Hello Forum,

I have recently (4 weeks ago) sold my car and bought an xtracycle edgerunner with the intention of it being a car replacement as I have three small kids. Initially the idea seemed pretty sound. My wife drives the van, I made it through an ohio winter bike commuting to work, cargo bike to help when I need to do a quick grocery run, or when I need to pick up our youngest from daycare. I figured my oldest (7) would ride her own bike and then my 5 and 3 year old would ride on back of the xtracycle. It turns out I am not using it like this much as my 5 year old upped the size of her bike and now can ride the full distance from home to daycare and back pretty well.

I have used it to pick up groceries and that was fun and rewarding and all but not that practical as I can't do a "Full" grocery run. I have REALLY enjoyed bringing a kids bike (the 3 year old's balance bike) in one of the bags while she rides on my bike to the park, once we arrive she gets to take her bike and ride around there. I am starting to think I may be able to strap her small balance bike to a front fender of a touring bike. For weather days or lack of motivation days, I could just attach her bike with a follow me tandem (would need to buy) or the trail a bike we have to a regular bike with a rear rack and kid seat for the 3 year old. Meanwhile, the xtracycle is a bit challenging to maneuver in hallways and doorways at my work, I really fight to get it on a bike rack to go for a ride with the family (it takes up two spaces on the rack and was hard to lift and bring back down) and i wonder if I would be better served with a surly long haul trucker or cross check with racks and panniers. It pains me as I put in money with youtubes foot rests, bags and fenders. I also worry I am being short sighted to sell it after only having it for four weeks. It is super comfortable to ride but feels like it is more of a workout and limits the distance I can cover, may not be the best all around bike. So, in my position do any of you recommend trying to sell the 4 week old xtracycle, take the hit and forgo cargo bike adventure for a touring bike or cyclocross? I also really like the idea of bike touring, and while I bet I could tour with the xtracycle (huge carrying capacity) I may be pushing it taking a bike that starts out with a weight of 50+ lbs.

What's a dad to do? Am I just being an OCD perfectionist, obsessing about the shortcommings of my cargo bike or am I on to something? Ideally I could just keep the cargo bike and buy a LHT or CC but finances do not allow this. Even if they did, I would likely not chose the cargo over an equipped trucker or cc.

I would love to hear from members with any of the following experience: a family, who commute, with a cargo bike and or with a LHT and CC.


Thanks,

Tim