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Just bought one for carting the youngest around. She is 7 and loves it. But my God is it wobbly! When we went to get the groceries on the weekend I loaded 2 bags of shopping into the front tray. That combined with the tag-a-long on the back and could actually see the frame twisting with every pedal stroke (loads are well within limits)
Are they all like this? Am I setting it up wrong? The quick release bolt is tight but there is play around the metal plate it goes through. Its an ETC Trail Buddy, if anyone knows it or has one.
I seem to remember using a spare old seatpost when we had one, cos it needed doing up so tight it scratched it to bits.
Not as bad as the Trail Gator that has 2 swivel points and once twisted and dumped the kid into the (luckily empty) road!
Follow Me Tandem is the best of them, weighs an effing ton but at least your kid won't overtake you like can happen with (a poorly set up) Trailgator. Not cheap either but well worth it.
Had a LOL at the OP's username being quite apt - tag-a-long wagging the bike along the trail?
Had a LOL at the OP’s username being quite apt – tag-a-long wagging the bike along the trail?
Hadnt twigged onto that, but its a good description of what the tagalong feels like.
Not what you asked for but what about these https://towwhee.com/
Would remove the wobble between the both of you and still connected. Obviously a bit more of a gap, but also a bit more freedom to pick the right path over stones et?>
The pivots are rubbish as standard. I bought a combination of bushes and washers off eBay to reduce the play in the pivot point. It made it a bit less easy to steer but massively more stable. I found the trailgator a nightmare until I realised it is hugely dependant on the rose jointed rod that fastens to the fork leg. Get that set up right and it’s not so bad...
As the inventor of the tagalong races at the Big Bike Bash, I can assure you there's no need for replacement pivots and bushes! Just do it up properly.
Ooh, must be 11-12 years ago - a day in the New Forest (complete with broken hand 😀 )
found the trailgator a nightmare until I realised it is hugely dependant on the rose jointed rod that fastens to the fork leg
It's astonishing what a difference it makes. Even a few degrees off and the torsion forces around the headtube are insane.
Are they all like this? Am I setting it up wrong? The quick release bolt is tight but there is play around the metal plate it goes through.
Unlike @DezB, we did have to use some bushings* to pad out pivots and clamp areas.
*pivot bushings = cut up ice cream boxes into washers for the 'universal joint' pivot areas.
*clamp areas = came with soft plastic that actually had give in it. I found a hard plastic pipe that didn't have any flex (although left wear marks on the seatpost).
And seeing as we are doing pics...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/2618/3897731264_1f7dfb8a71_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/2618/3897731264_1f7dfb8a71_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6WqTHb ]Glen Ogle, Killin[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
*clamp areas = came with soft plastic that actually had give in it. I found a hard plastic pipe
Ah, yes, I remember having a bunch of plastic tubes that came with mine. Guess there are all different makes, so some better than others. Mine would've been the cheapest, obv 🙂
This is where the old Islabikes Trailer bike is so good as the connection to the the towing bike is so rigid. Don't understand their reluctance to restart manufacture, perhaps to do with independent riding.
The issue is that the pivots in the universal joints are so short (often only 1")that any play is magnified massively, leading to the side to side slop. Unless the main attachment to the seatpost is perfectly straight and done up super tight you are in for even more problems. I have even seen the load twist the seatpost in the frame, to this needs to be super tight too.
The Followme uses the rear axle of the bike as the pivot for one plane and the vertically orientated pivot is huge, with proper machined brass collars, not just a bolt bunged through a piece of pressed and painted steel. The Followme is significantly superior to every other rigid tow method I have tried or tested. It is more pricy, but they always sell well second hand.
The wobbly seatpost mounted towbars with the kid lolling along at crazy angle is no good for anyone. They boil my p!ss. I always feel so sorry for the kid who is often hanging on for dear life.
I got a used followme over winter on ebay, leagues better than trailgator.
Prices are well up for followme on ebay now spring has sprung.
The followme thru axles are a small fortune. Only QR is included.
Anyone want to buy a trailgator?
Meh! Get away with your acoustic tagalongs 😂
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Oddly we found a trailgator better than the tagalong we were given although it was still fai4 hateful.
Kiddyback tandem was (and still is) the answer although it is much more faff to load in a car and won't go on the train for a one way ride.
Trailgator now finished with for us as 7 year old prefers to be independent, but still loves the tandem for longer trips.
PS never seen a follow me in the flesh but they do get good reports from all who have them, which you'd hope at over £200
One difference not mentioned with the Follow Me Tandem also is when you unhook the bike being tagged, you've got a fully functional bike complete with 2 wheels. Most (all?) other tagalongs involve the removal of the front wheel.
Great for a mix of independent riding combined with hooking them on when tired (them, not you) or for busier road sections etc.
Edit - have I finally nailed how to post pics? I think I have...
Isnt the seat angle uncomfortable on those follow me things? it tilts back quite a long way when hooked up.
This is where the old Islabikes Trailer bike is so good as the connection to the the towing bike is so rigid. Don’t understand their reluctance to restart manufacture, perhaps to do with independent riding.
Burley also do a model that similarly attaches to a rack directly above the rear wheel axle. We had two at one stage, when our boys were both too big for a child seat and too small to ride far. Expensive, even SH, but well worth keeping an eye out for. Very stable indeed.
It isn't as bad as being dangled over the side. You can adjust the clearance of the front wheel to a degree. They are generally 10cm or so off the ground.
Meh! Get away with your acoustic tagalong
Urgh thanks, I've just eaten 🤮
This is where the old Islabikes Trailer bike is so good as the connection to the the towing bike is so rigid.
Every so often a 'what tag-a-long' thread comes along and the expert consensus seems to be the Isla one is the best. But… they're all a bit old and a total pain to find (we looked as #2 really didn't want to ride her bike independently, and ended up giving up because of cost for something we didn't think we'd use for that long).
Yeah we like the Follow Me, especially because it can be unhooked and they can cycle independently.
I'll second that the burley picolo is really good.
Use a WeeRide Co Pilot for our 6 year old, attached to a cheap seatpost on the hardtail as it scuffs it up. Has been used for about 18 months, every weekend weather permits (ie some), all year round and is great. Its not light, but bombproof and will be easily sold on to the next person when we're eventually done with it. The wee girl absolutely loves it, and still gets out on her own bike solo. Originally meant to get a 'better' one if she took to it, but there's little to improve.
Seatpost attachment needs cranked up like billy-o or it shifts if you swing round a corner that's too tight. I ended up getting a seat post collar with a double bolt mechanism to stop the post from shifting in frame also. It's pretty solid now.
This is where the old Islabikes Trailer bike is so good as the connection to the the towing bike is so rigid
Islabike tagalong is superb. Super solid hitch to the adult bike.
Ours had gears (!)
Well worth fleabaying for.
Also had a BSO tagalong - did not like it so very much.