Trikes - anyone got one?
Discussion
My Missus doesn't drive. Or rather, she did when she was 16 (naughty), and flipped ther car on her first go at going round a bend. She's subsequently failed her test 5 times. In short, she's not meant to be at the wheel of a car. She's always been a commuting cyclist, and is pretty handy on an MTB. Since we've had a nipper, we've used a trailer and a wee-ride. Planning ahead, we're thinking what we'll do when nipper 2 comes along and nipper 1 needs to be taken to school. Having discounted 2-seater trailers and bakfiets, we're looking at dutch load carrying trikes. We're thinking of something like a Winther Kangaroo or a Christiania Light. Anyone here got something similar? How's it been?
Well, in case anyone else is looking, we've spent the weekend trying out the following:
Gazelle Cabby
Winther Kangaroo
Fietsfabriek 995
The Cabby is vast - the box on the front could fit 3 toddlers and a baby in a carrier at a squeeze. Too big for us. It costs £1000, but is a hell of a lot of bike for the money. The box is clever, but doesn't look easily repairable. I don't think a rain cover is available, which makes it a non-starter for us. Seriously tho', a wonderful piece of kit for the price. The ride is lovely, and our toddler thought it was brilliant.
The Winther isn't a pleasant ride once you get up to speed. It feels like there is positive feedback in the steering, and you are just managing it's desire to jacknife and tip you off. If you weren't a cyclist, and were just looking for a low-speed means of pootling your kids to school and the shops, I'd say it's wonderful. For proper rides out, it's a non-starter for me. I got up to speed and found myself on an oddly cambered path, only to be dragged off to one side for fear that over correcting would lead to it tipping over. After that, I tried going in circles to see how easily it gets up on two wheels. The answer is quite easily, but if you aren't going fast, you aren't going to tip it outside an elk test move. That said, if a pedestrian did step out in front of you, it could get messy. The box is very plush. It's should be at £1700, and have slight reservations at how plush it will look after a few years. Again, our toddler loved it.
The Fietsfabriek is a 2 seater, and a lot smaller than the Cabby. and is nice. Rides the best of the three, but the gears aren't as responsive. The brakes are better than the Cabby, but it doesn't feel like you are getting as much for your money, However, the frame feels much nicer, and the ride quality is wonderful - really smooth. Again, the kiddie loved it. We're going back for another ride on Thursday with the expectation we'll take it home with us.
Testing all 3 convinced us that the Dutch Cargobike style is the format for us. To put it in car terms, the trike is a motorhome, the cargobike is a Maybach. A kid is going to think each is brilliant fun compared to bike seats or trailers, but the person at the helm has a very different experience.
Gazelle Cabby
Winther Kangaroo
Fietsfabriek 995
The Cabby is vast - the box on the front could fit 3 toddlers and a baby in a carrier at a squeeze. Too big for us. It costs £1000, but is a hell of a lot of bike for the money. The box is clever, but doesn't look easily repairable. I don't think a rain cover is available, which makes it a non-starter for us. Seriously tho', a wonderful piece of kit for the price. The ride is lovely, and our toddler thought it was brilliant.
The Winther isn't a pleasant ride once you get up to speed. It feels like there is positive feedback in the steering, and you are just managing it's desire to jacknife and tip you off. If you weren't a cyclist, and were just looking for a low-speed means of pootling your kids to school and the shops, I'd say it's wonderful. For proper rides out, it's a non-starter for me. I got up to speed and found myself on an oddly cambered path, only to be dragged off to one side for fear that over correcting would lead to it tipping over. After that, I tried going in circles to see how easily it gets up on two wheels. The answer is quite easily, but if you aren't going fast, you aren't going to tip it outside an elk test move. That said, if a pedestrian did step out in front of you, it could get messy. The box is very plush. It's should be at £1700, and have slight reservations at how plush it will look after a few years. Again, our toddler loved it.
The Fietsfabriek is a 2 seater, and a lot smaller than the Cabby. and is nice. Rides the best of the three, but the gears aren't as responsive. The brakes are better than the Cabby, but it doesn't feel like you are getting as much for your money, However, the frame feels much nicer, and the ride quality is wonderful - really smooth. Again, the kiddie loved it. We're going back for another ride on Thursday with the expectation we'll take it home with us.
Testing all 3 convinced us that the Dutch Cargobike style is the format for us. To put it in car terms, the trike is a motorhome, the cargobike is a Maybach. A kid is going to think each is brilliant fun compared to bike seats or trailers, but the person at the helm has a very different experience.
Have to say, I'm sure they are well made etc. but fark me they are ugly as sin. There really isn't any need to design a HPV that looks as bad as some of those designs.
Have you tried a tandem with top tube kiddie seat? It would be much easier to pedal. Granted you won't have the weather protection.
Have you tried a tandem with top tube kiddie seat? It would be much easier to pedal. Granted you won't have the weather protection.
Got a top tube kiddie seat - Wee Ride Kangaroo. Alway feel like in an accident my weight would crush him, and with the weight so high, he really affects handling. The bakfiets is so smooth in comaparison. It has got loads going for it, but yeah, the downside is that it looks like a bike got friendly with a barrow.
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