disappointed rant..

[marni]

go hebe go hebe go!!! Pretty soon the little one will be shouting " faster mummy, faster!"

[PamNY]

We bought the trailer, assembled it, and I did a test ride to nursery and back this morning. It was absolutely fine, nice and light. Traffic was on the whole really positive, lots of smiles and waves and courtesy, and just one inconsiderate person who cut me up at a roundabout. grrrr. The journey is about 2miles each way, of which about half is off-road or on shared paths and the on-road sections are quiet residential streets. I'm pretty proud of myself right now

Congratulations! You should be proud. So glad all went well, and I look forward to hearing of more happy adventures.

ETA: I just noticed the thread title. Lovely to see the positive turn this discussion has taken.

[hebe]

Thank you so much!

Tri Girl, I like your blog very much and I love the stick-man cycling cartoon blog that you linked to. I printed a couple off and gave them to my cycling instructor.

The weather forecast for Thursday is looking dry so I plan to do the first proper nursery run then We were going to ride it to a new park this afternoon but small girl fell asleep after lunch. The next thing I have to work out is how to park it securely in town without it obstructing the footway/other cycleracks.

[spokewench]

way to go

[hebe]

Here's a photo of bike and trailer at the play park this morning. I love it. So many more people give us space, with the exception of the idiot who reversed out of a carpark entrance in front of me (and the car right behind me). I'm so grateful that I was taught well.

[hebe]

... and I did the nursery pick up with the trailer today. I was driving her in this morning (we were late and it looked like rain) and she said "Can I ride in the trailer today?" So I picked her up later by bike

It's such a small thing but it's making such a difference - I've done 7miles by bike this week that I'd have otherwise done by car. So I'm fitter, dd has had more time in the fresh air, and I haven't been wasting fuel on short journeys. Drivers are generally excellent too, I'm getting a lot of courtesy and friendly waves even when the trailer is empty! Thanks again for all the sensible advice.

[PamNY]

Yay for you Hebe. I love hearing success stories.

I know what you mean, but it's really not a small thing. I hope you continue to have fun!

[Tri Girl]

Yay for hebe!!!! Glad to hear that purchasing the trailer and making the change from short drives to short rides is improving BOTH of your lives! Hooray!

[lph]

wonderful, hebe, put a smile on my face

[ClockworkOrange]

Oh hebe, what a super thread, I had not read this before, it started a bit doom and gloom BUT WOW, how super to have your darling little girl in the trailer, she must think she’s got a well cool Mum.........and she’s right.

Independence, fresh air and freedom for both of you.

Wishing you lots of fun in the future.

You so made me smile tonight too.

[Bike Writer]

... and I did the nursery pick up with the trailer today. I was driving her in this morning (we were late and it looked like rain) and she said "Can I ride in the trailer today?" So I picked her up later by bike

It's such a small thing but it's making such a difference - I've done 7miles by bike this week that I'd have otherwise done by car. So I'm fitter, dd has had more time in the fresh air, and I haven't been wasting fuel on short journeys. Drivers are generally excellent too, I'm getting a lot of courtesy and friendly waves even when the trailer is empty! Thanks again for all the sensible advice.

Wow, this is working out so good for the two of you and look at all the positive side benefits!

[hebe]

I did both nursery runs with the bike and trailer today. Small girl is sporting a bump on her forehead and matching grazed knees. From falling over at nursery. Which says just a little bit about the relative risk of riding in a trailer versus being at nursery, I think.

I do however have to have a look at the mounting on the comfort bike. It has never felt as secure (in my head) as the one on the Spesh, even after I got Mr Hebe to double-check it, and when we were nearly home things started feeling not quite right and it turned out that the rear wheel quick release skewer was working loose, possibly helped by the trailer safety retaining strap which had worked its way under the quick release lever. I always try to wrap it so that that can't happen, but clearly didn't manage that today. If it's not a quick fix tonight then I'll take the mounting off that bike until I can talk to the LBS to sort it out. I'm wondering if that bike needs a longer quick release skewer. Lesson learned with trusting instincts however, I'll be sticking to the Spesh and double checking the mounting itself as well as the clips and straps and tyres before each ride.

[Karma007]

This whole thread is fascinating to me. When my daughter was born,we didn't have a car. We scored a trailer with our tax refund, and at the age of 4 months old, she was being wheeled behind a bike! I figured out how to strap in her car seat, and we used to go everywhere. I was 21, and it never even occurred to me to do anything differently! I applaud you, hebe!

[hebe]

Thank you Karma, what a lovely story.

I tipped the (empty) trailer over today on the way to pick dd up from nursery I ride down a road, then go straight over a dropped kerb to join a shared pedestrian/cycle path. Every day it works like a charm. Except today I had a car sitting alongside the end of the trailer which wouldn't either go past or drop back (it happens a bit, tends to be older couples peering into the trailer). So I took the dropped kerb at a narrower angle than I would normally do as there was no space to move out, and the trailer went onto its side on the pavement (sidewalk). Followed by the woman in the car yelling "Is there anyone in there? Is there anyone in there?" at the trailer before her husband sped off while she was still shouting. I checked the bike and trailer all over, phoned the LBS and checked it all over again, and then rode to nursery and brought small girl back very slowly and carefully. Other than one small rip to the outer cloth and a scuff to the paintwork on the bumper it is fine. I still feel a bit shook up but will learn from this to take a bit more of the road earlier on and to hold my nerve even when people are driving too close. They had ample time and space to pass me, and complete visibility of the road ahead. I'm very grateful that it didn't happen with dd in the trailer.

[Biciclista]

wow, Hebe, I'm glad the trailer was empty too your daughter would NOT have been pleased. The sad part is the drivers have NO idea what happened.

Keep trying. we're all enjoying your adventure