At a certain age, kids get sick of sitting in a bike seat or trailer. They want to be a part of the action and bike too! Unfortunately, they are still too little to bike long distances without getting tired and they can be painfully slow.
A trailer cycle, also known as a tag along bike or trailer bike, is a great solution. It turns a regular bike into a tandem bike! Kids get to pedal but mom or dad does the bulk of the work.
Here I offer my recommendations for which bike attachments for kids we’ve had the best luck with.
In addition to these options, you might also want to consider a tow rope or tow bar instead. They are lighter and easier to store but serve the same function.
Our Top Picks
| Trailer Cycle | What We Like | Price |
| Weehoo | Great for younger children | $499+ |
| Burley Piccolo | Very stable | $449 |
| Burley Kazoo | Simple but durable | $399 |
| Kazam Co-Pilot | Affordable For Occasional Use |
Weehoo Trailer Cycle
Price: $499+
Reasons To Buy:
✅ Harness keeps young kids safe
✅ Can be used on or off-road
✅ Accommodates a wide range of ages
✅ Storage space
Reasons To Avoid:
❌ Debris can fly up at kids
❌ Fabric wear
❌ Minimal seat padding
The Weehoo is unique in three ways: 1) it is recumbent, 2) thanks to a five-point harness it can be used with kids as young as 2-years-old, and 3) it comes in a double-seat version so you can use it with two children.
What makes the Weehoo particularly special is how versatile it is for children. The Weehoo allows children to pedal along when they want to be active, or sit back and relax (or even nap) thanks to its reclined position. The enclosed drivetrain means little ones can contribute to pedaling or simply enjoy the ride.
The steel frame construction is sturdy and well-built, and the wide tire makes it suitable for both on-road adventures and off-road trails. The side pockets are a hit with kids who love to stash snacks and trail treasures, while handles on either side help young riders feel secure and in control.
Beyond hauling your child, the Weehoo also excels at carrying gear. The pannier bags and additional storage space make it perfect for longer outings, picnics, or even bike camping trips. This dual functionality sets it apart from other trailer-cycles.
The biggest drawback is that because it’s so close to the ground, kids can get dusty and dirty, especially on trails. Make sure your kiddo has glasses on, and they should be fine. I also feel that the fabric quality could be better; it tends to wear and get dirty more quickly than other trailer brands, and there is very limited padding on the seat for comfort.
The Weehoo comes in both a single seater and double seater version, and works for kids from kids ages 2 to 9.
Read Our Review: Weehoo
Burley Piccolo
Price: $449
Reasons To Buy:
✅Excellent stability
✅ Lightweight (18 pounds)
✅ 7-speed drivetrain helps kids learn shifting while making pedaling easier
✅ Works great for commuting, touring, and light off-road adventures
Reasons To Avoid:
❌ Not compatible with all bikes
❌ Trigger shifters can be challenging for small hands ❌ 140mm cranks may be too long for younger kids
Among parents in the know, the Burley Piccolo is consistently a top-pick. As expected from a brand like Burley, the quality is high.
Because the Piccolo attaches to a rack (included), rather than the seatpost, stability is WAY better than other trailer-cycles. It doesn’t wobble even with a squirmy kiddo, and it has a reasonably tight turning radius.
At just 18 pounds, the Piccolo is significantly lighter than most competitors. In fact, it’s about 9 pounds lighter than the Weehoo!
The 7-speed drivetrain offers two key benefits: it makes pedaling easier for kids on hills, and it gives them valuable practice shifting. When kids shift into the right gear, you can actually feel them pushing you forward. (That said, the shifter can be a little challenging for small hands).
One word of caution before you buy: bike compatibility can be an issue, so make sure to do your research to make sure the rack can be mounted on your bicycle. It doesn’t work with full suspension mountain bikes, fat bikes, or some disc brake setups.
Read Review: Burley Piccolo
Burley Kazoo
Price: $399
Reasons To Buy:
✅ Stable rack mount
✅ Simple, straightforward design
✅ Lightweight
Reasons To Avoid:
❌ Bike compatibility issues
❌ No gears
Like the higher-end Burley Piccolo, the Burley Kazoo comes with a rack to attach to which helps with stability compared to seatpost-mounted trail-a-bikes.
