Commuting with kids - what bike?

I'm currently riding a Raleigh One Way with a Yepp Mini (with my almost 2 year old son). This isn't really the best set up as the bike dimensions aren't great with the seat, but it works and it's the bike I was commuting on before my son was born. 

We have another one on the way. I know I have awhile before the second will be ready to bike commute, but at this point I'm looking to invest in another bike so I am able to commute with 2 kids. 

I'm leaning towards a Yuba Mondo because I can use the Yepp Mini when the 2nd is little and then fit both kids on back in the future. 

I'm also looking at the Madsen. Anything else I should be looking at? Any thoughts on either of these bikes?

I do have a trailer that I use with my road bike (usually outside of the city), but I'm not interested in using the trailer to commute. 

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Jackson on September 29, 2014 at 7:28am

On the street? With cars? Almost 2 years old?

Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on September 29, 2014 at 7:32am

I'm assuming that you are OK with riding a beast of a bike for your commute.  (While I love my cargo bike, using it to commute would drive me insane.)

With that assumption, let me endorse the Yuba Mundo.  It is a real value, and highly configurable to address a variety of needs, including carting around two kids that continue to grow.  Another option is the Xtracycle Edgerunner, but it is my recollection that the Edgerunner cost more than the Yuba Mundo.  (Ditto for Surly's Big Dummy, which also uses the Xtracycle platform.)

While I've not ridden the Madsen, I think the Yuba is more configurable (and therefore has more utility) than the Madsen.  And a little easier to move than most bakfiets-styled bikes.  

I do admit, though, that I miss having my son ride in front of me.  (We used an iBert seat until he outgrew that.)  The whole "sitting in front" thing is what makes a bakfiets-style bike attractive to me.  

Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on September 29, 2014 at 2:33pm

We ride a bakfiets with our daughter, and its loads of fun. We can talk with her while riding, and she loves sitting up front. She can carry a toy or a snack, and if she drops it, it just lands in the box. The thing rolls over rough pavement really easily. 

The downsides are probably obvious: it's big and heavy (you're not going to be bringing it up stairs on a regular basis), and it's expensive (though they do hold their value pretty well if you're looking for something to use for a few years and then sell). It does actually roll very easily, but if you have a headwind, it's a major workout. 

Permalink Reply by Kelly on September 29, 2014 at 2:53pm
Yeah, I just read about the Edgerunner today and the Surly Big Dummy is on my radar as well. The issue for me with a bakfiet (and possibly the Madsen) is I have nowhere to put it. We live on the third floor. I currently keep my bike in the basement and I have to bring it down about 5 steps. I need something that will fit through the basement door and not weigh a ton. The other big issue for me is most of my commute is solo. My son is on for a few miles. Anyways, the more I think about my needs, the more I'm leaning towards a long tail model.

Someday, however, I would love to have a Bakfiet.
Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on September 29, 2014 at 4:25pm

I totally hear you about the Bakfiet.  I would love to get a Bullitt by Larry vs Harry, but have no place to put it.

Like you, I'm a condo dweller with limited space.  Our longtail was the only realistic option for us.  I've got a Trek Transport, at a time before Yuba Mundo was just being developed.  If I could make the choice again, I'd go for the Yuba Mundo, just because of all the different things that work with it.  The Transport has served us very well, but I admit to having Mundo envy.  

Kelly said:

Yeah, I just read about the Edgerunner today and the Surly Big Dummy is on my radar as well. The issue for me with a bakfiet (and possibly the Madsen) is I have nowhere to put it. We live on the third floor. I currently keep my bike in the basement and I have to bring it down about 5 steps. I need something that will fit through the basement door and not weigh a ton. The other big issue for me is most of my commute is solo. My son is on for a few miles. Anyways, the more I think about my needs, the more I'm leaning towards a long tail model.

Someday, however, I would love to have a Bakfiet.
Permalink Reply by Chris on September 29, 2014 at 4:44pm
A long tail cargo bike is the way to go. We have two, the EdgeRunner & a Big Dummy. We love them both. We have the whole family package on the EdgeRunner, Yepp seat, hooptie bars, magic carpet pad etc. It's great for commuting with kids. We use ours to hall a five year old and a two year old around and they love it. The EdgeRunner has that smaller rear wheel which lowers the kids and their weight and really helps keep the bike stable. We bought ours from Green Machine Cycles ( 1634 W. Montrose) a great shop! Really friendly, knowledgeable staff! They set up a demo EdgeRunner with all the kid hauling gear so we could get a true test ride with both kids. We were hooked after that first ride.
I also have a Big Dummy which I use mainly for commuting, without the kids mostly, although the five year old sometimes gets a ride. My commute is about 24 miles round trip. I know some complain about the weight but it never bothered me. The Big Dummy rides just like a regular mountain bike.
Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on September 29, 2014 at 4:48pm

Lots of comparisons on chicargobike.blogspot.com though not updated in awhile.

