Best bicycle mummy taxi for 2 kids?

[ryedalema]

What do you guys think is the best option for ferrying a 3 and 5.5 year old around by bike? I'd like to be able to do the school run without getting the car out (or relying on the p13) and would like to get the bike out and get a bit of exercise.

We've had back of bike seats and currently have a trailer - but it's getting a bit squeezy and I need to be able to get up Greendale (which is roughly the same steepness as DK hill).

I quite like what Helena Bonham Carter does (attached) but it does still look quite heavy, even without the kids.

Does anyone have any fab alternatives?

[damzel]

I was just searching for a bicycle cover and stumbled across this http://totcycle.com/ which you might find interesting

[ryedalema]

Ewww - have had lots of off-putting conversations with my OH about this- this Trikidoo is 32kg (without kids) apparently.

Does anyone know a better way to get to kids around locally by bike? Combinations of bike seats on a bike or a lighter custom bike or trailer etc?

They are getting too big for our trailer and are not quite old enough to ride by themselves on our roads....

They are 3 AND 5.5 and I need to be able to get up Greendale so DEF need gears :)

[Nunheadfamily]

We saw a dad with their 5 year old on this, they looked like they were having fun. Lightweight. The bikes come in different models and can be custermrised my partner tells me so should able to add another seat for the younger one.

http://www.thetandemshop.com/helios/family/duo.html

[Nunheadfamily]

This link has some more information.

http://www.circecycles.com/helios.php

To complete our design brief, 'transporting families and luggage', the Helios has a dedicated rack that replaces the rear seat and can take two child seats or multiple bags. It can also take conventional racks and panniers and has a fitting at the front for attaching various different head tube mounted luggage systems.

[etta166]

Christiania bikes have a range of child-carrying bikes. Another option is a back seat for the 3 year old and a trailer bike for the 5.5 year old.

http://www.boxcycles.com/

My 3 year old goes under his own steam and follows me on my bike (I go on the road, he stays on the sidewalk). We don't have any hills to climb, though.

[thefords]

The box trikes are brilliant. I was lucky to get a dutch trike second hand last year and it was amazing and lots of fun. Fits upto 4 kids and shopping. Sadly it was nicked before christmas but I've got the trike bug now so I'm going to replace it with a Christiania. They are pricey but worth it.....make sure it is insured and locked down as the bike thieves are getting onto them.

London Green Cycles have Christianias and are actually local at the moment before moving to north London. Kidsandfamilycycles have a selection of bikes.

Good luck

[ryedalema]

Ah thanks for this - what are the steering and weight like on box trikes? My OH thinks they'll be too wobbly and heavy for me (oh him of little faith!)

[James Barber]

We had a Nihola trike - or bucket bike as the kids called it. Worked a treat. Very sad to see it go when out grown. I'm tall and the Christiana when I tested them were very easy to tip when cornering while th Nihola wasnt. We all enjoyed trying to get a wheel up going round (quiet) corners.

But 5.5 years olds wont be long before they don't want to be sitting with a sibling in a bucket bike. Another cllr friend had a Bakfiets which worked really well. Other friends have a tandem with two smaller positions behind him and used this for the same age range you have and has lasted a number of years for his family. No on reflection the youngest wasa little older.

I'd really recommend popping over to London Recumbents who hire bikes out at Dulwich Park who specialise in supporting family cycling. The owner Nigel Frost has tested every type of family bike you can imagine. Call him and arrange a consultation.

[Coops46]

Alexis Zafiropoulos of the London Cargo Bike Co. is your guy!

Really lovely chap, and lives on East Dulwich Rd - his studio is in Brixton I believe.

He's worked on cargo bikes for a long time, think he's looking to sell Bullitt bicycles soon too - the new cargo bikes out of Copenhagen.

His email is [email protected] / 07977466889

[printpress]

I have a Bakfiets.nl trike and I use it for the nursery run for my 3 y.o. and 1 y.o. It's great. It's got the best reviews of all the trikes in terms of rideability. It is quite big (can fit 4) but I liked it more than the Nihola and Christiania I test-rode. Alexis Z actually just serviced mine and he's great though I bought mine from Alix Stredwick (http://www.carryme.org.uk/) in Hackney.

I really recommend trying out the different brands as they all feel quite different to ride. Velorution sell the Christianias I think.

[jesska]

I have one of these Japanese bicycles with a front and back seat and a battery to assist on hills. Sadly I have not found anywhere to buy these in Europe and I brought mine back with me with the rest of my worldly goods. I'm not quite ready to part with mine yet, otherwise I would hand it over...

http://www.angelino.jp/lineup/assist/angelino_petite_posh/