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Original poster

Anyone with a Chariot Bike Trailer out there???????

15 replies

hjscho · 30/05/2007 15:31

Firstly, just wanted to say that they are great...although too big for my small car boot (I know...its supposed to be towed on a bike, but my excuse is that I have a 7 week old and she can't go on the road yet).
I am looking to buy the Transport Bag, so I can attach it to a roof rack, but it seems SO expensive. Do you have one? Is it worth the money? Could you think of anything else I could use instead?

OP posts:
Original poster
hjscho · 30/05/2007 19:32

bump

OP posts:
lljkk · 30/05/2007 19:37

i have a chariot.

Don't have a transport bag, car boot is big enough and to be honest can't remember ever taking it in a car.

If you look after them, they have great 2nd hand value; one way to offset cost.

Wonder if an ordinary roof-box would meet your needs more cheaply and be versatile enough for other things, too.

You could securely strap a car childseat into the trailer and stick the baby in the seat within the trailer -- not officially advised, of course, but widely done and personally I feel a safe enough option if sticking to tarmac roads.

Original poster
hjscho · 30/05/2007 19:42

We have the hammock thingy for her and she seems quite safe in that. I'd heard that it wasn't good to put them in so young due to the bumps, but sometimes the places I walk with it are more bumpy than the roads. DS goes in it just fine. Hadn't thought of a roof box...good idea thats worth looking into, as it is mydouble buggy as well as a trailer.

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lljkk · 30/05/2007 19:48

Is the hammock thingie okay at 7 weeks? (Cool, if so!)

rowrowrowyourboat · 30/05/2007 21:39

I can't offer any advise but would like to ask instead I'm getting a single chariot to use as both a trailer and a buggy for my first due in September and was wondering which would be the most use the hammock or the polystyrene baby seat? Also how long do you think you should wait until cycling with the baby?

TIA

Original poster
hjscho · 31/05/2007 12:47

I like the hammock for the baby. I cannot comment on the other seat. I have read that you should wait until the baby is 1 before towing on a bike. Chariot say that the hammock thingy isn't suitable for road use, again not sure about the other seat. I'm going to wait until DD can sit independently and hold her head confidently.

Enjoy the trailer. They are great as a buggy too. My double cougar 2 is lighter and easier to handle than my single push chair.

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rowrowrowyourboat · 31/05/2007 13:53

I read somewhere that the reason that chariot say not to tow with the baby under one is because it's illegal Canada and the USA. There is a Danish make of trailer that is similar but more expensive and they don't seem to think that it is such a problem, at least I don't remember anything giving the same restriction. I think the reason for the difference was meant to be that in North America cycling is seen as a recreational activity, in Europe it's just travel, but I'm not certain. I know people do tow with smaller babies in this country, often using a car seat in the trailer.
I'm glad to here that the Cougar makes a great buggy. Do you use the buggy or stroller wheels? I was looking to get both, one for in town the other for the tow-path etc?

Original poster
hjscho · 31/05/2007 13:55

I have the buggy wheels...again apparently the stroller/single wheel isn'tsupposed to meet British standards...not sure why.

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rowrowrowyourboat · 31/05/2007 14:00

I saw that too, I suspect it's do with the arms not being fixed or something. I'm just not sure the buggy wheels would be that easy to use for more serious off-road stuff. DH's parents live in Pembrokeshire a we quite often go walking on the coast path and some of the paths down to the beaches are a little rough to say the least.

Original poster
hjscho · 31/05/2007 14:02

Looks like you'll need the stroller wheel then. Why not just get that one and then get the othersat a later date if you feel that it makes the buggy hard to handle?

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rowrowrowyourboat · 31/05/2007 14:10

I've managed to get DH to agree to both from the start as I can't ride with it to begin with, (he's getting a new car and I've promised to not get funny about fancy suspention changing thing that cost as much as the buggy ), as I know that a big three wheeler is a pain in town.
Have you looked at the head support for 10-20 month olds? I was going to look at one of these for when the LO can sit up to get towing earlier as they wouldn't get as shaken.

Original poster
hjscho · 31/05/2007 14:48

I've got the head support thing...DS can sleep in it really well! It looks so cosy, I just want to jump in with him!

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rowrowrowyourboat · 31/05/2007 16:32

That sounds really good. I have to say I'm hoping that my little one can sit up quite early, it's going to be ssoooooo difficult not being able to use my bike, it's my main transport, walking for an hour into town in the winter isn't going to be much fun.
I have to say that part of the reason we're getting a new car is to get the buggy in the boot, don't think there'll be much spare space in a Corsa .

ellenrose · 31/05/2007 18:20

I've got a chariot and we used it when dd was quite young and she loved it with the sling thing.

Original poster
hjscho · 01/06/2007 14:13

Ellenrose...did you use iton the bike with the sling thing?

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