Trail Gator? Need bike pulling ideas.

[JMoto]

Okay, wondering if a Trail Gator (http://www.trail-gator.com/) would be best to help my kid out on hills.

We've got an issue with a 30% grader that is half a mile long. The kid refuses to ride up it and hates the world when we make her push her bike up.
She's not totlaly tall enough for an e-bike yet and we want to wait for her to be bigger/older anyways for that.

What do you think? Good idea or do you have a better solution?
I'm not totally sure it will fit on my bike (Benno Boost with a Kinekt seat post) or if her+bike would be too heavy.
Let me know what you think!

 

[rich c]

How old is your kid?

 

[JMoto]

7
Actually, their specs say her bike is too big for it so I need a different option... sigh.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Maybe consider not having the kid ride up a crazy 30% grade cause sooner or later, you're going to have a child who is not going to want to ride a bicycle with you, period. Bicycling should be a fun event, not a death march. Maybe the entire family should be walking up the climb together if you insist riding on that kind of route.

Maybe consider a route change to something more fun and at water level. Gotta put yourself into the childs shoes, back to when you were in those shoes. Would ya like it if mom and dad were making you ride with them on those high elevations?

I don't want to come across sounding harsh about this, but I can guarantee you that once you turn a child off from doing things you want to do as a family, there is no going back. Not a fan of ebikes for kids either, but that's for another time. Good luck!

 

[JMoto]

Maybe consider not having the kid ride up a crazy 30% grade cause sooner or later, you're going to have a child who is not going to want to ride a bicycle with you, period. Bicycling should be a fun event, not a death march. Maybe the entire family should be walking up the climb together if you insist riding on that kind of route.

Maybe consider a route change to something more fun and at water level. Gotta put yourself into the childs shoes, back to when you were in those shoes. Would ya like it if mom and dad were making you ride with them on those high elevations?

I don't want to come across sounding harsh about this, but I can guarantee you that once you turn a child off from doing things you want to do as a family, there is no going back. Not a fan of ebikes for kids either, but that's for another time. Good luck!

Agreed that it's making her dislike biking and that's why I reached out for ideas. Maybe it's okay to consider not replying if you feel snarky? Lot of assumptions being made there. Half the time I ride my Roubaix but I didn't ask about that because I already know you're not supposed to attach extra stuff to carbon fiber and this is an e-bike forum.

We do walk it together because she refuses to try. She's done it once or twice successfully biking up only.

Her school is at the top of that hill so it's not because we're being jerks that we go up it. It's too far to walk from home, we don't have a car and the city bus isn't safe or affordable.

 

[Cowlitz]

30%???? This is incredibly steep for a road. I used to do logging plans, and this is getting towards the maximum slope for skidders for best forest practices. Are you sure it is that steep because I can't see any normal person able to bike that for a half mile? Did you measure it with a clinometer?

We use 18% as a guideline for roads in the forests. To have a school at the top of a 30% road? I don't think so. I guess I could be wrong, but what kind of vehicle drives up that road besides a 4x4?

As for walking a half mile for a 7 year old? Make a game out of it. Watch some cheery videos about hiking. See how fast she can do it and make a game out of it by seeing if she can beat her time. And, make sure she is wearing comfy shoes and clothes for it. Try to figure out what excites her. A prize of a trinket? Maybe hide some things along the way? Brainstorming is needed.

 

[JMoto]

30%???? This is incredibly steep for a road. I used to do logging plans, and this is getting towards the maximum slope for skidders for best forest practices. Are you sure it is that steep because I can't see any normal person able to bike that for a half mile? Did you measure it with a clinometer?

We use 18% as a guideline for roads in the forests. To have a school at the top of a 30% road? I don't think so. I guess I could be wrong, but what kind of vehicle drives up that road besides a 4x4?

As for walking a half mile for a 7 year old? Make a game out of it. Watch some cheery videos about hiking. See how fast she can do it and make a game out of it by seeing if she can beat her time. And, make sure she is wearing comfy shoes and clothes for it. Try to figure out what excites her. A prize of a trinket? Maybe hide some things along the way? Brainstorming is needed.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Apologies for your misunderstandings. You asked for advice; I replied based on the info you gave; now you're the one getting all defensive and in a huff; in addition to now fleshing out more important details, like the hill is actually steeper then originally posted. That her school is at the top of that hill. That there is no school busing, no family car, city busing not considered safe. Maybe it's okay to not consider asking of advice from others if you don't want to hear the cold hard truth. What with the steep hill to school, lack of family car, distrust in public transportation and no apparant school busing it appears you've backed yourself into a corner where the only solution appears to be she needs a 1200 watt Bafang mid drive, with 2 wheel drive, studded tires to keep traction up the 32% grade and a reliable rack and pannier system to carry school supplies home. Or maybe Pops get a car. Have a wonderful day, over and out.

