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CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".

IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
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It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.

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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

1. LivM
   Member

   Thanks in part to the inspiration of the Bike Curious event, I have just placed my order for a bike trailer for the wee man. Croozer Plus for 1 - may regret not getting a two seater in years to come, but if he turns out to be the one and only at least we don't have an empty seat staring at us.

   Arriving tomorrow... Set up at the weekend and then Wheeeeee! Off we go. He's 6mo and good at sitting (nearly crawling) so we just got the baby support not the baby sling add on.

   Any advice or tips on cycling with a trailer? Getting used to the width / turning circle etc?

   Posted 9 years ago #

2. sallyhinch
   Member

   Yay!

   Posted 9 years ago #

3. Cyclingmollie
   Member

   Get long mudguards or you spray your children with mud.
   Don't trust them with the picnic.
   Accept that there's not enough head room for them to wear helmets - negotiate that with your SO if necessary.
   Don't go too fast - it's a bumpy ride in a trailer.

   Posted 9 years ago #

4. LivM
   Member

   Mudguards - tick (on my bike anyway - Mr LivD may need to rethink his strategy)
   Picnic - noted. :)
   Helmet - hmm, may be an issue.
   Bumps - Croozer plus comes with some fancy pants suspension, but will take it easy as we get to know it.

   Posted 9 years ago #

5. kaputnik
   Moderator

   If it handles anything like the carry freedom, as far as steering is concerned you'll hardly notice it's there, follows exactly where you go, even through some convoluted chicanery you wouldn't imagine it would.

   Suspension or no suspension, the weight of a child isn't much to hold the trailer down - do take bumps and lumps slower than you think you need to, and then a bit more.

   Consider a discrete little mirror to keep an eye on the trailer without constantly craning your neck round on the go. You can get some neat little ones that don't look too naff and affix to the bar end or the to-tube.

   Be wary of your braking distance, it will increase and you'll feel a bit like the trailer is trying to give you a push forwards if you slow on a downhill.

   Apart from that, it's well fun, and great for carrying things back from the shops.

   Posted 9 years ago #

6. LivM
   Member

   Mirror is a VG idea, thanks. And all the rest is sensible too.
   I'm also thinking I need to get a kickstand for the bike so I don't have to find something to lean it against every time I need to look in the back. Is this a good plan?

   Posted 9 years ago #

7. SRD
   Moderator

   A stand is handy because your parking options will be a bit more limited with the trailer on.

   Posted 9 years ago #

8. wee folding bike
   Member

   Don't trust them with shoes.

   They come off and an be lobbed.

   Posted 9 years ago #

9. davidsonsdave
   Member

   I've had the Croozer for 2 for a few months now and I am still bouncing with the excitement! It gets used for the 5 mile round-trip to take my two year-old to nursery every morning and has been on a few trips to the shops, the Botanics, South Queensferry and Craigies Farm. It has even been around the parkrun at Silverknowes a few times.

   My tips would be to make sure that the pins go through both holes when you are attaching/removing wheels, etc. and remember to take the flag out of the trailer before trying to fold it. I noticed that it can get a little damp at the footwell on a rainy day so added an old rear-passenger car mat which gives a little extra protection and I keep a little fleece blanket in there in case it gets a bit cold which saves some of the hassle of stopping to take extra layers on and off.

   Even in the wider Croozer for 2 I don't find many places I can't fit through, and I you get used to the turning circle very quickly. Hills aren't too bad but I do feel the presence of the trailer when I am pedalling into a headwind!

   There is lots of luggage space in the Croozer so it's good for shopping, although you can only really my one into larger supermarkets. There is so much room in fact, that I am rather tempted to load up the tent and take the little one off on an adventure!

   Posted 9 years ago #

10. Darkerside
    Member

    Mudguard tip from using a Carry Freedom cargo trailer; if you find an appropriately chunky piece of plastic you can cut out a big 'ole mudflap that extends from the rear of the guard almost down to the tarmac. Completely blocks rear spray, with no adverse effects other than a slightly bodged look.

    Posted 9 years ago #

11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/leather-mud-flap.html For those with levels of bikelove / fastidiousness / vanity so as to be unable to bring themselves to use a bodged flap.

    Not sure how well leather will last in our environment without regular attention however*

    * in my experience, not sure how well many Velo Orange components last in our environment in daily use.

    Posted 9 years ago #

12. urchaidh
    Member

    Brilliant, have fun!

    Getting a trailer for our twins opened up so many options for days out, I really wish I'd done it sooner. A big bonus was being able to take the kids' balance bikes on the back of the trailer, so as they could scoot for a bit on some trips.

    I didn't bother with a kickstand, but I can see how it would be useful. The hitch on our trailer would allow you to lay the bike down if there wasn't something to lean against.

    Gratuitous shot of my lovely kids:
    

    Posted 9 years ago #

13. fimm
    Member

    " I am rather tempted to load up the tent and take the little one off on an adventure!"
    You could be inspired by this family... :o)

    Posted 9 years ago #

14. LivM
    Member

    We have been out on a couple of little trips (Sainsbury's, Saughton Park). Very nice! Hard work climbing hills, but some of that is my total lack of fitness after not cycling for 12 months. Wee man seems happy enough in it: Fell asleep on the way home from the park.

    Posted 9 years ago #

15. condor2378
    Member

    I had the Croozer for 2 and used it up until Child 1 & 2 were 5 & 3. Sold it to @davidsondave so I'm glad that it's still being used & enjoyed. My two really enjoyed it, especially when it was nice and I left the whole thing open. Strangely in contrast to @Cyclingmollie, we never had any issues with helmets and both wore them when in the trailer.

    Posted 9 years ago #

16. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    As my kids got older they complained there wasn't enough headroom for them to wear helmets. But you know what teenagers are like.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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