Hi everybody! I have perused the various Dutch/City Bike threads and have found some extremely helpful information. However, I have some additional questions that don't quite fit what's been covered so far.

1. My current needs are perhaps best expressed in the CL post, which has been fruitless as of yet

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...062238599.html

Basically, I am 6 months (plus some change) pregnant. I currently ride a Jamis Aurora 9+ miles daily, and it's still pretty comfortable, but the proximity of the stem to my belly is getting nerve racking when I dismount (esp when I have to stop quickly), & I'm not loving step over frame. Plus you know it's time for a new bike when you find yourself opting for the public Bikeshare option more often due to the upright geometry.

2. Due to a bike theft/recovery, I had two identical Jamis Auroras so I sold one with the intention of getting something with a more upright style, in either a mixte or step through frame. Got a couple hundred bucks for it- should have charged more, once I realized that rusted Huffys are worth $500 but too late now. Anyway, I like having two bikes, just not the exact same model so there's definitely room in my life & shed for another one.

3. My future needs will involve a bike seat or trailer in about 15 months. The 9 mile round trip is somewhat hilly- nothing serious, this is Washington DC, but the trip home is slightly uphill. Therefore I think 7-8 speeds will be a must, esp hauling some extra weight behind me. About half the commute is on city streets (but nothing dangerous or super busy obviously, or I wouldn't be doing this now). The other 1/2 is on a very pleasant, paved & protected bike trail. I do some errands in and around my neighborhood and the city as well.

4. As to how long or how much I'll use this 2nd bike... it's hard to say. This is the discussion my husband and I are having now. He thinks the Aurora would be best to pull a trailer on, but I'm not sure that a trailer is the direction I want to go in. I realize that trailers probably trump bike seats in terms of safety, but I've never seen anything super persuasive on the subject that makes me think that an experienced cyclist couldn't handle either well, and that in the end the option you choose should be the one that best fits your lifestyle. For example, please explain to me why a New Yorker in a walk up should opt for an expensive trailer they will have difficulty storing, vs a sturdy, "expendable" beater with a bike seat that can be locked up outside. Anyway, I think I'd like having the seat more for convenient locking up (I lock up outside during the day, store in shed at night but it's not huge), however if I'm using this for the day care drop off, it might be nice to have the storage in the trailer for all my little lady's blankies, bottles, etc.

5. In terms of frame style, I am wondering if I'll appreciate the more upright option in my post partum, mom bike years ahead. And while the Aurora is pretty sturdy, I do feel somewhat more secure on the beasts that are Bikeshares, regardless of the maneuverability & weight issues. This could be temporary, and I guess it's hard to predict the future.

SO, with that in mind, any thoughts or suggestions on a new or used city bike for me? I didn't want to break the bank, but at the same time I don't want to pay $500 for a POS if I could spend $1000 on something I like. I won't be getting a Betty Foy or other high end model, sadly. I've test ridden Linus and Public so far. Bobbins seem to be on hiatus till after this kid will be born. One bike shop employee mentioned a Biria City Classic E8. Kinda cool looking. Husband hates the look of the derailleur but he only rides custom IFs. (What did I get myself into with this family**********) Someone mentioned that the Biria easy step models are bone shakers on downhills/speeds of 20 mph, that had me a little wary but maybe it's not an issue with the City Classic E8. I haven't found one to test ride yet... and speaking of which I know that you can order Dutch bikes now, but is that crazy considering I can't test ride them, & the shipping?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long drawn out post but if you can't be a crazy cyclist when pregnant, WHEN CAN YOU?

IF there will be a baby seat on the back, a step through frame will be best.

but I cannot help you find a bike from the opposite coast .. Isnt there a bike CoOp

Or a bike shop to visit?


chat up shop people .. what brands are sold in your favorite bike shop ?


I like IGH, and very good bike locks and lights run by the generator in the hub.

I've been happy with my Trek Allant. They make a step-though model as well. It's a bit heavy feeling, but it can take some abuse.

Thanks! Good to know about the step through frame/bike seat. My favorite bike shop in the city sells Linus & Pashley, but I wasn't sold on Linus frame/components and Pashley was too spendy, & with 26" wheels. I also tried a She Devil there... it was nice but not an extra $1,000 nice imo.

One bike shop I used to frequent has a large variety (Treks, Globe) but I vowed to never buy a bike from there again (they double charged me for my last bike, took a long time to reverse the charge, and were kind of idiots about it).

Another shop carries Public, they were kind of better than Linus but the sales guy was sort of insulting (it wasn't just me... my husband was kind of appalled at how patronizing he was).

The last bike shop I went to was cool... the guy there rec'ed the Biria, which is a possibility, and they do carry Bobbins, which are not due to the apparent production issues I mentioned. There's only have one in the store now and it's a three speed. They also carry Pilens which look nice but I can't really justify the cost. Or maybe I can... perhaps I'll test ride one of those and see if it seems like a worthy upgrade from the mid range options.

re: Trek Allant, gracias! that is one I haven't looked at yet.

Dont sweat the component parts being exactly right , they can be swapped in the shop,

even before you take the bike Home.

