Biking with kids... Suggestions please

[Maya]

Got a new bike to enjoy some family bike rides and I'm hoping to cut down car usage.

I'm home 5 days a week with DD (14 months) and DS is in daycare. We have a chariot double and took it out today and it rode well, but I'm not sure what to do when I actually want to go to places. How do you secure the trailer? On the chariot the wheels come off and it seems I'd need a really long lock to attach it to the bike. Is this possible?

I have a kid seat given by a neighbour that is been planning to attach to my crapy bike to cut down on my walk commute and get ds home from daycare quicker. 

What's your preferred method of carting kids around when running errands? Trailer or seat? Worthwhile picking up a second seat, or strolling wheels for the chariot to take it with us?

Sorry for what may seem like silly questions... Newby here and I wanted the challenge of biking as much as possible this summer and leaving the car at home.

[JLR]

I keep one lock for my bike and one for my trailer. If I find myself with only one lock, I lock my trailer and leave my bike just attached to the trailer - the trailer is worth more than my bike!

I've never had a kiddy seat for my bike, so can't comment there. I love the trailer as I have a double, so could put a child plus groceries, etc in it. Now all of our kids are too big for the trailer, so it is cargo-only these days.

[MayDay]

We had a chariot.  I would detach the trailer (super fast and easy with the chariot) and lock the trailer to the bike, side to side.  If possible, I would also loop the lock around a bike rack.  No one ever messed with it, although we didn't live anywhere with tons of bike theft. 

[Fodder]

I have an older trailer, so I haven't worried too much about securing it, to be honest.  I paid $60 for a well-loved Chariot double and have never had an issue just locking up the bike and leaving the trailer attached.  Mind you, this is in a pretty well-off suburb where I've also, on occasion, left my bike unlocked and come back to it unscathed.

I prefer the trailer over a seat for reasons of stability and also because it's easy to cart along the child-related necessities (like a diaper bag, etc).

[zolotiyeruki]

I'd opt for the trailer over the seat, too--the times I've had a kid in the seat, I was scared I'd tip over and send them flying.  There's a very real stability impact from having that much weight perched so high on a bike.

[Kmp2]

I have both, and I greatly prefer the child seat. It's locked to my bike so no need to secure, and I can talk to my DD the whole ride, and know when she needs a break. She even signals when I do - which is super cute.  I found the stability issues to be mostly a problem getting on and off my bike and when stopping, once you are moving at almost any speed you won't even notice. I started out with a 25lb kettlebell strapped in the seat so I could figure out the balance - it took a few rides to be comfortable and some upper body strength is required. Now I don't even notice. I have an elongated rack and can easily carry a light diaper bag with the baby seat. However no groceries - they were too heavy and the bike was squirelly... I would need a front rack to balance the weight front to back and alas my front carbon fork is not rated to carry any weight at all.

We took the money I saved from bike commuting for a year, and splurged on a long tail cargo bike. It has a low 20" back wheel, so the center of gravity while carrying kids is much lower, and it has a double kick stand that is easy to kick up once you are on the bike. No stability concerns at all, and it fits 2 toddler seats or 3 preschoolers, and a load of groceries :). I wouldn't recommend it as mustachian - because a trailer is definitely the more economical option - but it is purpose built to haul kids and cargo - it is a joy to ride. We have only had 3 tanks of gas since last October - here's to half that this summer...

[Longwaytogo]

I bought one of these about a month ago-

http://www.madsencycles.com/

Pricey, but I watch my niece and nephew along with my 2 girls so not many options for toting 4 kids.

Before that I had a bike seat (the Yepp maxi) and both my girls really liked it. My only stability issues were getting on/off the bike and loading them. I was always nervous to do a trailer, we live in a pretty non bike friendly area and my house is on a 4 lane 45 mph highway (people regularly doing 55+) and I was just nervous about people not seeing trailer in the mirror and cutting into it changing lanes.

If you end up wanting to get a long cable to lock up bike/trailer together try Home Depot/Lowes over a bike shop. They have some nice ones that contractors use for locking up ladders/tools and stuff. I have a 25 foot one I use to lock all our bikes and crap up when we are camping.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I have never worried about locking my trailer, but it was a second-hand Burley that I bought for $100.

I always use the trailer. I don't think I could get on my bike with a seat back there and I'm not that strong--I don't think it would be at all safe. Mr. FP used to use a seat sometimes, but he has come around to the trailer.

I have never had a stroller wheel, but it might be worthwhile. Sometimes Little Brother would fall asleep back there, and I would have to wake him up to go inside Big Brother's school. And then he (LB) broke his leg, so I had to carry him on my hip as I couldn't fit a stroller in the trailer.

[Maya]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Really appreciate it.

[gooki]

Add one more who just locks the bike and leaves the trailer attached.

[Knapptyme]

Another who just locks the bike. If someone takes the trailer, they'll either also have to take the hitch or buy one for themselves. I'm banking on a thief not buying things and not being smart enough to take the hitch, too. If I'm wrong, it will have cost me a free trailer.