There was a Gazelle brand folding Bakfiets (the cabby) available for a few years, could be carried up and down stairs, not as durable as others. Advantages of these bakfiets type bikes is kids are visible to you in front, won't fall asleep and fall off, bike can carry lots of stuff at the same time (errands, kids clothes, picnic, a couple small friends...) Don't prefer longtails myself though they're popular. Yuba seems more bulletproof in general. Also not a joy to lift up and down stairs.

We have used many bikes and trailers to carry kids; Bakfiets was the best until maybe 8-9 yrs old, then a tandem became more popular with the kids and every now and then they'll pedal. Riding their own bikes in the city needs a lot of supervising and remains risky until they are older and less impetuous but great for more shielded routes and events.

Lots of Dutch people just pile several kids in addition to the adult rider onto a single normal bike, if you can manage it. Good luck.

Permalink Reply by KayCee on September 29, 2014 at 5:06pm
Congrats! We are also happy Yuba Mundo owners. It rides like a tank (in a good way), fits in our elevator, and stores standing on end in our small condo. We got ours when my son was 2 and had him in a Yep Maxi with big sis holding the stoker bars at age 4.
But I'll throw out one more to look into- we ordered a Bike Friday Haul-a-Day in July. It's a mid tail (longer than most) with a lower deck like the Extra cycle, 20 inch wheels, and an adjustable frame that lets it shrink to the same footprint as a regular bike, making trains and buses an option. I don't believe a front child seat would work, but I'm not sure.
I LOVE our Yuba but wanted something we could combine with other modes of transportation. It is an awesome bike. I've heard from a friend who owns both a Madsen and a Mundo that the Madsen has cheaper components. I don't want to sell ours- will think on it after I've ridden the Bike Friday a bit.
Permalink Reply by Kelly on September 30, 2014 at 2:51am

Thanks for the tip about Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, KayCee! I didn't know about this bike. How does the bike ride in comparison to the Yuba?

Permalink Reply by KayCee on September 30, 2014 at 9:14am
I am waiting impatiently for ours, bought it without riding it since the salesman said we have 30 days to return it if we don't love it. I've followed the blog "Tiny Helmets Big Bikes" since just after we bought the Yuba, and that family was pleased enough with their Haul a Day that they did end up selling their Mundo. But-they also have a Bullitt, which is heavy duty. From what I read the bike handles and rides well, though the smaller tires take some getting used to. They take about three months to ship after you order, so if you're wanting a bike for Spring I can let you come check is out at the end of the month. I'd also suggest you come to a Kidical Mass ride to scope out some kid carrying setups in person! Roscoe Village rides this Saturday and is very well attended. Lots of friendly people.
Permalink Reply by Kelly on September 30, 2014 at 9:35am

Yeah, I've been meaning to get to a Kidical Mass for this exact reason - to scope out bikes and meet other commuting families. None of my friends with children commute by bike. I don't think I can make it this Saturday, but I follow the schedule closely and will eventually make one!

Permalink Reply by Anika on September 30, 2014 at 4:48pm
I own both a Madsen and a Yuba if you are interested in a side by side comparison. I am located in Logan Square but travel all over the city (and often on one of these beasts).

My kids are currently 4 and 7 but have been riding since they were infants. My son (the youngest) faired well in the Madsen as an infant and you can configure it to hold a couple kids in addition to an adapted baby seat. It is currently our winter bike as we commute in all weather several miles each day - it keeps the sludge off their legs and their bodies toasty warm when we have the cover on it. It looks a bit like the pope mobile but it is safe and comfortable. Also, Kaycee is correct in that the Yuba has higher quality parts on it. We have had to slowly upgrade components over the last 5 years as things have worn out. It is also heavy but rides well. The company is a pain to work with though and they only ship direct - there are no stores that carry them. We have fallen on this bike (and were in a relatively serious accident when my kids were less than 1 and 3). The bucket with the seat belts protected them to the point that they never received a scratch on them.

We upgraded to the Yuba when my kids started riding independently. We often find a need to haul their bikes and then let them off when they are ready to ride in their own. It is great for this purpose and I can comfortably carry 3 kids and 2 bikes a reasonable distance. We have taken this bike camping with all our gear and both kids on it. It's not fast but rides well. My son started riding on the stoker bars at just under 2 but I wouldn't recommend that for most kids. They do also have the bars that encompass the entire rack now available as well There are a few seats that can be attached to the rack with relative ease. Neither bike is light but the Yuba is more easily moved about if you have need to haul it up or down stairs or thru doorways.

The kidical mass rides are great to see all the different ways that kids can be toted about.

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