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Original poster

'Family Bike'

55 replies

kafka · 02/07/2008 19:36

Have read about this bike, all I know about it is that it can take two child seats and is Italian. Have 'googled' it but cannot find where to buy - cany anyone help?

OP posts:
Original poster
kafka · 02/07/2008 21:00

DA just could not afford one of those might have difficulty getting it into my house - but thanks

OP posts:
Takver · 02/07/2008 21:01

At 4.6 and 2 I would myself go for either (a) a trailer, probably the easiest solution right now, but bigger child might not be so keen on it, or
b) one of these.
My DD was fine in a rear mounted child seat until about 4.5, which I think is on the young side (I'm small and light, so less weight to balance her & keep things stable). If your younger DC was ok in the child seat til then, by that point your older DC would be 7 & a bit, and probably (?) ok to cycle on his own bike so that DC2 could move to the tagalong.
Otherwise at that point you would need to look for a double tagalong like the U+2.
Although I only have the one DD I live in a housing co-op so have done rather too much cycling with collections of children! Fortunately even DD is now off the tagalong and onto her own bike.

DisplacementActivity · 02/07/2008 21:05

Message withdrawn

Takver · 02/07/2008 21:11

I do have a friend who swears by the 'kangaroo bar' thingies that attach a childs bike to your bike. If you had a front mounted child seat like you say you could use one of those to tow DC1 if needed. Myself I wouldn't have been keen on DD riding her own bike to school at that age - it would have been too slow and erratic, and also I was always paranoid about traffic until she got a bit older & more predictable. That's why I like the tagalong as they get a bit of road sense while you are in control!
Of course, come to think of it, there's no reason you couldn't have a front mounted child seat with a 'normal' tagalong bike. I never tend to think of those because I ride a ladies pattern bike, which won't take a front child seat.
If you are going for a regular tagalong, I would look for one like the Islabikes, Rowland or Burley which attach to the pannier rack, and not one which attaches to the seatpost. The latter are cheaper but much less stable. TBH the Islabikes one isn't that expensive, and of course the cheaper ones tend to be very heavy.

LoveMyGirls · 02/07/2008 21:11

I love the thought of these but the practical side would scare me. Great idea and fab in places like holland but in england I'm not so sure?

Aefondkiss · 02/07/2008 21:31

my dd is six now and still (mostly) likes the bike buggy(trailer) and is okay sharing with ds who is four.

It is much cheaper than the dutch bikes, but if money was no object I would get the pashley U plus 2 tag along.

The trailer is good to use when it is raining too, and my cycle trip to school is 6 minutes, except when the wind is against me! It takes much longer to walk, maybe at least twenty minutes on a good day, with two children.

Takver · 02/07/2008 21:36

That's a good point about the rain - we spend ages fighting our way in (and out) of waterproofs on wet days, and dripping all over the school hall.

DLeeds · 02/07/2008 21:54

the family bike company closed down - I used to have the web site bookmarked.

what about

this is cool instead

Yurtgirl · 02/07/2008 21:57

Oooooh excellent - this thread is a perfect follow on from my thread yesterday about how to cope with downpours on the way to school

Waves at aefondkiss!

Aefondkiss · 02/07/2008 23:03

hello yurtgirl! seems to be a popular subject just now,

DLeeds, that is very cool!

Yurtgirl · 02/07/2008 23:08

Im hankering after a Bumper explorer solo for dd who is just 4 and perfecting ds cycling without stabalisers

Flum · 02/07/2008 23:12

Love that Ebay one. Cool.

The ones with the big buckets on front cool too, how much are they?

Yurtgirl · 02/07/2008 23:15

Flum - distressingly expensive!
I have a theory that in Denmark etc where they are popular they are purchased and then handed down family to family, they look really sturdy so I bet they would last years - but they are ££££

DisplacementActivity · 02/07/2008 23:17

Message withdrawn

pickie · 02/07/2008 23:24

I have the bobike mini and maxi on my bike and have used it nearly every day but the mini is only suitable for children up to 15kg or 2/3 years and sadly i think after this summer it is time for something new.

