Couldn't decide where to put this so I thought I would ask the greenies!

I want to start cycling to work again. We've moved house and it would be perfect (about 6km). It would also be nice to cycle round the local area with DD (18 months).

Ideally, I want a system that can easily transform from the work commute (I used to strap my work handbag to the back rack but would like to have panniers or a back basket or something) to home/to the park/to the shops.

I was looking at a child seat but then how do you carry all the "stuff" (nappy bag/shopping etc) and they look rather unstable to use. And will she get too big for it too quickly?

Trailer - more expensive, probably safer as closer to the ground? Can carry stuff as well as DD. However, DD would not be able to see as much as she would in a child seat.

What do you use and why?

We used the Wee Rider

see here

However he outgrew it way before the stated size / weights

We then used a back seat carrier

see here

but he outgrew this when he was 3


we had thought about using the trailer, in fact my husband wanted that option, but I just thought it looked too 'unsafe' to be in traffic. For cruising around bike paths I think the trailers are fine, but for a work commute I didn't like the idea.

Although now we're stuck, as he's too big for carriers and too little for tandem attachments!

I have a croozer trailer.
It's a tandem because I have 2 DDs so can't have a single carrier.
They are really easy to hitch on and off. This particular brand also converts from a trailer to a pram and has a jogging attachment too.
Only issue I have is in our area to cross certain roads I have to make it all the way across in one go as the centre island isn't wide enough.
They are quite narrow and can certainly fit in a cycle lane, although I haven't need to do that as around here there are many cycle paths to use.
The other bonus with a trailer is I can fit a fair bit in the back section. So comes in handy big time.

We have a trailer which fits a lot of stuff even with our two in it - it has a kind-of "boot" - it's a Repco (cheap from K-mart). We used to have a back seat carrier which was really handy but it got stolen (along with the bike). I was thinking of getting another as the trailer is a bit cumbersome to take around and put on/take off just for a trip to the local shop (the back seat carrier would just sit there ready on the bike). I have a basket at the front that's good for a bottle of milk and a newspaper. Honestly, having both is a good idea as you use them for different things: for a daytrip/afternoon leisure ride take the trailer but for a quick trip to work, do the back seat carrier; and have two bikes fitted up ready for each - yours for the carrier, your partner's for the trailer.

The Wee Ride looks good but I suspected it wouldn't last for long.

Agree with this - DS is still technically within the weight limit (he is age 3, 17kgs) but we haven't used it in 6 months as his feet are too big for the foot holes!

Works great for a smaller child tho.

We have a Chariot "Cougar" single trailer - and we've had it for about 2 years (my daughter is now just turned 4 and still fits in it). The quality is great and it's a smooth ride for DD (she used to always fall asleep). There is a big pocket in the back where you can put some groceries, and often we just load up the bread, fruit etc with DD! The weight limit is 35kg I think, but I imagine a child that weight would be riding independently by then. However, we are riding in Canberra - so many cycle paths everywhere. I wouldn't be so happy riding on roads with it - but I'm not big on road riding at any time so I think it's just me. It can be awkward (like getting through those diagonally-set poles they put up to slow down bikes and stop cars). It was a pain to lock up when we got to our destination (because we used to unhitch it) but now we use a Krytonite "rope" and lock and it can stay hitched - much better. Bloody expensive but apparently they have a good resale value.

We have a Burleigh trailer. It is big enough to fit 2 children.Very quick and easy to hitch on to the bike, ours also converts to a pushchair, which can be handy.
We used it a lot in the Uk and over here, though an ankle injury has stopped me cycling at all for the last 2 years :-(.
I am not certain why people would feel it was unsafe to use for commuting to work,we did all the time. The flag make it very visible and most cars slow down as they stop to look! my husband did once have an accident on a country lane, he swerved to avoid an animal skidded on some loose stones on the road and came off his bike. The kids in the trailer were fine as it stayed upright.
I love the space int the trailer for putting other things, shopping, swimming things, picnics etc. My kids never seemed to get bored. They had a pocket next to them where we put a drink, books, snacks if needed.
I would say with the trailers, that some of the cheaper ones do not look as safe or as easy to use as some of the more expensive brands, such as chariot and Burleigh.
good luck with your decision making.

I'm a bit late in replying, but thought I'd add my 2 cents.
We have a tandem Croozer and I love it! I feel very safe with the kids in it - they are lower to the ground, there is the anti roll device (if you have a stack on the bike it prevents the trailer tipping) and it has a flag. I feel much safer with the kids in it than I ever used to riding with a child in a bike seat at the back. We bought it when our youngest child was born - obviously I couldn't fit 2 on the back on a seat and the 2 youngest were closer together so I wouldn't be able to ride for a while if I didn't get the trailer.
I used to regularly ride my 2 littlest to kindy in it, take my older son to school, go riding on weekends with DH and our older sons, sometimes I did a small grocery shop with the kids in it. Like some others, ours can convert to be used as a pram (so you can leave the bike outside the shops and unhitch and switch to pram wheels if you want to).
The littlest would regularly go to sleep in the back if he was tired, so it must be reasonably comfortable to ride in.
I don't have as much use for it now as we moved at the beginning of the year, and things are alot further away - and they're country roads without much room for a trailer to ride on next to cars. But we still use it occasionally on weekends to ride on bike paths or more urban roads to have a family outing along the beach.
I love it, and am not in any hurry to sell it even now that DD is at the age where she is riding by herself. I'm not keen on my littlest going in the seat on the bike - this feels so much safer. Plus I can carry all the paraphenalia for picnics and drinkbottles and snacks etc.

