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Original poster

Trailgator - can you use them with a rear child seat?

40 replies

Orinoco · 10/07/2006 11:25

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Whizzz · 10/07/2006 11:48

The trailgator fits onto the seat post which is where a rear child seat wold fix to - so I doubt you could use both together

SoupDragon · 10/07/2006 11:49

No, you can't.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 16:12

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redshoes · 10/07/2006 17:29

I have exactly the same problem! Thinking about a front 'crossbar' seat maybe...

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 19:25

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 19:38

The front crossbar seats work really well. I regularly (4-5 times per week) go out on my bike with a DS1 on a trailgator thing, and DS2 on a front crossbar seat.

The seat I have is a Centric Safe Haven, which is an excellent model, it has straps, a headrest thing so if the kid falls asleep on the bike, they have somewhere to lean.

You really can't put a back seat with a trailgator, even if the back seat doesn't attach to the post (the model I have goes on your rack), the bar for the trailgator would have to go through it somehow.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 19:38

If you want, I can post more on the advantages/disadvantages of this way of travel. I really do a fair bit on the bike, although most of our journeys are pretty short. We do travel in traffic, though.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 19:45

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 19:51

I'd go with the trailgator and front seat option. Or get your DD1 to ride her bike - what problem is she having?

I think a trailer would be annoying. But then, I'm a road cyclist, so trailers aren't really an option I've considered.

Issues I'd raise about the 3-on-a-bike thing:

  1. I'm a Big Girl. I weigh 75kg or so. DS1 weighs about 15kg. DS2 weighs about 10kg. So I weigh 3x the two of them put together. I think this helps. If I was tiny and they were huge, it might be harder.

  2. The front seat means you have to knee out, and you have to have your bike seat set fairly low. This is because you have to stay on the seat at lights (because the front seat means you can't pop off). I do think I've hurt a muscle with the leaning thing.

  3. The whole bike does sometimes fall over while you're getting them all on. So far DS2 hasn't been hurt by this.

  4. People stare. A lot.

  5. Taking the trailgator on and off is a bit of a hassle. But not enough to stop me taking it off and leaving it at DS1's school pretty regularly.

  6. Your DD1 won't pedal that much. You think she will, but she won't. At least not if she's anything like my DS1. He needs a lot of coaxing and encouragement to pedal properly. I'm hoping the pedaling experience will mean he can move to his own bike (for some trips) pretty soon.

  7. Gates are a hassle. If there are special anti-motorbike gates on your route, you will have a real struggle getting throuh. I'm forever getting caught out by the bloody things.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 19:54

Oh, there are other options, but they involve strange dutch bikes (I think they're dutch?). There are bikes which you can fit two quite large child passengers on the front, or some combination of front and back. I think they're quite heavy, though.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 19:59

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:01

A mile and a half isn't that far. But, what happens if she gets fed up, and just refuses to ride any more? I'd want to do a lot of practice runs before expecting her to do the trip (particularly at the end of the day, tbh).

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:04

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:06

Well, a trailgator costs about £130 or so? And the front seat is about £60.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:08

The trailgator could be useful for longer than the front seat, as you could put DD2 on it later.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:08

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Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:10

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MrsBadger · 10/07/2006 20:11

surely you need one of these !

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:11

Ah, I was thinking of the half-bike thing, which is what we have.

I'd think a trailgator would be very much worth doing, then. You can get DD1 to bike to school in the morning when she's perky, and you can tow her home. I would get a trailgator type thing for sure, particularly if it's easy to fit and remove.

Obviously, I've not used a trailgator, but I think the gates problem would apply even more to a trailgator situation ...

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:13

It looks like it would work with any bike size.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:15

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Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:17

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:17

Oh, just looked it up, "weeride" is the same thing. Some on ebay.

Original poster
Orinoco · 10/07/2006 20:26

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NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 20:34

Fine on a laydees bike. The seat rests on its own bar, which it screws into.

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