commuting with a child

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

Is your daughter yet size enough to safely manage the half-wheeler?

It might work for three years or so. If she's just learning or almost
ready to ride her own bike this will help her development if it fits.

If not, figure you might get a year out of a trailer or sidecar
before she outgrows it.

A bakfiets can carry a larger passenger or a couple kids, medium size
dog and a few bags of groceries but that's like ~$1500.

An Xtracycle can carry adult size passengers or accommodate a child's
seat. Dane Buson carries two kids on his. They're made for 26"
wheeled mountain bikes but are now available for many 700C bikes.
--
zk

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I need some practical advice on commuting. I will be moving to a new
place soon and will start commuting to work about 8 miles each way,
most of it on the Capital Crescent trail in WashDC and a little bit on
the streets of DC. I also have a 5 year old daughter which attends the
kindergarten next door to where I work. I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Slava.

I have used a trailer a bit which is quite nice in my rural setting,
but IMO too unweildy for any urban use with precious cargo. I'd go for
the wheeler. I grew up in NYC and was a bike messenger for a while so
I am not uncomfortable in city traffic, it's just that the kid
trailers are too wide.

Joseph

Quoted message said:

I need some practical advice on commuting. I will be moving to a new
place soon and will start commuting to work about 8 miles each way,
most of it on the Capital Crescent trail in WashDC and a little bit on
the streets of DC. I also have a 5 year old daughter which attends the
kindergarten next door to where I work. I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

I'm generally a trailer advocate. I think they're better than panniers
for cargo, and best for hauling SMALL children. But your child is almost
too big for a trailer now, and will be growing. I think the half wheeler
is probably better in your case.
Contrats on raising her without a car addiction, BTW.

Bill

__o | Look to the past and remember no empire rises
_`\(,_ | that sooner or later won't fall.
(_)/ (_) | --Al Stewart

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I need some practical advice on commuting. I will be moving to a new
place soon and will start commuting to work about 8 miles each way,
most of it on the Capital Crescent trail in WashDC and a little bit on
the streets of DC. I also have a 5 year old daughter which attends the
kindergarten next door to where I work. I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.
Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

I'm generally a trailer advocate. I think they're better than panniers
for cargo, and best for hauling SMALL children. But your child is almost
too big for a trailer now, and will be growing. I think the half wheeler
is probably better in your case.
Contrats on raising her without a car addiction, BTW.

Bill

__o | Look to the past and remember no empire rises
_`\(,_ | that sooner or later won't fall.
(_)/ (_) | --Al Stewart

yeah but little kids get sleepy too....I'd be very worried for her
commuting on a half wheeler, you can't mount a child seat on your
bike ? I know 5 is getting a bit big ( my son just turned 5 ) but I
would be looking at that as a preferable option.

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I need some practical advice on commuting. I will be moving to a new
place soon and will start commuting to work about 8 miles each way,
most of it on the Capital Crescent trail in WashDC and a little bit on
the streets of DC. I also have a 5 year old daughter which attends the
kindergarten next door to where I work. I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

I'd go with a Burley Piccolo. You'll have to buy it used on craigslist
or eBay or equivalent, as Burley doesn't make them anymore. Good luck,
they are in very high demand. I bought (and sold) mine on craigslist,
and didn't lose anything after seven years (well other than inflation).
This one is similar
"http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/trailer-bikes/roland_add_bike.html" but
avoid the ones that mount to the seat post.

A tandem with a child stoker kit is another option, but Burley
discontinued the child stoker kits as well, so you'd have to find
someone selling either the kit alone, or a complete tandem with the kit
installed.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I need some practical advice on commuting. I will be moving to a new
place soon and will start commuting to work about 8 miles each way,
most of it on the Capital Crescent trail in WashDC and a little bit on
the streets of DC. I also have a 5 year old daughter which attends the
kindergarten next door to where I work. I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Slava.

I have used a trailer bike extensively (1,000's of miles) with a child
from age 4.5 to 9. Worked very well in all conditions, from off road to
urban streets. Best kid-related bike purchase I've ever made. I used an
Adams.

Zoot Katz said:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

Is your daughter yet size enough to safely manage the half-wheeler?

It might work for three years or so. If she's just learning or almost
ready to ride her own bike this will help her development if it fits.

If not, figure you might get a year out of a trailer or sidecar
before she outgrows it.

A bakfiets can carry a larger passenger or a couple kids, medium size
dog and a few bags of groceries but that's like ~$1500.

An Xtracycle can carry adult size passengers or accommodate a child's
seat. Dane Buson carries two kids on his. They're made for 26"
wheeled mountain bikes but are now available for many 700C bikes.

http://members.arstechnica.com/x/zuvembi/Xtracycle_and_Aixi.jpg

I don't have a picture of both children on the bike in motion yet. I
should fix that.

