Spring has finally arrived in New England!

Spring is here!  The leaves are coming out, and the bicycle paths are filled with people riding all kinds of bikes, rollerblading, running, and just enjoying the fresh air.   Western Massachusetts is beautiful this time of year.  It is fantastic to see so many people out and about.  And the plants blooming... reminds me of a song: Bright yellow forsythia, just as pretty as can be, daffodils and lilacs, and the dogwood trees...

For the past month we have been regular users of the bike path and transporting ourselves around the local towns.  The kids still love being out on the bike, whether it is to school or back and forth from an errand.  They wave at nearly everyone they see on the bike path.

On average we have been traveling back and forth from school three or four times a week in the cargo bike. It is about 6 miles each way.  On a good day, it takes me about 40 minutes when the kids are on the bike, and less than 25 minutes without.  With the kids, this usually includes a water break.  More than half the days that I pick them up from school I will also include a playground break.  The average speed I see on my speedometer is between 10 and 15 miles per hour.  In flat sections it is usually around 13.  We've been as fast as 29 down one of the steeper and longer hills, and I'm sure going 30 MPH will be attained.  I don't think there is a speed limit on the bike path, only a rule that you can't be motorized.  The bike feels amazingly stable going fast, but I still tell the kids not to sway too much at any time since it can disorient me.

The few hills we do have are fairly small, but there are some long sections that have a gradual slope that feel like they take forever.  This sometimes makes we wish we had an electric motor, particularly near the end of the trip.  However, I will say it feels like I'm getting back in shape after this snowy winter and cool spring.

Here are a couple photos from early April (not quite spring yet).  We were transporting some raw milk back home in the cooler.



The photo below also shows my saddle lock and velcro, something I probably don't need where we live but I do feel better about.  The Madsen saddles are very comfortable.  This setup still allows my wife to lower it without any adjustment to the lock.  It also shows that we might need to get some larger kids' helmets soon.
Over the past couple of weeks, the weather has been in the 70's (Fahrenheit) during the days and down into the 40's at night.  There hasn't been much rain in weeks, but there is no drought to speak of yet.  I fueled up one of our cars today (May 2nd), and the last time it was filled was April 11th!  It wasn't our fuel sipping commuting car either.  That makes me feel pretty good saving that much fuel, and getting a good workout on the bike multiple times per week.

Every day this week that we've been on the bike path we have seen a tandem bike of some kind.  I even saw a tandem recumbent bike! That was really cool. Tandems seem to be a cousin of the Madsen Bucket bike, since it also has a long wheel base, so there is often a bond we have with tandem bicyclists.  Still, we must be a sight as we get smiles and waves regularly.

There was one random guy yelling something I couldn't understand out his car window earlier this week, but it was a positive "thumbs up" type statement or maybe it was how we should all be riding around with one of these.  Weird but cool dude.  Usually I hear some random words mumbled from others as we pass by.  Something like "cool" or "wow" or "neat".  It is often not understandable due to the Doppler Effect. We see one or two trailers with kids in them each day.  I'm happy that our kids are able to be a part of the growing group of people who commute by bike.

Here is a photo from last week on the bike path.  A random biker was nice enough to take our picture!

We are planning to do a 17+ mile (each way) bike camping/overnight trip with the cargo bike in the coming months.  It will be interesting to see how all of our gear fits.   I also ordered a front rack that I have but haven't been able to get on yet.  Stay tuned!

Cold Weather Biking with Kids

Winter weather presents its challenges for family bicycling adventures.  Where one lives plays a huge part in how much of the year one can comfortably ride a bicycle, particularly when riding with children.  Living in New England presents some 2-wheel mobility limitations this time of the year, and it is not as easy biking once the snow has fallen and the temperatures get below freezing.  However, given the difficulties that may be presented, riding in the winter is a completely different experience that can be absolutely wonderful.  Touring communities filled with holiday lights, lights reflecting off of bodies of water (if not frozen), and having far fewer other bicyclists on the roads and trails makes it a unique and special experience all its own.  The other bicyclists that you do meet seem friendlier, since they are braving the same elements you are.  Fewer leaves on the trees allow you to see further.  Providing a different experience for your children, and knowing that you can do it may also make it worth the effort.  Arriving at an event on a bicycle in the winter is almost unheard of in most communities, but in most cases it is not all that much more difficult than riding in the fall.

At our Community Supported Agriculture, picking up the farm share at the end of October. Although their faces don't always show their enthusiasm, they loved being in the cargo bike on every occasion.  They even asked to be on the bike on some of the coldest days where it wasn't particularly feasible.

This fall and early winter we went bicycling with the cargo bike on several occasions.  This stopped around the New Year's holiday, since the temperatures and the snow limited our mobility. Our favorite bike path was covered in snow.  However, while it was dry and relatively warm (roughly above freezing), we were able to attend some events throughout the fall.  In November and December, snow suits were worn below blankets, and blankets and hoods were pulled over the tops of the kids' heads.  Kids were toted to and from school.  In all cases, the kids were snug and warm, although their faces did get a little cold.  We may end up using scarves or ski masks in these situations.

There are many factors involved in riding in the winter that need to be addressed in order to be prepared for what nature has to offer.  It is increasingly more important to be aware of all climate factors and automobile driver behavioral factors when riding with children.  Children need to build up their experience of riding in a variety of conditions over time. If children ride their own bike they may benefit from the self-created warmth of pedaling, but they also may be chilled by their own sweat.  If they are riding their own bike, sitting on a bicycle or bicycle accessory (such as on the seat of a cargo bike, on a tethered seat, or within a bicycle trailer), they must be observed closely throughout the ride and frequently asked about their well-being. Children often do not know how quickly they are becoming cold.  Some children just deal with the cold while others complain like a squeaky wheel.  It is helpful for each adult in the group to know each individual child's communication patterns so that knowledge of discomfort is obvious, and that comfort itself is maximized.  This just basically means that you want to interact with each of your children regularly when your are outside in cold temperatures.  Still, hands and faces need to be checked regularly to see how cold they are.  Cover them with a face mask or a scarf if the conditions warrant it.  If kids' bodies may be exposed to rain, splashes, sweat, or other potential wetness, these areas need to be checked to see if they are OK (yes, this includes diapers!).  Frostbite and hypothermia can sneak up on anyone unaware of the dangers.  Have a plan for whatever may come up.

