8 Best Tag Along Bikes (and Bike Attachments for Kids)

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.

Collage showing four different bike attachments for kids - tag along bike, recumbent trailer cycle, tow bar, and tow rope

8 Best Bike Attachments for Kids

Bike Attachment Why We Love It MSRP
Tag Along Bikes - (Ages 4 to 9)
WeeRide Co-Pilot Great quality on a budget $169
Burley Kazoo/Piccolo Very stable and easy to attach $379
Tow Bars - (Ages 3 to 7)
Trail Gator Affordable tow for shorter rides $109
FollowMe Tandem Impressive stability for longer rides $320
Tow Rope - (Ages 3 to adult)
TowWhee Best overall $49
Recumbent Trailer Cycle - (Ages 2 to 10)
Weehoo Blast Best option for younger riders (age 2 - 4) $279
Weehoo Turbo Best option for older riders (age 3 - 10) $499

Which Bike Attachment Works Best for You?

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.

Kids Bike Attachment Styles

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.

TAG ALONG BIKES

KaZam (WeeRide) Co-Pilot

Solid Quality Trail a Bike on a Budget

WeeRide Co-Pilot tag along bike in action with mom and son

MSRP: $169

BEST FIT: 4 to 10-year-olds, minimum 41″ tall

FULL 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.

PROS:

  • Fits a wide age range of kids – adjustable seat and handlebars
  • Easy to mount and unmount, and folds for easy storage
  • Soft, comfy saddle
  • Comes with a splash guard and safety flag
  • Low price
  • Available in several colors

CONS:

  • Seat post hitch more wobbly than Burley’s rack-mounted hitch
  • Adult saddle can get rotated out of place after turns

Burley Kazoo/Piccolo

Best Standard Tag Along BikeVery Stable and Easy to Attach

Mom and son riding down the sidewalk on the Burley Kazoo tag along bike

MSRP: $379/$419

BEST 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 tag along bikes are no exception.  The Burley Piccolo and Kazoo are some of the most expensive trailer cycles, but absolutely worth the investment, especially for families who plan to use a trailer cycle frequently. Burley’s unique mounting system makes the tag along bike MUCH more stable than other brands.

Mounting to a rack versus a seat post, we (along with other Burley tag along bike users!) report 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.

PROS:

  • Hitch allows the Piccolo or Kazoo to pivot smoothly in all directions for great maneuverability
  • Attaches to rack vs. seat post for best-in-class stability
  • Easy assembly, mounting, and unmounting
  • Quick-release attachment to adult bike is a stand-out design and easy to use
  • Comes in a geared or non-geared version

CONS:

  • The included rack cannot be used with a child bike seat

FAQ: Tag Along Bikes

What is a Tag Along Bike?

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.

What Type of Terrain are Tag Along Bikes Best For?

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, trailer cycles are usually best for pavement, but could also handle occasional packed dirt trails.

What’s the Best Age for a Tag Along Bike?

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 trailer bike. 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 a tag along bike can be raised or lowered like a traditional bike. Additionally, the handlebars on some tag along bikes 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.

Does a Tag Along Bike Need Gears?

Gears are a possibility with tag along or trailer bikes, although there are very few options available (Burley Piccolo). Because trail a bikes are most frequently used with younger kids, gears can often be too much for them to handle. For most families, a trailer bike with gears is 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 trailer bike to coach a child to shift properly.

What Else Do I Need to Know about Tag Along Bikes?

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.

BIKE TOW BARS

Trail-Gator

Affordable Bike Tow Arm For Shorter Rides

Child smiling while being towed on trail gator tow bar.

MSRP: $109

BEST FIT: 12″-20″ bikes (without hand brakes) with riders weighing 70 pounds or less

FULL 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 tires 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.

PROS:

  • Small and easy to store – great option for the “just-in-case” scenario
  • Child can easily be removed or reattached to the adult bike at any point during the ride
  • Child feels like they are riding along with their parent

CONS:

  • Installation is straightforward but time-consuming
  • Not recommended for kids’ bikes with hand brakes
  • Wobbly compared to traditional trailer cycles
  • Kids can engage their coaster brakes and produce drag

FollowMe Tandem

Best Bike Tow Bar for Longer Rides – Impressive Stability

Mom riding with 2.5 year old on her bike using the FollowMe Tandem bike coupling device

MSRP: $320

BEST FIT: 12″ to 20″ bikes, long or short paved rides

FULL 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.

