Trying to teach a child with autism to cycle and trailgators

-Toppy-

So I am trying to figure out a safe way for my son who is autistic to cycle
He has a bike already with stablisers and he is well able to cycle around the local cycle tracks no problems, but he is getting a little big for that bike and he pays little or no attention to what is going on around him on the bike

Soo I was thinking about getting a trail gator?
(http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/accessories/child-bike-seats-trailers/trail-gator) I presume the lead bike has full control and the stablizers wont be needed?

(I am considering using this abroad on a holiday during the summer time so if anyone has used one etc any feedback would be great)

Thanks
-Toppy-

Luxman

-Toppy- wrote: »

So I am trying to figure out a safe way for my son who is autistic to cycle
He has a bike already with stablisers and he is well able to cycle around the local cycle tracks no problems, but he is getting a little big for that bike and he pays little or no attention to what is going on around him on the bike

Soo I was thinking about getting a trail gator?
(http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/accessories/child-bike-seats-trailers/trail-gator) I presume the lead bike has full control and the stablizers wont be needed?

(I am considering using this abroad on a holiday during the summer time so if anyone has used one etc any feedback would be great)

Thanks
-Toppy-

I don't have a trail gator myself so cannot comment but from the picture I saw it looks like the front wheel is raised giving the lead bike control over the steering. I appreciate how anxious you would be but I think this might be a step backwards. Without knowing his age the bigger bike not attached might be better but you walk beside him explaining the obstacles he will encounter and how to react to them.

-Toppy-

Thanks Luxman
Hes 9 and hes well able to cycle (too well! No way I could keep up beside him)
And Ill be honest I would love to take the approach that you are suggesting but due to his disability he concentration levels are poor

His version of cycling is going in straight lines until he hits something

Luxman

-Toppy- wrote: »

Thanks Luxman
Hes 9 and hes well able to cycle (too well! No way I could keep up beside him)
And Ill be honest I would love to take the approach that you are suggesting but due to his disability he concentration levels are poor

His version of cycling is going in straight lines until he hits something

Ok then. Well although it's just brilliant fun to go fast I think I would slow him down. It might not work but if you get a bunch of plastic cones and take him out on the grass field somewhere and get himf from point a to b without crashing into a cone (personðŸ˜႒) it might get him to focus on the navigation. I know medication in certain situations can increase the focus and turn the volume down on other distractions for people with autism (depending on where they sit on the spectrum). Repitition on 'rules' works well too but can be exhausting for the teacher😖

midonogh

Toppy
A more robust alternative to the trailgator is a Follow-me-tandem. The FMT holds the childs wheel much lower to the ground and therefore everyones centre of gravity is lower and it all feels a lot more stable. The FMT adapts to wheel sizes and can be used for much older kids. I first came across it in a campsite in France where a Swiss family were cyclotouring with all their panniers. Their kids (8 or 9)were well able to cycle but they used the FMT when the distances got too long.

I used mine with my son to help get him through traffic and when he was too small to go as far as his sister. He is now 6 and a strong cyclist but I have held onto the FMT for when we start to venture further afield and he or his sister will need a break.

The FMT is very rigid and works well. On the flat my son could pedal and push both of us along on his own aged 3.

On the downside its heavy for the parents bike and its pricy. But if you are making an investment for lots of family cycling I thoroughly recommend it.
http://www.followmetandem.co.uk/

smacl

I had a trailgator a few years ago for helping the youngest make it down the Mayo greenway. Good fun, and while it won't help your child to cycle, it may just improve a certain amount of road awareness. The kids bike still does have both wheels on the road, so their pedalling and braking affects your movement. The steering is locked forward, but the mechanism for doing this is very flimsy. Myself and the youngest did crash once, but there was more than a bit of user error involved when we tried to get through a narrow gate with a cattle grid that we probably should have dismounted for. I'd say if the child can cycle with stabalisers they'd be fine on the trailgator, but just practice a bit in the park prior to going out on the road.

_Brian

We have a trailgator and have been using it now for maybe 8 years.

It works great, adult has full control but the kid gets to cycle their bike.

It's a heavy enough piece of kit, and kids bikes are heavy too so you'll know your pulling it.

It takes a bit of getting used to as the kids don't have great balance, and the kids bike does lean over on turns, the tighter the turn the more the lean.

All you need is a spanner to raise the training wheels and you can pop the kid on or off in 2 minutes.

-Toppy-

This is great feedback folks, thanks!

_Brian

smacl wrote: »

I had a trailgator a few years ago for helping the youngest make it down the Mayo greenway. Good fun, and while it won't help your child to cycle, it may just improve a certain amount of road awareness. The kids bike still does have both wheels on the road, so their pedalling and braking affects your movement. The steering is locked forward, but the mechanism for doing this is very flimsy. Myself and the youngest did crash once, but there was more than a bit of user error involved when we tried to get through a narrow gate with a cattle grid that we probably should have dismounted for. I'd say if the child can cycle with stabalisers they'd be fine on the trailgator, but just practice a bit in the park prior to going out on the road.

Something wrong with that setup, the instructions are very clear, the front wheel of the childs bike must be off the ground, I think they recommend 4 inches, otherwise turning a corner with their front wheel on the ground and locked forward would be impossible, or cause a fall...



Something I found hard was the child turning round to look at stuff or behind, a very sudden weight shift to one side, and of course you're looking forward so it hits you before you see it.. My wife tried but found for this reason she hadn't the upper body strength to react to the sudden shifts..

smacl

_Brian wrote: »

Something wrong with that setup, the instructions are very clear, the front wheel of the childs bike must be off the ground, I think they recommend 4 inches, otherwise turning a corner with their front wheel on the ground and locked forward would be impossible, or cause a fall...

More than likely my memory at fault so and the front wheel was raised, been a few years now. She was definitely able pedal and brake though, and the steering was locked by a ball and socket arrangement on an extended arm.

Something I found hard was the child turning round to look at stuff or behind, a very sudden weight shift to one side, and of course you're looking forward so it hits you before you see it.. My wife tried but found for this reason she hadn't the upper body strength to react to the sudden shifts..

My daughter could already cycle when we used the trailgator, and didn't throw her weight about too much, the main function was to let her take a breather on a longer spin. Brilliant on the greenway and country roads, but don't think I'd fancy it in heavy traffic. And of course my little darling used to apply the brakes every now and again going uphill to wind me up. I also remember lowering my saddle so that I could plant my foot easily on the ground when we came to rest.

mp2012

Not wanting to jump the thread for a sales pitch, but if you do plan to get a trail-gator, I have one I don't use anymore and have been planning to move on. We used it with our young lad both here and abroad and found it great, particularly as it allowed us to extend our days on the bike and the distances we could go. When he got tired I just hooked him up and off we went. Let me know if you're interested.