Riding to school?
http://yehudamoon.com - I read him every day. Today's one got me thinking. Do I want Genevieve to ride to school? If so, how? And at what age?
Yes, got a few ideas, and dunno.
Both of the potential schools for Genevieve are easily within walking distance. So, that would make them within cycling distance too - which (potentially) would be a little easier time-wise. Currently, I walk with her in the backpack and me pushing my bike, so I can ride to work from there. She would (sometimes) like to walk, but in the morning, that would just take too long. And the bike trailer is a bit of a pain to hitch/unhitch every day.
I have thought about getting one of these - which I would favour over a rear-mounted bike seat.
The WeeRide is a great idea, but what we have now is working pretty well as the distance from our place to the Childcare Centre is so short.
But, when she's ready for school, she'll probably have a (real) bike of her own!
That's where the TrailGator may come in.
This is basically a pole, that attaches their bike to your bike. It's not light, because it has to attach very securely, and with some strength. You can see from the photo, it keeps the little-un's bike's front wheel off the ground. It bolts onto your seatpost, and their headtube (with an attached bracket). The clever thing, however, is if they want to ride you can unclip it from their headtube bracket and it telescopes into itself and is kept alongside your rear wheel, on the seat stay.
What does this mean? If they want to ride, they can ride. If they don't want to ride, they can be towed - safely! Best of both worlds I reckon.
Still got a few years to think about it anyway - but I've already set up the eBay Seach/email.
Yes, got a few ideas, and dunno.
Both of the potential schools for Genevieve are easily within walking distance. So, that would make them within cycling distance too - which (potentially) would be a little easier time-wise. Currently, I walk with her in the backpack and me pushing my bike, so I can ride to work from there. She would (sometimes) like to walk, but in the morning, that would just take too long. And the bike trailer is a bit of a pain to hitch/unhitch every day.
I have thought about getting one of these - which I would favour over a rear-mounted bike seat.
The WeeRide is a great idea, but what we have now is working pretty well as the distance from our place to the Childcare Centre is so short.
But, when she's ready for school, she'll probably have a (real) bike of her own!
That's where the TrailGator may come in.
What does this mean? If they want to ride, they can ride. If they don't want to ride, they can be towed - safely! Best of both worlds I reckon.
Still got a few years to think about it anyway - but I've already set up the eBay Seach/email.
Comments
That cartoon is very spot on! We are in Sydney and don't even let our kids walk unaccompanied the two blocks to their after school carer mainly because of the psycho driving behaviour of our fellow school parents. Bike riding anywhere in our suburb pretty out of the question too unless you have a death wish. I spent a great deal of my childhood on a bike and find it sad that my kids won't do the same.