I'd go with the trailer, which you could likely find used on CL and then resell when no longer needed. Then you don't need to worry about which bike you are using. Get what is comfortable and safe for you, as you aren't going to be setting any land speed records in the coming years. From your description, sounds like you are riding the CCT for part of your commute, and then city streets. I'd be really nervous hauling a baby on DC streets, but maybe it's not that bad where you plan to ride. One of those flag thingies on the trailer would be useful for cars to see you better.

My friend likes her Breezer step through bike, and she actually had an extracycle put on it for hauling her two boys (and their stuff) around.
https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/transportation

All travel with a baby or small child requires a diaper bag to hold all the required stuff. There is no way a child seat can manage this. Also, a child seat turns your bike into an amazingly unstable beast that is unpleasant to ride. Go with the trailer.

I've put thousands of miles on my cheap InStep Turbo Trailer in all weather conditions. I also spent a weekend riding a bike with a child seat, and the resulting twenty miles felt like several thousand.

Paul

My grocery bike is an old rigid mountain bike with Northroad handlebars and thumbshifters, Brooks saddle, street tires, and a Xtracycle conversion. I see similar bikes with baby seats hauling one or two kids around, all the time.

I think this, or something similar, would be good for your needs, because:
1. The base mountain bike is rugged and cheap ($100 on Craigslist, then say $100 for new bars, tires, etc), with a wide gear range including the standard MTB 24 x 32 super low gear that will get you up hills with baby, diaper bag, groceries, etc.
2. Northroad bars (or any swept-back bar) give an upright position, with wide tires and a long wheelbase it is very comfortable ride.
3. Baby rides close behind you, can hold onto an auxiliary handlebar when s/he's older, and you don't have the hassles of maneuvering a trailer.
4. The Xtracycle kit is about $200, plus about $100-150 for the pannier rail and pannier bags.

I've seen Xtracycled older mountain bikes for $400 to $700 on CL.

I don't have any problem dismounting by swinging my leg over the top tube, or balancing the bike with 4-5 bags of groceries. But if the load is a baby, then I would add a two-legged kickstand for maximum stability during loading and unloading.

OTOH, a trailer can be buttoned up against rain/cold, while I've not seen a canopy for the bike-mounted baby seats (maybe someone makes one, or a baby stroller canopy could surely be adapted).

I found this article that seems useful:

https://greatergreaterwashington.org/...hese-products/

Silver Cycles is woman-owned and may be a good place to look at Breezers. https://silvercycles.com/

My old commute would change your mind;I used to climb Nebraska/Loughboro from Sibley to Ward Circle every day.

I think you should get something decent since there's a good chance you'll be keeping the bike for trailer/childseat duty. If you'd be willing to entertain the idea of a hybrid,you'll find a lot more to choose from.

If you go used,avoid anything with steel wheels. They suck for braking in the rain,and are heavier than they need to be. Biggest thing with used bikes around here are making sure the wheels are true(crappy roads take their toll and many owners don't seem to notice) since if you can't true them yourself most shops are going to charge $30 or so a pop. Also,used bikes tend to hold their value since there's such high demand in this area due to the transitory nature.

As for trailer vs childseat;I've got friends that use both. Biggest thing about the trailer is that it basically extends your bike way back,but they're also lower to the ground so you def want to have a flag and they will push the bike on downhills and under braking. Seats are cheaper and some come with integrated racks. I've had lots of folks come to my clinic with Topeak systems;the seat pops right on/off the rack and when off you have a standard rack for panniers/etc.

One other thing to consider is a cargo bike. Xtracycle just came out with a new 'compact' cargo bike that has all kinds of kid-friendly accessories.

hahhaha oh Nebraska Avenue. I think I only did it once, in the 50 states ride maybe? if it's the one I'm thinking of: BLESS YOUR HEART. and legs. Yeah, my commute is just from Brookland to Capitol Hill on the Met Branch Trail, so it's very easy compared to some others. I shouldn't have generalized.

The cargo bike idea is a really good one. Honestly I could probably survive using Bikeshare for another few months, and then worry about this when we have an actual child in hand and can better plan for our needs.

And to the others who replied above, thanks for your very practical & well thought out suggestions! I am heading back to the bike shop tomorrow to continue scratching my head and overthinking this to the nth degree. There are new contenders! They have a 3 speed 19" Bobbin I can try, and order with a higher gear range if I like it. I might also open my heart and mind to other frame styles than step through. Side note: I was intrigued by this one as a possibility, but apparently it's a 3, not an 8 speed.

https://annapolis.craigslist.org/bik/4075427062.html

count this as # 23,875 of things I wasn't exactly thinking about. good point!

Agreed the trailer allows you to keep your current bike and a trailer has more uses than just for kids. On the safety angle, an experienced cyclist can probably prevent most falls with a kid in the child seat, but it only takes one and that one can have very serious consequences. That's a pretty far distance to fall and the child is strapped into the seat that is pulling them down. The helmet isn't really going to help. The trouble with a trailer though is they recommend not pulling a child in a trailer at bike speeds until 1yr to avoid neck strain. They sell infant attachments, but they're not willing to take the liability of recommending them for biking. I don't know if the Topeak type seats are enough like car seats to avoid the neck control issue.

