Instep Sync Single Seat Bike Child Trailer, Max Weight 40 lbs., 5-Point Harness, Folding Frame, Quick Release Wheels, Easy Storage, Bug Screen & Weather Shield, Green/Grey

I bought this trailer to take my 14 month old daughter on bike rides. Knowing nothing about bike trailers I did some lengthy research. While I found MANY trailers priced well over a couple hundred dollars, this one fell right into my budget. I was considering purchasing a used more expensive trailer but the more I researched, I found that the more expensive ones offered features (larger tires, different canopy system, different color schemes, brand name price inflation, etc.) I didn't need or thought were silly (like a tire for the tow arm to convert the trailer into a walking/running stroller). After all the researching, review reading and expert consulting I decided to buy the InStep Sync Single Bicycle Trailer. Amazon had the cheapest price and with 2-day free shipping I didn't hesitate to order. The assembly was very simple. There was nothing really to it really as the carriage is already assembled with the canopy already attached. There were only 3 other parts that needed to be attached: tires (which snap right in), tow arm (which slides in and safety cotter pin holds in place) and the caution flag (again 2 second pole construction and slide into frame). Bike connection might have been the most difficult task, which wasn't so difficult for me since I'm very familiar with how my tire/axel comes apart. If you have a quick release axel shaft on your bike, the installation of the hitch will take you less than a few minutes. If you have a bolt style axel, it will be slightly more difficult as you will have to remove the bolt, place the hitch assembly on, replace the bolt and reposition your tire to it's original location before tightening. TIP #1: If you have a bolt style axel, outline the bolt on the frame before removing it. This way you can reposition it to the same location before tightening it. TIP #2: Watch a youtube tutorial on installation will definitely help. I did that and didn't even have to consult the manual! Before taking off on your voyage, do make sure the tires are at proper inflation before setting out. I found that the tires were significantly under pressure. And also tighten all the straps on the carriage that hold the canopy on the frame. Many were loose but a quick pull of the straps made everything fit better. The side window panels are flexible plastic and do not have an option to open for ventilation. Both the front and back have a roll-up plastic that expose a screen for air flow-thru. Velcro hold the plastic window in place if you choose to keep it down. The front entry flap and entire back panel is secured by a long velcro strip and buttons on each side. didn't find any issue with that, however it would have been nice if the manufacture provided extra material after the velcro to overhang and provide a flap to grab to unvelcro and to also provide more of a air stopper from going through areas that weren't as secure. Connecting the trailer was a cinch after the hitch assembly was on. TIP #3: this might sound weird but positioning your bike perpendicular to the trailer allows you to very easily insert the trailer arm into the hitch assembly on the bike and slide the secure pin through both piece without difficulty. If you don't do it this way, you will be bending the spring while trying to insert into the trailer hitch which is very difficult. don't worry, the moment you pull off the trailer will align correctly. Pulling the trailer wasn't as noticeable with my 14 month old daughter as it was for my 5 year old 50lb niece! It required a lot more effort in peddling when my niece was in the trailer! You really couldn't tell the trailer was connected if it wasn't for the drag of a heavier passenger. you have full operation of your bikes turn, cornering, etc. as the spring between the bike and trailer create that nonexistent trailer feel. I took my 5 year old niece for a ride and got some feedback on trailer from her perspective. She said when the windows are down (no flow-thru) the cabin stays nice and warm. We went for a right in 50 degree weather so the cabin staying comfortable was preferred as I didn't want her getting cold. She also noted that she could feel the slightest bumps. You might be able to deflate the tires slightly to hep with that, although with no shock system, the passenger will always feel the imperfections of the ground. Riding on smooth payment would eliminate this concern. Over all, she enjoyed the ride so much that she fell asleep! Overall, very please with the purchase and would recommend to anyone wanting to take your little one for an excursion!

