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Come august I'm taking the pair of kiddies to Nursery 2 days a week on the bike.
I could manage this with a Hamax, the MacRide and the Chariot (single) but any combination of those is a whole lot of faff and kiddie balancing.
I'm interested in investing in double bike trailer to take them both to/from nursery, for the year that they overlap, so that I can unhitch it, lock it up, put a cover over, throw kiddies through the door and carry on to work.
You can get a Halfords one (if they ever get stock again) for £100 but how quickly is that going to fall apart?
A double chariot would be ace but they're £££££ and we never used our single as much as we thought off road - the toddler loved the MacRide so much.
Any recommendations, suggestions or observations?
Had the Halfords double, tho only for occasional leisure use, not regular.
Is pretty basic, and not much comfort. We put bike helmets on our two as were only 2/3 yo at the time, but the seat design pushed their head forward as the helmet protruded back and fouled seat tops. So they spent most of time staring at their feet. And shoulder space tight too, particularly as they grow. Ours didn’t get used much beyond age of 3.
With hindsight wish I’d bought a chariot or similar, and may have used more as a result.
We used our double chariot until the eldest was 6, and then we passed it on to another two families before it's back with me to board out into a general purpose trailer. They are great
One of the things I liked was that the seatbelts were arranged so that if only one child was in then they could sit in the middle. The Halfords maybe the same though
This may not apply in these times but local Facebook groups are great for picking up these kind of things. We got a Burley bike trailer for £50 from our local one.
2nd hand cargo bike? Kids in front is much more preferable. Sell it a year later with minimal loss
If you do decide to buy a double chariot, we're selling ours. Manchester.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycle-accessories/chariot-cougar-2-kids-bike-trailer/1374802445
I used a Burley d'lite for exactly that purpose. They're expensive but I got over half my money back when I sold it a few years later.
Cargo bike - it's less than a mile to nursery and another 6 to work, so I'm dead keen to keep it on my purpose built commuter bike, but the idea had passed my mind.
Chariot - would be ideal but I'm not sure I'd leave it locked up or not outside nursery for a year.
Facebook - I've not found anything yet (NE).
Helmets - yes, we put helmets on both of ours but even in the Chariot proper we found that the helmets would get pushed forwards like bri-72 described.
They’re expensive but I got over half my money back when I sold it a few years later.
This is the thing with kids stuff, there's always a demand on the secondhand market and the good stuff holds its value really well. If you buy secondhand, you can sell at pretty much the same price you bought it...
If you go the Halfords route, they often do half price sales.
We have a Croozer. It's quite big and heavy, but has a huge storage compartment. Great if you plan on carrying luggage.
We had the chariot kid for 2 with our boys (2yr age gap) and then used again with the twins
Was about 3km to nursery, locked up at nursery with the cover on by me then I cycle to station, wife cycled to pick them
We did this for 6 years between them, was a brilliant way to do it
Our chariot was the older model without suspension , was brilliant way to do things , we used it as a beach buggy, off road trailer, / pushcair & nursery run workhorse
2nd hand off eBay was about £150 in v good condition & worth every penny!
Sorry not much to add other than have a Thule CX-2 (Chariot Double) and it's great. Am I a bad parent for not making my kids wear helmets in it though? In my mind they're sat in basically their own little roll cage in 5-point harnesses and it's pretty hard to go more than say 20mph (also daft to too fast down hill given the trailer doesn't have independent braking)
We have a hamax outback which is great and we've never used helmets when they are in the trailer either. it is a big strong trailer though. Helmets get used for balance bikes or bike seats.
We did exactly what you plan with a chariot cx2. Storage at home is a pain, garage or wide gate and shed is needed. Check both bikes for hitch compatibility. They are big, check it won't be a pain whetever locked.
We've got a Burley D-Lite that gets used for 2 kids, works well. The oldest (5) is reaching the max strap length and head room though.
I think you're on the right lines with a cheap halfords or 2nd hand. Aldi have also done them as special buys in the past. We did have a cheaper one prior to the Burley and have hired various ones inc. the Aldi one, they were absolutely fine. The main disadvantages were that're they're heavy (steel frame), aren't as nice/quick to fold up and rattle a bit offroad- none of these matter much for your intended use.