I'm most familiar with the Burley and Chariot type folding trailers, but the Wyke is an option to consider. They all fold up pretty small and could be carried upstairs if you really had to (~35lbs/16kg). Plus sides to buying a high end trailer are the kid has many comfort options. Rain shield, sun shield, ventilation, padding, seats that don't slump to the middle (if/when you have another), and the resale value is very strong. The higher but not highest end Chariots regularly sell used for only $150-200 less than new and stay there. The Chariot also has stroller wheels you can bring with you so you can zip to errands and walk right into the store with the kids still sleeping. I was not so lucky to have mine sleep through even stopping, but I hear it happens.

Downsides of the trailer are you need somewhere to store it, it's extra weight to pull, and can catch the wind enough to make it even harder to pull.

Electra Townie 7D. This has a low step over, 7 speeds, and "Flat foot" geometry so you can put your feet down at a stop, but still have proper leg extension when you pedal. Very comfortable and will have plenty of room for your awesome baby belly. Townies are popular for Xtracycle conversions too, so you could have a family cruiser that can last you for a several years for under $1000.

Not bad, but try this: Electra Amsterdam. I actually convinced a Dutch woman to buy this bike. She was going to go back home and ship a real Dutch bike to America. She would have been out over 2K. Her husband was facing unemployment. At the time Electra Amsterdams were $900 but I found one on sale for $450. Can you imagine an Amsterdam with an Xtracycle conversion? I can. Crank forward is an answer to a question no one asked IMO.

H

EDIT: maybe its me, but a trailer is for cargo or kids, emphasis on the plural. for one kid its a child seat or Xtracycle or Dutch kids bike with the kid carrier in front. I also think the child should have some age to them before being placed so far out of communication with mom like a trailer.

I think Trek has a crank forward bike now too. It is a major complaint from my wife (not being able to have feet on the ground when you're on the seat) so I think they'll sell well.

Soma makes a nice Mixte frame any shop could build into something suitable and stylish.

https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/buena-vista

If the cost of building one up would be over budget you could cannibalize your Jamis for the time being for alot of the parts and replace them later.

Several of my female friends have ridden electra townies, upright step through frames, during pregnancy.
Breezer also makes some very nice bikes with somewhat similar design.
My wife still rides a women's/mixte style steel specialized hardrock mtn bike, totally overhauled and converted for commuting.
Deore LX drivetrain, balloon tires, wald baskets, leather saddle, etc.....

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My husband and I talked about it last night and came to the conclusion that since we're each going to have two bikes no matter what, we're not really faced with an either/or situation... we'll get a trailer to share between us for longer trips/day care drop offs (likely to be pulled on our respective touring bikes), and I'll get a step through/mixte style with a bike seat for shorter trips. And he gets to keep his custom build Independant Fabrications single speed to feel young, regardless of the fact that he hasn't ridden it in a year.

We do have a storage shed, which is a kind of a luxury for the District but was one of the features of our home that really sold us on it (that and proximity to a safe route to work). And thanks for the trailer recs. I saw some Chariots on Craigslist lately but they did sell quickly, so I'll be on the look out for when the time comes. We should have enough room for a fleet of bikes and a Mr. Turtle pool to boot. So luckily storage isn't really an issue for us (now or down the line), my point was a more general one about picking the option that suits your environment, trip, lifestyle. I'm still just bike shopping at the moment, since the commuting with kids part is still a long way off...

Oddly, one of my earliest memories is falling while strapped into the child seat on the back of my mom's bike... not even in motion! I think she walked away for a minute (to get the mail or something) so it was just a kickstand fail in the driveway. This was back when it was okay to drink & smoke while pregnant and certainly no one (including me) was wearing a helmet. I remember being scared, but unharmed, and probably not long after that I got my first banana seat with training wheels. I might have just been too big and squirmy. I've seen a few bikes with double kick stands that probably offer more stability than standard.

Trek Cocoa seems to have dropped off the site ,, its pretty classic Oma styled 3 speed .

sareybelle, where are you?

I've been using a trailer since my older daughter was about nine months old. She'll be 25 years old in three months. I don't pull kids in the trailer any more. I pull cargo. It's very freeing to be able to pull big loads without a car. You'll be very glad you got a trailer. Also, I notice drivers treat me well when they see the trailer, since they think there's a kid inside.

One of the posters on the Washington Area Bike Forum switched to an e-bike during the later part of her pregnancy last fall/winter. Check out dasgeh's postings and the Family Biking sub-forum.

One of our lecturers at my old job went from a Bianchi road bike to some mixte frame her husband had built up for her when she got pregnant. I know she was commuting (bi-modal with the train) on that bike until at least 6 months or so.

My wife rode recreationally on her tiny MTB (she is 5'3") until about 6 months into her first pregnancy.

We went with the trailer as it would (and now it does) hold 2 kids and we'd always planned to have 2. It's easier to ride with (lower center of gravity), and easier to get the kids into than a seat. And as mentioned before, there is room back there for a diaper bag and farmer's market purchases. And if you go too crazy, you can still put panniers on the tow bike.