We bought this when we had baby #4. Never had one before, as my husband and I just got bikes for the first time, since we were probably 13! Our older kids 10, 8, and 6 are into biking. So for cheap family fun we invested in bikes for us and a trailer for our then 10 month-old baby. It very easy to assemble. Even easier to set up and break down each time. It all folds in on itself. We got a trailer hitch bike rake for the minivan to hold 5 bikes and this trailer fits with lots of room to spare in the back of my Honda Oddessy. The directions say for 1 years-old and up, but our son has been super strong since births. Army crawling at 4 months and walking by 9 months, so we figured sitting in the trailer wouldn't be an issue and it wasn't. Buy the extra coupling link to connect to your bike, so there is one on each adults' bike and it makes attaching it to either bike really easy. (Only one coupling link is included to attach to one bike.) We used this all last summer, even taking it down to Destin, FL for some beautiful biking. My son loved it. Plus, there are pockets for sippy cups and toys. Not to mention plenty of room for water bottles for the rest of the family. I did add some of those custioned shoulder pads to go around the straps, just because they were hitting him across the neck and chin and I didn't want them to cause a rash. (I just used the ones off the old infant carseat he grew out of.) The straps are a 5 point harness, completely adjustable and the seat height is adjustable as well. On long trips, he falls asleep and is perfectly safe. We can hear my son ooohing at all he sees.You will feel it when pulling this trailer. I had a heck of a time once...then we realized the tires had gone flat! (Check the tires before a trip.) Once the tires were filled up, it was much easier. Going up hill sucks, but that sucks anyways! Getting started can be a pain, but once your peddling, your fine. I'm 34 and 5'2 and I can pull this...but I prefer to let my husband do it when he's with me! I thought about getting one of those seats that attaches to my seat for this summer, now that my sone is 1.5, but I'm afraid it'll throw my balance off. With all the kids, there is a a lot of stopping and starting and the trailer just seems like a safer, smarter option. Remember to practice safety. Don't ride at night and don't let little kids hang in the rear. We do it in a line from my husband & the trailer, the 3 older kids, then me watching from behind for any wipeouts. (My 6 year-old still bites the dust & my 8 year-old daughter is just as slow as me!) It's great FREE family fun and a workout. We easily can bike 6 miles before the kids start complaining. We love this trailer!

I chose this trailer for it's price and single seat design. Arrived in a compact box, upon opening the product is well protected with minimal waste. I believe there were 5 or 6 pieces to assemble in the box, and I was complete in about 20 minutes. The assembly was all very minor and straightforward, with or without the manual. For my first baby trailer, I couldn't be happier so far. The trailer is very lite, compact yet plenty of space for a diaper bag and other stuff. Pockets for your child in their seating area, strong harness, and a bright orange flag. There are reflectors all around, rain shield and another flap in the back that can be kept open or closed. For the price, I feel like I made a great decision, in comparison to some of the other trailers I viewed at Dick's Sports. I will Update this review once my Bike comes in the mail this week, and I have installed and tested the Trailer. ***UPDATE*** 5/20/2012 This trailer is outstanding! My bike came in the mail and after building it, I installed the quick connect with no problems. My daughter is 8 months old and enjoys getting towed around the park and to the library. I live in small town where the roads haven't been touched up in years. My daughter still manages to fall asleep on a ride, almost always. The quick connect works like a charm, quickly! I can have the trailer on or off the bike in just a few seconds. I'm actually so pleased with this trailer that I may end up ordering the stroller kit for it. Yesterday, I took a ride down some trails that were pretty rough and filled with roots. I made sure to properly adjust my daughters harness for the trail ahead and padded the bottom inside with spare diapers, just in case. It was like riding through a dry creek bed and my daughter was popped up a time or two. The harness itself held her very snugly and securly in place. She appeared to be very comfortable and made zero audible complaints during our brief trail ride. After we got through the rough stuff, I stopped and let a little slack out of her seat harness. Then I took a peak underneath of the trailer. With a loaded diaper bag, half gallon of water, large ziplock snacks for me, multiple toys, a U lock and Cable lock combo... that trailer had some weight in addition to my daughter. No hits at all. It's a good feeling to learn the limitations of your product and still feel safe. I mean, there's not incredible clearance to start with, but for a inexpensive trailer to perform on a trail of this nature without falling apart, is amazing to me. After I came home, I took the time to check every nut, bolt, rivet, and piece of plastic on the trailer. I found zero flaws other than cosmetical. I didn't expect for the trail to be as rough as is it was, but glad to know I could get through another rough patch one day if I have to. Happy Buyer!

