My daughter has a great tricycle that we have had for a couple of years now. Her older cousin has the same one. Since our son is now old enough to try his hand (or feet) at pedaling around the patio, we tried to talk my sister-in-law into handing down their trike. She said that he still rides it. He'll be seven this summer.
So what trike is so great that even a seven-year-old won't give it up?
The Trek Trikester.
Our daughter's Trikester (and her cousin's) is the previous style made by Trek. It is so sturdy and solid and we knew when we bought it that it was built to last. Hers is pink, but we tricked it out with some skull stickers and added a basket to haul things around.
What's so great about it? Solid steel construction, a wide wheel base that makes it very stable, lots of seat positions that allow a wide range of child heights (she's almost 5 and we haven't maxed it out yet), and a great back deck.
You know what's so cool about the back deck? For one, her little brother hops on back and holds on tight around her waist and she gives him a ride. And on more than one occasion we've been blocks from home when she has suddenly and urgently needed to go potty. My husband and I have both stepped up, grabbed the handlebars, and pushed her quickly home. That's right, it is so strong that it holds up to the weight of both a child and adult. At the same time.
So back to my son.
We received the new model of Trek Trikester for my son to test drive. There are a few changes between my daughter's model and this one.
Whereas the old model has an open front fender, the new model has a plastic one (my only criticism...I was surprised that they used plastic on an otherwise extremely solid trike).
The rear deck is designed a little different, but it still withstands the weight of an adult.
And the seat has changed. The new model has more of a banana seat (did that just show my age?) which you won't have to adjust as your child grows (no need for adjustment is a plus). The seat is also pretty cushy and easy to get on and off of.
The steel frame makes it sturdy. But another great feature is the rubber wheels. I hate plastic wheels!
My son is still learning to ride. He's been pushing it more than pedaling, but he'll get the hang of it. My daughter, though, would like to make it her own. She claims it's lightning quick. And I have to say it has definite zoom factor. She races up and down our drive at about mach 8.
Trek says "the Trikester fits a wide range of youngsters and allows the fun to continue as they grow. The one-size, padded saddle allows for a variety of leg lengths while the durable construction means junior can enjoy the ride for years." I totally agree.
The Trikester comes in two color combinations: Pearl White/Candy Blue and Pearl White/Metallic Pink. And these colors are hot!
You may balk at the price when you hear it. But I can tell you that this is not some piece of junk that is going to fall apart. In fact, I have seen the older model sell quickly time and again at garage sales for $50-75. (The older style was about $150 new.) My husband always says it's better to buy quality and only buy once. Considering we have had ours three years and we may get another three years out of it, and then sell it, well, you do the math, I personally think it's worth it. I would much rather buy a quality trike that has longevity than lesser quality trikes that sell for $50-$75 that won't make it one season.
We have been riding ours hard and after almost 3 years it barely looks used. Her Trikester gets garage space even if both of our cars don't! In fact, she rides it more often than she rides her bike because she can maneuver it on our patio since it has a small turning radius. And if you have multiple children, this is definitely hand-me-down-worthy.
Now if only I could outfit my son's new Trikester with a basket. I can't seem to find one that isn't pink with flowers. 'Cause kid's gotta haul things, you know.
Watch this short video to see both the old and new styles of Trek Trikester.
This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!
(We are thankful to Trek for supplying our family with the new model to test drive.)
