Bobike/weeride and tag along on my bike - am I mad?

[zimzam]

Hi. This is my first time so please be gentle!
I have 4.4 dd starting reception in September and a 2.3 ds. I'd like to avoid the car for the school run so have been considering:

1. Nihola/Kangaroo - think they're great but v. v. pricey.
   
2. Tricycle with seats - not too keen to have them behind me especially ds on his own after dropping off dd.
   
3. Getting a bike for me and attaching both kids front and back - I'm not an experienced cyclist and wonder if I'd be too unstable.
   
   DD is just ok on her own bike but with stabilisers. Its a 15-20 min walk to school and then I need to take ds another 15mins to nursery on 3 days.
   
   Any advice/opinions? Tx.

[scotsgirl]

Haven't read the whole post, but I also have the islabikes tagalong, and give it the thumbs up for both stability and ease (taking on and off).

[zimzam]

Tx scotsgirl. How old is your lo and does he/she ride already i.e. without stabilisers? Does he/she lean much?

[Anchovy]

By the way, I have a 4 year old who cannot ride her own bike without stabilisers but she is absolutely fine on the tag along and very stable. So I'm not sure that I agree with your Bloke in a Bike Shop (although I do concede they do know most things!)

Although tag-alongs are expensive, I think they are good value, particularly if you have more than one child.

We have had 2+ years of DS on it - he is now 6 and rides without stabilisers but not fully confident/competent in traffic and will still sometimes go on the tag-along, eg with DS up to school or over to his football lesson, which is a longer ride. For weekend/quieter/shorrter trips he goes on his bike and 4 year old DD has just graduated from seat to tag along. If we get 3 years more use out of it and then sell it on ebay it will more than have paid for itself (they seem to hold their value pretty well).

We've absolutely loved having one - have all had a lot of enjoyment out of it.

(I am interested in the "fixed pull-along" thing if anyone has any ideas - might be what we need for DS for longer trips when DD is on the tag-along)

[RuffleTheAnimal]

check this out. scroll down for pics

[iheartdusty]

zimzam I LOOOOVE the Onderwater family tandem

Does anyone have one? How could I try one out?

I have been puzzling over how to transport both DCs, as DS (4) is too big for a seat but too dozy to trust behind me on the tagalong, and DD (6) is not quite up to cycling by herself even on the pavement.

[scotsgirl]

sorry didn't reply yesterday re islabike tagalong. My DS is 6.5 and yes, can go without stabilisers. He sometimes wriggles a bit which makes a bit of a wobble. This doesn't DH, but he's a v. experienced cyclist. For me, it's a bit annoying, but I can cope IYKWIM. Hope this helps.

[zimzam]

iheartdusty, Velorution (central London) normally has them to rent. I called yesterday but they didn't have them in stock and was told to try next week.

They do look like they could fit the bill and you get your money's worth as bigger kids can use them too. My only doubt is that the smaller child's seat is actually just an extra saddle with no seat belts etc so not totally secure. I thought perhaps you could attach a weeride seat instead.

My problem is that there'll be a window when ds is too big for the weeride but too small for the tag along or front of tandem (around 3-4yrs old)so will have to resort to a back seat which I've been trying to avoid all this time!

Thanks for the reassurance about the tag along Anchovy.

[zimzam]

Btw, Anchovy, Velorution also has the follow-me fixed gizmo for rent/sale.

What make is your tag-along and is it fixed to the seat post or pannier rack?

[nannyL]

just to add... at work we have a trailgator

(a thing that turn childs norml bike into a tag along)
also have a bike seat at the back....

BUT at least on my MBs and DBs bike you cant use back seat and trailgator together...

its one or the other...

(thought its worth bearing that in mind )

[zimzam]

Am going to rent the tag along at Richmond Park this weekend (weather permitting).

Any recommendations for a good ladies' bike, preferably, low step, several gears, covered chain, comfy seat, room for weeride, poss basket...not asking too much am I?!

[Anchovy]

I had a Ridgeback ladies town bike (nicked) and now have a Giant (I think). Both of these do a standard ladies low step bike which fits what you are asking for. But in any event get yourself to Evans and throw yourself on their mercy. I think for each I paid in the region of £250, rising to just under £300 with bits - mudguards, lights and fittings etc.

Where are you based? (I just noticed the Richmond Park bit as I am in SW London. We have a couple of good independent bike shops near us as well).

It goes without saying that you shouldn't touch the ghastly Halfords or BikeHut with a bargepole...

[zimzam]

I'm in Epsom. We have a little local bike shop across the road and an Action Bikes on the high st. Agree about Halfords.

[zimzam]

Takver, NotQuiteCockney, How many gears will I need on my bike if I have the weeride and tag along? There are only small hills around here.

[Steph18931]

Try www.amieandgracie.com for twin trikes