http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "How to be a Cycling Family" en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:56:47 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34266 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:53:15 +0000 SRD 34266@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>one point about the <strike>trikipoo</strike>* trikidoo advertising that is on the money is the benefit of easy unloading! am getting ready for the spyelaw park ride and can definitely see advantage of trike balance. </p> <p>*wasn't that a dog in all creatures great and small? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34256 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:56:34 +0000 SRD 34256@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Trailer corners well too. but is wide, so tricky fitting around things - like the gates to get onto canal path at HP, or the turn from the canal path towards slateford station, which is quite sharp. but all are do-able, even on the H with a full load. i just wish we could get dropped kerbs at HP..... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34254 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:29:42 +0000 crowriver 34254@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD <em>i suppose a tagalong would be easier than a trailer for cornering, given width of trailer.</em></p> <p>I find my son's tagalong corners just fine from my 700c bike. A bit awkward to back up, get through gates/styles, etc. and to park (very long). A Helios with a tagalong attached would be something to see! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34253 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:12:35 +0000 crowriver 34253@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>what amazed me were the sales figures for that trike. Is only a 3 speed too.</em></p> <p>Has it been endorsed by a celebrity or some minor royal? It must be marketing.</p> <p>To be fair it looks quite elegant and ladylike. I suppose quite stable and sedate too. That vintage Pashley look to it. Fashion can be quite important when selling bikes/trikes. Note the ladies in the photos are wearing ordinary clothes.</p> <p>The Helios is undoubtedly a superior machine in many ways: gears, manoeuvrability, versatility, probably components too. It doesn't have the 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' factor though.</p> <p>I believe many (certainly not all) women aspire to look like this on a bike:<br /> <img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5492411914_4099822490.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34252 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:03:35 +0000 chdot 34252@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pashley's trike is £695</p> <p><a href="http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/picador.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/picador.html</a></p> <p>I've seen them with 2 kids' seats. I assume they were as supplied by Pashley. They have rear facing seats. (<a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pashley-Picador-Tricycle-Original-Child-Seats-/220803996810">One currently on ebay</a>.)</p> <p>This one looks longer so there is room for forward seats, which I thing is better.</p> <p>There must be plenty of people in Edinburgh who might like one if they felt confident on the roads.</p> <p>Edinburgh <em>is</em> hilly BUT due to the geography there are plenty of areas (some quite large) that are basically flat - Meadows/Newington, Leith Links/Docks etc., much of the area west of Haymarket.</p> <p>It's hardly meant to be a long distance machine and 'we' all know that the percentage of car trips in Edinburgh under 3 miles is ridiculously high! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34251 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:43:24 +0000 LaidBack 34251@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Crowriver... what amazed me were the sales figures for that trike. Is only a 3 speed too. </p> <p>SRD - Bring tandem round soon for shop to have a look at for checkover... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34250 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:37:57 +0000 SRD 34250@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>trikidoo - isn't it basically the same idea as the pashley trikes with seats? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34249 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:36:48 +0000 SRD 34249@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> one could tow a tagalong from the Helios' rear seat post...</em></p> <p>hmmmm...it would be interesting going around corners...</p> <p>had the helios out yesterday with both kids, and the trailer for groceries. lots of interesting comments. i suppose a tagalong would be easier than a trailer for cornering, given width of trailer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34248 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:32:51 +0000 SRD 34248@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I/we definitely like the idea that the kids actually have to do some work pedaling, not just be passengers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34247 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:11:08 +0000 crowriver 34247@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Laidback, I have to agree that given the choice, I'd have a Helios over what is basically a mini-rickshaw taxi. For a start, you can have two adults, or one adult and one kid (two with a child seat). Presumably if the little 'un gets old enough and the older one is big enough, one could tow a tagalong from the Helios' rear seat post...