Bike Trailers
So...gas is ridiculous, especially in my city, where it is notorious for having some of the highest gas prices anyway. Right now we live in a phenomenal neighborhood that is honestly less than a ten-minute ride to almost everywhere we need to go on a weekly basis (groceries, garden center, restaurants, the list goes on). My son is four-and-a-half and getting much better at riding his training wheel bike around the neighborhood, but he's no where near being capable of riding on some of the busier streets that will get us to where we need to go. Plus, this city is really, REALLY stupid about bikers, and drive like maniacs around them. Obviously, it'll be at least a couple of years before my son can bike around with me. But I'm wondering if getting a bike trailer would be a good investment. Li'l Bug already weighs over 50 lbs (I don't know the weight requirement for trailers). I may or may not have another kid at some point in my life that I could also use it with, but not in the near future. But it'd be nice to tote my son and a few bags of groceries around.
So, here's some questions:
1) Is a trailer my best option, and would I get enough use out of it to at least pay for itself in gas?
2) Are they incredibly difficult to maneuver and pull (we don't have many hills)?
3) What are some affordable brands that you'd suggest?
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One mama I know uses this and loves it. A bit pricey but seems very versatile -- she gets two kids and groceries in there.
http://www.stuffgeekswant.com/2008/05/xtracycle-the-bicycle-revolution-g...
This is another option -- but doesn't allow for groceries...
http://www.trail-a-bike.com/product/trail-a-bikes/original-folder-compact/
Maybe a basket on the handlbars?
.
but it will be quite a few years before N can use it (I imagine 3 more at least) so I am looking for a double trailer/stroller. This is a great post.
we've got to let love rule
~l. kravitz
*bliss*
I Heart that damn extracycle!!! It has been on my wish list for ever. I want one with the footsies attached so My little guy has a foot rest.
It was a bit pricey, but I am happy with it. It fits 2 kids up to & carries up to 100lbs. I can get some groceries in it & I added the cargo rack.
That we bought off ebay for 100 bucks. There's one on ebay right now listed at 84.00.
This thing is not as super snazzy as some of the 600 dollar trailers, but it works and we make sure to store it covered. It's REALLY easy to ride the kid in, and I was surprised at how much lighter it felt than I thought it would. Hills can be sort of challenging, but after about 2 weeks, your quads and cardio get up to being able to do it.
This trailer has a nice spot in the back that 2 full bags of groceries can fit in, and if you're only putting one child in it, you can fit another 2 bags in the front. It's great if you have a friend with a kid and want to go riding, cause it fits two kids. It also functions as a huge stroller if necessary.
I think that the trailer is a great idea, cause not only will it save you on gas (and at this rate, this trailer will pay for itself in 1.5 full tanks!), but it will save you on spending money to go to the gym to workout.
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself"DT Suzuki
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki
We just got an InStep lite n (something..easy?) I LOVE it. It is a double, can cart up to 100 lbs, anc converts into a stroller. It was $140 on Amazon.com. It folds up pretty well, too.
I'm seriously thinking of getting a bike & a trailer like this. Especially since with the move, I'll only be like a mile away from work. Too far to walk every day once you add daycare in the loop, but definitely bikeable. It's such an investment, though, especially when the last time I tried to transition to biking, I immediately got pregnant and was too sick for three months to do it (then too pregnant to risk it, in my case.) So I'm nervous to spend the money...eeep.
24/MN. Queer, veg, AP mama to DD1.
25/MN and WA. Queer, veg, single, AP mama to DD2.5.
You can get them pretty cheap and they pay for themselves rather quickly in fun and gas savings...oh and can you say GREAT WORKOUT!
I had a wonderful realization last week as I was tooling around with Ike (heading out to the community garden). I realized that instead of being the geek on the bike, people were looking at me with intense curiosity and you could almost see the gears spinning in their brains. Every time I ride to the store I get comments about a great setup/"with gas prices being the way they are". Unfortunately, I am still one of the only bikes out on the road at any given time...well I guess that will change.
obviously, i love our burley(
we have 2 doubles with the stroller attachment.
a trail a bike sounds like it might be a good fit for you, too.
look on your craigslist, check local garage sales, and children's resale stores. and, i noticed that target carries the instep brand in their stores.
my only recommendation is to buy one with real wheels and spokes (metal), not the plastic ones.
tonight for 100 bones. used.
It wasn't a super good deal, but I like it.
certainly heavier than my single jogging stroller with bigger tires, sigh, its got smaller tires and a non-swivel front tire
the girls seem to like it, so we're all happy:))
we've got to let love rule
~l. kravitz
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