carparks or on pavements. If these don’t sound useful, you can broaden your search and likely save some money by getting a straightforward towing trailer.
Can my bike be adapted to tow?
The answer is, for most bikes, yes. It is sensible, however, to double check your bike with your local bike store or with the store selling the trailer to ensure that the connection method will work for your bike.
Should I consider a baby seat instead?
By all means! These are much neater for “nipping around town”, and keep your child close to you. They don’t allow for more than one child each, or any extra equipment (such as snacks, drink, nappies etc). Additionally, they have a longer distance to fall in the event of an accident. They also don’t necessarily accommodate older children, although different models may carry children up to around 6 years of age.
Will it suit my child?
All trailers (and bike seats) have different weight and age capacity. So check if your child is old enough or too heavy for the trailer you choose. Also if possible, borrow a trailer to see how you find towing it, as well as how your child finds riding in it. Most children are a little bit uncertain at first, but generally enjoy being out and about on the trails. So don’t be too put off by your child’s trepidation, but it’s certainly a consideration.
Overall, spending a little bit of time reviewing the best option for you and your child is well worth the result. We have been able to share the fun and importance of exercise and the outdoors with our children as well as maintain some fitness and enjoy the outdoors ourselves.
