Adams Trail-A-Bike Shifter

Adams Trail-A-Bike Shifter There are quite a few trailer bikes on the market, but rebadging means that the actual number of mechanically different versions is much smaller. The Adams is near the top of the range, having an alloy wheel, folding mechanism, suspension seatpost and gears. The Trail-A-Bike is a 20" model - 24" models are available, but when we tried one it was considerably too big for Peter (5) to reach the pedals properly. The Adams is just right for Peter, and Michael (8) can ride it in a pinch. A key point which differentiates the Adams from other folding trailer bikes is the folding mechanism itself. There is a pivot in front of the seat post, and once the seat is removed (using a QR clamp) the pole swings round over the back wheel. This is more compact than the versions which fold along the towing pole, and very strong since the pivot is over 1" in diameter and is retained by the seat when in use. There is no flex in the frame in use even with heavier children.

It is also well made and finished, with good quality paint, and comes with two towing hitch blocks (one for each parent's bike), and the usual flag. It is also supplied with one solid and one suspension seatpost. The solid one is needed for very small children (although realistically any child under 4 will probably have difficulty reaching the pedals properly). The Shifter has 5-speed indexed gears, which is beneficial with bigger, stronger children who tend to wag the host bike if they push too hard, but the supplied gripshift unit is unusable by small children, so consider replacing it with a cheap SIS lever. In top gear the chain tends to rub on the frame at the dropout on ours, which is probably an incorrectly dished wheel.

The poor gearshift mechanism is the only significant problem we've encountered with our Adams, and it was used on many days to take Peter to school. Some models have a hitch which mounts on a special rack on the host bike, which is reported to be more stable, but the seat-post hitch on the Adams is quite satisfactory.

After about 1,000 miles the hitch block developed slight play, a perennial problem on seatpost attaching trailer bikes. The Burley Piccolo has a rack hitch, which is undoubtedly better, but the Piccolo costs significantly more. The play can be adjusted out at this stage, but eventually the mechanism will require replacement. This is, apparently, fairly cheap.

The folding Adams Trail-A-Bike is very good for the money, and well worth the extra cost over competing seatpost hitch trailer bikes - I rate it 7/10, and definitely recommend it.

Others to consider:
 * Burley Piccolo
 * Islabikes trailer bik