Trailer bike
Encyclopedia
Trailer bike 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."
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.
or more than one.
They seldom have brakes
.
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.
configurations.
Bicycle trailer
A bicycle trailer is a motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system for transporting cargo by bicycle. It can greatly increase a bike's cargo capacity, allowing point-to-point haulage of objects up to 4 cubic yards in volume that weigh as much as half-a-ton.-Types:Different types of trailer are...
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."
The rider of a trailer bike usually has a saddle
Bicycle saddle
A bicycle saddle, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.The bicycle saddle has been known as such since the bicycle evolved from the draisine, a forerunner of the bicycle...
, handlebars
Bicycle handlebar
Bicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for bicycles; the equivalent of a steering wheel. Besides steering, handlebars also often support a portion of the rider's weight, depending on their riding position, and provide a convenient mounting place for brake...
, and pedals
Bicycle pedal
A bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels...
. Some fold for more compact storage.
The trailer bike was patented by Canadian entrepreneur, Delbert Adams.
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 gearBicycle gearing
A bicycle gear or gear ratio refers to the rate at which the rider's legs turn compared to the rate at which the wheels turn. Bicycle gearing refers to how the gear ratio is set or changed. On some bicycles, there is only one gear so the ratio is fixed. Most modern bicycles have multiple gears,...
or more than one.
They seldom have brakes
Bicycle brake systems
A bicycle brake is used to slow down or stop a bicycle. There have been various types of brake used throughout history, and several are still in use today...
.
Attachment
A trailer bike is attached to a bicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
at either the seatpost
Seatpost
A bicycle seatpost, seatpin, saddlepole, saddle pillar, or saddle pin is a tube that extends upwards from the bicycle frame to the saddle. The amount that it extends out of the frame can usually be adjusted, and there is usually a mark that indicates the minimum insertion...
or on a special rear rack
Luggage carrier
A luggage carrier, also commonly called a rack, is a device attached to a bicycle to which cargo or panniers can be attached. This is popular with utility bicycles and touring bicycles....
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.
Multiple riders
Trailer bikes have been available in single-seat and tandemTandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
configurations.
Folding
Some trailer bikes allow folding the boom to shorten the device for transport or storage.Manufacturers
- Adams makes Trail-a-Bikes The Trail-a-Bike was the first manufacturer of trailer bikes. They were introduced to the market in 1986.
- Brilliant Bicycles, part of Pashley CyclesPashley CyclesPashley Cycles is an English bicycle manufacturer in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, established in 1926. The company has been making bicycles for more than 80 years.-History:...
in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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.
- 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 tandemTandem bicycleThe tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
and with older/larger children (up to 10 years old /85 lbs/38.5 kg) - 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 BicyclesGiant ManufacturingGiant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer which bills itself as the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. Giant has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Netherlands, and Mainland China.-History:...
makes a Halfwheeler
- InStep
- Islabikes in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
makes a Trailerbike
- Kent
- Roland Werk GmbH makes an add+bike
- Schwinn
- Trek Bicycle CorporationTrek Bicycle CorporationTrek Bicycle Corporation is a major bicycle and cycling product manufacturer and distributor under brand names Trek, Gary Fisher, Bontrager, Klein and until recently, LeMond Racing Cycles...
makes Mt. Trains - 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 SpezialräderHase SpezialräderHase Spezialräder, also known als Hase Bikes, is a German tricycle, tandem and recumbent factory founded in 1994 in Bochum by Marec Hase....
's delta recumbentRecumbentRecumbent may refer to:* Recumbence, the act or state of lying down or leaning.* Recumbent bicycle, a bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position...
tricycleTricycleA tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
, 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.
See also
- Bicycle trailerBicycle trailerA bicycle trailer is a motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system for transporting cargo by bicycle. It can greatly increase a bike's cargo capacity, allowing point-to-point haulage of objects up to 4 cubic yards in volume that weigh as much as half-a-ton.-Types:Different types of trailer are...
- Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)
- Tandem bicycleTandem bicycleThe tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
- TricycleTricycleA tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...