One for a baby - (how old do they need to be to go in a trailer?)
and one for "commuting"
Bike Forum
[closed]
Bike trailers - ideas please
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Some trailers will take a car seat, so up to you. I'd say 8 months, but depends how strong the baby is. Ours has decent harnesses, it held the eldest safely in place when it rolled over once. They cant really wear helmets though, it tips the head forward too much. Have used ours for commuting for 18 months. Most of the journey was on a cycle path, one bit is on a quiet(ish) road. Did use it through the town once & felt very nervous. Eldest now at school & youngest changed nurseries now so using car, but keen to use bike again soon, just need to reccie & good route.
In the wet they stay pretty dry, mainly spray from towing bikes wheels that gets in. I tried various mudguard extensions. If really wet we have some brill all-in-one waterproof suits from littletrekkers.co.uk
Go for it, I love the summer, finishing work & fetching the boys on the bike, usually stopping off at the park.
Our commuting bus...
Posted 2 years ago # -
make and model?
Posted 2 years ago # -
get yourself a quality one such as burley... they are brilliantly designed, stable and hold their value for resale... try getting a 2nd hand one, use it for a few years and sell it onto the next in need.
they realy are worth the extra. I had an original koolstop, and it's good, but not as comfy for the kids. Burley bee is the dogs balls.
the biggest consideration is where do you keep it between rides? it takes up loads of space, and normaly you won't be collapsing it after every ride.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We've got a Halfords one and it seems pretty good so far. Had it a year and only used it for light off road rides with one 2yo child in. In a couple of months our second now 7 months should be alright to come out with us and then the hills really will hurt!
Our eldest never wants the cover on her and screams the woods down if I try to put it on. This results in mud being splattered over her and worms and stones finding their way into the trailer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We have the Croozer Kid for 2. Brilliantly constructed and stable and comfy. We started using it when mini P was 12 months. It folds up quite small and takes a couple of minutes to do so. I mostly use it off-road over the Wyre Forest.
The Croozer is good value as it includes the jogging and buggy conversions as standard which is unusual. It also came with 2 bike mounts and is compatible with many of the Chariot extras (such as baby harness etc).
Get yourself a decent mudguard though to limit the spray as much as possible, although it does also come with a waterproof cover you can use if it's very wet.
My lad loves going out on it, although he tends to just fall asleep after 5 minutes!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have no kids but I find the attitudes to having kids ain a bike trailer interesting.
some trailers will take a car seat. At what age would you put them in the car in this car seat? Why not put them in the bike trailer in the car seat? Why wait until he child is older for a bike trailer?
Posted 2 years ago # -
We did exactly that TJ, but we had borrowed the wider two seater:
But it should be noted that we ended up buying the single seater and the car seat doesn't fit in that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got one of these for my offspring.
I paid £60 ish from Costco - fits two kids (2 and 5 - just) at a push - there's a little "boot" area in the back and it folds up in about 30 seconds. It's ace for occasional use - although if you were going to use it daily I may consider something a little more substantial!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Burley Solo - so only fits 1 child. Daughter loves but we didn't get it until she was about 13 months old, but she could have been in one from around 6 months. She gets excited when she sees the bikes and trailer and she enjoys having her toys and books around her so if she does get bored she has things to entertain herself.
Not cheap and even more expensive this year, but definitely worth it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
TandemJeremy - Member
I have no kids but I find the attitudes to having kids ain a bike trailer interesting.some trailers will take a car seat. At what age would you put them in the car in this car seat? Why not put them in the bike trailer in the car seat? Why wait until he child is older for a bike trailer?
For a start car seats for that age are rear facing. You won't fit it in rear facing although admittedly the forces during a crash will be far lower. Secondly, it can be very hard to fit a car seat in securely. I tried with no luck in our Croozer. You would have to fit a longer webbing strap in to hold the seat in place. I am not saying 'don't do it' but at the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with the security of the fitting. Our son started going in the trailer when he was 12 months and I was comfortable that he could sit un-aided. As I said above, you can actually get specific baby slings which wit into Chariot trailers that can probably be adapted to fit most makes and are likely to be more stable.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"One for Commuting".
How much commuting gear do you carry then?
Here is my Burley BTW, rather heavily loaded AND off-road. With 50Kg on it, and off-road, I feel the flex in the link arm which leads to some unpleasant longitudinal oscillations over the bumps.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have just ordered an Adventure AT3 like this -
Looking for somewhere to try it this weekend.
Posted 2 years ago # -
get one that comes apart easily.
We had a phillips two seater, the wheels popped off in seconds and the whole thing took about 2 minutes to assemble, disassemble. The boys both loved it and it is great training for you.
As for age. Ignoring ones with car seats (which I know nowt about) they need to be able to support their head IE same rules as for a back pack but add on the weight of a helmet.
As said resale is easy so don't worry about that. And get a 2 seater - you never know...
Posted 2 years ago # -
kiddie trailers are probably one of the reasons i want kids..... that and having an excuse to play frisbee, hang around the park, go fishing and chat up the young mums at the school gate.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Lol @ Alpin
I just love being hit around the chops when why son's over tired - makes my day...as you can imagine
Gotta get a trailer though - he's too long for his bike seat now and clips my heels.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We spent a fortune on a charriot cougar wihch has suspension and all sorts! It fits 2 kids and is very very well made which it should be for the price.
They make a baby sling that can hold smaller ones, but I think our smallest was still >9 months before he could sit comfortably in it.It is hard work towing it up hills and the kids always fall asleep immediately.
I expect we can sell ours for 75% of what it cost so all in all I think it has been a good buy, but TBH I don't think we've used it quite enough to justify it other than the fact that it is the only 2 child carrying thing he've had and we have needed it at times just for that. (with the wheel on the front as well that is)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I got some cheap german thing - well cheap compared to some of the prices being asked, from sjs cycles.
The nipper loves it, regularly falls asleep in it on the way back from the creche. Started her in about 16months but it's only from about 2 onwards that she'd had the proper strength to sit properly (the straps are secure but not the best placed to encourage her to sit properly, that coupled with the slight sag on the cloth floor means she slouches down a bit.
It's regularly used in the summer to take her to and from the creche and also further afield to the duck pond and back etc. This summer we plan to go over to the west of ireland and take it with us exploring on the bikes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ours was from Ebay from Germany. Cost about £80. Has an alloy frame so is very light. The hitch was shite, so I made a new one. It folds, but is still bulky to store. For the use we've had out of it its been a bargain. I'm sure a £400 Burley is very nice, but I doubt its 5x better.
Posted 2 years ago #
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