8 Best Tag Along Bikes and Bike Attachments for Kids: Ages 2 to10

Oct 29, 2024

Tag along bikes, trailer bikes, trailer cycles – whatever you call them, these bike attachments for kids are a unique and adventurous alternative to traditional bike trailers. Tag along bikes allow kids to be out in the open air and active participants in the ride! They’re also a great option for older kids who no longer fit in a traditional bike trailer.

Bike tow bars and tow ropes are a bit of a DIY tag along bike. Using the child’s own bike, you can attach them to your bike and help them cover distances or terrains they wouldn’t be able to on their own. Whether a true tag along bike or a towing option is best for your family will depend a lot on your child’s abilities and what you’d like to accomplish on your family rides.

Which bike attachment you need may change over time as kids get older or your family riding style changes. We use a recumbent trailer cycle for our 3-year-old, but also a tow bar when we want her to ride her own bike. With our older kids, tow ropes are a huge help when tackling long, steep, paved and mountain bike trails.

Click on an option to jump down to see our favorite products and learn more about the pros and cons of each style of bike attachment.

OPTION 1: TAG ALONG BIKES · Top Picks · FAQ

OPTION 2: BIKE TOW BARS · Top Picks · FAQ

OPTION 3: BIKE TOW ROPES · Top Picks · FAQ

OPTION 4: RECUMBENT TRAILER CYCLE · Top Picks · FAQ

Want to see our top picks in action? Check out our video demonstration of all our favorite bike tag along and towing options. You’ll see our kid bike testers at work and learn what we love about each towing option on our list.

Solid Quality Tag Along on a Budget

MSRP: $289BEST FIT: 4 to 10-year-olds, minimum 41″ tallFULL REVIEW: WeeRide Co-Pilot

The Co-Pilot Tag Along Bike is a unique and affordable ride that’s a ton of fun to cruise around the neighborhood, drop kids off at school, or even go on longer, paved family rides.

A solid-quality, budget alternative to the Burley Piccolo or Kazoo, the Co-Pilot features adjustable seat height and handlebars, as well as a splash guard and safety flag.

Attaching to the seat post, it will be more wobbly than the rack-attached Burley, and also has a heavier steel frame compared to Burley’s lighter-weight aluminum.

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Best Standard Tag Along Bike – Very Stable and Easy to Attach

MSRP: $379/$419BEST FIT: Ages 4 – 8. The Kazoo is single-speed, so better for younger riders. The Piccolo is geared and best for older riders because shifting can be a challenge for younger kids.FULL REVIEW: Burley Piccolo, Burley Kazoo

Everything Burley makes is pretty awesome, and their trailer cycles are no exception. The Burley Piccolo and Kazoo are some of the most expensive options, but absolutely worth the investment, especially for families who plan to use a trailer cycle frequently. Burley’s unique mounting system makes the Kazoo and Piccolo MUCH more stable than other brands.

Mounting to a rack versus a seat post, we experienced minimal problems with the bike leaning to one side or the other, especially compared to traditional seat post-mounted tag along bikes. The absence of leaning, or rocking back and forth, makes Burley trailer cycles easier to use and more enjoyable for both parent and child.

In addition to extra stability, the rack mount allows the Piccolo/Kazoo to pivot smoothly in all directions and maneuver around tight corners. As an added bonus, the Piccolo/Kazoo can pivot all the way around so it actually sits next to the adult bike in a bike rack.

Be aware that Burley’s proprietary rack cannot be used for a child bike seat, so you cannot use a child bike seat with this installed.

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Tag along bikes are bike attachments that turn the adult bike into a tandem bike for use with a child. These “half” bikes consist of a handlebar, pedals, and a rear wheel along with a frame that attaches to the rear of the adult bike. Depending on the brand, they may be called trailer cycles, trailer bikes, or trail-a-bikes.

Tag along bikes allow kids to actively participate in the ride, while still having the option to have mom or dad do all the pedaling! From long families rides on paved trails to a quick run to school, they are usually best for pavement, but could also handle occasional packed dirt trails.

In order to safely ride a tag along bike, children need to be able to reach the pedals. From our testing, we’ve found that the best age range is from about 4 to 8.

Unlike a regular bike, it’s okay if your child can’t reach the ground while sitting on the seat of a tag along. As the adult rider, you’ll provide the balance needed when mounting, starting, stopping, and dismounting, but they may need a little help getting on and off.

The seat height of the tag along can be raised or lowered like a traditional bike. Additionally, the handlebars on some can be adjusted to better fit kids as they grow.

