Trailer bike

A trailer bike (also known as a trailer cycle, and trademarked names such as Trailerbike, Trail-a-bike, Half wheeler or Tagalong) is a one-wheeled, or sometimes two-wheeled, bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more children 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.

History

The trailer bike was patented by Canadian entrepreneur Delbert Adams in 1987.^[2][3] Adams started the manufacturer of trailer bikes, Trail-a-Bike, and began selling them in the early 1990s,^[4] although the same concept had been previously independently and imitatively invented by others at least as far back as the 1930s with the Rann Trailer.^[5]

Configurations

Trailer bikes have come in a variety of configurations. These include upright-bicycle-like seating, and recumbent-bicycle-like seating as with the Weehoo iGo.^[6] Trailer bikes have been available in single-seat and tandem configurations.^[7] Trailer bikes may have just one gear or more than one. They seldom have brakes.

Attachment methods

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.^[8]

Conversion sets

The Trail-Gator tow bar and FollowMe Tandem coupling are two products that convert an existing, complete kid's bike into a trailer bike.^{[9] [10]}

Gallery

• 
  Adult and two children cycling using two-wheeled tandem trailer bike (a Pashley U+2)
• 
  Tandem + two trailer bikes + cargo trailer for family of four
• 
  A Burley Piccolo behind a triple tandem
• 
  A recumbent IGo by Weehoo
• 
  Rear rack attachment as alternative to seatpost attachment
• 
  A recumbent two-wheeled Trets trailer bike by Hase on the back of a tandem
• 
  A complete child's bike converted into a trailer bike
• 
  A complete child's bike converted into a trailer bike

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trailer bikes.

1. ^ "CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation: Trailer-cycle". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
2. ^ United States Patent No. 379,782. Retrieved 2009-10-01.^{[permanent dead link]}
3. ^ US4756541A - Bicycle trailer - Google Patents
4. ^ Hammond, Bill (June 5, 1996), "Kids in the 'awkward years' of cycling? Try a trailer bike.", Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, archived from the original on March 29, 2015
5. ^ "CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation: Trailer-cycle". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
6. ^ Linda Bookman (December 19, 2014). "Review: Weehoo iGo Pro child bike seat". MTBR.com. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
7. ^ "GOPBC.org Active Passenger Trailers". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
8. ^ "The Adams Trail-A-Bike! at SheldonBrown.com". Retrieved 2007-04-01.
9. ^ Lisa. "Trail Gator Trailer Cycle-Review". Two Wheeling Tots. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
10. ^ Dan Clark. "FollowMe Tandem Review". Simply Propelled. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-04-29.