The InStep Pathfinder is a bonus compared to other tag along bikes priced more than double in price. You’ve no doubt seen this type of thing being pulled more often than not by a mountain bike, it connects to your seat post, has a third wheel, a seat behind a set of handle bars and pedals to push. This hybrid has no brakes and free wheels backwards too if the rider does not want to pedal they can cruise, but pedaling is encouraged.
Sticker price of $119.00 but it was on sale for $79.00, dad’s bonus shopping thanks to a Miss Debbie(of the Y) tip at the clubhouse when she asked what we were doing for the day and I went off on an overpriced tag along rant.
My son graduated to his second bike with training wheels this week even though he still goes about 1 mile max, and he goes so slow I can’t keep my bike balance but he rides faster than I can walk which was causing us problems and the balance I provide him will only help him, or so I hope.
Last weekend we went for a big family Mothers Day ride along the Spring Creek Trail in Fort Collins and we were able to borrow an older model InStep that my son desperately wanted to ride on but was a little intimidated and rode in a Burly with his younger cousin the first 6 miles. At the 6-mile mark I stopped with the tag along still attached to my bike and waited for the Burly to catch up and when we pulled up I said “I sure need help pedaling uphill wanna ride and help me out?” He said sure and unbuckled to get out and climb aboard my rig while wearing his helmet. We took off slow, I kept asking/telling him to hang on, which he did, and soon we were at the end of the trail ready to turn around for the cruise back down to the east. The ride was uneventful other than my son getting cramps in his hand from holding on tight for so long but I heard him singing as if I have never heard him sing before as he pedaled while loving life.
Getting back to the PF 250, setup was minimal out of the box and after a couple of test rides around the block we got the seat height right and the handlebars in a good forward position. I did have to fiddle and play with the double directional knuckle pivots the PF 250 uses when negotiating turns a couple of times. I was a little concerned about the seat post mount to my bike and the way I had to torque it down, my seat rotated as I negotiated turns but I fixed that by tightening the lever for the seat to make it tight and loosened the knuckle even further. I looked at the REI brand of tag along on their web site that runs for $159.00 and it had all the similar critical components. It had the quick release for the handlebars his and my seat post mounts where the PF 250 had Allen Bolt patterns at these locations; but hey, for $75 bucks I can turn some bolts!
In this dads opinion if you don’t need a splash guard to protect junior when there is water at the curb and don’t mind spinning a wrench if you change bikes (you can get an extra mount of the InStep web site for 8 bucks to eliminate the wrenching) this tag along is well worth the money! I bet we outgrow it by the time all the new tire nubs wear out and by then it will be garaged sale sold a couple of times. Time will tell, but I also have an InStep Jog Stroller that has been to Disneyworld and back while being put through our paces, miles and Sippy spills and still runs strong. I did not even blink twice about the brand in my 10 minute in and out of Target!