My other reason for using a trailer now, is that the bike seat allowed my leg-growing and independently-minded son (then a two year-old) to kick me whenever he didn't like his situation or simply for fun. He could also eject whatever he was wearing on his feet to be lost forever. I can now let him hold things (like a water bottle) or bring his toy cars with him in the trailer. Both of us are happier using the trailer.

[aimz28]

I bought a used Burley and got a front stroller wheel attachment, so most of the time I just keep the trailer with me. I actually don't like grocery shopping without it now! I have a u-lock with a cable that I can feed through the trailer and my wheel so I can lock both of them up if I need to.

[FarmerPete]

I have a long cable lock that I got for locking my bikes when they are on my car's bike rack.  I just throw it in the back of the trailer.  It's long enough to loop through the bike and part of the trailer.  The trailer I have is so easily to disassemble, it's harder to find a part that can't easily be removed and discarded to lock it!

[Thegoblinchief]

My trailer is an old Burley, long before quick release hitches and whatnot. I really wouldn't worry about it every being stolen.

The easy way to not worry about theft is not to own anything fancy.

I definitely prefer trailers to on-bike seats for balance purposes but your brain will adjust to any balance after a few minutes (for example, the first time I rode with a trail-a-bike attached it felt weird as hell, but now it's completely invisible).

I also wonder how much theft occurs if we're talking leaving a bike for an hour or two while shopping. I'd think most theft is stuff left overnight.

[GuitarStv]

I lock my bike as per usual . . . U lock through the rear wheel in the rear triangle, cable looped through the front wheel and connected to the U lock.  With the trailer I'll pop both wheels out and run the cable through them as well.  It's worked well so far.

[Healthandwealth]

Did you ever think about the so called onderwaterfiets?

Fits 3 kids , relatively safe. The kind at the front can bike along with you (kids love this!!!).

The bike can be transformed with a large box on the front for grocery shopping etc., when you don't need it for the kids anymore.

Www.onderwaterfiets.nl
Sold in the US in Brooklyn NY by Rolling Orange bikes.

[Healthandwealth]

In canada they are sold at a store in Montreal, ecorecreo.ca

[Maya]

Thanks everyone. I'm loving he trailer and bike. So far my max day has been 27 km hauling the two of them around. Tired at the end of that one!

[necksnapper]

I have both, and I greatly prefer the child seat.

I agree!  We have both a "front" seat on my bike, a "back" seat on my girlfriend's and a double chariot.

Our 2yo daughter (this month) really prefers the seats as she gets to see a lot more around, signal, talk, kick, whatever.. 

She'll be happy on a 1h ride in a seat, but after 20 minutes in the chariot she's bored as hell.  We want to go bike-touring soon, so we'll have to figure something out.  We'll either oconvince her to stay in the chariot, or put her on the seat and use the chariot for cargo... but then what about sleep!

[Thegoblinchief]

I forget my kids liked the trailer so much AFTER I took off the canopy and they got the 360 view. I don't recall them liking it much when the canopy was still on.

[smoghat]

We had a chariot and then, when my kids got older graduated to Adams Trail-a-bikes. The trail-a-bikes kept their value really well for resale on Craigslist, which could be good or bad depending on whether you are selling their or buying.

I wish I'd kept the chariot since it allowed me to pull a hefty load of groceries or a case of wine behind me. Stupid me.

[CanuckExpat]

What did people do for even younger kids? i.e., newborns, can't hold their head/body up quiet yet.
My first guess would be cargo trailer like set-up with car seat on it, but is there something more regular?

What do the dutch do?

[Thegoblinchief]

I believe what Europeans do with newborns is use front packs or baby slings, ride slowly, and use an upright sitting posture on the bike.

[Potterquilter]

I tried to find a link with ai true but could not, but I saw a dad hauling his three kids on a bike with a back flat seat attached with tubular rails and footrests. I had to ask about it.  Definitely for older toddlers at least. It was an  Extracycle. It is a rack for the back of a long tail bike that can fit up to three kids. He said it also fits on a couple of Bikeseats.  I am not sure if it would fit your needs but it is something I would check out. They also have several types of trailers the guy said.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I believe what Europeans do with newborns is use front packs or baby slings, ride slowly, and use an upright sitting posture on the bike.

True, and Mr. FP has been known to ride a bike with a tot strapped to his back (and another in a rear seat). However, it is worth noting that in many places (including the one where he was doing it) this is against the law, so consult your risk tolerance before attempting...

I tried to find a link with ai true but could not, but I saw a dad hauling his three kids on a bike with a back flat seat attached with tubular rails and footrests. I had to ask about it.  Definitely for older toddlers at least. It was an  Extracycle. It is a rack for the back of a long tail bike that can fit up to three kids. He said it also fits on a couple of Bikeseats.  I am not sure if it would fit your needs but it is something I would check out. They also have several types of trailers the guy said.