For safety and enjoyability reasons, make sure your child is mature enough to sit stably on a bike seat, without making sudden movements or attempting to dismount abruptly. As children get older and heavier, they are not only harder to pull, but also contribute more to the “wobble effect”, which we discuss below.

Gears are a possibility with tag along or trailer bikes, although there are very few options available (Burley Piccolo). Because tag alongs are most frequently used with younger kids, gears can often be too much for them to handle. For most families gears are not necessary.

If you’re going to ride rugged terrain or in hilly areas, gears can certainly come in handy if your child is ready to tackle that challenge. You could also use a geared tag along to coach a child to shift properly.

As a downside, tag along bikes often suffer from what we call the “wobble effect”. Some are better than others, but the tandem portion of the bike can wobble during the ride, which is certainly felt by the adult rider. While not a deal breaker, it is something to keep in mind when choosing the best bike attachment for your family.

Affordable Bike Tow Arm For Shorter Rides

MSRP: $109BEST FIT: 12″-20″ bikes (without hand brakes) with riders weighing 70 pounds or lessFULL REVIEW: Trail-Gator Tow Bar

The Trail Gator is a unique alternative to a traditional tag along bike. It consists of a metal arm that connects an adult bike to a regular kid’s bike with wheels between 12″-20″ in diameter.

This opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities, such as towing a child too small to fit on a traditional tag along bike, or doing rides where a child rides solo part of the way but is towed by an adult through challenging or less-safe sections.

Once the arm is removed, it’s really small and easy to store. Because the Trail-Gator is so portable, it’s saved the day on multiple occasions with tuckered-out kids towards the end of a ride.

It’s also a great option if you want the functionality of both a child bike and a trailer cycle, but you don’t have enough storage space for both. Be aware though, that this set-up is noticeably more wobbly than traditional tag along bikes.

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Best Bike Tow Bar for Longer Rides – Impressive Stability

MSRP: $320BEST FIT: 12″ to 20″ bikes, long or short paved ridesFULL REVIEW: FollowMe Tandem Bike Coupling Device

The FollowMe Tandem is similar to the Trail Gator in that it allows you to tow your child on their own bike, and connect or disconnect mid-ride.

But the FollowMe Tandem’s design is much higher-quality, which results in a drastically more stable and smooth ride. If you plan on doing a significant amount of bike towing on paved trails, we highly recommend investing in the FollowMe Tandem.

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Bike tow bars allow you to fix your child’s bike to your bike through either a bar or a sturdy coupler. These kits essentially turn the child’s bike into a tag along bike, keeping the child’s bike upright and at a set distance from the adult.

Unlike a tag along bike, tow bars allow kids to ride their own bike during family rides, and then if the child gets tired, simply hook them up and tow them home! You could also choose to tow a child for an entire ride.

Tow bars are stored securely on the adult bike so that you can choose at any time during a ride to use it.

This answer really depends on the quality of the Tow Bar. The Trail Gator should only be used on paved roads. The higher-end FollowMe Tandem could certainly be used on dirt trails, although we would not use it for legitimate mountain biking.

We’ve found tow bars to be best for young riders on 12” to 16” bikes, especially for those kids who are just getting started on pedals. However, they can also be used with 20” bikes. They cannot be used with 24″ bikes or adult bikes.

Like tag along bikes, tow bars can definitely be wobbly, although the high-end FollowMe Tandem is a very stable and smooth ride.

If you want to tow different kids who ride different bikes, a tag along bike might be a better bet. Mounting hardware is needed for every bike you’ll be towing with a tow bar. In the case of the FollowMe Tandem, the adult bike attachment may also need to be adjusted if you are swapping between kids’ bikes.

Best Bike Tow Rope

MSRP: $49 – We highly recommend purchasing the Kids Connect version that comes with a lanyard attached to the endBEST FIT: All ages and skill levelsFULL REVIEW: TowWhee Tow Rope

The TowWhee is the simplest and most affordable option on this list, and is also the easiest to bring along for the “just-in-case” scenario. Extending from 56″ to 180″ when fully tensioned, the TowWhee allows you to keep your little one close, but also provides enough space so they can more independently ride.

The TowWhee is especially ideal for mountain biking families who want to tackle aggressive terrain or climbs, but who have little ones who don’t yet have the stamina to keep up. Rather than sticking to easy, flat trails, Mom and Dad can provide that extra burst of energy when your little grom is spent. Your eager rider can continue to master mountain biking skills while not becoming too discouraged with the difficulty of the climb.

NOTE: Tow ropes are for climbing only and should not be used on downhill or flat sections.

