Anyone got a Kangaroo or Trikidoo or alternative way to transport kiddies...?

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

I'm interested in either a kangaroo or trikidoo bike since I live in the flat lands of Cambridge...

Anyone any experience of them?

Sorry, didn't know where to post this but am confident that someone will be able to help...

[UniS]

I have breifly used a kangeroo, I reveiwed it at length in the special needs board a few months ago, so try a serch there.

glad to hear you are in flat cambridge, I would NOT buy one to use in hilly Devon.

[UniS]

here you go

its in teh middle of teh thread.

[silverfrog]

I have a Kangaroo.

I live in mostly flat country, with a few hills about the place.

The Kangaroo is heavy to get up hills, but it is brilliant.

My dds (4.9 and 2.3) love it, and it has made the school run a lot easier (no parking at all at dd1's school, so used ot have to get her safely back to the car amongst hordes of other children (she is ASD, and scared of children!))

Ask away, and i will try to help.

[madwomanintheattic]

no - always had a trailer that converted into a 3 wheeler for jogging and were air-portable... they do look cool though. do they do an sn version for bigger kids?

[thisisyesterday]

i know someone who road-tested a kangaroo and a nihola. she went almost committed to buying the kangaroo, but was totally taken with how much easier the nihola was to ride.

google london recumbents, you could go there and try some out

[thisisyesterday]

love the look of the trikidoo though! and much nicer price (and perfect for me, expecting third child!)

[silverfrog]

the kangaroo takes children up to 1.5m tall (faints at tought of peddling with that weight though!)

we also just got a sn bike trailer from here as dd1 is too big for standard bike trailer (or soon would be), so now I can take her in the kangaroo, or dh can take her hitched to his bike.

the Wike trailer can also double as a stroller, which we just used on holiday quite successfully.

[JoyS]

Have you seen this?

www.taga.nl/default.asp

[silverfrog]

would definitely recommend london recumbents.

I went and tried the kangaroo and the nihola - was expecting (having read all about it on here ) to end up with the nihola, despite wanting the kangaroo, but actually dh & I both agreed the kangaroo was hthe nicer ride, and also suited us more for other reasons (such as not reaching wheels etc - dd1 is ASD, and I reckon she would have ended up playing with the wheels on the nihola)

also easier hood/rain cover on the kangaroo.

[silverfrog]

I have seen a prototype taga in the flesh, so to speak. don't think it would take a child beyond about 4 years in the main seat comfortably (dd1 is 4.9, and just fitted in).

And when I saw it, the doubles kit was not available yet, so couldn't tell how that would work in reality.

bummer though, as that wuold have been my main choice otherwise.

[madwomanintheattic]

silverfrog, you are a superstar - we are wedging dd2 into her chariot at the moment (she's 5) but we are moving to canada in august - and wike are based in ontario!
sorry rinky!

[silverfrog]

glad I could help - I spent bloomin' weeks researching our options!

the wike is great - very easy to use/collapse (takes literally 30 seconds from folded to stroller - not sure about using as a bike trailer - we only got it last week!

very comfy for the dds (we got the extra cushion bits), and so light to push around.

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

WOW- thanks everyone for the replies and comprehensive info.

My DDs are 2.5yrs and 11mnths so I need something to fit 2 little ones into. Mostly for zipping to playgroups, friends houses and preschool when that starts.

I have hired a trailer from the council (for a free week-long trial) but found I got stuck on cattle gates and a bridge I use frequently because of the big turning circle of bike + trailer and from not being able to see the trailer.

I have contacted the Trikidoo rep up here and will test it hopefully next week- I'll report back... Price-wise it's about half of the Kangaroo but it doesn't have the protection from the elements etc that the Kanga offers.

I did briefly test ride the Kangaroo but it was raining cats & dogs so I don't think I got good idea of how it would normally handle-

So a couple of questions please Silverfrog and UniS:-
I wondered how comfortable to Kangaroo would be for DD2 (11mnths) who still tends to nod off occasionally when we are on the move- is there any head support- should I use a travel/air pillow for her?
Can you change from 1 to 2 seats and back easily (at drop-offs etc)?
Did you find it easy to get used to the steering/ cantilever of the bike and the back-pedalling to stop it? How different is it from a regular bike?
Did you enjoy it enough to use it during the winter months?
I'm hoping to get into cycling with the kids whilst the weather is conducive and to be able to continue with it when gets cold/ dark at the end of the year. (DD1's preschool, if we get a place, is rubbish for cars. ) The weather thing may be swinging me more towards the Kangaroo.

As I said I'll report back once I've tested to Trikidoo...

[silverfrog]

I have only had my kangaroo for a few weeks, but really do love it.

the seats don't have head support, but are very comfortable hammock-style seats. they can lie almost flat fairly easily - they adjust quickly by sliding back and forwards, and you can adjust the angle of the backrest simply too, so you could have your 11month old reclining nicely. I'd probably still use a travel pillow/neck support at that age, I suppose.

I don't bother changing from 1 to 2 seats. I have both fitted and leave it like that, as am dropping off the heavier child, and can't be doing with the faffing (althugh easy, can't see thepoint). If I were dropping off dd2, then I might well change to single seat in the middle to carry dd1 as she is quite big and heavy.

the steering of the bike I have found fine - big corners take a bit of getting used to, and it is actually easier to "let go" of steering like a normal bike (I assume, I'm not actually a bike rider!) and just hold one corner of the handlebars rather than trying to steer fully. The back peddling I have found very easy to get used to (again, maybe because I am not a bike rider?), and this is much easier/safer to use than the front brakes, which are ok for final slowing but can be a bit abrupt when stopping form speed.