PS: Just how does she get to school everyday?

(I so love these internet threads where like you're sometimes suddenly finding myself walking out in some mine field. Good grief)

 

[JMoto]

Apologies for your misunderstandings. You asked for advice; I replied based on the info you gave; now you're the one getting all defensive and in a huff; in addition to now fleshing out more important details, like the hill is actually steeper then originally posted. That her school is at the top of that hill. That there is no school busing, no family car, city busing not considered safe. Maybe it's okay to not consider asking of advice from others if you don't want to hear the cold hard truth. What with the steep hill to school, lack of family car, distrust in public transportation and no apparant school busing it appears you've backed yourself into a corner where the only solution appears to be she needs a 1200 watt Bafang mid drive, with 2 wheel drive, studded tires to keep traction up the 32% grade and a reliable rack and pannier system to carry school supplies home. Or maybe Pops get a car. Have a wonderful day, over and out.

PS: Just how does she get to school everyday?

(I so love these internet threads where like you're sometimes suddenly finding myself walking out in some mine field. Good grief)

Nice, not a minefield, you just decided my asking for advice was bad parenting. Most of those details and specifics weren't important additions needed to my request for ideas.

 

[E-Wheels]

Okay, wondering if a Trail Gator (http://www.trail-gator.com/) would be best to help my kid out on hills.

We've got an issue with a 30% grader that is half a mile long. The kid refuses to ride up it and hates the world when we make her push her bike up.
She's not totlaly tall enough for an e-bike yet and we want to wait for her to be bigger/older anyways for that.

What do you think? Good idea or do you have a better solution?
I'm not totally sure it will fit on my bike (Benno Boost with a Kinekt seat post) or if her+bike would be too heavy.
Let me know what you think!

Have you considered a cargo ebike or attaching a trailer buggy to the rear axle of an ebike
If you decide on the ebike trailer buggy option then once your child outgrows the buggy they may be big enough to use the ebike by themselves
EDIT: Links added

Electric Cargo Bike Reviews | ElectricBikeReview.com

These electric bikes are usually longer and lower to the ground, providing easier loading of cargo and more cargo space than a standard city ebike. Cargo ebikes tend to have powerful motors, optional rack accessories for transporting gear or additional passengers (including children), and they...

electricbikereview.com

Kids Electric Bike Reviews | ElectricBikeReview.com

Most electric bikes are made for teens or adults, but a few companies have made child-specific products so everyone can ride along with electric assist! These ebikes tend to use smaller wheels, but often rely on the same powerful motors and high-capacity batteries. In many cases, they are set to...

electricbikereview.com

 

[JMoto]

Have you considered a cargo ebike or attaching a trailer buggy to the rear axle of an ebike
If you decide on the ebike trailer buggy option then once your child outgrows the buggy they may be big enough to use the ebike by themselves

Thanks for the idea. We used to have a buggy but she outgrew it a long time ago. She's taller than the average bird.
Our parking spot isn't big enough for one of the hauler e-bikes but our neighbor has one for her dog! It's very cute.

I found this though, considering it: https://www.dancingmoose.nz/store/p13/Big_Little_Tow_-_Bike_Tow_Strap.html#

 

[E-Wheels]

Thanks for the idea. We used to have a buggy but she outgrew it a long time ago. She's taller than the average bird.
Our parking spot isn't big enough for one of the hauler e-bikes but our neighbor has one for her dog! It's very cute.

I found this though, considering it: https://www.dancingmoose.nz/store/p13/Big_Little_Tow_-_Bike_Tow_Strap.html#

Ok with her being tall, the kids ebike link I added to my original post above might be an option
Good luck with finding a solution
I’m sure you will find the best one
Oh, and good for you in looking for greener sustainable alternatives and not automatically defaulting to using a car

 

[Cowlitz]

Must not have to deal with snow then. I apologize but......you don't find many roads that steep. I'd like to see a video.

 

[JMoto]

Must not have to deal with snow then. I apologize but......you don't find many roads that steep. I'd like to see a video.

I think we get a flurry once a decade or so!
In SF you're not allowed to complain about a steep hill unless it's one that has stairs for a sidewalk, lol.
One of my favorite events is held every year (when there is no Pandemic) on the next hill over. Both streets are steeper than Lombard that makes all the Hollywood movies! Check it out: