Thank you for this video, which I found very helpful. I especially admired the production values - it must be really tough to make a good video that includes small children and moving bikes. Well done.
The trailer should always be covered during the ride, at least with the mesh, because little stones can be thrown by the wheel and hit the kid’s eye or face.
The reason his head is right against your chest is because the handlebars of that bike are way too low for someone of your size, if I had to guess I would say that bike is set up for a teenager or someone as tall as a teenager and not for a full grown adult.
An E bike with 2 kids up front a mid mounted seat for the baby & a 2 seat trailer at the back for 2 more kid's or shopping etc. You would really get your moneys worth out of the E bike for sure
The current designs for child carriers are simply not safe. The rear tow trailers are very vulnerable to being hit from behind and offer zero protection to kids. At the very least impact absorbing materials and roll cages should be compulsory for child carrying trailers.
I live in the states and have never seen a child on a bike with their parents. At best you sometimes see a trailer for kids behind the bike. Sad really. Though outside of my bikes I have only ever twice seen another dutch style bike here.
The UK is loooong way behind the Netherlands (and for that matter the rest of EU) in terms of cycling. It's still seen as a sport for super fit middle-aged men in Lycra rather than a means of getting from A to B, and bikes, clothing and attitudes all reflect that. Our stupid class system also plays a role as usual - for the longest time a bike was seen as a poor alternative for those who couldn't afford or drive a car, the latter being very much regarded as a status symbol here. Very destructive mentality which is finally changing a little in the wake of Covid-19 and with the growing popularity of e-bikes, but the culture (especially amongst car drivers and council road planners) still has a long way to go.
As always, it depends. Cruising around on good cycle paths, properly segregated from traffic, etc? Sure, go nuts. I ride at up to 60km/h, and my helmet has saved my noggin a couple of times. Now we just need to invent lycra that doesn't tear when you hit the ground at 45km/h+, would have saved my legs and arms...
Jan, yes, no helmets! helmet fear mongering only serves those selling helmets. helmets just barely help in a real crash. it's better to focus on safe cycling and looking ahead.
Driving everywhere isn't exactly doing wonders for public health or the environment. Some options are definitely safer than others under different conditons and I'd be picking and choosing on where to take a child cycling, but saying just buy a car isn't doing kids any favours in the long term.
It's not doing them favors either way because they just lie back there it not like they are ones riding the bike. As far as your health goes, just run 10km a day it only takes like 45mins anyway and it's waay better.
It's not just about whether or not they are riding, it's the habits you form and the example you set. I disagree that running is automatically better than riding. The best form of exercise is one that you'll stick to, and for some people running poses an greater risk of injury eg. Those who are overweight or have knee issues, so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
