Jogging sroller

[martyno]

Hi,
I am a student studying Product Design at the University of Glamorgan. I am currently in the process of designing a jogging stroller with the aim of it being a low cost product. I am wondering if there are any jogging stroller users here? What do you look for when buying a jogging stroller?
Any help will be appreciated.

Martyn

Lightweight, easy to push, with big air filled wheels. Would probably need to go over rough ground. Also would need to be easy to go up and down the pavements. Also if you are to use it for other things than jogging then would need to fold fairly compactly.
Will come back to you if I think of anything else.

not so much that i use it for jogging, but a all-terain (for walking off road) pushchair user here. Pneumatic air filled wheels are a must... flexability too. So must be able to be used in town as well. This means you need a swivel wheel option (for manoeverability) and it has to ahve any easy fold and be able to fit in boot (baby jogger brand are good for this). Also, the holy grail of three wheelers would be one with a reveersible seat (that faces parent or away from parent)and that had a lie flat option for when they are newborn (newbron babies have to lie flat until 3-4 months)

Thank you for your replies

A good sized seat, it always seems people are happier when the seat is roomier!

Also one handed fold would be amazing! Afterall, you need an arm for baby while you deal with the pram.

Hi Martyn - I am a former Poly of Wales (as was) graduate so happy to help. I have a Phil and Red's Sport, which I bought after much consideration when my second hand Quinny Buzz fell apart, thankfully (I hated it) when DS was 6 months old.

I used to run with the P&T until DS got too stroppy. When I got it, it came with a note that said not too, but I did anyway, no probs. What I like about it:

Pneumatic tyres
Big wheels for getting over lumps and bumps.
Swivel front wheel
Light- ish
Easy to fold
Frame is one continous piece of steel - not too many joins to break or snap
Seat is attached to frame, not clipped in like in Quinny Buzz (it was the clip-in joint on between the seat and frame on the Quinny that failed).
It is narrow enough to get round shops easily.

But - it is quite big when folded, although I appreciate why. If I didn;t have a ridiculous saloon car imposed on me by work. When and if I get an estate, then this won;t be a problem!

Oh, and I like the safety arm loop/strap on the P&T.

I am not a jogger but I walk miles with my buggies (P&T and Bugaboo) every week.

I agree with pretty much everything everyone above has said, but can I add that a handle that you can push / hold with one hand is really important to me.

Also beware the lightweight frame materials... I have a Phil & Teds Vide I like esoecially as for a double buggy is v light. But last week the lightweight chassis snapped at one of the joints where it had been soldered in manufacture. P&T are great and are replacing it straight away but it was certainly surprising for me and the two babies who were in it at the time!

Once you've done designing this one my dad always says that someone needs to invent a pushchair for using on public transport in London, I keep telling him its call a car or a taxi!

I am going to include a height adjustable handlebar in the design so it can be adjusted to each specific user. Is there anyone who wishes that they could change the height of the handlebar on their stroller to suit them better?

Yes, hadn't thought of that when I originally posted. It was one thing that when we bought our original pram that we looked at even tho' we didn't get that as we not only use our 3 wheeler for running but it is also used for general use.

I have a Baby Jogger Performance series buggy with 20" wheels which I use for running primarily but also for lumpy walks. I have run with DS since he was 4 months old (used a head hugger when he was that tiny) and he loves it - he's 17 months now.

I disagree that it needs to be anything other than what it is intended for (i.e. going into town) - if it is for running then a fixed wheel is essential and by all accounts a permenantly fixed wheel is better than one that you lock (less judder).

It needs to have the biggest possible wheels - 16" as a minimum I would say. Height adjustable handlebar would probably be handy, I find the BJ bar a tad too low (I'm 6ft) and it does take a toll on my shoulders for longer runs.

The back wheels need to be wide enough apart so you can run between them without tripping over them.

Some suspension is good.

Sling style seats are best for absorbing bumps and lumps.

It needs a substantial hood - mainly to protect from sunshine - nothing guaranteed to upset DS more than sun in his eyes!

Stuff that I would like on mine which it doesn't have (and I have added / modded) - reflectors on the wheels, somewhere to mount a light (one forward facing, one backward) and a bell!

I love my Baby Jogger - although it is HUGE it is so easy to push and turn (I wasn't sure how a fixed wheel would be) and it has meant that I have managed much more running than I would if I hadn't had it.

Here endeth my rave

Do you think that suspension is a must or do you think that the pneumatic tyres absorb enough of the bumps and vibrations?

Hmm. Well I've never run with one without suspension, but I'd say that it definately helps when doing things like going up and down kerbs. The front wheel doesn't have anything on it and when that comes down after a kerb hop it feels very hard whereas the back just boings.

I suppose if you are designing a cheaper option, maybe it would be something people would be willing to live without? Also I guess if there are people who train just in parks and other flat paved areas they might not want the suspension.

I would say that apart from when I am really heavy handed with my kerb hops (I don't slow down up or down) and DS gets thrown side to side the suspension and sling seat combo means he seems to hardly move - it is quite amazing.

I have a baby jogger performance too. It is fabulous. I think it is ok for bumps and vibrations although dd is hardly able to tell me but she does seem happy in it.

I wish the handlebar was adjustable and it was a bit easier to fold. Also I find the brake difficult to connect (the one that is operated by the handlebar lever if you see what I mean).

I also have a babyjogger city mini. Totally different thing. Running pram needs big wheels and fixed front wheel. I think runnersworld did some research on it. I also had a motiv joggette (bought secondhand) but re-sold it after about 2 days - very very low and not as easy to push as the BJ performance.

Hi maamayaya, Do you use your citimini for jogging at all? I was hoping to with mine. Cheers.

I agree maamayaya the hand brake is pointless/useless in my opinion - never use it and even when I've tried it just locks the front wheel and doesn't actually slow the buggy down. The only bad bit of design on the whole thing I reckon.

Also when jogging the safety strap is very useful in case you loose your footing or fall over. (This comes from someone who has done that recently and I was so grateful I had the strap on my arm)

i ahve had 4 jogging strollers, although i dont run with it i did a lot of power walking. the best and cheapest is out n about nipi.
its lightweight, sling type, some suspension. light to tilt back when going up a kerb.

No you can't use the citimini for jogging, definitely not, it's not steady enough. Running with the BJ performance feels really safe though. Yes the safety strap is very useful!!