</p> <p>Simply much more versatile. Now if only I had the space.....maybe when my eldest is a bit bigger. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-34245 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:57:59 +0000 LaidBack 34245@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Velo Vision hasa bit about this trike. Apparently they've sold over 200 examples. (ie a huge market share for a specialist machine)</p> <p><a href="http://www.trikidoo.co.uk/whytrikidoo.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.trikidoo.co.uk/whytrikidoo.htm</a></p> <p>Would it sell in Edinburgh or do you think it's being bought by rich people to cycle round their gardens ;-) ?</p> <p>Apparently the owner, Clare Kemp-Welch is looking to sell business. Can't understand why if it sells so well...</p> <p><em>Oh.. can I just say that I'm sure Helios is better answer in long run as can't see Mum cycling two seven year olds but suppose you could use to get to shops. </em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-29582 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:24:14 +0000 amir 29582@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have fun onlyalice. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and that'll inspire him. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-29580 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:04:43 +0000 onlyalice 29580@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That looks great, well done to all involved! As someone who didn't learn as a child (although I did sometimes get carried around in one of those little back seats), I heartily approve. Really good timing too, as I bet the nice weather has got loads of people inspired to get out on their bikes lately. </p> <p>Also I'm going to try being part of more of a (very small, childless) cycling family myself this weekend: my partner, who's never really cycled as an adult and never cycled on roads, has requested we hire a bike so we can go for a ride and I can show him some of the nice off-road paths and prove that it's not (excessively) scary going on the roads either. So, apologies in advance if any of you experience me and a 32-year-old child learning the ropes at the weekend... :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-29567 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:11:02 +0000 SRD 29567@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This info has been posted before, but now it is actually happening, rather than being planned. I've seen several Burley trailers around of late - perhaps from the Bike Station?</p> <p>The Bike Station is now offering *free* training and support for Edinburgh parents interested in giving family cycle-commuting a go. </p> <p>This is part of the new Spokes / Bike Station 'Weans on Wheels' (WOW!) project this year, which aims to encourage more every-day family cycle-commuting by providing information and support to parents, particularly those with children too young to go on their own bike. The aim is to build awareness, skills and confidence through hands-on advice and training. There are realistic (and fun, healthy and educational) alternatives to the dreary old car-based daily travel routine for play-group / nursery / school etc.... The Bike Station is now running...</p> <p>family-cycle-commuting equipment demonstrations for parents during spring / summer 2011 at Edinburgh nurseries, playgroups, schools etc [at collection-time; has your child's place signed up?] – child seats, tag-alongs, trailers etc<br /> drop-in sessions at the Bike Station to see / try equipment: every Friday 1-4pm (coinciding with the weekly Children’s Bike Sales)<br /> whole-family have-a-go sessions with the bikes and equipment, and a professional cycle-trainer - take the kids and give it a go for real<br /> Contact Ruairidh at the Bike Station for more information on any of the above, or to book a nursery/school demonstration or training session. Email <a href="mailto:info@thebikestation.org.uk">info@thebikestation.org.uk</a> or phone 0131 668 1996.</p> <p>The Bike Station might also be able to loan out family-cycling equipment [Burley child trailers, child seats, tow-bars and tag-alongs, as well as adult bikes] if you work for a company registered with the Bike Station’s Better Way to Work project. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2774#post-29565 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:09:15 +0000 SRD 29565@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spokes has a new factsheet, fresh from the printers, "How to be a Cycling Family". This provides parents, particularly of young children, with ideas on how to use bikes for whole-family every-day transport - especially for those multi-purpose every-day journeys such as dropping a child off at nursery or school whilst on your way to work. Many thanks to all those who contributed in various ways.</p> <p>hard copies are available, or you can download it here (4 pages of A4; the printed one is an A3 page (full colour) folded to A4):<br /> <a href="http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Spokes-Cycling-Family_final.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Spokes-Cycling-Family_final.pdf</a></p> <p>plus more info here:<br /> <a href="http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2011/04/cycle-commuting-with-kids-latest/" rel="nofollow">http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2011/04/cycle-commuting-with-kids-latest/</a> </p>