Best options for commuting with small children?

[gbunker]

Hi all!

My family is starting to bike commute together, which means dropping my second grader off at school, riding downtown with our two year old and dropping him off at daycare, then each of us continuing on our merry way to work. We tried it for the first time this morning, and we were slow, but we did it!

We're wondering how best to transport kiddo #2 to daycare. He's been riding in an iBert on a cruiser bike, but we're looking for a lighter/speedier option now. This morning, I towed him in our old Burley. He was happy and it wasn't too bad, but the drag on the climb home is going to be not as fun. Our commute is under five miles each way, even with several stops for drop-off/pick-up. It is moderately hilly, and I definitely have more fun when my bike doesn't feel so laden.

Do any of you ride an xtracycle? If so, is it easier to pedal up hills than a hybrid or road bike towing a Burley? Are there other options I haven't thought of? The xtracycle piques my interest because I like the idea that big brother could also hop on the back for quick trips, or for when we are out riding together and he gets tired.

Thoughts? Advice? Do I maybe just need to develop Thighs of Steel to drive the family caravan without complaint?

Thanks!
Gillian

[Melalvai]

I've heard it said that parents who are car free are the most hard core of any cyclists. More hard core even than those crazy endurance cyclists who do the Tour de Divide or RAAM. Way to go on commuting with kids!!

That said, I don't have any advice. I just think you're awesome for doing this. I bet the kids just love it too.

[Tri Girl]

I commute, but I don't have kids to take along with me.
I don't have any advice, but I have loved the Xtracycles for the longest time. I soooo want one. I've seen pictures of kids on the back of them. There's a blog about a family who has 2 kids and they are car-free (they use an Xtracycle). I'll see if I can find it...

In the meantime- you are amazing for commuting with the kids!! I think it opens them up to so many more possibilities in life and teaches them about living healthy and being fit as part of everyday life. So cool!!!

Let me go see if I can find that blog.

Edit: Here it is. check these sites out (the top one is an article about the blog below it)

http://streetsblog.net/2011/08/03/the-road-less-taken-car-free-family-life/

http://carfreedays.com/2011/08/02/whats-normal/

[gbunker]

Aw, thanks guys! It's really not that hard. :)

My older son's school is only a few blocks from our house, so it's not hard to ride over with him first and drop him off on the way. He rides his own bike now, so that part's easy.

Our younger son's daycare is only about 10 blocks from my office, and my partner's office is only about another half mile beyond mine. So, our route is pretty simple and it's only about 4-5 miles long each way.

Portland's such a compact little city, it's pretty easy to get from one end to the other by bike. And we see lots of other parents on Xtracycles or towing Burleys, so it seems pretty normal to do the same.

I will say, though, I've gotten some pretty impressive new thigh muscles in the couple of months I've been towing the Burley. Kiddo is not getting any lighter, either. I hope I can keep up! :)
Gillian

[girlsubobscura]

you should also check out "full hands" and "totcycle, two more excellent blogs about family biking.

http://totcycle.com/

http://fullhandsx3.blogspot.com/