Being picked up from school in mid to late-November, after drinking some hot chocolate.  This photo shows where I taped our rear tail light on the back of the bike.  I plan to create a better connector that is more re-usable.  The kids loved looking at all the holiday lights on the ride home and loved to point them out to each other.  This ride took about 45 minutes, but they were happy as can be and wanted to do it again the next day!

The following may affect one's ability or desire to ride a bike in cold weather (in no particular order).  

• Experience - it might go without saying, but one's experience riding in cold weather probably has the greatest impact in overall success of handling the unpredictable situations that one might run into.  I am far from an expert in riding in winter conditions, although I have had my share of winter riding experience over the years on a variety of open-air vehicles.  Predicting how and where to stop is a critical skill, particularly when kids are involved.  At times, I take the kids out riding in our cargo bicycle in the winter.  Every time we ride together I learn something new.  The next time we go riding, I make a slight adjustment to something that didn't quite work perfectly the last time.
• Equipment - This mainly refers to bicycles and bicycle accessories, but also may apply to how the equipment may handle the weather.  Different bicycles will handle completely differently depending on what is on the ground (snow, ice, water, sand, pavement, trail).  Tires, weight distribution of the bike, dynamics of using a bike trailer, and a variety of other specifics of the bicycle must be take into consideration for the terrain being encountered.  Generally, fat tires are better in the winter than skinny tires when encountering snow.  Studs on tires for ice might be a useful option but requires some experience.  Lights and reflectors are important in the winter since the sun sets earlier this time of year, and drivers do not expect to see bicyclists as frequently.  It is important to have bike lights on the front and back of the bicycle, and running them when on the street in the winter throughout the day.  Visibility is a key ingredient to safety throughout the year, particularly when applied to automobile traffic.  Wear something bright and (preferably) reflective.  This includes the kids, bike trailers, and if you have one, anything that may be a part of your caravan.  If you live in an area that salts and sands the roads in the winter, make sure to clean your bike thoroughly of road salt and sand after every ride.  Preferably, bring it indoors or into a garage and give it a good cleaning with a damp rag, then oil it appropriately.  Ideally, store the bike in a heated, dry space over the winter.  It may last longer.
• Temperature - in our experience, temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 deg. Celsius) require additional insulation, particularly for kids on trips of more than 10 minutes.  This would be insulation in addition to coats, boots, mittens and other typical clothing for cool weather.  This may include extra blankets, hot pads, scarves, face masks, and hoods that go over helmets. Hypothermia can result if movement is limited, as is the case with children that sit quietly on a bike in cold weather.  Frostbite can result if skin is exposed to cold temperatures and/or wind for too long.  Make sure that everyone keeps moving, even just a little.  While riding, have children sing and clap hands to a favorite song, and if children are sitting without a lot of movement, stop en-route to have everyone get off the bike and walk around a little.  This will help keep the blood flowing and may prevent kids from getting cold too quickly.
• Wind and Wind Chill - headwinds and side winds limit riding efficiency.  Wind from any direction can create extreme wind chill that makes it very unpleasant to ride or be a passenger.  Wind chill charts can tell you how cold it feels when air is blowing at exposed human flesh at a certain temperature.  Check out: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/ for more info.  Wet exposed skin (from sweat, for example) is even worse!  Make sure to stay dry and covered up in the wind.  Make sure faces are covered.  If possible wear goggles or sunglasses.  Sand blowing around may get into eyes.  If possible, having kids face backwards helps keep the wind from hitting exposed faces and other body parts as well, and may minimize wind drag.
• Precipitation - limits visibility, can reduce traction, can cause hypothermia.  Plan for precipitation appropriately.  A tarp and/or rain gear may help keep cargo bike passengers dry.  A rain suit and other waterproof gear is highly recommended for the driver.  Although we don't own one, a rain cover made especially for cargo bikes might be particularly useful to keep passengers dry and warm. It is probably worth the investment if you plan to ride occasionally when it rains or snows, or if you think you'll be caught out in the rain.
  
• Snow and Freezing Rain - This may be obvious, but snow can be unpredictable.  It can be dry, wet, icy, or in-between and change while you are riding.  It can be similar to sand in how it is unpredictable.  Depth may be hard to judge.  Depths of less than an inch in some terrain can stop you in your tracks, particularly when combined with an incline and/or poor tires.  Snow coming down while you are riding can be a special experience for the first few minutes.  After that, if it is heavy it might be a drag that gets you and (potentially) your cargo wet if you aren't ready for it.  It might cover up hazardous areas (such as ice).  It also increases the possibility of an accident due to lower visibility and a general lack of traction.  If you are having extreme difficulty in the snow, it might be best to call for a ride home.  That would be better than an accident or health problem caused by overexertion.  Pushing a bike for too long isn't fun either, and you may have no other choice than to abandon the bike (locking it up somewhere) and walk, or calling for a ride home.  If you do leave the bike somewhere, try to get it out of the weather and/or cover it with a tarp.
• Ice - in various forms, sometimes under snow, sometimes "black ice" that is not easily seen on dark asphalt, sometimes in the form of freezing rain or freezing fog.  Not ideal for bicycle transport.  Riding over frozen bodies of water is not recommended unless one plans for the adventure.  One may fall through the ice or slip in wet sections.  If the ice is plenty thick for travel, studded tires made especially for ice are required in most situations.  This is really only for the more extreme of winter bicycle adventurers.
• Sand - sand left from plow trucks used to clear roads of snow may make roads more slippery than usual for two wheeled vehicles.  In areas of sand, take it slow and plan to stop before you think you need to.  It is easy to slip and slide on sand.  Sand is also well known to stick to greasy parts of your bike, so make sure to clean those areas up after your ride.  Sand can also blow around, so if it is a windy day make sure to wear sunglasses or goggles as appropriate for both the driver and the passengers to minimize sand blowing into the eyes.
• Sun - sunlight can reflect off of wet roads and snow and make it very difficult to see.  Be sure to wear sunglasses appropriate for both the driver and passengers.  Although sunscreen may not be a thought this time of year, it is a good idea for exposed areas.  The dry air this time of year can reek havoc on the skin.  Use liberal amounts of oil and sunscreen on exposed areas.  You'll be glad you did.  Just be careful not to get it on your sunglasses!
• Time/duration on the road or trail - extended riding periods in winter can be more difficult than shorter periods because over time one can get cold.  Getting tired over time goes without saying.  If you're riding, getting cold may not be as much of a problem as your passengers if you are dressed for the conditions. Although it may not be worth the hassle to get everyone together for a short trip, it may be fun if the conditions are right and/or if the event is worth the effort.  Usually, a great destination or just the novelty of riding the bicycles in the winter may make the trip worth the effort.  We sometimes enjoy going to pick up our nearby CSA farm share in late fall which may take us less than 10 minutes to get there.  It takes more time to get the bike out and get the kids geared up, but its worth it if the conditions allow.  We try to limit our winter trips (segments) to under a half-hour each, but have had longer trips.  NIGHT TIME TRAVEL - For longer trips in somewhat milder conditions we often provide pillows for the kids if they get sleepy.  Pillows also provide good insulation, although they are bulky.
• Unknown roads, trails, obstacles - winter can present snow and ice where there is none expected, as well as less maintained trails where trees or branches may have come down.  In some cases, trails that are commonly used in the summer may be impassible in the winter due to snow and ice.  Snow banks, large snow piles, and cars parked in unusual areas may limit room on the road or inhibit paths that one may normally take at other times of the year. Declines of the road or trail may need to be handled with care, since they may be more slippery than expected.
• Clothing and insulation levels - Having insulation above, below, and around a child is important when placing them in a cargo bike.  If they have their own bike, a snowsuit with a good windbreaker in the key (frontal) regions is essential.  A face mask might be essential depending on the trip.  A snowsuit is also essential for sitting in a cargo bike as well, since this closes up the little gaps that may let cold air in.  A blanket or sleeping bag over a child can help a lot, as long as the child knows to keep it over and around him/her.  Make sure the blanket does not fall off the child, off the bike, or get caught in the spokes of the wheel(s)!  Often, R-value is a way in which insulation from the cold is measured.  Everything from houses to camping mattresses use this to gauge how much heat is lost due to the insulation material and its thickness.  If they are riding in a cargo bike, think about the R-Value of the insulation around your kids.  Think about the space that your children occupy and how much heat may be lost or retained around them (above, below, and from the sides) due to the material that may be next to them.  Filling in the gaps with good quality insulation (like down) might make a big difference in the comfort of the child.  If the seat they are sitting on isn't padded, cutting a foam pad to fit under them may help to keep their bottom warm.
• Warm Things - a term we use in our family, these are cloth sacks (heating pads) filled with rice, corn, or other grain that can be heated up in the microwave prior to a ride.  They can make all the difference in the world for comfort on short trips (about 15 minutes) to medium length (an hour or so) trips. They can be made at home in various shapes and sizes.  Plenty of designs are available on the Internet.  Search for "Homemade Heating Pad".
• Health and "Reserves" of the Bike Driver and Children - this is often overlooked, but people generally exercise less in the winter.  Aerobically, one may be in worse shape during this time of the year when going outside is less desirable.  One must be careful not to over-estimate one's abilities.  Also, calories get burned quicker when outside in the winter, requiring more fuel (food) than at other times of year.  Although it may be counter-intuitive, drinking water and staying hydrated is even more important when the weather gets cold compared to when the weather is just "cool".  Make sure to have insulated drinking containers and plenty of fluids available for everyone.  Make sure that kids use the bathroom and have clean & dry diapers before setting off on any trip.  Have snacks ready, as needed.  Know where to stop temporarily if someone gets cold or needs to use a bathroom.  If a cargo bike trip is longer than a half-hour, stop in a safe place to let everyone get off the bike and run around for a few minutes.  It will get their blood flowing and warm them up a little - as long as they don't play in the snow too much and get wet as a result.  Find a good location that will minimize getting physically wet while still being able to run around safely.
• Night-Time Lights - Many bike paths may not have lighting, and some roads may have "semi-invisible" potholes, so in addition to safety around automobiles, having a good light is important for you to see in dark areas.  You want a light to see and to be seen.  As with other times of the year, your bicycle headlight may blind those coming towards you.  Try to be understanding of other people's night vision by partially covering your headlight when encountering others, if your light is particularly bright.  Bright blinking lights can also be annoying to other bicyclists behind you, so make sure to select a light that has a few different blinking options for the type of road or trail that you might be on.  A steady or slightly dimmer light might be best on a bike path, while a bright blinking light might be better in automobile traffic.  Having an extra light might help just in case your main bike light runs out of batteries.  I often carry a headlamp mounted to my helmet that is used for seeing in dark areas when parked, and sometimes when I am in traffic.  This headlamp doubles as my bicycle headlight if my main battery dies on me.  I also carry an additional tail light, just in case.  On longer trips I will put two different tail lights on the cargo bike, one in each corner to tell cars how wide I am.  This might be a good idea for bike trailers too.  Make sure that your lights are all charged up or have fresh batteries, and carry extra batteries if possible.

Attending a local holiday celebration in December where hot chocolate and cookies were served.  This was a great event, allowing the kids to ride around town looking at the holiday lights.  They were able to get out of the bike to warm up, then return for the 15 minute ride back home.

DISCLAIMER: This post provides some of my own tips for cold weather bicycling with children.  Although it is my intention to assist other families that may want to pursue bicycle riding together, possibly in winter conditions, riding bicycles in the winter (and at other times of the year) with kids can be hazardous.  Children may get hurt in a variety of ways related to bicycle travel. Please take common-sense precautions whenever bicycling with your children.  These recommendations are provided for information purposes only.  I do not take any responsibility for an individual or a family using the information contained in this post or any other posts when applied to real world situations.

Please comment about what you do to adapt to cold weather bicycle riding, or if you have any comments about riding in cold weather with your kids!

Madsen Cycles - Online Sale!

Just a quick note for those people interested in the Madsen kg271/Bucket Bicycle.   Madsen is having a sale on all remaining 2012 bikes and on the upcoming 2013 bikes. I'm not sure how long the sale will be in effect.  Go check out the site for more details, but here's a summary:

New 2012 Madsen bikes are on sale for $1200 (plus shipping), (normally $1750), in time for Christmas!

New 2013 Madsen bikes are on sale for $1300 (plus shipping), (normally $1850), and it comes with a free front rack, normally $85.  Pre-orders are expected to deliver in February.

This is probably the best time of year to buy one of these if you've been waiting to justify the purchase.  I consider them an incredible value, especially if you compare them to other utility bicycles on the market.  I don't think anything similar in this price range can touch the quality and functionality you'll get with the Madsen.  If you want to know how we've used it over the past several months, as well as how we made the decision to buy a Madsen, check out some of our other posts on the right.

For more info, check out their site: http://www.madsencycles.com/

Coming soon - cold weather biking with kids in the Madsen.

Weekly Use of the Bucket Bike – Partially Replacing the Car

Thus far we have used our Madsen bucket bicycle on average 3 to 4 times per week over the past 2 months.  Although it is not exactly replacing the car (yet), we are finding that we are limited by the weather a little.  Either it has rained or mother nature has threatened to provide us with heavy downpours about half the time in the past two weeks.  A rain cover over the bucket might have helped, although riding in the rain isn’t exactly fun for the driver either.  If I could be sure that the kids would be dry in a downpour, I would probably have used the bicycle a few more times.  Over the past couple of months, at least the weather was beautiful most of the time, and for New England that’s saying something.  Still, the last couple of weeks have only offered us 4 or 5 times on the bike.  Since purchasing the bicycle we have ridden the bike over 275 miles, more than half of that with kids in the bucket.  We have encountered only very minor issues with the bike, something that will be discussed in a different blog post.

Here are a few of the ways we have spent time bicycling with the family in the last couple of months:

1. Taking the kids to school and/or picking them up from school.  We do this 2 to 4 times per week, and it is the primary way we use the bike.  It’s a beautiful ride, and the morning ride home is often spent in the company of stuffed animals.  Additionally, it is a good workout since it is about a 12-mile round-trip and takes about a half-hour in each direction.  On a fancy road bike that distance might be quicker & easier, but certainly not with 2 kids plus school accessories!
2. Stopping at our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to pick up our local farm share.   We do this with the bicycle whenever the weather allows it, even if we did not pick up the kids with the bucket bicycle that day.  It is worth taking the kids in the bike since it is just so much darn fun getting our fresh, local, organic produce without using any additional auto fuel.  Plus, we get much better parking and plenty of curious folks to talk with.  Although it has rained a few times on our pick-up day, we still frequently use the bicycle (with one or more kids) to come home loaded up with fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.  One day we rode home with a little rain - no big deal.
3. Going to the grocery store with or without kids.   I went to the grocery store last week with the bucket bicycle to pick up a couple of gallons of milk plus a few additional “miscellaneous” items that we were missing at home.  Total time of trip (including time in store) was about 45 minutes, for a 3.5 mile round trip.  At the bike rack, a conversation was struck up discussing grocery transport by bike.  At a stoplight, another biker said that I can probably carry "a lot of stuff in there”… I confirmed his statement, and went on to say I could carry 600 lbs. of random stuff, I just didn’t know where I could find 600 lbs of kids and groceries!  This thing could haul 4 medium sized adults if you could fit them in the bucket.
4. We also took a medium-length bike trip after school one day, including a picnic along the bike trail.  We met some friends (mom and her daughter) after school and explored a new section of bike trail that we hadn’t experienced before.  We set up a grill and cooked hamburgers, ate picnic food, and played on a beautiful tree.  After dinner we went for ice cream.  Ice cream ended after 8pm, and it was already dark.  We outfitted ourselves with headlamps and blinking rear lights and proceeded home.  It took us over an hour to get home, but it was a new experience we embraced.  During the ride we rode through one fairly pedestrian-heavy section of bike path where someone yelled out "How Cool is That??!".  It was fun for the kids riding around in the dark, until they got tired and quiet.  Our daughter fell asleep, and put her head down on a bag in front of her.  We encouraged our son to put his head down too, but he didn't feel comfortable doing that.  The kids were quite tired at the end of it, and immediately fell asleep as soon as their little heads hit the pillows at home.  Still, it was a memorable event for us that we would gladly do again... just perhaps make the night ride a little shorter the next time (or give the kids some pillows and blankets in the bucket!).
5. Stopping at a local bike shop to talk with the employees and customers about the bucket bike, and checking out the bike accessories section.  We ended up buying a bicycle bell with a fake eyeball in the middle of it, and made some new friends.  However, one must be careful in bike shops with curious kids!  The bike store employee had to bungee cord a back wheel on one bike that the kids were spinning and cranking.  A hand or finger in the wrong place might make for a painful ride to the local hospital’s emergency room.
6. Dinner at a playground.  This has happened a few times over the past couple of months and was more of a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it worked out great every time.  We ended up packing our dinner and taking it to the playground.  We played, ate, then rode home.  Great way to get out the end-of-day wiggles. 
7. More random playground visits – we had a few more of these.  Excuse the somewhat fuzzy photo below, as it was taken near dusk.  The kids are now putting on their helmets by themselves, or helping each other get them on.  We find it fun to explore new playgrounds that we haven’t been to before, or some that we see regularly but don’t always have the time to visit.  

