If you cycle to school with two children - please tell me about your bike/trailer/seat configuration!!

[TodayToday]

I currently live close to school and walk there with a 5 year old and a two year old (in a pushchair)

We're moving in the summer and it's more likely that we will be living further away from the school we can get DD1 into. Somewhere between 1 and 2 miles.

I'm thinking about cycling but cannot work out the best way to transport the two girls.

Which of these options are the most practical for children that will be 3 and nearly 6 and weigh collectively near to 70lbs. I'm looking for an option that will a few years without me having to purchase too many new things.

Current options

Bike trailer with 2 children inside (I think they're getting too squashed for this though)

Bike trailer with 5 yo inside + rear bikeseat with 2 yo inside

Considerations

Teach DD1 to cycle by herself and have DD2 in the rear bike seat

Attach a seat to my bike's cross bar for DD1 and have DD2 in the rear bikeseat

Have DD2 in the rear bikeseat for a year and buy a single bike trailer for DD1. When DD1 is 7 have her cycle on her own bike and then use the single bike trailer for DD2.

Find a trailer bike which attaches to the bike for DD1 and allows for a rear bike seat to be attached for DD2 (such a thing exists but I haven't had success in locating it online again)

Use a trailerbike for DD1 and put DD2 on a front bike seat.

Have I missed anything?

Oh yes, the other option is to not cycle next year at all but to walk whilst DD2 is still happy in a pushchair and either have DD1 on her scooter or use a buggyboard.

TT, I am interested in the rear bike seat/ trailer bike combo as have just confidently said elsewhere on MN that it can't be done.
( I just have a cheapy SpokeyJoe trailbike)

If you currently have your option 2, that sounds viable for a bit longer, and you could jam them both in on especially windy or rainy days.

Then you could work on getting DD1 up to cycling by herself. at which point your DD2 might be getting ready for a trailer bike or, as you say, be in the rear seat. Is your DD2 ready for a trailbike yet? I would not trust my DS (4) behind me out of my sight.

I cannot see how you could get a 6 year old onto a front bike seat and expect to hold the thing steady, unless you get one of those fantastic tricycles from Holland. Even a 4 yr old would be hard I think.

sorry, misread age of your DD2. If she is still under 3 she might be OK in front seat, but I reckon this would be a shortlived option. Good resale value though..

I would love one of those fantatsic tricycles from Holland/Denmark but they're out of my price-range and I'm not sure I could tolerate the daily staring.

I'm still looking online to try and refind that trailer/bikeseat combo.

Thanks for your opinion on the front bike saddle. I think you're probably right, I was just curious to know if anyone used that option.

Yes it can b done, dusty -- I have. Need a sturdy bike, obviously.

"Bike trailer with 5 yo inside + rear bikeseat with 2 yo inside": My gut feeling is do this in the morning, in afternoons youi walk or cycle up 2 school & expect 5-6yo to walk home -- or scooter home, if scooter can be folded 2 take in mornings & left at school.

You could get a tandem w/ kiddy cranks & childseat seat or triplet, or get a tandem trailer bike too -- but they would cost more & offer no chance of protection against weather.

I remember reading somewhere on MN about a woman who takes her children to school in a horse and cart - your comment about staring reminded me!

I know someone with a 5year old and nearly 3 year old twins.

They use a bike trailer for the twins and the 5 year old on a bike seat at the back.

Most people who cycle to our school with children of your dc's ages, have the older one on a bike or scooter and the younger one on a bike seat on the back.

My 9 year old can still fit on the back of tag a long, but my 4 year old would be too big for a front bike seat.

sorry, lljkk, which arrangement can be done? I would love some more info about trailbike & rear bike seat if that's what you mean.

Oops , I misread your post, dusty, I thought you meant seat+trailer, not +trailer-bike. Although I have seen seat+trailerbike, I don't have experience of it. Funky tandem + seat here.

Think I'd best go back to lurk mode.

what a fabulous tandem lljkk

alas no $1800 plus shipping going spare here

Join ctc & ask their advice; go 2 a big CTC rally like York (June this year) or Mildenhall (August) 2 see possibilities.

A family in our kindergarten has one of these Bakfiets

They transport 3 DCs, currently 2, 3 and 4 yo.

The larger one even has space for shopping.

For a couple of years i had dd on the back in a baby seat and ds on a special little seat that i had fitted on the crossbar, with footrests.

Worked a treat, havig him on the front actually made the bike more stable.

So, from your list, I'd recommend option no. 2.

sorry....consideration no.2

Can still just about do it now with ds on front and baby on back....ds is 8!

I found the bikeseat + trailer combo - it's not cheap though

Cadelaide - how old was your son and how much did he weigh when you had him on a saddle on the corssbar? I did wonder if it would balance the bike out or make it less sturdy.

Have you tried these seats? We have one at the moment on front for DD and when No. 2 comes along plan to get a back one and move No. 2 to front seat. Front seat keeps whole bike very balanced. Not sure what age/weight limit is though. best bikes seats ever

I used to have a Pashley trike with two seats on the back but as DS got older and heavier it became really hard work so when he was about 4/4.5 traded in for rear bike seat for DD who was then 2/3 and tag-a-long for DS and it worked a treat. He got used to cycling to school and DD could fall asleep. It was less hard work than the trike as he could peddle too.

I did it until he was about 6.5, dd on the back was 20m younger.

Don't know what he weighed, he's very average size though.

I definitely found the bike was easier to manage when they were both on it.

With just one on the back (which is what i do now) the back does tend to swing around easily, esp when you're wheeling it along and walking alongside.

We all thought it was great fun. I was always careful to practise "defensive riding" (motorcycle training), made us all very visible and kept well out from the kerb, big embarrassingly bold hand signals, that kind of thing.

SydneyB, where did you get your seat from, I can't see a Where to Buy on the website you linked to. Thanks.

claricebeansmum - what type of tagalong did you have that allowed a rear bike seat to be fitted too?

Mikafan - from this place - you can get them on ebay too but cost as much old as new as far as I can tell. You need a different attachment depending on what bike you have but they are just brilliant. DH drops DD off in the morning and leaves the seat there and then I collect her in the evening. Its very light and easy to take on and off and its great to have her just in front of me. Feels safer somehow.

Brilliant, thanks SydneyB, I'm off to have a look.