Cycling with 2 kids

I was hoping to be able to use my bike to take the kids on the nursery run, I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old.

I did look at a double bike trailer but noticed they often have a max height, which is around the height of my eldest so wondered what options do I have, to safely take both kids on my bike with me?

Thanks

Can the 4yo ride (on the pavement)? What bike do you have?

1 year old with you (front or rear seat) and tag along for the big one? I assume there’s nowhere to leave a bike at the nursery?

It’s a mare.
Because of fear of theft.
My method was use bike trailer to run to nursery. And run back home (drop oldest at school) for bike and then ride to work. Nobody nicked the trailer. But probably would have tried for my bike or my older kids bike.

A 4 year old should fit in a trailer if I remember correctly. But possibly the best way, if you have the budget, may be a long tail like a big dummy or a GSD if you are up for an ebike?

If the route allows* you might manage someting like a shotgun seat for eldest and single trailer for youngest.

*no hills, mostly

I think I’ve done every combination you could imagine having had 3 kids with 4 years between them. At the stage your at I did a rear seat and a trailer then when they got a little older wee ride and a trail gator.

Kiddy bank tandem with a trailer for the 1yr old

My 5 year old still goes in the Burley trailer. Sometimes her 8 year old brother joins her if it’s a short run but if at all possible he rides himself.

Up until they were about 3 and 6 I had no qualms about sticking them both in the trailer.

Big dummy!

Having said that, if you bought the Radpower cargo bike it would be electric and cost less and would probably make shifting two kids and their kit a lot easier. Might also help replace the car for shopping runs and the like.

Cargobike. Hands down.

There are LOADS around here these days, i like to thnik we were leading the charge but its wonderful that on my sub 2km nursery run i always see a couple.

Weve had two, and Urban Arrow (Which we sold cause Mrs couldnt get on with it), and currently a Longtail Yuba El Mundo.

Both bought second hand from people whose kids had grown out of them, but they only grew out of them by being too cool to be seen sat in/on a cargo bike. Both aged 10/11 i think
try dragging a trailer with two 10 yr olds in it.

And (depending on your circumstances) they still have legs when your kids can ride their bikes. I was talking to a friend who has bought one recently, and his kids are just about old enough to ride into town on their own bikes, but he said its so much easier no having to heard them, and debate which way to go or get everyone organised. Throw them in an go.

They are pricey, compared to a trailer, but they are a different thing. A very very cheap to run second car.

if you live in a location that justifies it (further away than everything being in walking distance, but not so far you cant ride everywhere) they are a winner

Also, if you can at all afford it stump up for an electric one. It opens up the possibilities enormously.

Quicker, Easier, you can carry more stuff more comfortably, and you can cycle in presentable/normal clothes with two kids on board and not be a sweaty mess.

If we go out as a fam, Mrs rides the Yuba with the kids, and im struggling to keep up on my regular bike.

Hi,

So, I used to put Kaitlyn (from 8 months till 3yrs) in a rear seat. And William (from 3.5 yrs to 24″ wheels) on a Trail Gator. Both on road and on Trails (not red and blue ones though!).

Brother-in-Law runs a WeeHoo trailer with 4 yr old twins. Again both on and off road.

Couple of pics in use: Clicky for Picy

Our latest issue is how to tow two 4yr olds on their own bikes….

We had one of these https://picclick.co.uk/Pashley-U-plus-2-double-tagalong-trailer-192533799329.html and it was brilliant. Could also put their bags and stuff in a box.
Then progressed to a tandem and separate bike

I should add that I’ve sold on my Big Dummy and now have a Thorn Kiddyback tandem. It’s lighter than the big dummy and any pedalling effort from the stoker helps…

at that age, a bikefiets style cargo bike is way better than a longtail. Get them inside, out of the rain\wind, playing with toys and being able to see them the whole time. Longtails are better for bigger kids, for sure, but keeping them out of the elements and entertained is crutial when they’re small.

I’ve been doing a 6 mile round trip, twice a day on the 3 days a week I have a kid at nursery for 4 years. kids are currently nearly 3 and nearly 6, I recon I’ve got another year left in it (convinient because thats when the nursury drop will end) before they’re too big to both go inside.

Thanks for all the replies so far, that’s really helpful.

I’m going to take a look through the suggestions.

My eldest turns 4 next week and he’s literally just ready to transition from balance bike to his bike, but with nowhere to lock a bike up I think him biking is off the cards and also too much of an ask due to distance.

Took mine to school in a Burley trailer. Think I stopped when the oldest was 6 or 7 and the youngest 4 or 5.

They absolutely loved it!

You can squeeze quite big kids in a two seat trailer, and it’s good to get them out of the rain.

A top tube wee-ride worked really well for me, with my older one on a tag along.

I’d recommend a Trail Angel over a trail gator, the hitch is really good. Or a followme tandem if you have the budget/can find one.

We’re now on a Thorn Me’n’u2 three seat tandem – it’s great!

I should add that having a kid on a tag along demands *REALLY* good mudguards for riding in the rain, for both bikes. They quickly get wet and dirty if you get it wrong. Not ideal for school drop off!

Took mine to school in a Burley trailer. Think I stopped when the oldest was 6 or 7 and the youngest 4 or 5.

Yeah, I think mine were 6 & 4 when I retired the Burley. The two seater Weehoo could be worth a look.

I take my two to school on my bike with the 3 year old sat up front in a weeride and the 6 year old sat on a seat on the cargo rack.

Surprisingly I can be at the school gate at the same time as parents who live on the same street who drive their kids to the school!

Cargo bike rider here….
Initially had a kona minute.
Used to have eldest on the rear amd youngest in a wee ride in front… I loved that!
Then got the full length ute.. had both on the back for a bit, then eldest now rides.
Daughter CAN ride to her school but… it’s faster if I do and we often run late!

DrP

Just get on with it?

Cross bar seat for the 6 year old, hamax kiss on the back for the 4 year old. BUT, I don’t have to go very far and weight is starting to become an issue, so don’t know what I’ll do next. Like the idea of them both on the back on a Ute or something…

Trying to solve this also.
Just retired the trailer at 3 and 5 years old as they are a bit too big for it really.

Currently 5 year old rides but still gets knackered sometimes and then you’re sort of stuck unless theres some way of carrying her and her bike.

I’m thinking of getting a tandem and adapting it with child seat / mac ride / kids stoker pedals, or a tag along / trailgator or something.

Can’t afford a cargo bike at the moment. They cost more than our 2nd car (12 year old Toyota IQ) and not as useful.

I just bough one of these follow me tandem jobs. Quite expensive but it is a good bit of kit. I take 5 year old plus a o e year on a seat

Interestingly, both the Burley bike trailer and halfords bike trailers, suggest a max height of 105cm. But seeing the comments here suggest that kids up to the age of 6 were still using it. Am I missing something?

Also, the follow me tandems (or similar) do they run any risk of damaging the bike?

Used to drop kids off in a double trailer, that was ace till they were too big

Longtail cargo bike is ace for this. I often ride it on my own but will fit up to 3 at the back, one on a weeride and still has a big rack on the front. Mine is a Surly Big Dummy but other flavours are available

My 3 year old is tall enough for his head to be touching the roof of the trailer!

We had a kiddyback tandem with baby seat. Then went to a tag along on the back of the tandem. Was excellent. Look for Dawes Toucan or Thorn. They hold value so the net cost of ownership will be low to nil.