Bike people cone in

[ashbash]

I have been thinking about getting a bike and cart for the kids for the spring. There are a handful of places that are just too far to be walkable with a double stroller but would be an easy bike ride plus exercise! The last bike I had was my magenta Huffy that I got when I was 10 so help a girl out

Best affordable brand?
What should I look for in a bike? The cart?
How much $$$ is this going to cost me?

TIA!

[ashbash]

Sorry about the title typo, my nap jail typing skills arent so great and it wont let me edit!

[Deleted]

My BIL manages a bike shop so I can ask him what he recommends. Will the cart be for your baby or do you have a toddler? I'm assuming you want one for the baby? Do you want a seat that attaches to the bike or a back type unit that tows the baby?

[Deleted]

Do you have a bike shop in your area? I think it's worth calling them and I would just be upfront about your budget. I don't recommend buying a cheap bike from target. I would spend a little extra so that it can last longer. From what I looked online most of the back tow style carriers are between 69-100. For the bike maybe you can buy a nice one used. Both the bikes I have now I bought used on Craigslist.

[ashbash]

Thanks @poppyc8 we do have a bike shop - I totally forgot about it. I have a toddler too so I want the thing that tows them along.

[Deleted]

This thread is inspiring me to get one too!

[musicfrk2002]

I just got a new bike about 6 weeks before finding out we were pregnant. I'm looking forward to getting a tow-behind cart too. I think I heard from someone local that they aren't recommended for use before baby is 1 year old, but that still gives us most of the summer to use it.

My last bike was also a huffy, definitely not magenta. It still worked...kind of. I got it in 1998 so it was time to upgrade. I ended up spending a bit more than I wanted to, but it's way more comfortable and was built and adjusted properly, rather than the one I tried to buy and use from a big box store.

[islandgirl14]

I think my bike is a Trek, and I also believe it ran me around $400-500. It's a Hybrid which I LOVE. I find road bikes too unstable for my liking, and mountain bikes have a bit too much "umph" if you will, since I am not doing trail riding. I made sure the bike was comfortable (I upgraded to a larger and more comfortable seat cushion), but also light enough that I can easily transport it myself.

As for the trailer - we have a Burley Bee that seats two. We started using it with DS1 when he was 1, and needed to use the infant insert for it for that first year. By the summer he turned 2 we felt comfortable enough to not use it. We are happy with it, and I think that ran us around $250, but there are definitely cheaper ones out there. Also more expensive ones too.. it was kind of middle of the range. The only thing I don't like is that when he would fall asleep (which proved inevitable for him), his head would totally slouch down in a way that made me nervous. But, I also don't think there is a whole lot you can do about that, so I'm not sure it's so much of a design issue. The harness goes over his shoulders which was tight enough, and it's not like you can harness their head back, haha! But again, you'd probably get that with any cart. We would just frequently stop when he fell asleep and reposition his body as best we could. 

Good luck and have fun!!

[megeliz1]

We have a Burley Bee bike trailer. It sits two and you can buy a newborn insert if you ever need. We like it!