Feel free to contact us at: familybicycling@ gmail dot com.  We are hoping to expand this web site to include submissions of what other families are doing with bicycles, whether they are cargo bicycles, tandems, bicycles with trailers, classic bakfiets, or other creative solutions to transporting kids (both big and small).  Feel free to tell us about your adventures. More of this to come!

Unwrapping the Madsen, First Ride

We were anxiously anticipating the arrival of our Madsen kg271/Bucket Bicycle.  After ordering it on a Friday, we received confirmation that it was shipped the following week.  Approximately two weeks after shipping was confirmed an 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck showed up in the street with a large, friendly, smiling man and a big box holding the bicycle.  A representative from the freight company phoned ahead of time confirming the approximate date and time of delivery.  Very professional.  The truck showed up at high noon on a beautiful, sunny New England day.

After befriending the individual, I helped the driver move the bicycle to the backyard.  We slid it on the grass most of the way, picking it up a little to make it easier to slide.  He said he peeked inside the hand-holds of the box just to see what it was out of curiosity.  I thanked him kindly for delivering it without any damage and helping me get it to the backyard.  The box weighed around 95 pounds, so it wasn’t too heavy, but it wasn’t light either! This was a large box.  It was around 7 feet wide, 4 feet tall and about 28 inches deep.  Finally, the bike was here!  What to do?  Of course... OPEN IT!

 

Opening it gracefully was more of a challenge than I had expected.  I could have just cut open the box, but then the kids couldn’t as easily use it as a fort or slide.  Neighborhood cats couldn't curl up in it on random nights, preventing me from chasing them out of it in the mornings.  We couldn't admire the size of it from afar, since we'd never owned a box this big.  It was glued together and had some staples, so it made it a little challenging to open cleanly.  I wanted to make sure I got all the staples, since staples plus children are not an ideal combination. 

Once I got the box open, I had to figure out a way to get the bike out without messing up the box too much.  I tipped it on its side and pulled the bike out horizontally.  Not easy or elegant, but it worked.  I must have looked pretty funny doing it.  I then had to take off some plastic that was connected to the handle bars, the front wheel, the bucket, and other random places.  The wheels were strapped down to a board.  The whole process to unwrap the bicycle took about ½ hour, but I was taking my time.  I could have probably done it in under 10 minutes.  It could have been easier if I was a little more ruthless towards the box in my approach and had a bigger knife, or perhaps a jigsaw.

This is how it was packed in the box:

Once unwrapped, I realized that everything arrived in perfect shape.   The box held the bike, some promotional literature, order information, an extra front derailleur (different size for different range use), and a cool piece of cardboard with MADSEN kg271 written on it. Most people would probably throw that cardboard away, but I plan on keeping it.  And most of all, no packing peanuts or Styrofoam, hooray!  This was environmentally friendly packaging.  Frankly, unless one was to go the self-assembly route, this was the best way to ship it for a typical consumer.  The bike was beautiful, really, and other than being large and somewhat expensive to ship clear across the country, it was a great way to ship a bicycle.  Shipping cost was $270 from Murray, Utah to Massachusetts, a little more than I expected, but not outrageous.  There wasn't a local dealer in town (yet!).

Strapped to pressboard and cardboard:

 

The bucket and seat belts, paperwork, and derailleur in bubble wrap:

Although I took a while unpacking it, the bike arrived completely assembled and tuned up ready to go.  I didn't even need to add air into the tires.   

That afternoon, after I got it all ready to go, I decided to go to the post office to ship a medium size box, then pick up the kids at school.  The school was 6 miles away, and an extra mile to stop at the post office.  I didn’t exactly give myself extra time to make it.  My afternoon was busy with work, and this wonderful “distraction” ate into my work time.  Here’s the box I took to the P.O. in the bucket:

I rode quickly to the post office, and upon arrival locked the front wheel using the built-in front wheel lock.  That was awesome.  I felt that it was sufficiently locked, especially since I could see at least part of the bike from inside the post office.  If anyone was going to take the bike, they would be walking suspiciously with this rather heavy vehicle – not easy to do, and they wouldn't expect the front wheel to be locked.  Still, losing this bike to theft with only 3 miles on it (heck, any number of miles on it!), would have been a nightmare.

After the post office, I took the main road to the school the remaining distance, since it was more direct than the bike path.  In this section of road the bike handled very well and was surprisingly nimble.  It was mostly downhill but busy with relatively wide shoulders.  In town it was a little more work to maneuver, but only because it was a little wider, longer, and lower (at the rear bottom cog of the chain section) than an average bike.  The geometry of pedaling was great, and the overall experience was more comfortable than the 2010 Madsen bucket bike we rented earlier in the summer.

I got to the kids’ school, locked up the front wheel and walked in with 10 minutes to spare.  The kids were thrilled to see the new bike, and my daughter instantly told everyone she saw that she was going to be riding home in the bucket bike!

  

Here are some photos from that first ride home with the kids.  At pick-up:

One of the bridges we crossed on the rail trail:

Taking a breather (although it was only for the photo, really!):

After this first ride, I knew I would be riding this bike many more times in the coming weeks and months, hopefully several times per week.  What a fun way to travel, spend more quality time with the kids, and get some exercise at the same time!

