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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." 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. Adams started the manufacturer of trailer bikes, Trail-a-Bike, and began selling them in the early 1990s, 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.

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. Trailer bikes have been available in single-seat and tandem configurations. 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.

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.

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

• Outline of cycling
• Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)
• Tandem bicycle
• Tricycle

References

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.
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.

• Cycling equipment
• Utility cycling