ch9862

I'm looking for ideas on how to get my son to/from daycare.

He's just over 4 years old around 35 lbs. I want to start commuting when it gets warmer, but am wondering how to bring him with me. I guess I need a trailer? I used to have a child seat, but I think it had weight limit close to 40lbs (not to mention I don't have it anymore). My commute is around 9-10 miles each way. Any and all ideas appreciated.

TIA

ch9862

Nobody commutes with their young ones?

exmilitarymom

I don't post often on here, but I'll try to help. 90% of my riding is done with my son, and I found myself in a similar situation with my 40 lb. 2 yr old. He quickly outgrew his child seat, and now he is becoming too tall to sit comfortably in the trailer. Given the option of purchasing a bigger trailer, we have decided to try the Weehoo I-Go. It hasn't arrived yet, but you should be able to find out more about it from others on here.
Another option you could consider is an xtracycle attachment or a cargo bicycle. There are many different types out there. If you could provide a little more information concerning your commute, I'll try to shoot you other options.

ch9862

Thank you for responding.

Little background - I've been commuting on a bike since mid-90s. My commute will be on a bike trail - at least most of it. It's a little hilly here, but I can deal with that. I plan on commuting on a SS cyclocross bike, but if it proves too tough, I can always get a cheap mtb.

My question, which I guess I did not articulate clearly, is: what options do I have to bring my son with? What kind of vehicles are there?

Now that I think of it, space might be an issue. If the contraption is small enough, I can leave it at daycare (someboday leaves their car seat - but the area is upstairs and smallish). I have bike rack at work, and I should be able to chain a full size trailer (by which I mean an enclosed thing with two wheels) there. Although I'd rather not, because it's not as secure as the daycare.

I'd probably like to get something to have my son screened from the elements. That's why I haven't even though about xtracycle, which I'd been infatuated with years ago - but I don't need cargo carrying capacity now. The weehoo you mention seems to be without canopy of any sort as well.

To underscore - I don't know what options are out there. If my son is too big for a trailer, I'll get something like a weehoo, and live with it. But I'd like to hear from people who were in my situation and can offer some insight =).

Thanks!

pwdeegan

my kids aren't that big yet, but most of the parents i know with 4+ year olds and who are too young to ride solo ride one of a couple of options: trail-a-bike, xtraCycle, or periscope tandem. Why? Because as you've discovered most trailers are too cramped for a 4 year old. You can buy a nicer, bigger trailer, and that would work, but probably not past about 6 or 7 years old. So investment-wise it's kind of tough to plop down $500-1000 on all the bells and whistles.

Moreover, all of the parents i mentioned above, who also commute regularly, just buy multi-use protective clothing for their kids—good rain gear, good cold weather gear. If it's mud you're worried about, and we get a lot of mud here in the PNW, waterproof pants and a poncho protect everything but the face; a fender on your rear wheel will improve mud-shielding tremendously. If it's cold you're worried about, there are clothes for that, too. If it's a blizzard, then maybe just stay at home and telecommute for the day.

Trailers are useful to a point, and carrying big kids quickly hits that point. But if the cost isn't an issue, sure, check out the Burleys and Chariots; they'll handle your current load for sure. And more than likely, if you take proper care of it you can then sell it later and recoup some major portion of the initial capital.

But if you're a hipster on an SS, then maybe it's time to just get the kid out into the elements? Mud, it's what kids prefer to wear anyway.

ch9862

Thanks - I'll take a look at the first two opitons. Although the first one looks easier and cheaper - so I guess I'll start there.

Thanks again!

exmilitarymom

Another option you should really consider is the FollowMe Tandem coupling. https://clevercycles.com/products/acc...ndem-coupling/
It's an attachment that allows you to hitch/unhitch your child's bike up to yours quickly and painlessly.
I don't know how well your child will sit on a saddle, but it would solve your problem with storage (as you could lock his bicycle up at the daycare) and is much less expensive than a dedicated cargo bike.

However, if you have your heart set on a trailer but are worried about longevity, Wike Bike Trailers might be another option. https://www.wicycle.com/
They make child trailers as well as a host of others, including those for people with special needs.

Good luck in your search. Let us know what option you decide upon.

ch9862

Thank you for these - it's interesting how many different ideas people come up with.

I think I'll start with the weehoo you mentioned. They have dealers in my area - I'll see what they say.

The FollowMe looks great - but I'm concerned that my son wouldn't want to sit in the saddle for relatively long periods of time (twice a day).

Thanks again!

sunset1123

The Weehoo I-Go is a sweet machine. We just got ours, and my son Julian loves it. We went for an 18 mile ride first time out, and he can't wait to go again!

ch9862

Looks like you all had a blast, too =). Thanks for sharing.

May I ask how old is your son, and if he likes to pedal?

sunset1123

Julian just turned three. He is right at the smallest limit of fit on the Weehoo, so pedaling is possible, but difficult for him. He has experimentally pushed on the pedals from time to time, and I can definitely feel that from the bike.

I imagine we'll be sliding the seat back a notch and he'll find his legs well before his fourth birthday.

ch9862

Thanks!

jfdawson

we use this one from Trek, but it's discontinued... I would get another one just a different brand:

syncro87

I think the best buy for the money out there right now is the discontinued Baby Jogger Tailwind. You can still get them from Baby Jogger, at least you could not too long ago and I think they still have them on their website. They've knocked the price down to around $200. I bought one, and the quality is at least up to the level of my Burley if not a smidge better. For the price, you can't go wrong. I expected to get some el cheapo trailer, and was surprised...you'd think it cost over twice what it did, and that's because they did prior to Baby Jogger deciding to focus on strollers instead. You won't do any better spending $400-500. At $200, you can use it for a while, then when you grow out of it someday, recoup most of your investment selling it used on Craigs.


I took mine out the other day, pulled great. You can close all the windows to keep it warmer inside, or open them all for ventilation as you choose.










I just checked their site under closeouts...looks like they still have some left. Originally $479, I think. Anyway, I have no affiliation with them, but love our Tailwind and for the price, a steal.

By the way, 3 things I like about this trailer: 1) there is a helmet cutout in the back so that your kids helmeted head isn't constantly squished forward by the typical rigid back wall (Molly is a little small to take advantage of this at 15 mos, but will soon) 2) the seatbelts inside are easily configurable for one kid in the center of the seat or two kids on the ends of the seat. I have ours set up for one, works very well. 3) It folds for easy storage in my shed off season. It's totally rigid when set up, so no downside I have found to this like flex, etc.


https://www.babyjogger.com/c-31-Acces...aspx#closeouts

Hope this helps. I can take pics of any specific area of the trailer if you need any.

Fish_Sticks

I went ahead and bought the Tailwind on closeout based on mbrickells review of it. $250 inc tax and shipping for it is a good deal, considering anything decent used is close to $200.

I will probably keep it after the little ones outgrow it and use it to carry camping gear.