I wanted to do a special needs bike trailer review on the Wike since the warm weather arrived and I began using it in earnest. In February, I mentioned taking Jamie to ride the Hiawatha Trail in late summer or early fall, but with the pandemic, I doubt we will go. Still, I take Jamie on lots of “Wike rides” close to home and they are a nice way to begin the day. I will continue to enjoy the Wike this summer staycationing due to COVID-19.
Without further delay, I will dive into this special needs bike trailer review. We purchased the “Special Needs – Large” Wike model, so I will be talking about that one.
Why I Bought a Wike
Overall, and put simply, the Wike’s versatility sold me. Since we would be driving to the Hiawatha Trail hundreds of miles away, the trailer had to be portable for travel. The Wike easily folds up into a square shape with the wheels inside. Take a look at this short video from the company just to see how easy it is. We purchased the carrying bag as an additional convenience for travelling.
The are some niceties for the passenger either built into it or available as accessories. It has a bug screen sewed directly into the top cover that rolls up into a pouch when you want to enjoy the open air. To use the bug screen, you unroll it from the pouch and Velcro it along the edges of the opening as shown
There is also a rain shield that attaches to the same Velcro used by the bug screen as shown below:
It fits nicely under the seat and will not get much use – I always avoid being out if there is a chance of rain. Still, it is a nice feature to have in the event that you do get caught in wet weather for whatever reason. It also provides a barrier that helps keep the passenger warm if you are out in chillier temperatures.
Additional Wike Options and Features
The company sells an assortment of foam bolsters and cushions to support a passenger with a disability in the seat. Although Jamie does not need this type of thing, I am glad the company offers them. The seat belt configuration is well thought out and just feels safe. At her size (4’6″ and just over 100 pounds), Jamie will be the only one seated, but you could arrange it for two smaller kids if you wanted.
There is space behind the seat for stowing items. I figure for the Hiawatha trip, we will slip our lunches, drinks, and jackets back there. I will slip my dragon kite into it while Jamie and I head to a nearby park on a breezy day:
More Than a Trailer
The Wike can be more than just a bike trailer. We upgraded to allow conversion to a stroller or a jogger. For this change, well worth the extra $100, the company adds brakes, a push bar, and two front wheels as shown:
Wike offers a discount by opting for just a stroller OR jogger kit since buyers give up one of the front wheels. We chose to have both for the extra setup versatility and it was worth the extra paid.
Now, for the rest of this special needs bike trailer review, I will talk about the various Wike configurations and how they performed for us.
The Wike as a Bike Trailer
Of course, the main purpose we bought a Wike is to take Jamie bicycling. Without much effort, I set the Wike up as a trailer. I easily fixed the tow bar to both points in the frame and once attached, it was sturdy. The red rubber end connects to the hitch on the bike:
I have hitches for the Wike installed on both a mountain bike that I have had for decades and a newer eBike. I pull the trailer fine riding either bike and it stays solidly attached the 45 – 60 minutes we are out. On a typical morning ride, I go 5 or 6 miles on my old Diamond Back Sorrento or 12 – 15 miles on my Haibike. Meanwhile, Jamie hangs out with her iPod and headphones and we both enjoy the time!
You should be aware of several issues when it comes to using the Wike with an eBike. On many eBikes (and it might even be all, but I don’t know), the hitch that Wike provides will not install as recommended. You are left to your own devices to find a way to attach the trailer, so be warned. Hopefully the eBike industry will do something about changing this. Also, in my eBike manual it talks about how much it tows, which does is much less than an adult. With Jamie in the “Special Needs – Large” trailer, we are more than double the recommended weight. Still, it seems to work fine as I try not overwork the motor. I see myself possibly replacing it at some point.
There may be times when I do not want to go biking, but still wish to enjoy the outdoors on a walk. For this, we convert the Wike to one of the strollers.
The Wike as a Jogger
Using the same bar to tow the Wike behind a bicycle, the trailer can be configured as a jogger. This is shown in the photos that follow:
To me, this was the hardest configuration to do since the bar must attach on the bottom all the way under the seat. I struggled a bit inserting the pin through the connector and snapping it in place. On the plus side, I love that Wike simply reuses its components to re-purpose its product this way.
I have not actually taken Jamie for a ride in the Wike while having it configured as a jogger. But I see this as a valuable setup for uneven terrain like some areas we found ourselves in visiting ghost towns in southern Utah.
Joggers work great for, well, jogging, but if we are just walking around the neighborhood, Leslie and I both prefer having the Wike set up as a more traditional stroller.
The Wike as a Stroller
Remove the bar from the Wike completely and install a small wheel at the front as shown and voilà… you have a stroller:
Okay, it is definitely bigger than a stroller we already have for Jamie – wider for sure. But with the front swivel wheel, it is a nice contraption for walking on the sidewalk or other paved areas around our neighborhood.
Returning to the travel theme of this website, when we do finally make it to Hiawatha to bike ride, this stroller configuration will be nice for other stops along the way. It will be nice to not have to take a separate stroller.
One thing to be aware of with the Wike stroller setup is that the passenger can somewhat easily lean back and tip it over. I have to wonder if this is the reason Wike’s extra-large special needs trailer cannot be used as a stroller. Leslie and I fashioned a sort of kickstand to put under the pushbar to prevent tipping while stopped:
It’s not too big of an issue for us since if Jamie is in the stroller, we are right behind her pushing it. Leslie really likes the way this stroller works, so much so, that Jamie’s other stroller gone unused this year.
Wike Special Needs Bike Trailer - Conclusion
So, some final thought on this special needs bike trailer review – I love the Wike! The company has done a great job at creating a multi-use portable product conducive to travel. Vacationers with loved ones who have special needs appreciate being able to reduce what we take on trips and this product delivers that convenience.
After using the Wike some, I can see where some improvements or enhancements might be made. I really wish there was something built in to prevent the tipping back that may occur when it is configured as a stroller. With the creative innovation that went into designing the Wike, I am confident their engineers could find a solution to this problem.
The Velcro offers convenience for installing the bug screen and rain shield, but it will eventually wear out. I would willingly pay for an upgrade that would allow these accessories to attach by a nylon zipper. Undoubtedly, it would add to the durability and longevity of the product.
I looked online for a few weeks trying to find something that would allow us to drive to the Hiawatha Bike Trail and the Wike was just the ticket. I can only hope that this COVID-19 mess will end sooner than later so we can get there. In the meantime, Jamie and I will enjoy “Wike rides” around the rural areas of our community.
