Customer Reviews

InSTEP Pathfinder - Bicycle Trailer

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My daughter is 6 and we live in the country with no access to level ground to learn to ride a bike. This attachment has been great. She not only is learning to keep her balance, but she can also keep up with me. With training wheels, it was impossible. She loves it, and I love it.

It isn't hard to ride or handle. I thought that it would be hard for me to maintain my balance, but it isn't. I would recommend this item to anyone who has a child; who for whatever reason needs trainig wheels or is too young to keep up.

Every year we vacation for a week near a bike trail. The past few the girls (ages 4 & 6) have used their own bikes with traing wheels. Slows us down quite a bit. This year we took along two tandem bikes. We all had so much fun. The girls helped on the hills. There was no whining about being tired or having to stop all the time. This was a great investment. We will use it for years to come.

As another reviewer described, the design of this product has a problem. On making turns, this bike often twists the adult's seat post, leaving the seat crooked. It's really a pain to stop riding and twist the seat back. I don't know how to fix this unit, or if it's possible to fix. We hardly ever use it because of this problem.

We purchased one of these several years ago for our older daughter (then 5) to use and have since used it with our youngest daughter (now 4). It was tremendously easy to set up and use, and you can purchase extra coupling joints for multiple bikes--a godsend for us. It folds up easily (though the retaining bolt that keeps it locked in the open/unfolded position can sometimes be difficult to loosen up when you're finished and want to collapse the bike down again) and the construction is tremendously sturdy. Big nubby tires grip terrain well and handlebars are adjustable so smaller kids aren't leaning forward precariously. Balance can be difficult for the parent to get used to--if your kid leans too far one way, you'll definitely feel it--but the only time I found the trailer ready to tip over was when I hadn't adequately tightened the coupling joint on my bike. Getting and and off takes a little practice for the kids--parents will need to be on their bike first. The only other thing to be aware of is that this trailer, like any other, adds weight, so take that into account when climbing hills or stopping. Fortunately, your child can help pedal you up those hills.

Both of my kids, very cautious and timid girls, loved being able to ride like a grown-up while having the security of being attached to mom or dad. Once my eldest got the hang of it, she went to a two-wheeler after a solid year of not even wanting to ride with training wheels, and now she's racing all over the place on her own. Our younger daughter loves it, too, and it enables our whole family to be active together. Highly recommended for young families who want to be outside and biking together.

We've gone out almost everyday since I've purchased 2 of the tandem trailers! My daughters, 6 and 4 years, love it. It's great excercise for us, especially with the extra pounds on the back.

I, like one of the other reviewers, have had problems with my seat turning and staying there whenever I make a turn. The pivot point on the tandem looks like it's built to pivot up and down, left to right. However, it is just to tight. I suggested that my husband loosen the bolt but that causes the trailer to wobble to much. I've learned to not make that many 90 degree turns! I hope to contact the manufacturer and try to resolve the problem. It looks like the washers might be on the wrong side of the connection.

All that said, it is a great thing to be able to go bike riding with the kids and not have to worry about them riding their own bike and all the waiting for them to catch up.

We have struggled for several years trying to get our 7 and 8 year old children to ride their bicycles (with and without training wheels). They just weren't interested. We got these tag-a-long style bikes for a long weekend of riding the Katy Trail in Missouri and the kids did a wonderful job. The bikes were easy to assemble and the kids really enjoyed riding behind mom and dad, and got over their fear of tipping or not being able to keep their balance. We were able to ride 22 miles total with the kids pedaling and enjoying themselves. I highly recommend the Pathfinder if you want to ride long distances and have your child(ren) participate too or want a safer option for sharing public roads when cycling as a family!

I have a 4 year old that loves bike rides and is too big for the seat on the back of the bike. This has been the perfect solution. We've only had it a couple of weeks and we have already taken rides as long as 6 miles... and she doesn't want to stop! Highly recommended.

We bought two of the trailers since two of our kids have a tough time keeping up with mom, dad and big sister on bike rides. We ride on bike trails or around the neighborhood and they enjoy riding. They even think they are pedaling for us if we stop pedaling! I would recommend this product.

Great product for the price. Already purchased one from Target and need a second one. Great for family bike rides at home or on vacation - the kids actually keep up with you! Easy to attach/detach when needed.

Had a minor problem with a broken retaining rivet on the coupling bolt, but was quickly resolved with a bolt and nut from our local hardware store without compromising safety. Haven't contacted Instep yet.

The main bar folds in half making it great for transport or storage. Construction is typical of a youth bike.

This has generated lots of interest from those we pass by....

Happy Biking and Glory to God!!

My trailer bike came nicely packed and I had no problems assemblying it. However, when turning, my bike's seat post also turned no matter how hard I tightened it. I did loosen up one bolt on the trailer so that the trailer could pivot left and right. However, I'm not sure if this was right. It seems like the bolt was overtorqued at the factory.

So, is the trailer supposed to follow in a straight line, or is it supposed to pivot left and right like most trailers? The manaul did not address this issue.

Thanks!