Start Them Young
I met this woman in Whitely Bay today:
See that behind the double-buggy? It’s the obvious alternative to a buggy board. I’ve always puzzled about buggy boards, which leave the parent walking along stretched out like some demented time trial cyclist who wants to spend every spare minute practising “getting really aero”.
Apparently it’s called a Bibi Buggy Bike / Swiss Strolli Rider. It’s suitable for children from around two years old, and looks like this in action:
We had a Buggy Board. Hardly used it. Having to walk leaning forward or have your feet knock into it every step was extremely infuriating. Very near the top of the list for most disappointing products we’ve bought for kids / parenting.
Get them a LIKEaBIKE suitable for riders from 18 Months and they can power them selves…
Shouldn’t that child in the film be wearing a helmet? The one in the buggy that is - looks mighty dangerous to me!
On which subject, latest from “cycling silk” Martin Porter QC http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/sites/cycling-embassy.org.uk/files/documents/Cycle_Helmets-A_Duty_to_Wear.pdf
When my kids were aged around 3-6, we used a trailerbike by Mongoose. One wheel, single gear, attaches to seatpost with a folding arm for easier storage. It has passed on through a few pairs of hands now, unlike kids’ bikes which no-one seems to want second hand.
My son used to put his feet up going uphill, and pedal furiously downhill while I squeezed hard on the brakes. He hasn’t become any less awkward as he gets older.