Best kid carrying option?
Discussion
So 2nd child is nearly 2. Last year we had her out in the trailer, but having seen a few riding about with up front seats I'm wondering whether the trailer is better left behind and getting hold of one of these instead?
We usually go out as a family if the smallest is out, so it's under 10 miles as the eldest is still only on a 14". The trailer has it's benefits in that we can cram some clothing in there under the seat, and some snacks to keep them interested. It is cumbersome though and at times the terrain becomes unsuitable for a trailer.
Anyone tried both and concluded which was better?
We usually go out as a family if the smallest is out, so it's under 10 miles as the eldest is still only on a 14". The trailer has it's benefits in that we can cram some clothing in there under the seat, and some snacks to keep them interested. It is cumbersome though and at times the terrain becomes unsuitable for a trailer.
Anyone tried both and concluded which was better?
As we had twins, we went with the Burley trailer - great for storing all the other kids junk, very stable, comfortable (put them to sleep), easy to ride with, but a major problem with so many stupid anti-motorbike bollards on trails. We used it daily to take twins to nursery, and sold it for about 70% of our purchase money back.
Then moved onto WeeHoo's bike tag alongs. The kids could pedal and it had loads of space in the panniers, they loved them, and we could go super fast, very safe too as they where belted in and proper seats. But it was a little less stable at slower speeds so needed someone with a good riding ability.
Then moved onto FollowMe's. Again brilliant as the kids could ride on their own bikes and when tired we could just hitch them to our bikes and pull them along. Only issue if they where tired or forgot to hold on, sometimes they would fall off, so definitely couldn't go too fast.
Then moved onto WeeHoo's bike tag alongs. The kids could pedal and it had loads of space in the panniers, they loved them, and we could go super fast, very safe too as they where belted in and proper seats. But it was a little less stable at slower speeds so needed someone with a good riding ability.
Then moved onto FollowMe's. Again brilliant as the kids could ride on their own bikes and when tired we could just hitch them to our bikes and pull them along. Only issue if they where tired or forgot to hold on, sometimes they would fall off, so definitely couldn't go too fast.
To update, bought a Weeride seat to put little one up front with me. Been out for our first ride but the opinion from both was a resounding success. You can ride without the constraints of a trailer, can go on narrower lanes and tracks and she seemed happy enough to ride up front once she was happy that she wasnt going to fall off. I thought i'd have to ride legs out more but turned out to be fine.
Omaruk said:
Mac Ride - all day long. Pricey but brilliant
Yep years ago I'd have bought one when they were Kickstarter but it took that long, my first one was up and away on a balance bike. 2nd one now but these things don't last that long before they're on 2 wheels. I do agree though, brilliant bit of kit. I'm keeping my eye out for a weehoo trailer. I don't quite trust mine yet on a full tag along, but she's getting a bit big for the up front seat we have.
Maybe she's just not that interested in cycling! She either complains it's too bumpy or she just starts to fall asleep on the seat. Definetly can't go further than half an hour.
How long do you guys manage with the Mac ride?
Maybe she's just not that interested in cycling! She either complains it's too bumpy or she just starts to fall asleep on the seat. Definetly can't go further than half an hour.
How long do you guys manage with the Mac ride?
cml24 said:
I'm keeping my eye out for a weehoo trailer.
We started off with a burley trailer, excellent, used it everyday to take kids to nursery. However nightmare on trails as so many places we couldn't get through the metal barriers/kissing gates etc.Bought weehoo trailers for longer rides. Kids loved them, kids super safe (seatbelts, proper back support) and had their own drink and snacks in the side pockets. However invest in a nice comfortable pillow as it doesn't have any suspension. Also you need to be a decent rider as you have quite a lot of weight hanging off the back of your bike.
Then we moved to FollowMe bike tag along. Kids can ride and when tired or big hills just clip them on. However my daughter did fall off on one ride as she was busy daydreaming.
Slight segway, but I thought I'd recommend the towwhee for when your kids are on their own bikes. It's basically a bungee that slips over your saddle and then over the stem of your kids bike. Allows you to tow them up the hills if needed so reduces the potential for a mid ride refusal.
I bought a WeeRide upfront and didn't get on with it. I had to ride very "knees out", and there was no longer room to slide off the front of the saddle when stopping, so I had to ride with the saddle very low. Sold it very quickly, did nursery runs for some time with a Hamax rear seat instead...it does make the bike a bit odd at low speed but generally was fine and the little guy enjoyed it. I then progressed to a Trail Angel towing his little bike, he loved that and felt very grown up arriving at nursery!
Had to return the weeride due to fit and quality. Bought the Mac ride and haven't looked back, don't have the knee out issue either as the Mac ride puts them closer to the stem than the weeride, but my MTB is a modern one with long top tube and relaxed geometry, so works well with that
Even though my little one cycles, he loves to go out on the mac ride as he can go offroad and we can go on long rides. Did 15K offroad with him, he is able to stand in the stirrups for the bumpy bits.
Even though my little one cycles, he loves to go out on the mac ride as he can go offroad and we can go on long rides. Did 15K offroad with him, he is able to stand in the stirrups for the bumpy bits.
I think it is fairly bike specific. I had to lift the feey supports to the 3rd rung to avoid fouling the front suspension but knees out isn't an issue. I can run the seat pretty high, just have to remember to jump off the back of stopping.
Let's face it, there's always a compromise when pulling little ones about.
Let's face it, there's always a compromise when pulling little ones about.
I've got a Hamax rear seat on my 29er hardtail. Becuase I've only got little legs, it's only a 16" frame, so the seat tube is quick short. Thank means the quick release bracket has to be quite low, coupled with the 29" wheels, I had to get an extended bar. Now that my boy is 3 1/2 and 13kg, there is a bit too much flex in the bar over bumps and it touches the tyre. To solve it I've made a support that goes down to the pannier mounts my the axle. It's really stiffened it up, and it now doesn't wobble side to side like it did. If I was buying again, I think I'd go for one that mounted like a pannier rack, the quick release was attractive at the time so I could go from family bike to fun bike in seconds, but for the sake of 5 minutes to remove a rack, I'd have been better with the rack. Things may have been different if I had smaller wheels, the the short bar would be fine, maybe even if I had longer legs and have a large frame that would have helped.
I've never had real stability problems with it though. We've done a fair bit of single track trails and fire roads, certainly places where a trailer would be hard work, and now that he's a bit older he's happy behind me and we chat away about what we see. I've never tried a front mount seat, my brother bought one just before lock down, so haven't had chance to try it.
I've never had real stability problems with it though. We've done a fair bit of single track trails and fire roads, certainly places where a trailer would be hard work, and now that he's a bit older he's happy behind me and we chat away about what we see. I've never tried a front mount seat, my brother bought one just before lock down, so haven't had chance to try it.
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