[Closed] doing the nursery run by bike...

We put hoppy jr in the trailer, keeps him dry and warm and leaves space for bags if needed.

How old/big is the sprog? I've done it with a kiddy trailer and my work gear in my Carradice.

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Worked well, but I don't do it often as the nursery is up a stupidly steep hill!

What about a Weeride?

Trailer ftw. You can keep going in the rain and snow and just park it at the nursery

Edit: and less chance of dropping the bike on icy roads with someone on the back 🙁

Trailer + xtracycle for us.

Jr Sr on the deck, school books/PE kit in the side pouches, Jr Jr bringing up the rear.

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You clearly have a much bigger garage than me Stoner 😀

Trailer here, much easier for carrying child + bags. I did it a couple of times with a rear seat and a rucksack clipped through the gaps in the set and hung over the back but that was a bit crap tbh.

Chariot /Buggy - gives to an extra workout. Lots of places to put lights and helmetcams too.
Particularly good unloading Boy at nursery when all the other little darlings are vetoing out of the Beemers, Mercs, etc

Weeride front seat and panniers or rucksack/messenger bag here

Push her in the buggy, which is a 3 1/2 mile round trip * 3 each week, so keeps daddy's beer tummy in control.

I wouldn't use a trailer on the roads round here (it only takes one inattentive idiot for it to go wrong, and there are plenty of those). There is no viable trailerable cheeky route. I may use a frame mounted seat at some point, so I can then still take the cut through via the park etc.

But for now, it's a hike.

Particularly good unloading Boy at nursery when all the other little darlings are vetoing out of the Beemers, Mercs, etc

Yeah, in a year I have yet to see another arrive on foot. One dad does use a trailer behind a spesh FS so we are brothers of the nursery run.

I used one of these and they loved it.
[url= http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/270777576236?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y ]fleabay leco bike seat[/url]
Cheesey ad pic below
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Its super simple and basic but does the job for under £20

I have been using a trailer to take mine to nursery since February. No real issues, would suggest getting a decent trailer, the first one wore out pretty quick. We are all loving the Croozer 😀

Those with trailers, where do you leave them during the day. I doubt I'll be able to bring it indoors at either the nursery or work, so it'll have to sit outside all day 3 days a week whatever the weather. Won't the fabric deteriorate pretty quickly? What are they like waterproofing wise - especially if left out all day; does the seat end up soaking for the return journey?

I'm thinking about this now that Toddler North is attending playschool a few mornings a week. We have a trailer, but the lanes round here are so narrow and twisty, that the direct route just isn't that safe (even by my militant share the road standards).

I'd be happier with her in a seat on the bike, so am going to buy a Topeak Babysitter.

We just leave our trailer at the nursery. A few parents leave prams etc, so its no big deal.

Trailers are ideal, as we've got twins, so no real alternatives when taking them down by ourselves.

@tomaso what age did you start from? I reckon that's got to be nicer for her than sitting behind me, view filled by my bum, and unable to see where she's going.

A trailer is the way forward. I used a Burley Solo. I'd leave it at the nursery and carry on on my commute into work, then pick it, and little binners, up on the way home. As already noted, it keeps the little blighters toasty warm and dry

[url= http://www.loct.co.uk/ ]LOCT[/url]. Very hard to find as they stopped making them (cost prohibitive) but a fantastic piece of kit.

My nursery have a shed for buggies, they fold down and don't take up a huge amount of space. Well no one has complained yet anyway.

I do the same as binners and then ride off to work. I use an extra waterpoof cover which they sell to go with the croozer which is useful. Have had the kids in there for several hours in the rain and they have been fine. Probably one of the best purchases i have made for years, we did the Devon coast to coast in it this 'summer'. Not to mention days out and heading off to school and nursery.

A mate used to use a seat thing like the one tomaso mentioned for the older sprog up to 3 years old I think. He did mention that if he cycled more than a few miles his knees hurt because of having to cycle a bit like Charlie Chaplin!

Sprog #2 sat on a rear mounted seat, not sure how he carried luggage tho?

I use a Hamax with my 2 year old. I put my pannier in a large day sack which I then hang off the back of the child seat - with the shoulder straps over the seat and the chest strap stopping it falling off. I lock the Hamax and bag in the buggy park while I cycle to work with the pannier on the rack.