All in all, the first day of owning the bike was sublime.  Not only did everything work as expected, but I felt like I was part of a new trend, at least in this part of the world.  It seemed as if everyone who saw it saw something that they've never seen before that day, and it frequently brought a smile to their face.  People were genuinely interested and couldn't resist the visual oddity of seeing little kids being transported in public in something other than a bike trailer or car.  Already, after only a few hours, I felt great satisfaction in having pedaled 13 miles on this unique human transport machine.

Deciding on a Family Cargo Bicycle

 After we rented a Madsen kg271/Bucket Bicycle on vacation, our family discussed the possibility of owning a cargo bike.  We weren’t 100% sure we would buy one, but we were taken in by the “cool factor” of hauling the kids in a cargo bike, as well as the design, practicality and efficiency of the Madsen.   We envisioned a day when we would rather take the bike than the car, when it wouldn’t take any longer to get the kids in the bike than the car, and where the car would only be used occasionally, and rarely for short trips.  We also thought that it would be a healthier way to live by biking more regularly.

Here are some of the different cargo bike styles we looked at, in addition to other bike solutions:

 

  For more info, see: Momentum Magazine

 We thought about a number of factors that went into the purchase decision.  We wanted a vehicle that could transport two young kids (4 and 2) and gear in a variety of situations, today and at least over the next 2-3 years.  

Our most common use would be traveling about 6 miles each way to the kids’ school on paved roads.  This included mostly flat terrain but also a few small hills and not perfect pavement in some sections.  Some small sections of gravel, sand or dirt road would be encountered, but nothing lengthy or worrisome.  Over half of the trip was on a smooth rail trail, but we also would need to navigate streets with some variety of traffic, including city and country roads.  

We wanted a possible replacement for our car for commuting situations, and a vehicle in case our car wasn’t available.  Having something that would give us a backup in case of an automobile’s flat tire, broken car starter or (perhaps) a massive EMP would be nice.  Being a backup vehicle wasn’t at the top of our list, but it did help justify the purchase.  Our bike and trailer did this, but it was more work to get it together and get the kids into it than we liked.

We wanted to be able to transport kids and/or gear quickly and easily.  We did not want something that was made exclusively for transporting kids, but offered some flexibility in case we wanted to haul something like big boxes to the post office or a piece of furniture from a garage sale.  It would need to allow us to run some errands while still having the kids with us on the bike, such as stopping at our local farm (CSA) and picking up our (sometimes large quantity) farm share produce.  We also wanted a quality long-term investment, if at all possible.  Getting people on the street to smile, wave, and ask questions every day the bike is used isn’t a bad part of the return on our investment either!

The following were the different solutions that we reviewed:

• Separate bicycles – More of a future consideration, this was not realistically considered at this time due to the distances to be covered, safety, and the ages of our kids.  Perhaps in 5 years, or if we lived closer to the kids’ school(s).  In any case, one of the bikes would need to be a cargo bike to meet our requirements.
  
  

 

•  Attached Riding Co-Pilot Trailer/Bike Seat Solution tethered behind the main bike – Our daughter would probably not be ready for an attached riding co-pilot trailer for at least another year (she is now 4).  We assumed both kids were too young for this solution right now.  This was an assumption - our daughter could probably ride one, but riding regularly for over an hour a day might be a little much.  In another year or two, a solution could be for an attached riding trailer (for our daughter) and a seat on the main bike for our son (now 2).  Although we see these around from time to time, we thought this wouldn’t allow the kids to interact with each other as much as other solutions, would not allow much in cargo capacity, and was not elegant.  Perhaps this could be used as a transitional solution when riding together as a family with a parent tethering the child in such a device, but I find them aesthetically unappealing and not ideal for regular use. They are inexpensive, usually under $100.  The main bike with co-pilot tethered trailer would need to be a cargo bike anyway to meet our requirements.

WeeRide Co-Pilot Bike Trailer, $74 at Amazon.com

http://www.weeride.com/Co-Pilot

 

• Long Tandem Bike for 3 or 4 people – although this might be the bicycle version of a limousine (leaving out the world of cycle rickshaws and bike taxis here), we didn’t consider it seriously for most of the same reasons as the attached riding co-pilot trailer – the ages of our kids are too young.  Plus, these would be hard to find, fairly expensive, less flexible, built for a specific number of people, possibly a custom job, and don’t have a lot of cargo capacity like a real cargo bike.  They take some time to start up and stop, and there is a learning curve involved for everyone riding and the driver managing them when starting and stopping.  It is focused on transporting people more than transporting gear, and they can get very long (making maneuvering, storage, and transport difficult).  Adding a bike trailer behind it for gear makes it even longer, although it would help increase cargo capacity.  On the other hand, this bike would give the kids a purpose and some exercise while riding around.  Plus, this bike might be more efficient since there is some help in the pedaling among multiple riders.  The big thing these may have going for them is the “cool factor” where family synchronicity looks and feels great in addition to the educational experience of riding with others in a single cohesive unit where everyone contributes.  There are not many around, so one would get a lot of looks from passers-by.  Some may disagree and think that riding one may be embarrassing (e.g. teenagers being picked up from school on one).  I can understand both sides of this.  One of these didn’t make sense for our needs, but they look like a lot of fun.
  
  

 

Look ma', no handlebars! (not the best example)

• Bike Trailer hauled behind a Utility Bike or Hybrid Bike – Although they are collapsible and portable, common, most are lightweight and inexpensive (<$300), and the kids can fall asleep in them (a benefit on longer rides), we didn’t like trailers for a number of reasons.  We also have had one for a number of years and find them limiting and less practical than other solutions.  