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Tow ropes connect the adult bike to the headset of the child’s bike via a thin line or bungee. The ropes are primarily designed to tow less-confident or tired riders up steeper sections of trail, not for long distances or flat trails.

Tow ropes were designed primarily for mountain bike use, however we’ve also used them for long climbs on paved rides. They should only be used on inclines.

Unlike trailer bikes and tow bars, tow ropes require the child rider to be in complete control of their bike while being towed, including being able to maneuver their bike around obstacles, and brake to prevent running into the adult rider. So while a tow rope can technically be used with a child of any age (or adults!) on pedal bikes, it’s more about ability than actual age.

The maximum speed on tow ropes is much less than other bike attachments and maxes out at around 8 miles per hour. They are not meant to tow anyone for an entire ride, but rather for short bursts of difficult uphill sections.

Tow ropes are not ideal for flat sections of trail because it is very easy for the bike being pulled to run into the lead bike when the lead bike comes to a stop or slows down.

Best Recumbent Trailer Cycle for Kids 3 – 10

MSRP: $499BEST FIT: 3 to 10 years oldFULL REVIEW: Weehoo Turbo

Standard trailer cycles can often sway side to side, and their lack of a harness can’t keep kids safe in the event of a fall. That’s where Weehoo comes in!

Built much lower to the ground, the Weehoo Turbo is incredibly stable compared to most standard trailer cycles. Additionally, it has a wide, recumbent seat with a height-adjustable harness that keeps kids secure and safe.

Besides keeping kids safe, the recumbent seat allows them to sit back and relax, or throw their hands up in the air! And with pedals that are completely optional, kids can choose to take an active or passive role in the ride.

While fun and enjoyable on paved paths, use on non-paved trails and single-track trails is where the Weehoo really shines.

Compared to a bike trailer, the narrow footprint of the Weehoo allows the trailer to easily glide through narrow trails without getting stuck on low-lying branches or rocks. With one wheel, the Weehoo is also able to track smoothly on uneven surfaces, versus a trailer that bounces back and forth on two tires which can create a bumpy and uncomfortable ride.

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While still technically a tag along bike, the Weehoo brand of recumbent trailer cycles certainly are unique. They place the child in a recumbent position (sitting slightly leaned back), with their body placed much lower to the ground and with the pedals out in front of them instead of underneath them. They also have a harness like a standard bike trailer.

The lower position of the child rider allows Weehoo trailer cycles to be much more nimble and are by far the best option for families who want to hit single-track with young kids. With a single wheel in back, versus two with a traditional bike trailer, the Weehoos handle rough terrain much better. That said, they’re excellent for use on on paved trails as well.

With a high-back seat and a 3-point shoulder harness, the Weehoos keep littles one nice and secure, even if they fall asleep. We’ve used the Wehoo Turbo with our 2-year-old!

With a weight capacity of 80 lbs, some models are also a great alternative for older special needs kids who would benefit from the added security of a high-back seat and harness.

As the icing on the cake, riding with a Weehoo is significantly smoother than with a standard tag along bike – they have little to no effect on the adult’s balance. Out of all the bike attachments for kids, the Weehoo is the best option for mountain biking with little toddlers.

Many kids bike attachments cannot be installed on a bike that already has a rear rack due to clearance issues. The exception to this would be the FollowMe Tandem, which can be used not only with a rack on the bike, but with a child bike seat on that rack! If you already have a rear cargo rack on your bike (or want to install one), you’ll need to ensure it’s compatible with the bike attachment you choose.

If you have a younger child whom you want to transport along with your tag along rider, the best option is a front-mounted child seat, as this doesn’t interfere with the tag along bike in any way. Tag alongs are generally incompatible with rear-mounted child seats, as the child seat interferes with the connecting arm.

You may be able to hook up a bicycle trailer to the back of the trailer cycle. The resulting “road train” is quite long and more difficult to maneuver, so you’ll need to ride very cautiously and stick to bike trails and other spots with less traffic and less required maneuvering. Be sure to double check your trailer cycle’s manual first, as some explicitly state that they should not be used with bike trailers.

The FollowMe Tandem is unique because it’s the only child bike attachment that allows you to ride with a child in a rear child bike seat while also towing your child on a pedal bike. This is because it mounts to the rear axle of the adult bike, rather than the seat post or a rear rack.

If you want to transport two older children on a trailer cycle, consider a two-seater trailer cycle, such as the Weehoo Turbo.

If you have younger kids and are also interested in options like bike trailers, child bike seats, and cargo bikes, check out our list of Best Bike Carriers for Kids and Babies.