So I got this TWO days before schedule! Awesome! It was easy to set up, 10 mins. If your not familar with bike parts and want someone to show you how to do it CORRECTLY, then stop by a bike shop near you. It's considered a saftey check, and most will do it for free. It takes 2 mins to add the part, and you can leave it on the bike and ride with or without the trailer! Then when you want to go with the little one, pop it on and go! Thing is so light that I didn't know I was pulling it with my 23 lb 31 inch long 20 month old in the back. Ok, he cried at first but when I started moving he got what I was up to and quited down and enjoyed the view! I'm in need of loosing a few lbs. I'm a 5'6" 218 lb female with a bad hip and back due to a broken knee injury a few years back. I have taken it for a spin twice so far, and no complaints! Biking is low impact so it's a good choice for me. I'm also pulling it on a Trek 4300, though any adult bike with gears will do. I also live in ND and there isn't alot of hills, it's pretty flat. Either way, I put my peanut back there and he had room and was just fine. As he gets taller I imagine he'll bend his knees or something, but still not bad. It's a good price too! Bonus if you opt for the free shipping! The front has a screen, and a plastic sheild if it's cold, wet, windy. Although I won't go out with him if it's REALLY windy, and it gets that way here. Or raining, that's a no brainer. If it's a bit cooler it would be okay, other wise I don't see the point. I think the plastic cover would make it like an oven in there. But I'll keep it rolled up and I'm all good. The screen is fine for keeping out small things I might kick up with my tires, or bugs. Oh, I have bugs on it alright! It is springtime! Don't make sharp turns with this thing people! Use your heads, wide turns! Turn slowly!! I really didn't feel like I was "towing" anything. To me with my issues, that's huge! I'm on my last kid, and my other one is WAY to old to be in the thing so a single trailer was perfect... for me! I'll say I love it and up my rating after a few more rides, longer ones at that, if it deserves it. It's a nice trailer! Worth the price, which you can't beat. Besides I had to online order this I live in ND, there is no where to "shop" up here. Amazon is my friend! Happy Riding!

We bought this for our 13 month old daughter. Several years ago we purchased a bike child seat that attached to the rear of the bike. That was a disaster. Too heavy, akward, and very uncomfortable for the child. So we looked at trailers instead for our youngest. Most of the trailers have two seats, but from what I read and saw in stores, the seats are extremely small and it's not realistic to fit two kids in the trailer together. Plus we only have one kid who isn't riding their own bike. I didn't want to haul around the extra room and weight if the space wasn't needed. Setup was fairly easy. The instructions to install the hitch to the bicycle are good, and I had it attached within about 15 minutes of setting up the trailer itself. I also bought a second coupling so my wife and I can quickly switch the trailer between bikes. There is plenty of room for a single child, and strapping my daughter in there was easy. The seat bottom has tension adjusters to keep the trailer bottom from sagging, although there's no way the floor would ever drag. The real beauty of this is once you get your child strapped in and attached to the bike. Unlike the child seat, I had no idea the trailer was behind me. The weight is hardly noticable. The ride is smooth, there is no jerking, it corners naturally, and my daughter sits in the trailer with a huge smile on her face. Some of the bike rides have been lengthy for a one year old - up to an hour, and so far she's never started fussing while being towed around. There is also a small amount of cargo space behind the seat. Enough for a diaper bag or some water bottles. Overall we're very happy we found this unit. The price and weight were less than the double units, and so far no problems with performance.