I have just built this for my 2 wee ones

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Yuba Mundo cargo bike + some modifications 😉

That's got to be the ultimate kiddy carrying bike lol

Yep, used the trailer last week, bike is panniered up, so makes no difference adding a trailer.

As long as you can leave the trailer at nursery

Motorman that looks fantastic 😆

Hard tail and trailer for well over a year in all weathers. I used to leave the trailer at nursery under the fire escape stairs outside with a cover over it in the rain. Worked great for us and have only stopped because my work has moved to 25 miles away!

My advice is go for the best trailer you can afford as ours is trashed now!

Did you lot not all feel horribly exposed to driver idiocy (I should say normality) with your trailers on roads? Well I guess not. How did you rationalise it? Any of you down south on our busy roads?

Wow motorman!

Tyred Jr Jr is 4 now and has made the trip to nursery under his own steam for a couple of years now; before that he rode either on an ibert front seat or a co-pilot rack mounted rear, with my bag to, errr, rest his face against.

But after seeing Motorman's bike I'm away to impregnate Mrs Tyred again so I can build up one of those! That is teh awesum.

Tomaso are those leco things quick fit jobs you can throw on in a minute or so?

Reckon they'd work in tandem with a rear seat for double trouble nursery runs? Not really got the space for trailers or cargo bike shenanigans

I did see a bloke at wkend with rear bike seat and another little un just balanced on top tube/handle bars, seemed to be riding along ok if a little risky.

Mattjg driver idiocy can mow you down on the pavement or ram into your own car, you can either never leave the house or just do what you can to make things safe, hi viz, lights, riding style, occasional use of pavements and crossings (highway code vs my kids safety.....? Hmmm) most drivers tend to give you room when you have kids on board too, but I accept it won't be for everyone

@ gavinB
Twins are very portable with the right bike underneath them.
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🙂 Excellent ! Good aren't they..

The boys love it. Cackling all the way down any hill.
I didn't want the twins to miss out on the fun our eldest had being ported round on the back of a bike.

Initially tried a Hamax thingy but couldn't escape the fact it made me feel like I'd drunk 10 pints before setting off.

Ended up buying a Croozer in the summer and I have to say it's awesome. Plenty of cabin space for jnr monkey as well as storage in the 'back'. He loves it - except when we hit any bumps a tad too hard! If I could justify the spend then I'd get the German one that has 'proper' suspension. RRPs around the £1100 mark IIRC 😯

@lardman that looks brilliant, but means we'd need to buy two bikes, as we both take them to nursery. So x+2...

Actually, maybe this needs thought through more 🙂

Whenever I have taken trailer (Burley Bee that we won) out traffic has been much better. Neither know nor care about the reason but I always get given more space and time. May be helped by the heightened awareness from carrying precious cargo as well I guess...

We checked again with the nursery this morning - definitely nowhere indoors or on the site for a trailer. Would have to lock it up on the street, which I'm less than happy about.

So... xtracyle the kaffenback, or a Yuba Mundo or Kona Ute?

A seat on the back is a lot easier to use if your bike has long chainstays - otherwise all the weight is behind the back wheel, which is a real pain when you're loading small on.

It's not so bad once you're moving, but until you get the hang of it it's quite easy to find the front wheel up in the air and your precious heading towards the ground...

Croozer trailer. I leave it at the nursery, chained to the fence, and I use a waterproof BBQ cover to keep it dry. It's worth getting an extra long mudguard to reduce dirty water spray.

Bike trailer, locked up outside our playgroup. I never asked, just leave it locked up in the yard / car park bit. We're not in a city though, so there's tons of space for parking and I'm not worried about leaving it there. I unclip the bike, then go off for a ride and a swim, getting back for pick up time.

I have a double, so I give her friend a lift too.

Do they have space for prams to be left - whilst it is quite big, a trailer is not much bigger than some of the massive twins prams, especially if you fold it flat.

Oh and she loves the trailer, and you can fit a weekend's camping gear into it and go camping, take it to the shops, take it on holiday, it has tons of uses.

Easy to pull too, and stopping is easy compared to a bike seat, can just leave her in it when you stop until you're ready to get her out.

to find the front wheel up in the air and your precious heading towards the ground...

yeah it might get scratched!

yeah it might get scratched!