This was our solution for the past few years, and may still be used occasionally.  It is a 2008 Trek 7.2FX bicycle ($500+), and an Advent On The Go 2-child trailer ($600 new, although we purchased ours used).  The bike is aluminum and light, the trailer is steel and heavy.  Fatter tires on the bike would probably help improve traction, but the trailer is sturdy and worked well for us. 

Here are some of the downsides of trailers, when compared with other solutions: 

• Kids are confined and do not interact with their environment, the driver of the bicycle, or others around them as easily.
• Trailer solutions are always going to be 2 units – a bike+trailer – requiring additional hookups to be maintained as well as 4 wheels/tires to worry about.
• Trailers are harder to maneuver in traffic than other solutions.
• Many trailers have a bumpy ride due to the design.  I am sure this is highly variable, but ours is an older design that is bumpy.
• Kids are close to the ground and away from the bike driver, plus accidents just seem to be more likely – maybe that isn’t really the case, but I just don’t like the kids that far away from me in traffic and having to maneuver a 2-section vehicle.
• Limited in cargo capacity and load weight, but generally better than some other solutions (i.e. co-pilot trailers, tandem bikes) in this regard.
• Heavily loaded trailers should probably have a bike with disc brakes for additional stopping power.
• Somewhat inefficient and clunky design, in my opinion.

• A tricycle, bike taxi, or cycle rickshaw (cargo mounted rear of driver) - Popular around the world, particularly in Asia and many large cities, these are used daily as taxis and transport instead of cars (which are often too expensive for most people in many 3rd world nations).  I classified these mostly as bikes with frame-attached cargo in a single unit (a single crank-driven bike without tethering a trailer), with the cargo in back.   

Double Seater, a custom tricycle - Reference: Lightfoot Cycles and CargoCycling.org

Classic Pedicab - Rickshaw Tricycle Taxi Bike, about $3500 for a base model.

For more info, contact: http://www.pedicab.com/

Some considerations:   

• Bike taxis or cycle rickshaws are great for bike-friendly places, but not ideal for our commute.  They are probably fine for cities that cater to them, but we need something more efficient, quicker and more maneuverable.  
• The smaller ones like the custom Double Seater version above might work for a lot of people if distances are shorter.  Finding or building ones like this might be a challenge, but I didn't look into it extensively.
• Prices vary significantly, particularly with custom built tricycles.      
• There are endless versions available… just visit an Asian city.  They can be found worldwide, but less so in the USA due to the transportation infrastructure and prevalence of automobiles.
• These seem a little safer if one goes upside down (flips over) since they have a roll bar of sorts.  They are also wider in the back where one can easily install flags or reflective materials.
• Three-wheeled versions of this bike with the cargo/kids in back were OK, but the Madsen had a more efficient design with similar functionality for our needs.  We would probably choose a tricycle for off-pavement terrain, if we lived in a city with shorter travel distances, or if we were older and less proficient bicycle riders. A 2-wheeled version would be preferable for us for any distance longer than a mile or two since we assumed it would take less energy to pedal heavy cargo.
• Cargo (people sitting inside) have a luxurious and stable ride, possibly with some rain protection.
• In general, these are larger, heavier, and possibly less efficient than what we were looking for.  However, the Double Seater tricycle (above) might work.  Unfortunately, ones just like this are hard (perhaps impossible) to find in our area.

• A Bakfiets, front-cargo tricycle, or Long John bike (cargo mounted front of driver) – A Bakfiets is Dutch for “Box Bike”, and used as a generic and brand name.  A Long John bike has a low-slung frame in front of the rider and can have a box mounted on this low section of the bike.  I can imagine taking my kids to school on one of these, dressed like a chauffeur (but maybe not more than once or twice):

  

Riksja & Bakfiets

I classified these mostly as bikes with frame-attached cargo in a single unit (a single crank-driven bike without tethering a trailer), with the cargo in front.  These are elegant, stylish, have European roots, often well designed, stable, have good capacity, and the kids could interact with the driver.   They seemed to be among the “coolest” solutions.  I could even build my own customized version of one of these and take some pride in ownership.  A tricycle version would make a great farm vehicle or even a small business at a county fair.  I liked these, and one of these in a 2-wheeled version (such as the Babboe City Cargo bike below) would have been our 3^rd choice overall.  However: 

• These seem to be better suited for city travel than mixed distance travel – these would be great if we had a different living/commuting solution, say in a European bike-friendly city like Copenhagen or shorter distances to travel with mostly bike-path or bike-lane travel.
• The turning and maneuvering of these seemed more difficult than the Madsen, but I didn’t actually try one so I can’t say if this was a legitimate concern.  I can’t imagine turning would be easier than in any bike with the kids in back, but talking with the kids in front might be worth it.
• Overall, a bigger vehicle than most other solutions.
• Wider than other solutions, but cargo capacity is good.
• They are relatively expensive; a nice one was at least $2.5k.
• Building my own was not realistic at this time.
• A three-wheeled, larger and more stable version was not as efficient as a 2-wheeled solution for the distances we wanted to travel regularly, but would be nice for stability in unpredictable terrain. 

The following Nihola Tricycle seemed to be one of the top-end, more luxurious Bakfiets (that is not custom built with wood).  I like it much better than a Pedicab bike taxi, and assume it would be more efficient (wind drag and rain would be handled worse with the Pedicab, for example).  These retail over $3500.  It is a more realistic purchase, compared with the custom wood Bakfiets above.

 

http://www.nihola.com/

• A 2-wheeled Long John such as one of those below seemed almost as good as a Madsen kg271/Bucket bicycle, but with the kids in front.  I think the kids would like being in the front (in the Long John) almost as much as in the back bucket of the Madsen.  The Madsen bucket seating is slightly higher up, providing the kids with more visibility and interaction with the surroundings.
• I think I would feel less comfortable riding one of these over 20 MPH (such as down hills), compared with the stability I feel where the kids are in the back, particularly the 2-wheeled version.  This is mainly due to the design of how this vehicle turns and what I am used to.