I haven't yet used it in the winter months, but I could see me doing so (apart from serioulsy bad weather). the girls willbe snug enough - the cabin is really weatherproof, so it is just a case of getting me weather proofed too. I am hoping by that time that it is such a part of my routine/fitness that I do not want to give it up!

There is a blog that I read carefully when considering which bike/trike to buy - hold on..... this man has a kangaroo, and cycles in all weathers up in Scotland - that convinced me it was weatherproof enough for the girls!

I think I cycle about a 4 mile round trip for my pre-school run (so 2 miles with dd1 (22kg) and dd2 (10kg) and 2 miles with just dd2), and it is going well so far. It take sme about 30 mins each way, and does include a couple of small (well long, but not too steep) hills, which are ok as long as you keep momentum!

[silverfrog]

actually, just checked, as the timings didn't sound right to me - my journey is 3.5 miles each way - about a third on cycle paths, a third across the common and a third on roads, so I get quite a good range of terrains in!

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

Thanks for answers Silverfrog, it's really helping. That blog is inspiring- I really want to use the summer to build an all year routine with whichever trike I go for.
My route would be quite easy and not too far. Biggest concerns are the bridge with the tight corner and squeezing through the cattle gates...

[silverfrog]

tight corner wise, I have been around a couple (one a cycle path barrier on the common, set in a chicane pattern) and have had to simply get off and manoeuvre (sp?) a few times. Boring, but effective.

I think the kangaroo might be easier than a trikidoo (although I didn't try one, as it def wouldn't have suited me) for the tight corner, as it is at least articulated, so you can get a better angle.

cattle gates - do you meant the open grids which the cattle can't walk across? with lots of poles and gaps? if so, I haven't yet had the pleasure, but can imagine that I'd also get off and steer for those few yards - possible because I'm not yet an experienced rider! But at times, the suspension leaves a lot to be desired (for me, the girls are just fine in their comfy seats), and it would be far preferable to walk/push than to bump over it all.

It sounds as though you are a bike rider already? have you looked at the Christiana bikes? Peole who have been bike riders swear that the trikes are uncomfortable and cumbersome (I need the stability!) and there are quite a few 2 wheeled versions out there - lots of links on the thread that UniS linked to earlier

[silverfrog]

also, travel pillow wise, these look good

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

You are a genius, Silverfrog! The Yondi looks perfect for DD2, although I can see that I'd have to get one for DD1 as they're so cute, she'd want her own one too.

Cattle gates here are metal gates that are narrow enough to stop a well fed cow wandering through but wide enough for pedestrians and bikes/ trikes/ trailers. There are indeed cows and horses on the commons from time to time. I had to walk round a couple of pats today, whilst DD1 tried to get out of the pram to talk to a cow...

As far as stability is concerned I'm all for 3 wheels with the added weight/ altered centre of gravity of the DDs. Don't want to have to balance a 2 wheeled bike with DDs on it whilst waiting for lights to change. I'm not a great cyclist- I just live in a place that is easy and quicker to get around by bike.

[millwood]

We live in Cambridge too and have just ordered a Christiana. I actually posted a couple of weeks ago on the Cambridge site as if we can get more than 3 orders, the seller will give us a 5% discount.

We tried the Christiana, Nihola, Kangaroo and the Bakfiets. The Bakfiets is actually a two wheeler and felt quite unsteady when stationaty but I know some people love them. I couldn't get to grips with the Kangaroo's steering system and we thought we would end up with the Nihola before trying the Christiana. There were a number of things that tipped us in favour of the Christiana in the end - we found it rode as well, is much the most robust, is easy to service and you can carry a lot (including an adult!). It also works out several hundred pounds cheaper than the Nihola.

My recommendation would be to try them out because we were surprised by the one we chose. Let me know if you do opt for the Christiana and would like to join with us for the discount!

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

Hi Millwood, I'll look out for you on the Christiana!

Update on the Trikidoo- I tried it out and loved it but for older kids than mine/ for school run/ kids that are old enough not to fall asleep as soon as it is moving etc. It also offers no protection from the elements so fab during summertime but less so during crap weather. My DDs are quite young- 2 1/2yrs and nearly 1yo so I am less confident that they would handle the upright bench for longer journeys and being rained on.

I am likely to be using a trike every day and want something that the kids could sleep in if they need to (esp DD2) and a carriage that is covered for bad weather.
So... I have ordered a Kanagroo- mainly because of the comfortable reclining seats for the little ones.
It arrives next week and I'm really looking forward to being more mobile.

I also figured that wrt the cost of these trikes ; there should be a new second hand market for when we have outlived ours since there are no second hand ones around now.

[millwood]

Definitely!

Can you let me know where you tried the Trikidoo as I have a friend who is interested in it? Did you have to go to London?

[RinkyDinkyPinky]

Hi again, I phoned the London distributor/ inventor(?) of the Trikidoo (number on web site) and she put me in touch with a local Cambridge mum who has a Trikidoo (the only one here at the moment). So I went to her house in town to test it and was able to take it for a spin along the river. It's defo worth looking at- as I said I'd have gone for it if my DDs were a bit older. There are only about 50 in the country so it's new out and not in "bike shops" yet.

[rohan100]

I'm moving to Dubai and selling a 2yr old Kangaroo bike, in red/black. 5 speed, good condition. It's great for the school run/shopping/parks. We live south of Bromley, Kent. Any buyers?

[TheHerbs]

Rohan, may I ask what you are looking to ask for it please?

Thanks