what can I say? I love this thing. I have only one small child and looking for a single child bike trailer was crazy! There were only a few out there. What's up with that?!? Do only ppl w twins ride bikes with trailers?? Moms w single kids need to step up and ask for more selection or something. Anyway, this worked great because I live in a city and have to park my bike different places and ride on tiny sections of the street and sidewalks so I didn't want to haul something the size of a compact car behind me. This is awesome b/c it's small, sturdy and it has a back storage area for the million snack packs and juice boxes that go along with having a 2 year old. It also hooks on really easy and works with an internal gear hub bike. Watch out for that!! if you have a hook up that threads through the gear by taking off the back tire then it won't work with an internal hub. Don't be lured into spending a TON of cash on a trailer you'll only use for a few years. This one is reasonable and tough. The only hard thing is the back of the seat is high so putting a helmet on my little honey makes his head push forward...thus it's a huge fight to get him to wear it b/c it's not comfortable for him. Hey, and when you don't use it anymore hold on to it to haul stuff on long family bike rides. My friend repurposed hers for a grocery getter for the farmers market.

I haven't ever used another trailer, I'm not an expert biker, and there are a lot of hills around my house so I was reluctant to buy the trailer because I thought I wouldn't be able to pull it up hill. I was happy to find that it's no problem! With baby in tow it's slightly more challenging up the hills, but really not bad. On a flat surface I don't really notice the difference. I use it on my mountain bike with my two-year-old. I can zip around easily on the sidewalk, turn corners without snagging generally, and if the bike falls over, the trailer is on a spring so the trailer will not tip over. I can ride over bumps and baby keeps sleeping, because the seat is a cloth sling that doesn't jar baby awake. Baby can look out the windows and have a good view because the trailer slightly off-centered to the left and doesn't block the window with a view of the tire. There's two small pockets inside to store things like food and toys that baby can reach. There's good ventilation, with mesh in the front and rear. The plastic windows on the sides and streamlined tires keep me from snagging on bushes and things that we pass by. It's easy to hook up the trailer to my tire. A pin holds it in place and there's a strap to secure around the frame of the bike for backup. I have quick release tires, so changing the mount to another bike is not too big a deal. We lost the flag that goes on the pole in high wind, but I can easily make or buy a replacement. I might tape it down next time. The only slight complaint I might have about my trailer is that with a helmet on, baby's head gets pushed forward to an angle that is not ideal for sleeping. But baby's gotten used to it, and can sleep like that now anyways. This is the first review I have ever written for any product. I felt compelled to write since I like the trailer so much. Update: I've had it now for almost two years and it's still doing the job! I've left it out in the snow, in the rain and it's been fine. My kid still fits in it, and still likes it and still sleeps in it. I saw a lot of people commenting on flat tires with this trailer. I experienced it also on my first ride, but I just put goo in the tires and never had a problem again.

I bought this so I could go riding with my Son when my wife is at work. I'm trying to loose weight by biking everywhere, so I thought this would give me some more incentive. My son loves it. He calls it his "car." It goes together easy without any tools. Folds down small enough to easily fit in the trunk of a car. The hitch connection installs on the bike in minutes. Great for light rain, the windows are covered and keep the little one dry. There's enough storage space behind the kid to fit a backpack, diaper bag and a blanket. First time we used it I went 15 miles on paved trails. It rides very smooth. At first it looks like turning corners or leaning into turns will be difficult, but it really isn't any different than riding without the trailer. A few things to keep in mind... It doesn't have any real suspension, so watch the bumps. It doesn't track centered behind the bike. It is actually riding to your left side. Keep this in mind when passing between barrier poles, riding on curbs, or riding around telephone poles or fire hydrants. When the weather is hot, make sure you open the front and rear flaps for ventilation. When the weather is cold, keep 'em closed. Make sure someone or something is holding your bike upright while the kid climbs in and out. If it rolls just a little bit forward, your kickstand will flip and the bike will go down. The trailer will be fine, but you may break a mirror. (Speaking from experience)