The last two weekends have been big bikey weekends for the family. Over Memorial Day weekend, we launched from our home base and explored the Coon Rapids Dam and Rush Creek Trail corridor leading to Elm Creek Park. This last weekend, we did the Tour of Lakes in Crosslake, Minnesota, and ‘Bunyaned’ a bit on the Paul Bunyan State Trail. These days, I ride a Surly Cr0ss-Check hooked up to a Chariot single trailer, and my husband rides a Surly Cross-Check with a Weehoo bicycle trailer.
The comments we get are entertaining.
About the trailer:
- What a way to travel!
- Wish that were me!
- Way to go, towing the trailer!
- You rock!
- Your children will remember this forever.
About the Weehoo:- Never seen one like that before.
- Wow, he can pedal that?
- Pedal little dude, pedal!
- He sure has it easy.
One of the most common is the comment about not having seen one like this before. This is a recumbent single-speed tagalong, which allows for both malingering or pedaling. It allows the little dude to be a little dude, which is to say “easily distracted by things going on.” It’s also more stable and easier to turn than a typical trail-a-bike/tagalong.
Towing a trailer is work. Trailers are also pricey — good ones, anyway. But viewed another way, they’re cheaper than a babysitter if used enough, and we’ve now used the Chariot with both kids, and we expect the Weehoo to hand down as well. Spread out over years — and the Weehoo has a pretty broad size/weight range for the child — they end up being pretty good investments.
And, as the one lady said: Your kids will remember this. Here’s hoping they remember it fondly.
June 4, 2012 at 10:20 pm
We hauled both of our kids from infancy (full bike lycra) until the Burley strained from their weight. We’ve done picnics, tot-rides, day-long treks and even some fireroads in Marin. I added a smaller chainring (wimp!) on my Cannondale so I could climb the brutal hills around San Francisco pulling 50lbs+ (walking pace, but we made it.)
Now, years later, we can’t get rid of our old faded Burley. Too many memories. Yeah, bike trailers are cool.
June 14, 2012 at 10:13 am
We are busy wearing out our Chariot, and have our eyes on one of those Weehoos. Glad to know they work well for kids.
Trailers (and bikes) are not pricey if you compare them to a car. Last brake job for a bike cost me $12 and took 20 minutes. What would a brake job cost you in time and money for a car? It cost me a *lot* more than $12!
Reminder: check/tighten the screws and nuts every few months, and check the manufacturers’ websites for recalls periodically. Keep safe!