🙂

Neither know nor care about the reason but I always get given more space and time.

Yeah I notice this too - though I get the feeling it is often accompanied by tutting, shaking of heads and muttering about that stupid cyclist endangering his child. 🙄

FWIW the road routes I take with the trailer are deliberately picked to be 30 or 20 limits. I've had one guy beep and shout nasty sweary words at me (in front of my toddler, mate? nice!), but everyone else has been pretty courteous.

The trailer is pretty visible: reflectives, lime green back, bright orange flag plus a bit more "car-shaped" so I guess that helps.

I do get a lot of nice positive comments from kids and parents - usually about how good it is, what a great way to travel, how they want a go on one... as they squeeze their obese kids into the back of the Zafira. 😆

I do get a lot of nice positive comments from kids and parents - usually about how good it is, what a great way to travel, how they want a go on one... as they squeeze their obese kids into the back of the Zafira.

Indeedy. I've experienced the same. Kids in trailers are like a public service. I used to take both mine in the larger Ammoco trailer, drop one in school, then a nice ride through the park to drop the little'un in nursery, before leaving the trailer, and carrying on to work

In the summer, having 2 kids hanging out of a trailer, waving at everyone as they pass, seems to put a smile on all but the most miserable sods face. And you do indeed get the kids at school wanting a go in it too.

Oh... and it really tops up your smugness levels too 😉

I did the nursery run by bike for about 2 years and it meant we only needed one car in the family. In my experienced opinion, trailer is the best way forward. It is the only option which is totally weather proof, this is critical if you don't have the back up option of a car.

They space for bags and junk that they collect at nursery and are quick and easy to load whilst also giving the kid room to play with stuff to keep them amused.

I have previously, and continue to ride with all combinations of kiddie transport including rack mounted seat, tagalong, trailer and bigger kids on their own bikes. Again, in my experience, I have always found the trailer to be best option. Almost without exception, cars give the trailer much more room than they do a 'normal' bike, I have always felt safest when lugging it along. Like others have suggested, you can also leave it at nursery which is a great help.

I went for the budget option of a Bumper Explorer 2 seater. It was used daily, all year round for nearly two years, has taken a real hammering and held up very well. I don't see the need to pay more.

My best mate and his wife regulary use their Chariot Trailer to carry their nipper around in Newcastle (lyne)..

a few months ago a driver pulled along side, open the window to hurl that my mate was unfit to be a parent for putting his child in a trailer and using the roads..

-dp

I run the toepeak rear rack for the short run to daycare daugter loves it and the other kids think she's a rockstar for turning up by bike. I just drop the seat in the stairwell with the buggies and ride on to work. I can footpath and bike track most of it so it's pretty safe, a work mate who has to do the run rain or shine use both rack and buggy on the filthy days. He got the buggy from me some person had left it at the local waste transfer station.

I've experienced the same. Kids in trailers are like a public service.

Probably does a lot more for [i]"Cyclists are people too, please don't kill them"[/i] education than any well-meaning official safety campaign. 😀

a few months ago a driver pulled along side, open the window to hurl that my mate was unfit to be a parent for putting his child in a trailer and using the roads..

Oooh now [i]that[/i] would make me very angry indeed. 👿

Another Burley (trailer) user here. Very infrequent idiot driver behaviour - mostly sleepy people being a bit dozy first thing in the morning (and highly apologetic when shouted at!)...

For us, giving the message to our daughter that there are alternatives to using the car was a more important message than any perceived safety risk from being on the roads. Hopefully she's also understanding that riding bikes is fun too!

TM

twiglet_monster: Nail. Head.

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I would like a trailer for the little one at some point but at the moment I have the boy (3) in the child seat on the rack and the girl (6) sits on the saddle while i stand, not ideal but perfectly safe.
Only 1.1 miles to school and all off road so is fine.

They love it!

a few months ago a driver pulled along side, open the window to hurl that my mate was unfit to be a parent for putting his child in a trailer and using the roads..

It's happened to me a couple of times with the trailer. Once when cycling to the start of the Bristol-Bath railway path, a pedestrian told me it was too dangerous to be riding there (11am on a Sunday, roads deserted), another time, having narrowly missed a car pulling out on me, the driver gave me a volley of abuse, cos obviously it was my fault he wasn't looking where he was going.