Here is the beautiful Babboe City Cargo bike, around $2500

http://www.babboecargobike.com/

Here is the Birota Long John, a slightly different design at $1500 and up.

http://www.birotabikes.com/

http://www.norco.com/

• Longtail Bike with Separate Seats for Kids – this is an efficient and organized bike.  The price for an average model like the XtraCycle Family version is around $1700.  It is ideal for the distances we expected to travel but lacked some flexibility and cargo capacity for us.  They also have conversion kits that allow you to add a large back rack and seats for kids to your own bike (see XtraCycle web site for more info, link below).  

http://www.xtracycle.com/

It would take on the job of transporting the kids and some gear quite well.  I’m sure it would handle and turn well.  The kids couldn’t sway or move around as much as in the Madsen bucket, and they are high enough to see everything around them.  However, I didn’t like the fact that this bike was a little “busy” and not as elegant of a solution as the Madsen.  At least I didn’t have to worry about the kids moving around much once they were strapped in.  Everything seems to have its place, which is both good and bad.  The “good” is that everything (including the kids) is organized.  An engineer or perfectionist that likes everything in its place would probably love it.  The “bad” is that it lacks some flexibility of what you can carry, and if you wanted a longtail and had to carry a big box on top of it without the seats you would have to remove the seats – then lose the flexibility of having the seats until you put them back.  Riding directly on the back rack is an option, but doesn’t seem as comfortable to me as a real seat with backrest.  Overall, not a bad bike at all – a great bike in fact, but the Madsen with its bucket seemed to have a slight edge design-wise for our needs.  This was our 2^nd choice and was a serious contender.

•  A Madsen kg271/Bucket Bicycle (i.e. a Longtail Bike with a bucket) – elegant, stylish, unique, stable, relatively simple, good capacity (40 gallons, 271 kg/600 lbs in bucket), kids have plenty of room and can interact with the driver and each other, room for additional kids or gear (up to 4 kids total), steering and maneuvering in traffic is easier than other designs, customizable bucket with accessories in the future, front rack available, efficient since it is only 2 wheels, priced well under $2k incl. shipping.  It puts the “horse” before the "cart", attaching the cart to the horse, so to speak.   

 Possible downsides for us: 

• No rain or sun protection available from Madsen yet – something that most bike trailers and some Bakfiets have.  We expect the rain cover to be available soon.  Of course, I could probably build a rain or sun cover.  Having to regularly put sunscreen on the kids takes extra time, particularly when deciding between car and bike.  This isn't any different with the XtraCycle or most other designs.
• Back wheel is smaller than the front - perhaps making it slightly less efficient but more stable and "roomier" than the XtraCycle.
• Kids can more easily get into trouble with the extra freedom of movement.
• See post on "Experience Renting a 2010 Madsen Bicycle" for all the pros and cons we found with the Madsen.

Here is the Madsen kg271/Bucket bicycle, at $1650+shipping.

http://www.madsencycles.com/

Decision Making Time

From this list of solutions, the Madsen seemed to be the right choice for us, at least for 2-3 years.  Resale value is assumed to be excellent based on uniqueness and quality, although we wouldn’t have any plans to sell such a great utility vehicle.  Even without transporting kids, it would be a good investment since it can replace a car for many short trips.  It can hold a lot of groceries, post office packages, or other random items.  It is quick to get the kids in and out of it for trips of any length.  It would be a unique vehicle that we would be proud to own.

Purchasing a cargo bike may have some other factors that we would want to consider:

• Any heavily loaded vehicle needs to be rated for the weight being hauled, and have appropriate safety measures in place.
• Just as truck drivers need to be careful with heavier loads, drivers of these larger human-powered vehicles need to adhere to the rules of the road.  They need to understand that it takes longer to stop, particularly in wet weather, and that it takes longer to climb hills.
• Potential accidents, however unlikely, need to be taken into consideration.  If the driver is at fault and takes a fall, one would want the kids to be relatively unscathed, if at all possible.  The higher the kids are up, the further they can fall.  Seatbelts are a good idea, and integrated into the designs of most of the cargo bikes.
• The size of the kid-carrying device (on whatever cycle it may be) becomes smaller as kids grow, making most of these vehicles a little too small after a few years.  That does not mean we need to get rid of it - it is still useful as a human-powered utility vehicle, but we'll need to come up with another solution for transporting the kids.
• Build quality for long-term ownership will need to be determined, as with all bikes and trikes.  There are not a lot of long-term reviews out there.
• There are no nearby dealers or other owners to talk to about most of these bikes, so we may be the ones people come to for advice in our area.  We also may have to get replacement parts from the manufacturers and do the work ourselves.
• Price of the vehicle cannot be ignored, but it isn't as important for a long-term purchase like this one.  One needs to look at overall cost-effectiveness, which requires a broader approach with quantitative and qualitative measures.
• Having a good locking process is important, and should be methodical, easy and convenient.  It takes little time for a thief to ride off with $2k worth of bike without something to deter him/her.
• Electric power kits may make these vehicles even more fun to drive, will likely promote more frequent use, and change the safety factors of using such a human+electric powered vehicle. (e.g. being able to get out of traffic quicker and more frequently will improve safety, but going faster more often may reduce overall safety if not careful).
• Will electric power kits, like other electric bike, make these vehicles questioned in areas that are posted “No Motor Vehicles”?

After a few weeks of discussion and research, we decided to purchase the Madsen kg271/Bucket bike in black.  It was an easy decision for us, once we figured out our needs.  Pink wasn't our color.  We placed an order. 

Feel free to leave your comments and viewpoints below!  Do you agree/disagree with some of these points?  Do you think we made the right choice?