We've got the burley honey bee. It's brilliant - very nicely made and really is worth the extra over the Halfords one I tried. Twowheelingtots is a good review site - the is the normal bee:-
https://www.twowheelingtots.com/burley-bee-bike-trailer-review/
Good luck getting one though. Think we got the last honey bee in Europe from bike-discount.de for about 300 quid around a month ago.
We have a croozer twin
Seems sturdy , looks like it would perform well in a roll over situation.
5 point harness
Folds -but with a substantial lock.
Fits in car boot.
If you plan on leaving it- the cheaper options may be better. During lockdown locally there has been loads of these getting stolen
I've got an old school Chariot in the garage that I should sell on. I think it's the chauffeur model. No suspension but rolls really well on 20 inch wheels and has a jogger wheel.
PM me if you're interested, I'm on Teesside.
I had the Halfords one and was surprised at how well it survived the nursery and school run through the forest. Quite light as well (probably lighter than some of the sturdier models) which was a bonus going up the hills. It folds flat very quickly which is good for storage.
Regardless of the make, if you have any hills, consider the weight of the trailer.
Burley Bee here, brilliant thing, also turns into a pushchair. Ours has been slept in, carried two tired 6 year olds AND bikes miles off road.
bought 2nd hand. Quite like the idea above of repurposing into a general trailer. I 'should' sell it on but it's been SO brilliant I'm reluctant to.
Get a Burley 2nd hand, even if you have to drive to get it, they're just fun.
Another vote for the Halfords double trailer. We used one every day for two years and apart from losing the flag and the flexible spring in the arm being a bit squeeky, it was fine.
I'm not sure trailers are supposed to be used with helments, they have harnesses and rollcages, so adding a helmet just puts heads at awkward angles for no benefit.
Double Halfords trailer has done us just fine for the past couple of years. It’s not been in daily use but for the price i really cant knock it.
I often take my 4 yr old in it + his bike to the park. Last weekend i did 20 miles with my 4 and 6 year old in it. Ok it was a bit of a squeeze but they seemed happy enough.
It seems to manage ok on local fire roads too.
I’m not sure trailers are supposed to be used with helments, they have harnesses and rollcages, so adding a helmet just puts heads at awkward angles for no benefit
The burley trailers are well designed for yyhisnand have a net area at the top of the seat back rest for the back of the helmet thus the helmet doesn't restrict head position.
Mat I'm of the opinion that I don't put a helmet on them in the car.....and this is essentially a car seat on wheels with its own roll cage.
I don't tend to crash the car on a regular basis....but equally I don't tend to crash my trailer on a regular basis .
We really like our Hamax Outback too. Not sure i'd leave it locked up outside nursery, but ours has a secure storage area I think would be ok.
We've recently been looking to do something similar - we decided that the chariot was also a bit pricey, but went for a Thule Coaster instead. Seems to be a "lite" version of the Chariot, but certainly seems sturdy and well thought out. Plus, becomes a pushchair if required.
Bought from here: Thule Coaster XT
If anyone needs a Chariot/Thule infant sling (might fit other makes?) I’ve put one for free (donation to good cause) to collect (Bristol) in the classifieds.
I had a relatively cheap double trailer and it got LOADS of use, including shopping and nursery runs. It was ace, so much fun. Sadly sold when the kids got older and I've now got a cargo bike for the newest addition to the family
I put a few bits in mine to make it more comfortable. Foam under the seat, carpet on the base to make it warmer, cargo net at the back to carry more stuff
Saw a chap the other day outside morrisons supermarket with a what i think was a Riese and muller load 75 with 2 kids in it. It was the E version, which i reckon was probably the best choice given the overall weight.
Trailers with kids in them are i think a safety issue. not that theyre not secure but more that most other road users can misjudge the unforeseen trailer. turning is different, and theres a chance you turn too tight and pull the trailer into something.
So I think in my humble opinion that having the pride and joys in the front where you can see them is better than where you cannot.
Having ridden quite a bit with the trailer it's my observation that it's all most tempting to ride around with a trailer all the time.
No one has taken anything close to a chance when I'm towing the trailer. Loadsa space with nice wide slow over takes.
Trailers with kids in them are i think a safety issue.
I respectfully disagree.
