Trailer bike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Trailer bike
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Trailer bike (also known as a trailer cycle or a

third wheel,[citation needed] and trademarked names
Trailerbike, Trail-a-bike, Half wheeler,
Tagalong...) 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."[1]
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. [2]

Single speed Half wheeler attached at the seat

post

Contents
1 Configurations
1.1 Gearing
1.2 Attachment
1.3 Multiple riders
1.4 Folding

2 Variations
3 Manufacturers
4 See also
5 References

Adult and two children cycling

using two-wheeled tandem trailer
bike (a Pashley U+2)

Configurations
Trailer bikes have come in a variety of configurations:

Gearing
Trailer bikes may have just one gear or more than one. They
seldom have brakes.

Attachment

Tandem + two trailer bikes + cargo

trailer for family of four

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.
The attachment may include a quick-release option.[3]

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Multiple riders
Trailer bikes have been available in single-seat and tandem
configurations.[4]

Folding
Some trailer bikes allow folding the boom to shorten the
device for transport or storage.

Variations

Burley Piccolo, behind a triple

tandem

One product, the Trail-Gator tow bar, converts a kid's bike into a trailer bike.[5]

Manufacturers
Adams makes Trail-a-Bikes[6] The Trail-a-Bike was the first manufacturer of trailer bikes.
They were introduced to the market in 1986.
Burley Design makes the seven-speed Piccolo
(http://www.burley.com/products/child/piccolo.cfm) and single-speed Kazoo
(http://www.burley.com/products/child/kazoo.cfm) 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
tandem and with older/larger children (up to 10 years old /85 lbs/38.5 kg)[7]
Islabikes in the United Kingdom makes a Trailerbike[8]
Brilliant Bicycles, part of Pashley Cycles in the United Kingdom 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.[9]
Giant Bicycles makes a Halfwheeler[10]
InStep[11]
Kent[12]
Roland Werk GmbH makes an add+bike[13]
Schwinn [14]
Trek Bicycle Corporation makes Mt. Trains[15]
WeeRide makes the light-weight aluminum six-speed ProPilot Tagalong
(http://www.weeride.com.au/Co-Pilot/weeride-propilot-tagalong.html) and single-speed
CoPilot Tagalong (http://www.weeride.com.au/Co-Pilot/weeride-copilot-tagalong.html) .

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See also

Bicycle trailer
Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)
Tandem bicycle
Tricycle

References
1. ^ "CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation: Trailercycle" (http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3614) .
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3614. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
2. ^ "United States Patent No. 379,782" (http://books.google.com/patents/about?id=kuIlAAAAEBAJ) .
http://books.google.com/patents/about?id=kuIlAAAAEBAJ. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
3. ^ "The Adams Trail-A-Bike! at SheldonBrown.com" (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/adams-traila-bike.html) . http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/adams-trail-a-bike.html. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
4. ^ "GOPBC.org Active Passenger Trailers" (http://www.gopbc.org/bike_support/adams_tandem.jpg) .
http://www.gopbc.org/bike_support/adams_tandem.jpg. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
5. ^ "Trail-Gator: the bicycle tow bar" (http://www.trail-gator.com/) . http://www.trail-gator.com/.
Retrieved 2009-08-03.
6. ^ "Adams: High Performance Children's Trail-a-Bikes" (http://www.trail-abike.com/interface/adams.php?loc=a&sku=products) . http://www.trail-a-bike.com/interface/adams.php?
loc=a&sku=products. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
7. ^ "Bicycle Doctor Ltd. Cycling with Children" (http://www.bicycledoctor.co.uk/p_burleypiccolo.html) .
http://www.bicycledoctor.co.uk/p_burleypiccolo.html. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
8. ^ "Islabikes Trailerbike" (http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/trailerbike.html) .
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/trailerbike.html. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
9. ^ "Pashley Brilliant Bicycles Trailer Bikes" (http://www.pashley.co.uk/brilliant/products.htm) .
http://www.pashley.co.uk/brilliant/products.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
10. ^ "Halfwheeler" (http://www.giantbicycle.com/en-US/bikes/kids/1290/27714/) .
http://www.giantbicycle.com/en-US/bikes/kids/1290/27714/. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
11. ^ "Bikes, Kids, Trailers, Pedal Trailers" (http://www.instep.net/products/category.php?id=4) .
http://www.instep.net/products/category.php?id=4. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
12. ^ "Bikes, Kids, Trailers, Pedal Trailers" (http://www.kentbicycles.com/bikeacc_wee_copilot.html) .
http://www.kentbicycles.com/bikeacc_wee_copilot.html. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
13. ^ "add+bike by Roland" (http://www.roland-werk.de/engl/addbike/) . http://www.rolandwerk.de/engl/addbike/. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
14. ^ "Schwinn, Bikes, Kids, Trailers, Pedal
Trailers" (http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/accessories_detail.php?id=174) .
http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/accessories_detail.php?id=174. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
15. ^ "Trek, Bikes, Kids, Trailers, Pedal Trailers" (http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/subcategory.php?
c=5&s=26) . http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/subcategory.php?c=5&s=26. Retrieved 2007-04-01.

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Categories: Cycling equipment | Utility cycling
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