Trailer bike

Trailer bike (also known as a trailer cycle and trademarked names such as Trailerbike, Trail-a-bike, Half wheeler, Tagalong, etc.) is a one-wheeled (or more rarely two-wheeled) bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more small riders in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider. It can be described as the "back half of a bicycle."^[1]

The rider of a trailer bike usually has a saddle, handlebars, and pedals. Some fold for more compact storage.

The trailer bike was patented by Canadian entrepreneur, Delbert Adams.^[2]

Configurations

Trailer bikes have come in a variety of configurations. These include upright, bicycle-like configuration as with Adam's and the seated passenger position as with the Weehoo iGo.

Gearing

Trailer bikes may have just one gear or more than one. They seldom have brakes.

Attachment

A trailer bike is attached to a bicycle at either the seatpost or on a special rear rack by a linkage that allows for pivoting. Alternatively, the hitch mechanism may rotate using the seatpost as the pivot. The attachment may include a quick-release option.^[3]

Multiple riders

Trailer bikes have been available in single-seat and tandem configurations.^[4]

Folding

Some trailer bikes allow folding the boom to shorten the device for transport or storage.

Variations

One product, the Trail-Gator tow bar, converts a kid's bike into a trailer bike.^[5]

Manufacturers

• Adams makes Trail-a-Bikes^[6] The Trail-a-Bike was the first manufacturer of trailer bikes. They were introduced to the market in 1986.

• Brilliant Bicycles, part of Pashley Cycles in the United Kingdom make a U plus 1 (for a single child). They also used to make a U plus 2 (for two children) but ceased manufacture some years ago. Many of these are, however, still around and appear on the second hand market from time to time.^[7]

• Burley Design makes the seven-speed Piccolo and single-speed Kazoo which attach via a hitch not to the seat post, but to a specially designed rack called the Moose Rack on the adult's bike. The design's stability compared to others makes it favored particularly by those who are pulling with a tandem and with older/larger children (up to 10 years old /85 lbs/38.5 kg)^[8]
• Funtrailer (Germany) builts trailerbikes Funtrailer Germany Funtrailer UK even one that can be combined with a child seat at the back of the adult bike

• Giant Bicycles makes a Halfwheeler^[9]

• InStep^[10]

• Islabikes in the United Kingdom makes a Trailerbike^[11]

• Kent^[12]

• Roland Werk GmbH makes an add+bike^[13]

• Schwinn^[14]

• Trek Bicycle Corporation makes Mt. Trains^[15]
• Weehoo makes the patented iGo pedal trailer as well as other trailers. Weehoo is the manufacturer of the iGo pedal trailer, first offered in late 2009. The advantages of the pedal trailer are the open design, inherent stability, and increased pedalling force contributed by the passenger.

• WeeRide makes the light-weight aluminum six-speed ProPilot Tagalong and single-speed CoPilot Tagalong.

• Hase Spezialräder's delta recumbent tricycle, the Kettwiesel, can have the front wheel assembly removed and replaced by a hitch to connect it to the back of another Kettwiesel, which some dealers recommend for riders with disabilities. Several Kettwiesels may be connected thus, to make a human-powered road train.^[16]

See also

• Bicycle trailer
• Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)
• Tandem bicycle
• Tricycle

References