Bobbin Straw Pannier review
Cycling cape
Rainbow bright cycle chic
Wooden Bicycle Handlebars by Deer Runner
Red, white and blue
I’ve never owned a car and I would be quite happy never to own a car.
However, many people have told me that it’s simply not practicable not to have a car when you have children. Well, that may be so, but I’m saving my money to buy a Zigo anyway. I’m dubbing it the Pram Bike.
The Zigo® Leader™ is a functional multi-gear city bike which attaches a ChildPod® at the front. So you can see your kids in front of you instead of twisting around to watch a trailer or child seat. Once uncoupled, the ChildPod® becomes a stroller or jogger. For the times where I must use a car, the ChildPod® folds up flat to fit in the boot of an economy size car.
The Zigo® Leader™ with ChildPod® retails for $2495 for the 3 speed bike and pod and $2595 for the 7 speed bike and pod. You can also buy the bike and pods separately, and there are other accessories such as a jogger kit ($99.95), rear rack ($9.95), rain cover ($9.95) and traditional back trailer kit ($99.95).
Update: I’m pregnant and the baby is due in February 2011! Which means that the search for the perfect Pram Bike is becoming a serious quest now – so I would really appreciate your suggestions and experiences.
I’d go with this instead: Gazelle Cabby
http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/gazelle-2010-collection/cabby.html
I’ve test ridden it and it is fabulous. You can also mount a baby capsule in it, as well as space for two or three small children and bags.
Neat idea but grossly over-priced. I hauled my kids around in a Winchester trailer, then moved them up to a hitcher-bike (half a bike attached to the seat post) and then their own bike.
I agree Dr Paul, the Cabby’s much better for baby hauling. Counter-intuitively, a tricycle is less stable than a bicycle in corners and the bumps only rock bub one way on a bike (gently fore-and-aft), but they rock both ways (ie get jiggled about) when carried on the front of a tadpole format trike.
Also, two wheels is much lower rolling resistance than 3. This is important on a load carrying bike.
Thanks for the tip Dr Paul. I hadn’t come across the Gazelle Cabby before. I like how it folds up for tight spaces!
Crunchy Steve, thanks for your insights, I admit I hadn’t thought too much about the physics of a tricycle vs a bicycle+trailer. And it is very expensive! I was seduced by the idea of the pram bit being detachable from the bike bit, so that on the days you weren’t cycling you could still use the same vehicle as a pram, or you could cycle somewhere, park the bike and take the pram the rest of the way. I was having a look at Gazelle’s pics of the Cabby – do you think at the age a baby is in a capsule you could put them in the Cabby, and then when they’re too old for a capsule but still pram-age you could still put them in the Cabby?
Speaking of cargo bikes Dr Paul and Crunchy Steve, have you tried or heard feedback about Christiana bikes? http://www.psbikes.com.au/
> Christiana bikes…
For some reason, I think that BikeSaint on sydneycyclist.com uses one. I might be mistaken.
“many people have told me that it’s simply not practicable not to have a car when you have children” — that argument is about as valid as the argument that a mother needs to have a pram – absolute rubbish! My son is four in a couple of months and I’ve never even had a driver’s licence let alone car (or a pram). And I’m a single mum, so it’s not like I’ve been relying on a partner who does drive.
Hi Jasmine
Wow that’s really very impressive! How have you been transporting your child along with nappies, groceries etc? I am currently pregnant so we’re on the serious lookout for a pram/bike now! I am going to try and maintain my car-free lifestyle as much as possible even after a baby!
Joyce aka Miss Cyclestyle
HI, we have 3 young children, and have owned a double Chariot Carrier for 5 years – a bike trailer that converts to a pram when needed. We are really pleased with it, and would highly recommend it. We use it heaps as a pram on its own, or cycling around town, to the shops, to the park, to a destination as a bike trailer and then unhook it and use it as a pram etc, and the kids love being it. It still fits my 6.5yr old (when exhausted after school), and is totally waterproof when needed, which is great for getting to school on wet days. Friends from germany sent us an attachment for the bicycle that you leave on the bike, which is less fiddly than the bike attachment it comes with. Well worth looking at, and I think better than the Christiana bike (another mum at school has one of those) We used it as a pram for babies #2 and #3 with a sling insert. Good luck with your test riding and choosing!
Hi cycling mum
Thanks for the tip! That is great information as I am definitely looking for something that converts to a pram on its own and not simply a cargo bike. Will investigate the Chariot Carrier and test ride!
Joyce aka Miss CycleStyle
Correction to post. Note that the price of the 7-speed Zigo is $2595 NOT $4595.
Thanks, post corrected!
Cycling mum – do you fit all 3 children in the chariot carrier, is that what you mean? We have a 3 year old, 2 year old and 4 month old and I am looking for a pram to fit all three, but have wondered if a bike trailer wouldn’t be better as we live close to cycle paths etc. We have a bike trailer (don’t know the brand), but there is no way 3 kids would fit.
Hi Joyce,
I use a Nihola to transport our two kids around with shopping in Sydney. We had an electric motor installed as well to help with the hills in Sydney. We decided on the Nihola because it has a lower centre of gravity and doesn’t tip as easily as the Christiania. Also, the front wheels move separately from the cabin that holds the kids which makes it more stable. Because it is a trike, there is one less thing to worry about – balance. In exchange, you go a bit slower but then I’m carrying some precious cargo – my two children. So, I’m happy with the trade off. (I still pass people going up hills though.)
However, it is a bit expensive as there is no distributor in Sydney. Total price was $6000 for the trike, shipping and the motor. Fortunately, we are still not car owners.
Check out http://www.Nihola.com. Hope the baby is sleeping well by now and you are thinking “When is a good time for the the second one?” or not!
Kind regards, Sarah