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Trailers Offer Advantages to Bike-Mounted Child Seats
Q. What's the difference between using a bicycle child trailer and a
bike-mounted bike seat.
A. The trailer is the safest way to bring kids along by bicycle. The
alternative, a bike-mounted child seat, has three drawbacks:
One, it places the child’s weight high, and behind the rear axle.
This hurts the handling and stability of the bike, particularly on a
single bike. Two, if you have a mishap and the bike falls over, the
child seat falls from a height of about three feet. And three,
there’s very little rollover protection for the child inside.
A good trailer neatly solves these problems. The rear axle mount
affects the handling of your bike so little that you’ll find
yourself looking behind to make sure the trailer is still attached.
Also, the trailer is low, with the child less than a foot above the
ground, and its low center of gravity usually keeps it upright even
if the bicycle manages to fall over. If the bicycle does pull the
trailer over, the child doesn’t fall from any distance-rather, the
worst that can happen is that the trailer turns over sideways,
usually in slow motion. And the trailer has a good roll cage.
Some people may be concerned that the trailer is difficult for other
road users to see, or that it’s too wide. Neither of these is a
problem. Good trailers are made in bright colors, with a flag as
standard equipment. People will notice you! And at less than a yard
wide you’ll find that road sharing normally isn’t a problem. If
motorists give you funny looks, it will be because they’re curious,
and perhaps envious of the fun you’re having. -Taken from the Tandem
Scoop, Second Edition, by John Schubert
The Way To Travel is in a Trailer
For children from 18 months through five or so, the way to travel is
in a trailer. Older children up to age ten will want to ride on a
trailercycle (a Burley Piccolo for example) or the back of a tandem
with a child-back conversion (or a Burley Stoker Kit).
Young babies less than 18 months may not be ready for trailer riding
because they may not have the strength to hold their heads up for
the duration of the ride. (And the helmet, which you wouldn’t leave
home without, does add a little weight to the child’s head.) Do
check carefully before taking a youngster on a bike ride, and ask
the child’s doctor if you have any doubt.
Riding with parents is a very special treat for children. They get
to see the scenery at a moderate open-air pace and enjoy a fresh-air
outing with their parents. My own children, when they were younger,
loved riding in their trailer. When my daughter was first learning
to talk, some of the first words she learned to say were how to ask
for a trailer ride. On sunny afternoons, she’d eagerly grab her
helmet and say, “Marie’s helmet-Daddy, go bike.“
I love to look at the trailers owned by avid family cycling
enthusiasts. The insides of the trailer are loaded with stuffed
animal’s, children’s books, snacks, water bottle cages, and fruit
juice. Some are very elaborate little play environments.
When your children are in the trailer, you can enjoy tandeming much
as you would before you had children. Sure, you go slower up hills
because the trailer slows you down, and you go slower down hills
because you’re a safe and prudent kind of person. But you still
enjoy the fun of togetherness, and you can go on rides of
substantial duration while your children entertain themselves in the
caboose.
Burley Trailers
Bicycle Trailers Need to Meet Industry Safety Standards
Q. How can I tell if a bicycle trailer is safe for my child to ride
in?
A. Check inside the trailer for a label that reads "meets and
exceeds ASTM safety requirements." These means the trailer has been
through a series of tests and meets requirements established by the
American Society for Testing and Materials.
All Burley Trailers Meet and Exceed ASTM Requirements
Q. Do Burley trailers meet these requirements?
A. Yes, All Burley trailers have meet and exceeded these standards.
In fact, Burley helped create these safety standards. Families have
come to trust Burley trailers for the safety and durability for 25
years. Burley's in-house protocols are the toughest in the industry.
Our aluminum structure and restraint system are all about safety. We
put these and all elements of the trailer through more than twenty
different protocols for hundreds of hours before a Burley trailer
design is approved. Our testing program has evolved over 25 years to
ensure that our trailers, past and future, lead in the safe
transportation of children. Burley's Research and Development
Manager helped establish these standards for the industry and is the
chairman of the ASTM Committee for Parts and Accessories.
Plenty of Safety Features Found in Burley Trailers
Q. Besides, the ASTM designation, what other safety features
should I look for when shopping for a trailer?
A. Look for these features found on every Burley trailer:
• Drum tight, gap free fabric panels that protect children from
moving wheels
• Durable material in contrasting colors to be easily noticed on the
road
• Safety strap for an extra measure of security on the hitch
• Five-point harness system for each child
• Strong aluminum frame and roll cage system to completely surround
your child
• Reflective materials and CSPC approved reflectors
• A safety flag that attaches to the back of the trailer
• Made to last! Quality, durable construction
• We back each of our trailers with a limited lifetime warranty
Safe Trailer Age
Q. How old should my child be to ride in a Burley trailer?
A. Child should be able to sit upright unattended and hold
his or her head up while wearing a helmet. Generally this is true
when the child is around a year old, but you should check with your
pediatrician if you are in doubt about your child's neck strength.
Children typically are able to ride in the trailer until about age
six, or until they become too tall for their head to fit below the
roll bar.
Children Should Always Wear a Helmet
Q. Does my child need to wear a helmet in the trailer?
A. Yes. A child should always wear a helmet when riding in a
trailer behind a bicycle. A helmet will protect them in the unlikely
event of an accident, and also help them develop the habit of never
riding without one. The Burley d’Lite featuers a special extra room
for a child’s helmet to fit into, called the recessed helmet pocket
for added comfort for your child.
