As a keen cyclist my two wheeled adventures have been somewhat curtailed over the last four years following the birth of my son, Sam. Apart from time and lack-of-sleep issues, it is very difficult to integrate a baby/toddler into a cycle routine easily, so my wife and I reverted to walking local footpaths and short hikes in the Shenandoah Mountains. We thought about buying a trailer but Sam is a busy and physical kid, not suited to passively sitting in the back whilst Mom and Dad get to do all the fun cycling. I enjoy the walking but long for the day when we can transition Sam from his kiddie trike to a two wheel bike and get a little more adventurous with our cycling. Happily the Schwinn Hitch Hiker is giving us the chance to do this.
During our walks we occasionally noticed other cyclists using the ‘half bike’ style kid trailers. These trailers are effectively a one wheeled child’s bike that hitches to the back of an adult bike. We thought that these were a great idea so when we found out that the local Target was selling the Schwinn Hitchhiker for half its usual price we jumped at the chance to try it out. Usually these retail around the $110 price but Target was selling them for just under $60.
Assembling the bike took about 30 minutes. It could be done quicker but since any mistakes or loose components could end up with one, or both of us with a serious injury, I took my time and double checked everything. Assembly was very straight forward using basic tools, the only drawback being that I had to remove my pannier rack so that the trailer could move freely. The Hitchhiker is heavy for its size but very manageable. For ease of handling and storage the main bar that attaches to the adult bike folds back onto itself when not in use. In addition to assembling the actual trailer itself, there is a small bracketed hitch component that has to fitted to the seat stem of the adult bike.
In practical terms the trailer has proven easy to hitch together and gives a generally smooth and easy ride. Before you set off you need to slot the trailer into the hitch on the adult bike. This can be done on your own but is a little easier if there is someone to hold the trailer straight whilst you do this. Before we let Sam on the trailer I pedaled the bike and its trailer around on my own for a while to get used to it. The next step is for the adult to straddle their bike and hold it steady before the child mounts the trailer. Having the child on the trailer first would make both bike and trailer unstable when the adult mounts their saddle and could end in disaster. Once the child is on board you are ready to go. I should also mention here that we took this opportunity to upgrade Sam’s cycle helmet, an absolute essential for safe cycling.
Pulling the trailer takes a little getting used to. There is the extra length and the extra weight to pull, and then there is the occasional wobble when your enthusiastic child leans out to one side to look around. One great thing about this type of trailer is that the child can contribute to the ride by pedaling themselves. I found that the trailer works well enough that I was able to let Sam pedal both our bikes along for short distances, giving me a break and giving him a sense of involvement.
We took it very easy for the first ride covering only a short distance. We practiced stopping and starting. We made some minor adjustments to seat heights and the hitch position, and my son practiced ‘cruising’ when we encountered tight corners, or steep climbs. I would recommend that you teach your child to ‘cruise’ i.e. stop pedaling and sit straight, when you encounter trickier parts of a ride. Examples of this would be tight corners, steep climbs, steep slopes or passing other people en-route. If you don’t do this your child’s pedaling may cause the bike to sway or swerve at an inopportune moment and cause you problems. When the route was clear and relatively flat I found that I learned to compensate for the odd sway or swerve very quickly.
The second trip out we managed to do a lot more and had a great ride. We covered 11 miles without incident and had a great time. Sam sat on the trailer giggling madly and shouting out to other cyclists “We’re doing what you’re doing” at the top of his voice, loving every minute of it. The great thing is that whilst we are having fun Sam is getting a feel for balancing, steering and pedaling a two wheel bike.
If you are looking to transition your child to a two wheeler bike and you are looking to go a little bit further on your bike rides I would thoroughly recommend the Schwinn Hitch Hiker. The Hitch Hiker has a solid frame and feels safe and comfortable to pull. As a family the trailer is helping get out and about, get a bit fitter and enjoy the countryside a lot more.