You can get little flag poles for the trailer if you're worried about it. We often had fishing nets popping out the top of ours. I have to say, I preferred not being on the road but I was in London then and through sheer volume of people there's always a numpty around!
I make the kids wear hi vis vests when they're on the back of my big dummy
Trailers with kids in them are i think a safety issue. not that theyre not secure but more that most other road users can misjudge the unforeseen trailer. turning is different, and theres a chance you turn too tight and pull the trailer into something.
Is that based on first hand experience or assumption? It is absolutely not my experience, in fact it is the opposite.
I went full hippy and didn't own a car for a couple of years when my kids were really little. Trailer was used daily and I never once had a close pass. That is based on hundred and hundreds of journeys. When my eldest started riding on the road with me I always felt safer when I also had the trailer attached to my bike. I used to do what the OP described, nursery run, leave trailer, ride to work and repeat. Kids loved it, I loved it and when you do it daily it becomes easy routine. FWIW I had a cheap amazon trailer and it never stopped working, it was ace.
I wish my kids were little again.
We use a Halfords double for the school run. Eldest is 6 (but quite small) and her 3 YO sister just about fit in there now. It's been really good though, they love it.
We're lucky in the fact there's a fairly decent shared footpath/bike lane pretty much all the way to school from our house so the only road to deal with is our street which is quiet.
Biggest issue is dodging all the folks with those MASSIVE baby buggy/pushchair things and the high school kids popping wheelies everywhere on their Carrera's
Didnt take me long to find this...
https://www.dw.com/en/austria-debates-bike-trailers-for-children-after-fatal-road-accident/a-49937069
Or this
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10768671/
Or this
https://bikeportland.org/2012/12/04/man-rear-ended-while-biking-with-child-in-trailer-speaks-out-80772
How many rear impacts do you think there are when a car/van/bus fails to brake in time in the UK each year ?.
Clearly some of you havent considered that matter significant in their thinking.
Is that based on first hand experience or assumption? It is absolutely not my experience, in fact it is the opposite.
+1. It was really noticeable how much more room I was given when towing... used a trailer for about 5 years for the nursery run. I always thought that having a stable load down low was preferable to a child seat, but each to their own.
It's pretty obvious that if you get hit by a car then your children (and you) are in serious trouble... just as they would be with a child seat, or in a buggy if a car mounted the pavement.
Didnt take me long to find this
Indeed and just last week a car mounted a kerb and killed a baby in the pram which happens surprisingly often.
Ban walking.
Plus one for Burley Bee. I use it for one 5 year old and take the 2 year old in a hamax on the down tube. They could both squeeze in (and do when raining) but it causes a fight...so I trust Chuck the hamax in the trailer and leave that behind
Another very happy Burley d'lite owner here. Bought second hand for £250 and would expect to sell it on for similar. Both boys love being in it, has a huge boot for picnics and the suspension takes the edge off bumpy tracks. Not too hard to pedal either.
Burley stuff is all very clever, screen, sunshade etc
It's been my best dad purchase.
There were 49 injuries to children during the 9-year study period (estimated 2338 injuries; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1121-3555): 6 were associated with the use of bicycle-towed trailers (an estimated 322 injuries; 95% CI, 158-486) and 43 were related to the use of bicycle-mounted child seats (an estimated 2015 injuries; 95% CI, 988-3042). The mean age of injured children was 2.4 years and 51% were male.
A collision with a motor vehicle accounted for 2 (33%) of the injuries associated with bicycle-towed trailers
2 injuries in 9 years related to trailers and vehicles?
This doesn't seem high to me.
This doesn’t seem high to me.
Given two kids have died being hit by cars while being pushed in prams on the pavement THIS year alone noted by just scanning the Google news page. It doesn't seem high at all.
Besides, trailers are old hat. Thats 1990 right there.
Front loading Ecargo bikes are were its at. Look like the progressive parent 😉
So the spurious uninformed arguement has changed from safety to fashion.
Interesting tact.
Fwiw I've noticed considerably less care from drivers now we are using a child seat on the e cargo bike. Tempted to tow the trailer as well just to get that space/curtesay back from other road users
We bought a burley bee from Fb market place. It’s ideal and my 2 1/2 year old twins love it (they love the Kids Ride Shotgun seats more but they’re impractical for 2.
It’ll be getting a lot of use this year (does it count as resistance training).