Those things make me shudder. Fine for a walking track but when I see them in traffic I can't help but think how a simple "rear end" type traffic accident would wipe out those kids in an instant. They are so low to the ground, they would be crushed. A flag wouldn't stop someone who is texting/changing their CD the same way that brake lights on the back of a car are no guarantee that the person behind will see you in time.

I'm not saying those who use them are bad parents but I am not willing to risk having my family wiped out in a minor traffic accident so I will not allow my cycling DP to have one for road use.

So glad you don't condsider us bad parents Fertile Woman. I shudder when I see people with their huge 4wd's and 1 kid in the back driving 2 blocks to school.

I'm guessing OP that you're mature enough to make the decision as to what is safe for your family. I'm sure most of us know that cycling conditions can vary greatly and that makes the experience different for everyone. Hopefully other people's experiences will help you decide which is your prefered option.
Funny how people worry about cars and strangers hurting our kids and let it stopping them from walking/riding to school (and work). Yet they fail to recognise that obesity and heart disease are one of our biggest killers (and is going to reduce the length of our kids lifetime expectancy) and is much more likely than being hit by a car or abducted. Still we discourage an active lifestyle through taking these "safer" choices with our children.
If you're happy with your decision to ride OP, enjoy it! You'll feel much better for it and are teaching your kids to be active, healthy and environmentally responsible as well.

Yep - those people inside the huge 4WD are safer than anyone else on the road but unfortunately put everyone else at higher risk of dying if they are involved in a car accident with them. Can't do much about them from where I stand. I'd hate to consider their visibility of children in a bike trailer.

Awesome this answers my brain drain we moved just after christmas so instead of walking around the corner to school I have to drive (my small xtrail 4wd) I have walked my to my sons school and it took about 40mins my little 3 soon to be 4 would be too tired to ride his bike all the way and I would image I would be pushing it most of the way, so I was thinking of getting a bike and trailer.

I have done some research on the web but didnt actually know anyone that has one, was looking at the Chariot cougar I didnt come across the Croozers but they look good I want one that turns in to a jogger which would be good cause I havnt been able to run anymore as the 3 year old wont get into the pram. and it could take all the excess luggage

I'll have to hunt around in WA to find a bike store that stocks them.

We got a cheap trailer and i wish we had got the croozer or chariot, looks so much more comfortable, the girls are so upright in ours and we couldn't use it with DD2 until she was at least 10/11 months as she just flopped over (and she was walking at 11 months so pretty strong). While it's great to be able to get out the girls fight every time they are in it so never last more than a 30 minute ride.

I would never ride it in traffic (and neither would my DH), I cycle in Melbourne up to the university but there's no way I would take the kids in the trailer up Swanston Street even with the bike lanes.

We have a toddler seat as well which my DH uses occasionally, it was given to us, I don't think we would have bought one. I have only tried to use it once and hated it (managed about 50 metres before I almost dropped DD1).

It's partly due to the fact that I'm not a confident rider and have poor balance, I have done a fair amount of riding both road and off road but I don't enjoy it and am not any good at it.

So I'd say a trailer for a commute which didn't involve a lot of traffic, but other than that it's a big no for me.

We have a chariot and highly recommend it! It converts easily from trailer into a pram and we use it when we go to the Zoo because the kids can jump in and out if they get tired (4 and 6) and it's great for packing the picnic lunch in

Another 'irresponsible' parent here who has the Chariot Cruiser

A very comfy ride for our 19month old, nice and spacious for him at the moment as we have the double.

Works really well as a stroller too- very lightweight.

Not cheap, but they are very well made and simple to hitch and un-hitch.

If you are thinking about a trailer, it's a good idea to get the little hitch attachment for more than one bike - my DH and I both have them on our bikes which means we both can take turns at towing.

The chariot is also collapsible which means it can fit into car boots - we fit it easily into our Forrester and have our 2 bikes on the tow bar bike rack. Handy, as it means we can drive to places further away to ride too.

I have a cheap kmart trailer attached to my bike and DH has a bike seat on his.

I'm quite happy with the trailer and have used it heaps. I use it for day trips of around 2hrs plus and pack a picnic plus toys for DD to play with in there, plus all the other baby gear. It is a bit heavy but I've got a decent bike so it's no problem.
I also use it to drop DD off to childcare (local neighbourhood streets), then ride to work in a bike lane. I wouldn't feel comfortable riding in a bike lane with her in there though and will use footpaths to go down the street to the library and shops etc.
I feel it's very safe for general riding as the trailer wont tip when the bike falls over. It also protects DD from the weather, which is a good bonus.

