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Our Review of the InSTEP Pathfinder trail-a-bike
The InSTEP Pathfinder trailer-bike is a simple, easy-to-install trailer cycle that folds for compact storage. Recommended for kids ages 4 through 9 years of age, its design supports children up to a maximum of 70 lbs.
The Pathfinder is a great first step in teaching your child how to ride a bike; with the Pathfinder, there are no clumsy training wheels, and your child will never have to struggle to keep up. This is great for avid cycling families, since you can spend more time together on the bike trails without taking extra breaks and making extra stops. Your child can enjoy pedaling at his or her own pace, and can take a rest if little legs get tired.
Comparatively, the InSTEP Pathfinder offers decent quality at a price that's significantly lower than the Chariot Catch'em trail-a-bike. Remember to practice good safety habits with the Pathfinder, just as you would with any other bike. Make sure your child always wears an approved safety helmet.
- Parental control of steering, braking, speed and balance ensures adult and child can safely ride together
- Fully illustrated instructions for easy assembly
- Durable steel frame
- Quick disconnect from bicycle—easy for parents to attach and remove
- Designed for children not quite ready to ride solo; a fun way to teach children the basics of cycling
- Adjustable padded seat and handle bars allows children to grow with the Pathfinder
- Foldable design stores easily and compactly
- Safety flag and side and rear reflectors ensures visibility to other motorists
- 20" spoked wheel and pneumatic tire aids independent bicycle strength and promotes easy rolling
- 1 Year limited warranty
- Fully illustrated instructions for easy assembly
- Durable steel frame
- Quick disconnect from bicycle—easy for parents to attach and remove
- Designed for children not quite ready to ride solo; a fun way to teach children the basics of cycling
- Adjustable padded seat and handle bars allows children to grow with the Pathfinder
- Foldable design stores easily and compactly
- Safety flag and side and rear reflectors ensures visibility to other motorists
- 20" spoked wheel and pneumatic tire aids independent bicycle strength and promotes easy rolling
- 1 Year limited warranty
InSTEP Pathfinder trail-a-bike Reviews
All Customer Reviews
- Average Rating:
- Highest Rating:
- Lowest Rating:
- Number of Reviews:
- 13
Works fine after a few adjustments
Reviewer: Barry Swedeen , Rural Hall, NC
Date: September 12, 2008
Many reviewers have commented about the wheel unexpectedly locking up. I had the same problem and I called the manufacturer. The solution was to hand-spin the freewheel back into proper position and then give it a couple of whacks with a hammer to tighten it down. No disassembly required for the fix and despite MANY long bike rides the problem has NEVER returned. As for it being wobbly, the idea of the Trail-a-Bike is to teach the child rider how to balance. There have been a couple of times when my daughter was moving around in her seat trying to undo a wedgie that I had to tighten my grip, but other than that it's a smooth ride. I recommend the product.
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Reviewer: GLR , Dallas, TX
Date: August 11, 2008
I purchased the Instep Trail-a-bike so my 5-year-old son could ride with me. It worked great for about half a mile and then the wheel suddenly locked up and nearly caused us to fall. I could not get the wheel to turn again (maybe bad bearings?) and had to drag the thing back home. It is going back to the store for a refund. I am extremely disappointed in this product and cannot recommend it...
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Spend more for better quality
Reviewer: Chris , Milwaukee WI
Date: July 15, 2008
After about 1 mile during our first ride the wheel completely locked up--and we skidded to a stop. The wheel would no longer move at all (Sounds like a bearing issue). I read other reviews and some have experienced the same problem with this brand. Don't waste your money--spend a little more for something reliable.
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Wobbly In-Step
Reviewer: Anonymous , San Diego, CA
Date: September 04, 2007
I really like the bike trailer concept, but the In-Step trailer is very wobbly. As it wobbles from side to side, I have to brace my arms on my handle bars to maintain control.
I have ridden with other bike trailers, and they do not wobble as much.
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Seat Height
Reviewer: John Mockus , Shorewood
Date: July 28, 2007
we bought this for my wifes bike but had to put it on mine because to install under her seat the seat would have to be raised and since she is short she would not be able to reach the pedals. except for that it seems like a good product and our 5 year old loves it. The seat is extremely uncomfortable for her little butt Since I assume that this is for smaller kids they should make it more adaptable. she could not reach the pedals until I trimmed 2 inches from the seat stem. I don't regret this purchase and now I guess it will be me doing most of the bike riding. maybe my wife secretly designed this so it would have to go behind my bike to get me off the couch!
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I'd give it a great review if I knew where to buy
Reviewer: Anonymous , Silver Spring, MD
Date: July 28, 2007
Our 4-yr-old was thrilled to graduate from her ride-in trailer. It was a Wicycle, bettter than a Burley for less $$, and one of the many great things about that Wike trailer was you could buy an extra hitch for a few bucks so either mom or dad could pull the kid's trailer. But the Instep Pathfinder came with only one hitch, which my husband put on his bike, which is too large for me to ride. So now I cannot take my daughter for a bike ride on her trail-a-bike because I don't have a hitch for my bike, and I cannot find where to buy them. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?!?!?
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Wheel suddenly locked
Reviewer: Colin , Minneapolis, MN
Date: July 23, 2007
This looked like a great, affordable trail-a-bike. After assembly, I took our five-year-old on an inaugural ride around the block and she loved it! Later the same day, we took it on a 3-mile ride around a nearby lake. About 2 miles in, the trail-a-bike wheel locked completely, and we skidded to a stop. I'm not sure what the problem is (presumably bad bearings or something), but the wheel wouldn't spin without applying tremendous force. We were forced to detach her bike, leave it where we were, and walk the remaining one mile home (later to return by car and pick it up).
Needless to say, I returned the trailer and wouldn't recommend it. No doubt many people have had good results, but based on our experience I don't trust their quality control process.
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Love it
Reviewer: victoria , Tempe, AZ
Date: June 07, 2007
My 4 year old son and I have used this trailer for over a year, we absolutely love riding around together. I would definitely recommend it to parents with kids just learning to ride that you want to take a long ride with and it would take too long to get there with the training wheels attached. The only trouble I had at all was if he wiggled alot one way or another I could get off balance on the bike. But that only happened a few times and my son learned that it's difficult to ride if he's doing earthquakes on the back. He actually likes to pedal and help me out now, when we first started he really liked for me to pedal and he just rode.
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SUPER IDEA
Reviewer: Anonymous , FL
Date: April 27, 2007
This is great. As a mother of 3 11,5,&6 mnths it was hard to go for a bike ride. Now the baby rides w/dad, the 5 yr old tags along behind mom (& can go for long rides). Easy to assemble, child felt confident behind me. It does not track exactly striaght otherwise would rate it 5 stars.
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