Extracycle does make something called the Free Radical, which is basically a third wheel that attaches to a regular bike and can hold two baby seats or two of those flat seats (I think they call them "Magic Carpets). I've seen them, but honestly my elderly Burley trailer seems more useful--it holds two kids and has lots of room in the back for groceries!

[metastache]

I travel almost exclusively by bike for most of the year, often with a three year old in tow. I've used different bike seats and trailers. For me, the question of bike seat vs. trailer depends mostly on storage space and if you can dedicate a bike to the trailer. If you have the room in a garage to keep the trailer hitched up to the bike, or at least close at hand, the trailer is usually the better choice. It's a smoother ride, doesn't mess with the weight equilibrium, and the kid(s) are more comfortable. But if you value ease of use, and if storage and time is at a premium, the bike seat is the way to go. There's no connecting anything, no setup. Just put the kiddo in and go.

The bike seat has the additional benefit of not being a target for theft. I had a trailer stolen from underneath my deck; it was locked to a wooden cross beam, which the thief cut through to get at the trailer.

The simple bike seat I would recommend is here: http://amzn.com/B0018CX1AA

[Scubanewbie]

What did people do for even younger kids? i.e., newborns, can't hold their head/body up quiet yet.
My first guess would be cargo trailer like set-up with car seat on it, but is there something more regular?

What do the dutch do?

I was at a state park and saw several folks with a bucket car seat INSIDE their bike kid hauling trailer (i.e. Burley).  Cracked me up and alarmed me a bit but I got to thinking about it and I was, OK, I get it although I don't know how (or if) they attached the car seat to the trailer.  These were mainly off-road but pea gravel type state bike/hike trails but did have some bike shoulder on road for stretches.

[2Cent]

If you use seats, make sure to give the kids helmets. If for whatever reason the bike falls they will smack down pretty hard and it's quite dangerous. Also for bigger kids get something to keep their legs from getting into the wheels. I'm from The Netherlands, and that happens a lot.

Oh, and with small ones we use a car seat. :)

This is how we roll.

[FLBiker]

I started out with a 25lb kettlebell strapped in the seat so I could figure out the balance - it took a few rides to be comfortable and some upper body strength is required.

Thanks for this!  I currently commute w/ a backpack in a milkcrate, but I like the idea of "training" for when I swap this out for a childseat.

[JJNL]

Here's another Dutchy's input:

- carry baby in sling on your body while he/she can't sit upright, it's easiest and keeps you mobile. People do this year round here, just zip your coat around your kid when it gets rainy / cold and make sure he/she wears a hat.
- after that: kiddy seat on bike, as soon as they can sit up. For very young children, you need something really safe (where you can strap them in well). These seats tend to be quite bulky though. I've also seen people transport a kid in a car seat in a cargo bike.
- when they get a bit older, people here tend to go for a sparser version of the seat or the cargo bike as pictured in the above. Trailing bikes are not handy if you have to cross tram tracks a lot.
- you teach your kid how to ride a bicycle basically after it has learned how to walk. I don't remember learning, and I don't remember having training wheels - we start that young. Then up the distance - and move somewhere the kid can cycle to school / kindergarten on his/her own.

[powersuitrecall]

Does anyone else use a longtail like a Yuba Mundo / Xtracycle / Big Dummy?  Our family just purchased a Mundo and will be using it for commuting with daycare/school dropoff responsibilities.  2 Kids on the back is easy.  I've started using it for groceries as well.  Incredible how much stuff you can carry around!

[Thegoblinchief]

Does anyone else use a longtail like a Yuba Mundo / Xtracycle / Big Dummy?  Our family just purchased a Mundo and will be using it for commuting with daycare/school dropoff responsibilities.  2 Kids on the back is easy.  I've started using it for groceries as well.  Incredible how much stuff you can carry around!

If my kids had been a few years younger when we made the MMM transition, I probably would have gotten some form of cargo bike, but they're too big to make it worth it. Longwaytogo has a Madsen, which is a really nice design especially for kid transport. I was impressed by it when he showed it to me.

[Kmp2]

Does anyone else use a longtail like a Yuba Mundo / Xtracycle / Big Dummy?  Our family just purchased a Mundo and will be using it for commuting with daycare/school dropoff responsibilities.  2 Kids on the back is easy.  I've started using it for groceries as well.  Incredible how much stuff you can carry around!

We got an extracycle with hooptie attachment last spring, carries our toddler and a weeks worth of groceries :), we even got the stroller on it when we biked down to a music festival. Hubby uses it almost exclusively for dayhome dropoffs/pickups - it's faster than driving. We have a baby due in January, so I'm not sure if we'll be biking much next summer. Unless I rig up something discreet to hold the car seat in our bike trailer... unfortunately having a kid under 1 on a bike is kind-of frowned upon in North America. If only I could find out how to be in Denmark, or Netherlands next summer...