In fact, the construction of the Kazoo has many of the same features of its more expensive sibling. The price, however, is kept lower by using a single-speed drivetrain rather than offering gears.
The Kazoo is our top pick for single-speed trailer cycles. At just 16.5 lbs, the Kazoo is pretty lightweight and easier than other trailer cycles to pull—even lighter than its geared sibling.
Unfortunately, just like the Picollo, you may end up with bike compatibility issues.
Kazam Co-Pilot
Price: (Last updated: – More Info)
Reasons To Buy:
✅ Affordable
✅ Sturdy steel frame
Reasons To Avoid:
❌ Wobble
❌ Heavy
The Kazam Co-Pilot is really light and REALLY affordable.
This isn’t my top choice for heavy use–it’s not as durable or stable as the Burley trailers–but if you want a trailer-cycle for occasional family bike rides, the Co-Pilot is a fine choice.
The seat installs to the adult’s seatpost and compared to rack-mounted trailers, you’ll definitely feel some sway side-to-side. The wobble factor is more pronounced with heavier kids approaching the 75 lb weight limit.
It’s also on the heavier side (24 lbs), but the steel construction is sturdy.
Things to Consider for When Shopping For A Bike Attachment For Kids
Ease of transport and storage
Different families have different needs. If you have a three-car garage for all your toys, storage space probably isn’t an issue. If you live in a walk-up apartment in the city, it obviously is.
Our Weehoo takes up quite a bit of space in our no-garage home. Similarly, if you plan to DRIVE to your biking destination, this is also something to consider. Trailer-cycles are notoriously difficult to transport.
Weight
Let me tell you, hauling a 40-pound kid is no easy feat. If your child is like mine, they will put up their feet and sing a song, and let you do the hard work.
The last thing you want is to pull EVEN MORE weight. For this reason, I’d urge you to look at the weight of the trailer bike you are picking—especially if you will be riding up a bunch of hills.
Gears
Some trailer cycles are single-speed (just one gear), and others have a rear cassette and shifter (multiple gears). Having multiple gears is nice for two reasons: 1) it makes pedaling easier for kids, and 2) it allows kids to practice shifting so that they begin to develop that skill prior to having to learn it on their own bike. That said, a trailer bike with gears is certainly not necessary, and it also increases the required maintenance and price.
Price
Expect to spend a minimum of $200 on a trailer bike. A good trailer cycle like a Weehoo or a Burley Piccolo, will also hold up well second-hand, so you can look on Craiglist or other local classifieds. Like almost anything, the higher cost trailer-cycles tend to have better quality and more nice-to-have features.
Seatpost vs Rack Installation
Most trailer-cycles attach to the adult’s seatpost, but some attach to a rack installed on the adult’s bike. These rack-installed trailer-cycles tend to have better stability and less sway (a major downfall of trailer-cycles).
For this reason, we really like the Burley Piccolo. That said, installing and uninstalling a rack requires tools, and you may not want a rack on your bike when not riding with your child.
Another thing to keep in mind is the type of bike the adult has. A rack requires frame eyelets in order to install. Some bikes don’t have eyelets—check this out first.
Also, you don’t want to attach a seatpost mounted trailer bike to a carbon fiber seatpost.
Age
More traditional trailer bikes require the child to be tall enough and mature enough to sit up and hold on. In our experience, this usually happens around age 4.
If your kiddo is younger than that, consider the Weehoo instead. It has buckles so that your child is strapped in. This allows the little one to fall asleep if they need to, and also means they won’t jump off!