PROS:

  • High-quality design and durable build
  • Incredibly secure connection points on both bikes
  • Very smooth, stable ride
  • Can tow a wide variety of kids bikes – 12″ – 20″
  • Stores on adult bike when not in use – can use for “just in case” scenarios

CONS:

  • Expensive
  • Connecting mid-ride requires several steps, but still manageable

FAQ: Bike Tow Bars

What is a Bike Tow Bar?

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.

What’s the Best Terrain for Riding with a Tow Bar?

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.

What’s the Best Age for a Tow Bar?

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.

What Else Do I Need to Know About Tow Bars?

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 on 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.

BIKE TOW ROPES

TowWhee

Best Bike Tow Rope

Teenager pulling little sister up a hill using TowWhee tow rope

MSRP: $49 – We highly recommend purchasing the Kids Connect version that comes with a lanyard attached to the end

BEST FIT: All ages and skill levels

FULL 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 that 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.

PROS:

  • Small and compact, can easily be stored for use on the go
  • Can be used with all ages and skill levels
  • Keeps even tension when in use
  • Installs in seconds

CONS:

  • When fully extended, kids can brake and startle you – just make sure to instruct them ahead of time

FAQ: Bike Tow Ropes

Child being towed by mom on her mountain bike - using the Kids Ride Shotgun tow rope

What is a Tow Rope?

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.

What is the Best Terrain for Riding with a Tow Rope?

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.

What is the Best Age for a Tow Rope?

Unlike trailer cycles 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.

What Else Do I Need to Know About Tow Ropes?

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.

RECUMBENT TRAILER CYCLES

Weehoo Turbo

Best Recumbent Trailer Cycle for Kids 3 – 10

Mom standing with bike and Weehoo Turbo recumbent trailer cycle, city scape behind them

MSRP: $499

BEST FIT: 3 to 10 years old

FULL 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 trailers 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.

PROS:

  • Recumbent seat provides kids with a safe, carefree, relaxed ride
  • Mounting is quick, easy, and only requires a seat post
  • Height adjustable harness with adjustable chest strap make for a great fit
  • Compared to a bike trailer, the narrow footprint of the Weehoo prevents it from becoming stuck on low branches or rocks
  • With one wheel, the Weehoo tracks smoothly over uneven surfaces

CONS:

  • You must keep the bike upright when loading your child into the trailer
  • Low-lying seat can get dust on kids’ faces – sunglasses are recommended (fender is included to prevent rocks from hitting kids)
  • No suspension, so it can be a bumpy ride on rougher all-terrain trails
  • Can’t be used with a dropper post

Weehoo Blast

Best Trail a Bike for the Youngest Riders (Age 2-4)

Weehoo Blast recumbent trailer cycle, without pedals

MSRP: $279

BEST FIT: Kids ages 2 to 5

A more economical version of the Weehoo Turbo, this trailer cycle is also a better fit for the youngest little riders. A footrest replaces pedals, which, lets be honest, 2-year-olds certainly aren’t going to use anyways!

PROS:

  • Recumbent seat provides kids with a safe, carefree, relaxed ride
  • Mounting is quick, easy, and only requires a seat post
  • Seat harness keeps little ones strapped in and safe
  • Compared to a bike trailer, the narrow footprint of the Weehoo prevents it from becoming stuck on low branches or rocks
  • With one wheel, the Weehoo tracks smoothly on uneven surfaces

CONS:

  • You must keep the bike upright when loading your child into the trailer
  • Low-lying seat can get dust on kids’ faces – sunglasses are recommended (fender is included to prevent rocks from hitting kids)
  • Footrest straps can easily come loose

FAQ: Recumbent Trailer Cycles

What is a Recumbent Trailer Cycle?

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.

What’s the Best Terrain for Riding in a Recumbent Trailer Cycle?

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.

What’s the Best Age for a Recumbent Trailer Cycle?

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.

What Else Do I Need to Know About Recumbent Trailer Cycles?

As the icing on the cake, riding with the Weehoo trailer cycles are 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.

Can you use a tag along bike with a rear rack on the adult bike?

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 actually 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 trailer cycle you choose.

Can you transport more than one child at a time?

If you have a younger child who you want to transport along with your trailer cycle rider, the best option is a front-mounted child seat, as this doesn’t interfere with the trailer cycle in any way. Trailer cycles are generally incompatible with rear-mounted child seats, as the child seat interferes with the trailer cycle arm.

1. Mom riding with child on a trailer cycle in the rear and smaller child in child bike seat in the front. 2. Mom riding with older child on trailer cycle in rear, connected to a smaller sibling in a bike trailer behind.

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.

Which bike attachment for kids is best for you?

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.

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