Burley Trailers Convert to a Stroller
Q. Is there a conversion kit to turn my older model Burley trailer
into a stroller? How does it work? What does it include?
A. A Walk 'n Roller stroller/jogger kit is available for all
child-carrying Burley trailers. Once installed, it coverts your
trailer into a stable, sturdy stroller. You can switch between bike
trailer and stroller in less than a minute without tools. The Walk
'n Roller package includes a detachable push handle with an
around-the-wrist safety strap, a parking brake, and a retractable
front wheel. Each model has a specific kit, so be sure to let your
dealer know which model of trailer you have.
Burley Trailers Attach to non-traditional Types of Bike Frames with
Alternative Hitches
Q. I have a bike that has a nontraditional type of frame. I'd like
to purchase a Burley trailer to carry my children in, but understand
the Burley hitch won't work. What can I do?
A. You need one of our alternative hitches. These hitches are
specifically designed for bikes with nontraditional frames, such as
those found on bikes with solid axles, or hollow, quick-release
axles. Bikes that might have these kinds of frames include single,
tandem, suspension, recumbent, folding bikes or others.
Burley Trailer Limited Lifetime Warranty
Q. Does my Burley trailer have a warranty?
A. Yes, every new Burley trailer comes with a limited
lifetime warranty issued to the original owner. Please fill out and
return the warranty card when you purchase a new trailer.
Burley Limited Lifetime Warranty: Burley will repair or
replace any original equipment parts it determines to be defective
for the life of the trailer. The owner of a Burley trailer must
present the trailer for repair at an authorized Burley dealer,
together with an original sales receipt or similar proof of
purchase. This warranty applies only to the original owner and is
nontransferable. Burley cannot be responsible for failure due to
improper assembly, modification of parts or instructions, neglect,
abuse, accident, and/or normal wear. The warranty does not cover any
trailers used for rental, competition or commercial use. Burley
neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume any other
liability in connection with Burley trailers, and there are no oral
agreements or warranties collateral to or affecting this agreement.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have
other rights which vary from state to stare.
Q. Is my warranty transferable?
A. No. Burley trailer warranty only applies to the original owner.
Piccolo Attachment Secure and Stable
Q. I notice the Piccolo trailercycle attaches to a rack on
the lead bike rather than to the seatpost. What's the story with
that?
A. Our Piccolo attaches to Burley's specially designed Moose
Rack (included with Piccolo purchase). We tested many different
designs of trailercycles and found that the rack mount system
provided the greatest stability in the ride. Because our
trailercycle has a shorter tongue (as opposed to those which attach
to the seatpost), the Piccolo more closely follows the line of the
adult bike when cornering. The hitch pivots are guided by ball
bearings, thus there is no "play" or "slop" that can cause shimmy or
erratic handling. Attachment is easy: the Piccolo is seated on the
rack with a quick-release lever, then bolted down through a threaded
hole in the rack. The super-strong, TIG-welded, ChroMoly rack allows
you to use panniers with the Piccolo attached, and functions just
like any other rack without the Piccolo on it.
Piccolo Great for the Four to Ten-Year Old
Q. How old does my child need to be to ride the Piccolo?
A. The Piccolo is recommended for children approximately four to ten
years old. The Piccolo provides your family a real option for longer
distance rides. Choose from six gears, allows your child to keep up
at their own pace and enjoy the ride.
IDEAS FOR FUN-FILLED FAMILY CYCLING TRIPS
By Happy Owners of Burley Products
CYCLING WITH CHILDREN (General Tips for Bicycling with Kids)
1. Sing when you ride! It not only keeps the kids entertained but it
adds to your VO training!
2. Keep your first rides short –easier to head home if need be
3. Always have a destination in mind and tell your kids about it—the
ice cream shop or park!
4. Try an easy out and back –about 16 miles don’t forget the treat
or playground
5. Stash a waterbottle so they can reach it.
TIPS FOR TRAILERING
Placing children in the trailer --- With young children on the first
few outings get fully prepared before you put your child in the
trailer.
1. Connect the trailer to your bike,
2. Stow toys, snacks or supplies (diaper bag, food...),
3. Add child,
4. Connect harness system,
5. Attach helmet and
6. Take off right away.
A Note About Helmets: Some children might not like the helmet so
secure the helmet on them and then quickly take off riding. The
motion of the trailer most likely will distract them. Later they
will associate using the helmet with fun. Never catch your child’s
little cheek in the helmet buckle!
A Note about Locking the Trailer: When running errands, lock the
trailer by looping a thick 6 foot braided steel cable through the
perimeter frame and into the "U" lock that secures our bikes to a
bike rack. For more security, use a "U" lock on the trailer instead
of the cable.
Choose from Three Temperature Settings --- When it's hot, roll up
both front and rear vinyl windows. When it's cold, close them and
when it's in between, we close only the front or rear to keep too
much air from passing all of the way through.
POINTERS FOR PARENTS WITH PICCOLO PASSENGERS
Transitioning to a trailercycle --- From ages 4 through 6 children can
ride a trailercycle or in the trailer. We find that when it's
raining or if we are going shopping, we tend to use the trailer,
when it's nicer we use our Piccolo.
Tandeming
1. Allow extra time so your child can hop-off to check out the
surroundings
2. Let them push the button at stop lights
3. Ask your child to select the route when you have options
4. Select proper clothing to suit the outing and weather
conditions--warm clothes when it's cold,
raingear when it's wet and sunscreen in the summer
5. Add clip-on fenders to the Piccolo to help keep water away |
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