Differences with the bike seat, is that it does affect the balance of the bike and when taking off I find it quite wobbly. Once you're going it's fine though. It is much lighter. It doesn't take up any space, so like in the previous poster example of crossing roads is easier. Even just storing it and getting it past the car on the way of the garage is no problem, where as with the trailer being so wide is a nuisance. It is much easier to transport in the car when travelling to destinations. My trailer isn't easy to remove from the bike or fold up - but the more expensive ones probably are.

My overall preference is for the trailer.

Another who can’t speak highly enough about my Chariot!

I LOVE it. We have the ‘Cougar’ which is the slightly cheaper model. It is brilliant for towing behind the bike but also for general stroller uses. I much prefer to use this for walking to the park etc than our Peg Perego stroller and often walk to the supermarket as the ‘boot’ storage is pretty big. It has adjustable suspension so is a VERY smooth ride for DS whether we are cycling, running or walking. The quality is fantastic and Chariot really are the market leaders when it comes to child transport trailers (we first came across them while living in Canada). DS loves it and is always climbing in and out even when it’s just parked at home and we are not actually going anywhere. It only weighs 10kgs – we are going to Thailand in July and taking it with us as it’s so good on those dodgy footpaths. The beach is a dream – it’s VERY easy to push even through the soft sand and on the hard stuff it’s just like being on the pavement.

We are actually considering upgrading to the CX1 model (a couple of our sporty friends have these) – it has removable side windows so the entire capsule can be mesh – perfect for hot summer days. It also has a hand operated drum brake which is perfect for running/jogging. I am running with it more and more and the heavier DS gets the harder it’s going to be going down hills etc – it rolls so easily it pretty much drags you done the hill – on the flat you barely need to push it just rolls along – hence why I want to brake system for running! The resale seems very good – whenever I see one on ebay it gets snapped up pretty quickly

I found that the Australian distributors were very helpful when we were looking at purchasing as there are a few different kits and accessories, the Chariot website was great too.

PM me if you have any other questions

Have fun!

We have a rear child seat. DD, who is 3.5 still fits and loves riding in it but I'm not sure for how much longer or what we'll do once she no longer fits.

We don't have many options though as we live in a villa with a small narrow garage and don't really have space for storing the trailers. I would have preferred one but DH who is the cyclist wanted the seat... He said it was easier to ride with one and he felt it was safer for DD. If he needs to take stuff with him he just wears a backpack but I think he's also worked out that he can put his panniers and the child seat on at the same time. It's probably just as well too because the streets near here are very busy with traffic and no cycle lanes. DH actually rides on the footpath when he's got DD with him, but there is no way he could do that with a trailer. So I suppose it will depend a little on where exactly you'll be riding

If money and space were no issue though, we'd get one of these:
http://dutchcargobike.com.au/product/cargo...bakfiets-ebike/
I saw a family out in something similar the other day. Two girls about preschool and young primary school age in the box with their dad riding. My nieces have also been out and about a lot in these things where they live in Germany. I also love the family tandem on that website!

Bike shop in Joondalup is pretty cheap and so is the one in Fremantle. We got ours from the freo one because we were in Perth and it was cheaper than getting one 400km to the north. TryThe Bike Exchange lists new and second hand bikes and accessories

Chcek Chariot Stockistsfor Charoit stockists

Just thought I would add that DH has been looking into upgrading our Chariot and this website seems to have the best price - $899 for a Chariot and $690 for a Croozer - the Chariot is far superior (from DH extensive comparisons before our original purchase) in terms of comfort, features etc so I would be paying the small amount extra!

Bike Trailers

I have a jogger/trailer ($20 second hand on ebay), and whilst I don't use it on the bike, I use it daily to trek to the shops. It's great, DS can see everything in comfort and I can load it up with shopping.

My older child (15) puts it on his bike to take him for a 'ride' in it.

cool thanks for the shops WAers I'll head to freo maybe this weekend and have a perusal

The Bicycle Entrepreneur stocks the Croozer if you want to look at that. We got ours at the Willetton store, but the Nedlands store had them as well. We looked at the Chariot and the Croozer and whie the Chariot is definitely the rolls royce, I mainly use it for riding along smooth paths by the river so decided the Croozer did everything we needed for less (once I added in the cost of all the accessories needed for the Chariot). I wouldn't think about any of the cheaper "bench seat" varieties though.

If you are considering the Chariot, perhaps look at importing them (try getting it from the Netherlands, was the cheapest when a friend of mine imported theirs and they saved heaps doing it that way, even with shipping).

went perusing today, Fremantle was a flop one salesperson was trying to tell me the Weeho one stroller wheel was good for jogging. And I couldnt get to the bike shop near the hospital cause of the road works. Headed to the TBE in Willeton they were excellent even got the sales guy to fold it down for me (croozer) $799 looks like its the one now got to get me a bike and the bike carrier on the car as well.

We have a toddler seat on the back for DS.

Although we live in the Netherlands, where most parents do the school/childcare run in a Bakfiets. Can you get these yet in Australia?

http://bakfiets.nl/eng/

Although I don't know if they'd be heavy to cycle up a hill - we don't have any hills here!

Edited due to double post