Trailer Cycle Comparison Chart
So how do these options stack up against each other? Use the comparison chart below to figure out which option is best for you.
| Trailer-Cycle | Type | Mount type | Geared? | Weight | # of kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wehoo iGo Two (Double) | Recumbant Trailer-Cycle | Seatpost | No | 40 lbs | 2 |
| Wehoo Turbo (Single) | Recumbant Trailer-Cycle | Seatpost | No | 27 lbs | 1 |
| Burley Piccolo | Upright Trailer-Cycle | Rack | Yes | 18 lbs | 1 |
| Burley Kazoo | Upright Trailer-Cycle | Rack | No | 16.5 lbs | 1 |
| Kazam Co-Pilot | Upright Trailer-Cycle | Seatpost | No | 24 lbs | 1 |
You Could Also Consider A Tow Rope Or Tow Bar Instead
Another alternative to a tag along bike is a tow rope (like the TowWhee) or tow bar (like the FollowMe Tandem) that’s designed for hauling kids. This allows you to tow your child on their own bike. These devices can also help you save on weight and are more maneuverable in situations like biking on singletrack trails.
Read: How to Tow a Kid on Their Own Bike: Tow Bars, Tow Ropes, and More
More Stuff You Might Like
- Child Bike Carriers: 7 Ways To Haul Kids By Bike
- The Ultimate Guide to Bike Commuting with Kids
- Best Kids Bikes Helmets & How To Choose!
About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
My husband and I ride a Rans Screamer recumbent tandem, with a rear rack. Ironic that the one recumbent trailer-cycle, WeeHoo, cannot be rack towed by a recumbent bike or trike. Guess we will have to stick to the trailer until granddaughter is old enough to ride distances on a traditional bike seat. Major design miscalculation WeeHoo. Bummer.
You forgot to mention the Tout Terrain Streamliner. the only full-suspension trail-a-bike and suitable for off-road trails.
Perhaps you should go back and read the article again (hint: it’s the third one listed in the review).
Autism often means kids need someone else to do the Steering for them, and when they get to 100 lbs at 9-10 years old, options disappear.
Really a dearth of Information for us, and what we do find has an incredible lack of detail. Very few trailers, they’re ugly and have sides that don’t come down, plus they’re double the cost for that extra 25 lbs. A couple of two wheel pedal behind trailers like this in the article with single wheels, but no way to see or compare them, and if you want the better quality Mission Piggyback over the Morgan Caboose, you have to buy it with No Returns since it ships from the UK. Morgan mostly makes Pedal Cars, not Bikes, much less those for kids with Special Needs.
Some cities are having events now where you can try out bikes made for kids with Special Needs, but to date they don’t seem to understand that Physical Disability and Cognitive Disability are not the same, so they don’t offer Cycling Solutions for Parents to Pilot their Kids, which for us, continues possibly forever… we don’t know.
It would be great if there were an Info Site dedicated to showing Video of Special Needs solutions and pitfalls for each machine.
I’m hoping to attend an adaptive expo in Boston in a few weeks. I have to agree, many of the bikes I’ve seen would not be safe for my SN daughter (87lbs). Hoping to see something new & promising at the expo. I miss being able to take her out in her little trailer which she outgrew.
Jason, thanks to your comment I was able to point some parents in a better direction for a bike trailer . Have you considered doing your own comparison/website as this issue is very common in the special needs community.
Take a look at Kivo, https://bike-on.com/van-raam-kivo-tandem.html They will most certainly have something to fit nearly any special needs child/adult. Their tandems are steered by the person in the REAR position looking over the head of the person (special needs) in the front! In addition to that there are here pedal modes the captain can choose from for the special needs individual: standard pedaling as any regular bike, the person in front can pedal when they feel like it thus adding power to the team and third mode is person in front can simply freewheel. They even make a trike model and have adaptive accessories. They are large, heavy and cost a small fortune but they are built like a Mercedes.
I’m buying a Burley Piccolo as a gift for a relative because it can be converted to a traditional bike. When my cousin’s daughter outgrows it, it’ll have a higher resale value to pay for her next bike.
My suggestion for my cousin for the post-Piccolo bike is a 20″ folder with a Sunrace 9-36 11-speed cassette so that the bike will grow with Molly and she will have the option of taking it to college with her in fifteen years.
Very smart!
I am interested in the 7-Speed Piccolo trailercycle but I already have a rear rack on disk breaks. Would it work?
It depends… many modern disc brake calipers sit inboard enough for a traditional rack to be used. Ride to your local REI or LBS. They will be happy to let you look at a traditional “non-disc” rack and see if it will fit your bike.
Any idea if the Burley ones would work with a Retrospec Venus? They do come with a rack already.