These people are oxygen thieves and are best ignored.

Out of interest, how old kids do people put in their trailers? Was just wondering the other day as to when Rose might grow out of it (and worrying about how to go camping - we'll have to get a rack for my mountain bike or something, and limit ourselves to places within her range!)

I see a mum taking the kids to school on a Thorn triplet, across the Clifton suspension bridge, most mornings.

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In a similar vein, I bought a cheap tandem on Ebay and fitted number 1 son's child seat in place of the stoker's seat in the middle. Weight in the middle of the wheelbase = bike lovely and stable. When number 2 son came along, I added a second child seat in the conventional place, on the rear rack and added a low-rider front rack for the panniers.

Number 1 son is now at school and using a trailer bike, so the tandem hasn't been out for a while. I could be pursuaded to sell it on... 😉

Although I think a trailer is the best option for all weather carrying, there really is no space at the nursery (almost none for pushchairs as it is), so it would sit in the street. Have to have a bit more of a think, but may go the xtracycle conversion on the Kaff insead and accept that the wee one will get a bit wet occasionally on the 3 miles home. At least it will mainly be off-road.

I used to leave my trailer outside nursery with a tarp over it, just shoved it near the bins. Before I got permission to do this though I used to just fold the trailer to reduce drag and tow it along to work. With no weight in it and when folded you harly notice it is there.

Still mulling options over; still interested in both trailer and xtracycle options but the main reason I started all the extra searching was the removal of pannier capacity with a rear child seat. The [url= http://www.practicalcycles.com/userimages/procart27.htm ]steco pakaf mee pannier rack extension[/url] looks like it solves the problem. Anyone with experience?

I've ordered a Leco seat (thanks tomaso). Littl'un will be fine on the top tube along the pavement, through the churchyard, then past the swings and the ducks. We'll stop to feed them on a nice day.

I can't do that route with a trailer, I'd have to use the roads and have decided I'm not going to do that on the roads around here, I've had too many close calls myself. It only takes one nutter.

Out of interest, how old kids do people put in their trailers?

I think it is a height and weight restriction rather than age.
Will depend on how big your girl is and how tall your trailer is.

My Bellini has markings on the inside indicating max head height. Fairly obviously you don't want head where it would get hit before roll bars. I've had a four year old in it with room to spare.

This was our nursery run transport, & lasted until eldest was about 5.
Had pretty much a perfect route, through the park in summer. Through winter was fine, only stopped when very icy. Used to wrap the boys in blankets, & most days at least one of them would nod off. Used to leave the trailer under a fire escape, with the poly bag from our new mattress over it. Kids loved it. So did I. Christ, I'm welling up here...!!!

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/3402637762/ ]IMG_6528[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Brrrr.....
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/5223817002/ ]IMAG0070[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Yes, those are original 80's Skyways on there...

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3458/3402639416_659a9774ef_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3458/3402639416_659a9774ef_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/3402639416/ ]IMG_6529[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

After a few experiments we now have a Kona Ute. It's just so up to the job its untrue. Hauls shopping etc. School run is despatched with ease. Big bags for my laptop bag, boys bags etc. Spare waterproofs stay in there all the time. Turned up to a BBQ in the park last summer laden with drink, BBQ & even house bricks to stand it on, plus the kids on top.
I 100% recomend one.
Sadly ours may have to go soon, boys much prefer their own bikes now, & its a bit posh for just me.
If you've no storage for trailer a cargo bike makes sense. The wooden deck is really just a blank canvass for whatever you want to bolt / screw on to it.

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7717160046_3f5fdb288c_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7717160046_3f5fdb288c_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/7717160046/ ]IMAG0797[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/7558582866/ ]IMAG0774[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Sorry for long post.
Enjoy your time commuting with your little ones. I sometimes feel guilty because I seem to have spent so much more time with them than their mum, who commutes into B'ham by car.

@taki

Sorry for long post.

great post thanks

After a bit of thinking and looking through the spares box, I think I can pull together enough of a donor bike to xtracycle a reasonable hardtail. So soon will put that plan in motion. Cheers for all the feedback, advice and experience folks.

Now then bs, hows it going? A friend of ours used a papoose to great effect for transporting child to nursery. So much so that they did most of glentress blue with it too! You could get all you building design stuff in the bottom of it too!