Hung around on fb marketplace and ebay for months before buying a Burley D'lite new. prices 2nd hand were 3/4 of RRP, and far away or 1/2 RRP and shabby.
Then there was a "**** it" moment, we wanted one for a holiday, Parkers of Bolton had a sale on, done.
It's been used practically every day for ehlast year, it's the nices thing to push two boys around in, it does the nursery run, xc rides, xc rides to the dirt jumps/pumptrack with biggest's balance bike in the back.
It's ****ing marvellous. It's a short cut to getting some adventure back in your life. That first trip out with no1 in the trailer was such a well-needed, big, deep, breath of fresh air and relief, and freedom! And with another buddy or two along with you. 😀
Long days out on the bike are back on again, bike rambles, maybe a pub stop, stick a bunch of stuff in the boot and strap the kiddies in, let's go...
(does it count as resistance training).
I reckon it does! Ours is 40-50 kgs with both boys and stuff in the back.
It’s **** marvellous. It’s a short cut to getting some adventure back in your life. That first trip out with no1 in the trailer was such a well-needed, big, deep, breath of fresh air and relief, and freedom! And with another buddy or two along with you. 😀p
Great stuff. Mine have long since outgrown the d'lite, but now we have new adventures with them on their Islabikes. Lots of done memories though.
We had a Burley one, don’t remember the model sorry. Quality was good without the high cost of some of the others. Kept it in good mock so resale value was good too. Packed down reasonably well for holidays etc.
I've got one of these Bellelli (bought for much less than this listing)
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/child-bike-seats/bellelli-bike-taxi-child-bike-trailer-921270.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=xpixqp&istBid=t&_$ja=tsid:94971|cid:868641114|agid:55288774750|tid:pla-404925752540|crid:247057267358|nw:g|rnd:409256324899778000|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045705&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1a6EBhC0ARIsAOiTkrG5nYW99ojajGH21-aTHVvhYI_NXmD1LCVTcZToM7t2iNSC5ORa9m8aApMMEALw_wcB
Good points, solid floor, folds down well. Two toddlers fit ok out of the rain and wind.
Bad points. Mag wheels, whoever thought it was a good idea to add a heavy wheel to a already heavy trailer is an idiot. Wide. Difficult on anything but road or double track and then you're watching for bumps in the middle all the time.
If I was doing it again I would go for something more like this if I could get a second hand one.4
https://freedomforkids.co.uk/shop/special-needs-bikes-trailers-cycling-seats-disabled-children/igo-twin-bike-trailer/
They don't have to pedal but the narrow form and tracking single wheel just would make towing much easier.
As much as Jnr loves the bike seat for being able to see
We kept the trailer(used croozer twin ) for horrid days.
Getting her out the rain and wind means that it's not weather dependant.
There's only so much clothing you can put on in a seat and still have safe restraint
We've got the Burley D'lite (double, with suspension), and the little folding wheel that converts it to a double pram (which is pretty neat, because it doesn't need removing every time). It's an expensive setup, but I think we'll get our money's worth. Storage is an issue, both at home and at nursery, when I do start taking both kids there. It also makes for a very big double pram, although we don't spend much time with it on city pavements or shops.
While I'm only taking one kid to nursery, I prefer the Hamax seat. As for drivers - I was immediately disuaded from using the trailer on my local roads after the first few rides. Where I am (Cardiff), drivers give me no more space with the trailer than they normally do (which is bad enough as it is). So, it'll just be for nursery runs and holidays / adventures (although it does take up a lot of boot space).
Saying that, in theory the trailer should be great for the nursery run. I have a mostly traffic-free route, I won't need to bundle the kids up in bad weather, I just need to find somewhere to stash it during the day (our nursery doesn't have much spare space).
It's also awesome off-road - I've had no issues on some of the easier trails around here.
I've got one of the Halfords singles, great piece of kit, the yo yo feel when the spring in the connecting arm moves reminds me to pedal smoother.
I have had an accident using it, on a walking/cycle path going through some a s bend I high sided the trailer onto its side and dragged it for a metre or two... very thankful the child had a helmet on and the 5 point harness held him still, child was shaken but not injured. No lasting issue as have used trailer few times since then, wasnt the best parenting moment hearing the noise of something sliding and looking around to see it on its side!
