Mom / Dad-mobiles, Kid-transporters

Are you set on something with larger tires? If so xtracycle seems the way to go. IF little tires are ok this thing seems cool: https://www.lepetitporteur.com/le-petit-porteur-longtail/

You can throw a generic waterproof buggy cover over the top of the seat for extra dryness and wind protection if you have somewhere to strap the velcro on to.

The upgrade to this is using 15mm plastic plumbing pipe to create a support for the buggy cover to sit on, instead of it resting on little ones head. I've made one this week inspired by a friend, and sprayed it black.

This doesn't do much for the rider though and I'm still searching for a combo of waterproof jacket and trousers that can keep me dry for an hour in heavy rain of anyone has any suggestions.

Edit, just seen this has already been posted upthread.csb.

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They’re all taken from Tern folding bikes, and are a weird short version that is 26” max. If I were spending that money for 26” I think I would get the frame shop to stick something together instead.

My commute home is 4 miles with 500 ft climbing, nursery half way. I have the option of riding through various bits of woodland as well which is preferred over the busy roads where possible. 700x40ish would be manageable but would rather wider. Don’t think little wheels are the one.

Ah these are released now. €1400 for this seems like an absolute bargain.

Little wheels are ok as long as they are wide and geared for it but not everyone’s flavor. It is really nice in the rear to get the weight nice and low. I think a mixed wheel size is probably the right answer for longtails.

Maybe custom is the answer?

E version fully configured for <£3k seems great too. Very tempted tbh

Thanks for all the waterproofing tips. Has anyone tried one of these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135116546912?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pgrvrc07tx2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Looks like it would rely on the seat having a lot of structure- on a Yepp Maxi or similar it would basically be flopping around on their head

I was so determined not to resort to the car due to weather I went all in with the full pope-mobile club house and storm shield (I also have differing levels of tyres going up to full on spiked bad boys for the frosty times). But, despite it doing exactly what it needed to, I eventually found it to be a faff. Drying it out to prevent mold was not always possible and the shit/crud that accumulates in the bottom is a pain to clean. Plus as mini_com gets bigger, it's more of a pain to lift her in and out. That and the risk of spiders meant she was getting just as annoyed as I was.

We now have a full rain/puddle suit that I throw over the top of her school uniform then take it off when we get to school. I have waterproof overtrousers and zip up snow boots from Decathlon. I also just got a waterproof fishing bag that fits in the front 400 x 300 eurocrate that I can stick her school bag and various detritus in to keep that dry.

At 2, a poncho is a good shout I'd say. Resorting to driving, is as you say infuriating. As every other fucker has done the same so everywhere is backed up. And then depending on how close you can park to the school/nursery, you have to walk through the rain so have to dress appropriately anyway. I can take mini_com to the door of her classroom (Yr1 has a separate building) and take the rainsuit off her in the little foyer. She ends up drier than the kids who live a couple of streets away.

Do you have a link to those boots ? Do you wear them off the bike as well ?

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-warm-waterproof-snow-hiking-boots-sh100-zip/_/R-p-311993

I only wear them for the school run but they are very comfortable to walk around in.

V good price on a follow me here: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/399559/

V much appreciation for encouragement and advice re. wet weather commuting with a kiddo. We did both ways today in the tipping rain and it was great. The hamax poncho is a brilliant bit of kit, much better than I was anticipating, and we bought a new helmet with dragons on to ensure maximum enthusiasm. Wet Wednesdays puddle suits are also good, from vinted because £££, as the hood is detachable

Oooh just found this thread!

I'm looking for the best option to transport my 7yo around.

She has decided she has outgrown the Bullitt (electric) so will sell that and get something else.

Our journeys are rarely long. Usually 1-2km, rarely more than 5km. And it's quite flat (the steepest hill locally is a railway bridge but there are longer ones).

We've done 700km per year with Bullitt, probably wouldn't be more than that.

It's probably for a couple of years until she's confident on her solo.

We are currently using a child seat on the back of my solo which works pretty well. And we have a tagalong that is also good. But neither has the ability for me to take luggage as well and I miss the electric - mainly for fun but also for getting up the hills when I might have her plus luggage.

So criteria are

1. Must take child + luggage/ panniers
   
2. Electric. Not averse to adding it (have done it before) but prefer factory fitted as likely to be better ride quality, I think.
   
3. Fun to ride
   [4. Easy to adjust for wife to ride - she says she doesn't want to but will prob change her mind if it looks fun, she's only a couple of inches shorter than me]
   
   

Budget should be fine when I sell the Bullitt. Have to sell it first to make space.

Options I'm considering:

1. Long tail, eg Tern. I was thinking about this first but may be overkill if I'm only doing short trips.

2. Tandem, eg Circe Helios or Thorn kiddyback. Current favourite. Might be more fun to ride for me, and gets her pedalling too. Could add electric or find a Helios with it.

3. Find a way to get luggage on the tagalong. Might be able to squeeze a rack in under its arm. Uses what we have already. Could electrify.

4. Electric solo with seat + luggage trailer, eg extracycle. A bit off the wall but potentially a simple solution. Not sure what trailers are like to ride with.

What would you recommend?

No means of attaching a front rack to your current one for panniers? Tubus Tara needs eyelets on the forks but I think others don't. Only achieves 1 out of 4 requirements, but might be a simple solution.

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Actually that is an option....

The bike does have eyelets and I have a front rack somewhere that I used to use on a different bike with a baby seat for nursery runs. It's probably not ideal though as the front panniers aren't big enough for a weekly grocery and daughter's school rucksack might struggle to fit in one. Also I used to find them a bit scary in case a stray strap brought us both down, but that was probably because I wasn't used to them!

So it would work as a stop gap but I really need something with a bit more luggage capacity

Pelago Rasket? Big basket and you can fit 10L panniers up as well.
Pelago rack with a Wald 139 gives you a little more room in the basket and allows you to use it as a regular rack as well.

We've got a yuba Kombi e5.

I Have it set up with some Vaude panniers permanently fixed at the back of the rack and my (7 year old) daughters seat a bit further forward so her legs aren't over the panniers.

So it does meet criteria 1 and 2.

Whether it meets 3 as well might be more of a personal thing, but I like riding mine.

4 should also be possible if there isn't a major height difference. I put a dropper post in mine to make it easier for my partner to use it. Not that she ever does.

For luggage capacity, you can beat a trailer. They are very stable, you can remove it when you don't need it and you can bung a lot of stuff in there

Aren't there some sort of plastic bin panniers from someone like specialized? They'd be great for shopping.

https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/coolcave-pannier/p/205428

I have these, they are perfect for shopping, allotment hauls, aggregates

Thanks all, some good suggestions - more to consider...

@hugo7 I keep bumping into you on all these threads - glad I am not the only one spending far too much time thinking about this!

Ha! I feel like a stalker thinking of a legitimate excuse.