Most of bikes (the bakfiets en the one Dleeds linked to) are very heavy (not enough gears)and as Holland is flat are good there but useless in the UK. Two kids on the back I have had it that my front wheel went up going up the hill!!
They are also wider and due to the lack of cycle paths could be dangerous.

DisplacementActivity · 02/07/2008 23:28

Message withdrawn

pickie · 03/07/2008 09:34

I am at a loss DA as to what you mean, pl enlighten us

Takver · 04/07/2008 08:46

Just one more thought, kafka. Whatever it is you decide seems the best for you all, you will almost certainly be able to find second hand especially in London - by the nature of these things, children grow out of them.
We've had two child seats - one given us for free, one off ebay for £20, two tagalongs, a double and a single - again one given to us (and now passed on again), and another 2nd hand for £50 (the nice Islabikes one), and use of a child trailer borrowed from a friend.
The only thing I've ever had to buy new, apart from helmets, is my luggage trailer, cos of course people don't grow out of those!
I know that a lot of people speak well of Brixton Cycle co-op (maybe BC Workshop?) and they might be good people to talk to about 2nd hand options?

selee · 04/07/2008 13:23

We have a two wheeler Bakfiets arriving next week, I went to try one in Richmond last week and was very impressed. It handled beautifully and was a dream to cycle. I live in a flat-ish area with quite a few cycle paths, have two kids, aged 10 months and 23 months, so hoping to get quite a bit of use out of it. I ordred the version where you can add one extra bench if you have an extra child in there.
I know they look like they might be difficult to ride, they really arn't (in my opinion anyway). Good luck choosing.

pickie · 04/07/2008 14:44

Selee, did you have any extra gears fitted or have the electric model? Just curious as the bakfiets is also the one I thought would be best for us but my DC are nearly 3 and 5 and we live up a steep hill (busy with traffic)so down hill no problem but worried I couldnt cycle it up the hill but my logic was that is must be easier to push something up the hill then actually pull it up the hill IYSWIM

Original poster
kafka · 04/07/2008 14:46

Sorry not been or for a while and thanks all for your posts.

It is just so difficult to know what to do. Will a tag a long bike work with a child on the back of the bike? Am I right in thinking that I could not trail a proper bike with a child on the back?

I am tempted to go for this as on days when I work older child can go on the childseat as youngest will be at home with nanny and then I can cycle on into work. On days when not working we can leave the tag a long in the school bike shed and then go on to play group.

Good point about the weather, could a trailer be an option for a five year old and a three year old though?

Going potty trying to work this all out, and thanks for the tip re the Brixton co-op I will contact them.

School starts in September and have to have a solution.

OP posts:
pickie · 04/07/2008 14:53

A friend of mine has a tag along and a back bike seat but the bike seat is up very high (Bobike maxi seat with a MTB fitting kit)to make sure you can attach the tag along properly.

Re tag alongs I read an article the other day that they delay/avoid children to anticipate what is going to happen traffic wise which I thought was a fair point but all solutions have pros and cons.

I really like to try the Bakfiets and see if I get it up Headley Way with DC in the 'bak'

selee · 04/07/2008 18:29

I have ordered the Nexus 8 gear one, although you can buy electic motors. Where do you live, perhaps you should try one out? If you live near me, I live near Chichester, you are more than welcome to try mine. Or look at dutchbike (dot) co (dot) uk there are several links there where you could try one. I went to london (richmond) to see jessica from dutch bike group, she was excellent. Can't wait until mine arrives!!!!!!

pickie · 04/07/2008 18:51

selee, many thanks for the offer but I am in Oxford. Will call the guy at Dutchbikes and see if he knows of anybody near here that has one and see if i can try one out. Or hopefully I will go to Holland later this summer and can try them there

OverMyDeadBody · 04/07/2008 18:55

Here in Cambridge people just have a child seat mounted ontpo the rack at the back of the bike and another one mounted onto the front bar of the bike. Loads of different models of seats you can get depending on your preferences and the age of the children.