How Old for a Trailer?
My partner and I are expecting our first child in February and I have been thinking about how to include the new arrival in our regular bike riding. I have decide that the a bike trailer is probably the best option as it will allow us to carry additional items necessary for small people. I will probably go with a Chariot brand trialer, not cheap but they look the goods!
My question is how old does the baby need to be before they can be carried in a bike trailer? Most of the "official" recommendations I have read say that the child needs to be 1 year old or more. Some people have suggested that it is when the child is strong enough to hold its head up with a helmet on.
Does anyone have any real life experience with this?
Thanks
Don
My question is how old does the baby need to be before they can be carried in a bike trailer? Most of the "official" recommendations I have read say that the child needs to be 1 year old or more. Some people have suggested that it is when the child is strong enough to hold its head up with a helmet on.
Does anyone have any real life experience with this?
Thanks
Don
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Don Plush on -
Hi Andrew
Thanks for the info and advice. I was hoping to get the baby in the trailer before the 12 month mark, but we will have to wait and see how it all goes. When we do get there it will be behind my moutain bike - I have a Giant with road slicks on it for general commuting, so it should be geared low enough for pulling the trailer.
Down the track I will keep you posted as to how it goes for our little cycling family!
Cheers
Don -
-
Permalink Reply by Wombat on -
I have seen pix on websites such as Flickr where the family have a CargoCycle or similar that they have installed a car baby capsule in front of the parent. These cycles are also not cheap, but they are the BOMB for carrying stuff and kids. They can have a rain shelter over the top and can also be made into lockable compartments. They would be my suggestion for carrying young kids rather than the trailer.
We have a trailer that we found difficult to use. Maybe that was our lack of fitness. Maybe it was our lack of knowledge. Whatever it was, we stopped using it and it now sits folded on our balcony. We are looking at different options now that our kids are older such as trailer-bikes and xtracycles.
Hope this helps. -
-
Permalink Reply by Tom Adams on -
Don and all
This is my first post!
Anyway, I used a baby seat on the back from when Poppy was about 17 months to about 3 1/2 years. Things were getting top heavy at this point on my touring bike. I used front panniers with this setup for everything.
I then started using a single seater Cruzer trailer, which was much more stable but harder to pull. Cruzers seem to be modelled on the Chariots, but are about half the price. If Chariots are better quality, they must be excellent. The single seater is a few cm's narrower, making bollards a little easier to cope with in linear park etc. Poppy was still in the Cruzer when she started school and only stopped when her head was touching the roof at about 5 1/2.
I (We) now use a Trail-Gator, which allows me to tow her bike (with her front wheel off the ground). I encourage her to peddle whenever we go up hills which helps. -
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
