Hi Mustachians,
Is $799 too much to spend on a heavy-duty Dutch-style bike for carting kids and groceries? Here's one from my local bike shop—I went and examined it the other day and it looks to be really well constructed and high quality:
http://rollingorangebikes.com/azor-bicycles/azor-oma-bike/I've found since my husband and I started getting serious about Mustachianism a few months ago, most of our consumer cravings have dried up... except for in the area of bikes. We've started biking to work and for errands (good bye $224 in subway fare each month!) and are doing a lot more recreational biking on the weekends.
Anyway, I don't actually own a bike (I just use the Citibike bike share) and that has limited where we can go, since the docks are only in limited parts of the city. My husband has a Jamis commuter bike with a rack and a Topeak child seat that our daughter sits in... but our daughter is nearing the weight limit (45 lbs) for the Topeak and already seems very uncomfortable with the limited foot room (she's huge for a 3-year-old, more like the size of a 5 or 6 year old).
So, we are considering buying a bike sometime in the next few months with the following criteria that we can take turns using when taking the kiddo out or grocery shopping:
-- unisex color so either of us can ride it
-- step-through design, fenders and covered chain (so I can wear skirts and dresses when riding — my main clothing of choice)
-- sturdy and heavy-duty enough for a heavy child or light adult to ride on the back in a child seat
-- 3+ speeds for a little help getting over hills
-- rear and front rack options for groceries, bags, panniers, etc.
Note that a child trailer is not an option for us (I just fear cars won't see it) and while I drool over cargo bikes and bakfiets they just aren't fitting in our little NYC apartment (no bike parking), plus they are even MORE expensive.
I've been scouring Craigslist and will continue to do so, but these type of bikes don't seem to come up very often. I did find these recycled bikes for $120 from a local biking co-op but I have to investigate them more—not sure if they can handle a heavy kid on the back, though they certainly fit all my other criteria... plus they often free bike repair classes:
http://times-up.org/recent-campaigns/times-1000-dutch-style-bike-programhttp://times-up.org/bike-co-opAnd I see this company, but I have no idea of their quality—a bit suspicious that some parts are made of PVC:
http://www.republicbike.com/shop.asp?product_category_id=4So... any thoughts or advice appreciated. Again: main goal of this bike is hauling a large young child and groceries all over Brooklyn in all weather while wearing my everyday ordinary clothing (like dresses).
In my head I find myself wondering... should I just suck it up and haul groceries and kid the way I have been doing–on foot with a granny cart on the bus or subway? I just love taking family bike trips, though... and we won't be able to do that in a few months when she outgrows the Topeak.
Thanks!