Travelling with kids and dog

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Beckinator
Posts: 1
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 4:52pm

Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Beckinator »

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me see if there's a way to make this work.

I'm a single mum so will be the only adult about to keep everyone else safe. I have an 8yo who's a proficient cycler, a 5yo who can't yet pedal, and an elderly dog who's got arthritis - he also has separation anxiety so has to come with us on all our travels, and I can't make him trot along beside us as it would leave him stiff and sore in the evenings. He's 18kg so too big for bike baskets or dog rucksacks.

It's looking like my car will soon need be scrapped, buses are unaffordable to travel on as much as we do, so I'm trying to see if there's a solution via bikes. Is there a way to make this work and safely transport everyone?

I'd love a family cargo bike but don't have the money or the credit rating to borrow for it. Whatever I do get would be second hand. Would it be safe to attach a dog trailer onto a tag-along? Or would the dog trailer end up too unstable? I've also seen those xtracycle child corral seats, if the kids were on that could I have a dog trailer behind?

If someone has an answer that would be great. I'll wait in hope :D
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Jdsk »

Assuming you don't want the 8 y old cycling solo...

We have a Pashley U Plus 2 tagalong tandem trike. (Being fixed with some great help on this forum.)

Image

Ours has a big picnic hamper on the back but you could probably carry the dog there

That doesn't demand any balancing by the children... could you say a bit more about the 5y old's abilities?

...

Or you and the 8y old could ride a tandem pulling a trailer with the 5y old and the dog.

...

Beckinator wrote:Would it be safe to attach a dog trailer onto a tag-along?

I wouldn't.

Jonathan
Last edited by Jdsk on 28 Aug 2020, 6:59pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Paulatic
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Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Paulatic »

For inspiration have you visited http://josiedew.com/
Her kit may be outwith your budget so how about a sidecar? https://www.eta.co.uk/2015/07/23/bicycle-sidecars/
My early years were spent in a sidecar. I think It would work with a tag along.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/201606520798409957/
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
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greyingbeard
Posts: 851
Joined: 24 Mar 2015, 10:41pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by greyingbeard »

sell the car on ebay or gumtree, youll get more for it than a scrap man will give you.

there are dog trailers, much like kiddy trailers.
greyingbeard
Posts: 851
Joined: 24 Mar 2015, 10:41pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by greyingbeard »

One of my neighbours has a Dutch kid-cargo bike, they love it. Takes 3 kids with room for shopping, so 2+dog will be fine. Ideal to have the dog in the box with the kids, less chance of it getting excited or agitated and jumping about. I dont know which make+model. As you've noticed it wasnt cheap. I imagine a used one would be costly too. Mum is getting fit :)

It could be one of these
https://www.bakfiets.com/modellen/cargo ... assic-wide
Has the seats, seatbelts, and fitted rain cover as they keep it outside, no garage.
A very useful bike. Ive suggested they make it more visible with big reflective stickers and mum wearing a hi vis jacket.
Every neighbour who has expressed an opinion thinks it great. (They all drive cars everywhere).
greyingbeard
Posts: 851
Joined: 24 Mar 2015, 10:41pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by greyingbeard »

Something like an Xtracycle with tag along might be ideal. Lots of shopping around and interweb searching to be done. See what you can find.
I'm sure a few people might offer to help with transport if you ask nicely. Where are you ?
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Jdsk »

PS: We paid £250 for the Pashley tagalong tandem trike.

Jonathan
Tangled Metal
Posts: 9505
Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Tangled Metal »

If money was no issue I'd look at a semi recumbent tandem like Circe make. They can be converted to carry so much with many options too. I think the more conventional tandem from Circe can also be fitted with various carrying options. All pricey though like cargo bikes.

The issue as I see it is there's a need for two types of trailers to be towed by the OP. One a tag along for the youngest and the other a trailer for the dog. The eldest I've assumed is safe to ride solo under adult direction. I'll admit that without a cargo bike or tandem with dog trailer I can't really see any way of meeting your needs.

The Circe semi recumbent tandem IIRC has options to carry a child and cargo. Without child it could easily carry the weight of your dog, with child it's a possibility. All possible options cost money which you might not have.

https://www.circecycles.com/products/morpheus/
Tangled Metal
Posts: 9505
Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm

Re: Travelling with kids and dog

Post by Tangled Metal »

Just noticed on the Circe website you can get a triplet kit for the Helios tandem. Adult, two kids and add a dog trailer. Costly but it might be the safest option for your family.

Dog trailers can be got quite cheaply I reckon. Or a budget child trailer possibly even cheaper.

Circe Helios might be obtained secondhand but still not cheap and the triplet kit would probably need to be bought new.
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