I prefer the Xtracycle to the trail-a-bike or trailer for handling. The
Xtracycle is totally manageable with a passenger. The trail-a-bike, not
so much. On the other hand, the kid can contribute on the TAB. I'd
advise borrowing one for a day or week if you can first.

Another nice thing about the Xtracycle is that it's possible to add a
StokeMonkey to the Xtracycle. This is an electric assist to extend your
range and speed.

The Bakfiets is a very convenient kid carrier. Having them in front of
you is awesome. On the other hand, it handles like a dirigible. Also,
it's heavy and not conducive to standing. Even with seven gears, I hope
you live somewhere flat-tish.

Trailers are okay for a single child, they really start to lose their
luster when you have two. A Tanjor trailer (two in line) is a better
solution. Good luck finding one (they're out of business).

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"When all else fails, follow instructions."

Quoted message said:

I would really want to start
riding my bike (Sirrus Sport) to work, but for that to happen I will
have to take my daughter as a passenger each way.

Has anyone done this kind of commuting before? Would a child trailer
or a half wheeler work better?

I bicycle commuted with our daughter when she was small. It was about
6 miles to her daycare center and then another couple miles to where I
worked. Until she was 4 I used a childseat on the back of my single
bike. After that I switched to our tandem which I converted to a kid-
back style by clamping a bottom bracket partway down the rear seat
tube. That way she was more involved with the bike ride and seemed to
like the attention we got (and the added pedal power was welcome on
the one significant hill on the route).

So at age 5 I'd be inclined to go with the trail-a-bike option, at
least if your daughter seems agreeable with it.

i would never put a child at risk on the streets in a bike trailer--maybe on
bike paths yes--give it ssome more taught

take care
peter

"ilaboo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:xCgfj.3519$Je6.427@trnddc01...

Quoted message said:

i would never put a child at risk on the streets in a bike trailer--maybe
on bike paths yes--give it ssome more taught

take care
peter

more taught?

ilaboo said:

i would never put a child at risk on the streets in a bike trailer--maybe on
bike paths yes--give it ssome more taught

People seem to notice baby-back seats and trail-a-bikes, and give you
room.

That said, my son and I were cut off and hit by an inattentive driver
when he was on a rear-mounted seat. The bike was a write-off, I broke
my arm, but my son was fine. He got back on the new bike pretty much
as soon as my arm healed, too.

ilaboo said:

i would never put a child at risk on the streets in a bike trailer--maybe on
bike paths yes--give it ssome more taught

take care
peter

I just realized I replied to your fresh addition to a 4-month old
thread. Jeeze, Peter, get a new news reader!

Quoted message said:

I just realized I replied to your fresh addition to a 4-month old
thread. Jeeze, Peter, get a new news reader!

brian

how do i do that and what am i doing wrong?--im kind of new to this

tia
peter
i use outlook express ( pos)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I just realized I replied to your fresh addition to a 4-month old
thread. Jeeze, Peter, get a new news reader!

brian

how do i do that and what am i doing wrong?--im kind of new to this

tia
peter
i use outlook express ( pos)

In the tools section is a box where you put how many days you want the
message available to you. I just put 30 days. After that, they fall away,
never to be seen again.

It's found under Tools--Options--Maintenance.

Pat in TX

Pat said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I just realized I replied to your fresh addition to a 4-month old
thread. Jeeze, Peter, get a new news reader!

Quoted message said:

brian

Quoted message said:

how do i do that and what am i doing wrong?--im kind of new to this

Quoted message said:

tia
peter
i use outlook express ( pos)

In the tools section is a box where you put how many days you want the
message available to you. I just put 30 days. After that, they fall away,
never to be seen again.

It's found under Tools--Options--Maintenance.

Pat in TX

but, but, but it's history...and curious minds need to know-- I want
closure !

Quoted message said:

In the tools section is a box where you put how many days you want the
message available to you. I just put 30 days. After that, they fall away,
never to be seen again.

It's found under Tools--Options--Maintenance.

Pat in TX

but, but, but it's history...and curious minds need to know-- I want
closure !

Tools---Options---Closure

Quoted message said:

Pat said:

Quoted message said:

> I just realized I replied to your fresh addition to a 4-month old
> thread. Jeeze, Peter, get a new news reader!

Quoted message said:

brian

Quoted message said:

how do i do that and what am i doing wrong?--im kind of new to this

Quoted message said:

tia
peter
i use outlook express ( pos)

In the tools section is a box where you put how many days you want
the message available to you. I just put 30 days. After that, they
fall away, never to be seen again.

It's found under Tools--Options--Maintenance.

Pat in TX

but, but, but it's history...and curious minds need to know-- I want
closure !

My advice: Set it to 7 days, and go to Google Groups if you want history.

--
Mike Kruger
Gravity -- It's not just a good idea. It's the law.