CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Water of Leith path with babies?

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  1. Dave
    Member

    Bit of a left field question, but bear with it... does anyone on the forum have experience transporting young children on something like the Water of Leith path (the section from Balerno down into town, rather than the urban bits)?

    We're trying to figure out how to link up work and childcare options. I think riding with them down the A70 through Juniper Green is a non-starter due to all the fumes (and that there's not enough width in the road to filter past the daily jams with a trailer attached) but we could potentially get onto the WoL path.

    I guess it would be a no-brainer in heatwaves in summer, but most of the year the kids would be getting pelted with mud continuously and it would also be 30 minutes or more of absolute pitch black each way. Am I wrong in thinking they wouldn't like this at all?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "but most of the year the kids would be getting pelted with mud continuously"

    Only if there were urchins close by (or you didn't have mudguards).

    "Am I wrong in thinking they wouldn't like this at all?"

    Depends on the child...

    Is this all hypothetical??

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    Sounds like yet another reason the WoL path should be tarmacced from Colinton or JG or gembo's house...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. gembo
    Member

    @dave is this yr left field way of letting us know the children have arrived. If so, congratulations.

    The WoL path mud in the dark should be negotiable. I see a number of families cycling up the way in the morning.

    I stopped using it all the time for my commute as I had to clean the bike too often for my liking. Used a tow along for years up and Down to Juni green on Saturdays too. Last night was ok until the last stretch, probably beyond Currie when the top layer of mud was giving in so the progress was slowed a little. Today might be muddy.

    The husky driver goes up and down on his sled in the dark, he has a big light. You get bats occasionally.

    I think it might work otherwise maybe the canal towpath. I see a chap with a trailer negotiating his way to heriot watt from the canal. He shifts almost as quickly as you do.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    @dave congratulations .... possibly

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. algo
    Member

    @dave - indeed congratulations first.

    I take mine in the trailer all over and mud has never bothered them. My trailer has suspension so more off-roady things are a bit less of a shock to them but I'm not really sure how relevant that is. In my experience they'll love it - they sleep incredibly (too) well in it even if it is bumpy. I imagine your trailer has a screen you put over - in which case it will get very muddy but they won't. I took mine through a ford in Clumber Park and round some incredibly muddy bits which I only just got up due to wheel spin - that's the real problem with the mud.

    I can't really speak for the dark but I'd be surprised if it was a problem - I'd say it would just add to the likelihood he/she would fall asleep.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. neddie
    Member

    I wouldn't transport a baby younger than 6 months by bike, their neck just isn't strong enough to take the jolts.

    From 6 months they could go in a car seat in a bike trailer.

    I would wait until they are at least one year before putting in a bike seat.

    Your/Others view may vary...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. algo
    Member

    @edd1e_h - mine went in the trailer from 6 months - it has a harness and is not dissimilar to a car seat. There are also specific inserts designed for younger babies which mimic the car seat protection. But you are certainly right about bikes seats - the Hamax suggests 9 months though...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. SRD
    Moderator

    We have discussed the issues of trailers not having good light fittings before - but that is probably more an issue for on-road than off-road.

    depends on the kids I guess, but a baby-specific trailer insert works from birth (see older posts).

    in the winter, i've heard recommendations of a hot water bottle in the bottom of a gro-bag type thing on the childseat/insert.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. Morningsider
    Member

    Dave - babies love motion, tends to help them sleep. I wouldn't worry about it being dark, you can always chuck a battery powered night light into the trailer if it is a worry.

    I would take edd1e_h's advice regarding age - off-road riding, even with suspension, is a bit rough for very young babies.

    Anyway - don't waste your time looking at the internet - get some sleep while you still can!

    Also - congratulations.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. crowriver
    Member

    The thought occurs that you may require a knobbly tyred cross bike or MTB to traverse the WoL path regularly in any season save high summer. If wheel spin is still an issue, the old dismount and push for a bit is an option.

    I don't have any experience of kid trailers, but a rear seat will help rear wheel traction, and no issues with mud splatter either. Balance is certainly affected, especially as the passenger gets older. Then you could switch to a tagalong, when mud splatter will definitely be an issue!

    Oh and congratulations!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I think PoP was out first family bike outing, which would mean he was 9 months.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    Marathon plus fine for WoL path but Dave has never been a fan of that tyre IIRC

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Our child seat is on the front, which means that he doesn't get hit by mud kicked off the tyres. It does however expose him to the elements at the front, you can buy a wee windshield to go with the seat (Yepp Mini) and wrap them up in a waterproof snowsuit for colder days.

    My experience is if the bike is moving, the child is either happy to watch the world go buy or just nods off. In which case you might want to consider a seat with either a face rest or one that has high sides that wrap-around the head to stop it lolling around all over the place.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    The original post is likely a query about plural babies of a very similar age if the hive mind wants to put that in its pipe and smoke it to see if the cat can run its pyjama trousers up the flagpole?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    "wrap them up in a waterproof snowsuit for colder days"

    Not forgetting that - in all weathers - cyclists are warming themselves up but passengers aren't.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. Dave
    Member

    The original post is likely a query about plural babies of a very similar age

    Yes, a brace of babies for my sins... they won't need to be taken anywhere for the first year, but it seems that daycare is a bit like allotments and you need to plan quite a long way ahead!

    We went to look at the Lanark Rd nursery which would be relatively easy to access from the WoL. Other obvious option is the one at Heriot Watt campus, but that involves Donkey Lane and the level crossing (hard with trailer?) or Riccarton Mains Rd, which isn't an option IMO.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. Min
    Member

    Eep. Congratulations. :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "they won't need to be taken anywhere for the first year"

    I'm sure you don't mean that!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. crowriver
    Member

    "it seems that daycare is a bit like allotments and you need to plan quite a long way ahead!"

    Aye Cowgate Under 5s centre has a waiting list stretching for over a year, if I recall.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  21. LivM
    Member

    I think it depends on the child... we have a 19mo/old who is OK on shortish trips in the trailer (Croozer plus, has suspension, rather heavy...) but gets grumpy if it's too long. Going through tight gates like for the railway crossing would be very hard indeed.

    We went for a nursery that was close to my husband's work (WGH) and en route to mine (Scottish Gas at the Waterfront) so the risk of getting stuck in traffic as the nursery closes is reduced. On the other hand that means a longer commute with the child in tow and means that I have yet to summon up the courage to do a bike commute more than a couple of times (horrible wiggly route once we're off NEPN and a couple of main roads to cross). But the important thing is that we have three/four options for transport. Car (yeah yeah), bike, bus (it's on a direct bus route from home to work) or walking. So whatever the weather or mechanical condition of our transport, we can get there somehow.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  22. LaidBack
    Member

    Congratulations on your discrete public announcement of you and Claire's twin arrivals! :-)
    Maxi-Cosi seat on suspended seat adapter on UA would work for one. UA did a matching trailer prototype!

    Amy started in her co-pilot childseat on back of an Edinburgh Contour at six months but had to keep checking on her. That was 20+ years ago. Given up checking now.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  23. fimm
    Member

    Congratulations.
    I'm an aunt to twins. They've just turned 10 and I can see that they are different but I can't tell which is which.

    Boyfriend of Fimm was wondering how you'd got out to do Tour of the Borders (now we know why Dave went round so fast) ;-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

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