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 Rebecca on October 2, 2014 at 9:04am

I second Anika and Kaycee's thoughts - solid kid haulers there.

And definitely check out a kidical mass to see a bunch of different rigs - Hey....there's one in Roscoe Village THIS SUNDAY. How convenient! The facebook page is a great resource for ride info: https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoKidicalMass

I've had my 19 month old in our Bakfiets since she was 2 months old (secured car seat in the box) and it's been awesome. I'll have 2 in the bike come spring which should be interesting. 

With that said, after a year and a half of the Bakfiets, I know I will be adding a Yuba/Extracycle-esque bike to our fleet once #2 hits a year. Longtails have the speed and mobility I would want when the kiddos are that age. I'll definitely hold on to the Bakfiets for certain trips and groceries for sure.

I don't recommend the Bakfiets to anyone that doesn't have the storage for it. You really need a garage or secure yard (not necessarily recommended) to make it work. 5 steps to the basement won't work - there are times I can't even get it up certain curbs. Add a screaming kid or two....shudder.....

Permalink Reply by Siouxzi Donnelly on October 2, 2014 at 9:32am

Our daughter was 3 and a bit when we decided to have another kid, and that's when I started really delving into how we'll tow them both around. With just one, we managed between a Chariot trailer for our road bikes, which allowed us to start riding baby as soon as she was sturdily holding her head and sitting. Then at a year old we added a kettler rear seat for my Pashley since the chariot couldn't mount to it. We seriously considered a Bakfiet or any of the other types of box bikes but when I realized I'd either have to ride it all 7 miles to work or leave it at my daughter's school and switch to my regular bike and as a result leave my regular bike at her school over the night, I decided the box bike just wasn't for us.


We opted for the Yuba Mundo for so many reasons. Partly because our older daughter is an avid cyclist, she wants to ride everywhere, but sometimes she tuckers out and we can attach her bike to the Yuba and ride her home if we need. It's also handy to take my Pashley into a bike shop because no one wants to try hauling a 40 lb bike onto a bus or train. Our daughter loves it. In the meantime we've got #2 in the chariot with one road bike while the other does the yuba with #1. We love the set up and look forward to #2 being able to ride it in 6 more months. I figured at least I only have to suffer less biking for a year and then we'll be back to normal again.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on October 2, 2014 at 10:07am

Don't forget about the Divvy option.....if you have a heavier/slower bike that you're less excited about riding the full round trip, you can always lock it well during the day in front of the school/daycare and then Divvy on to work. This of course would only work if the stations are positioned conveniently.

Permalink Reply by KayCee on October 2, 2014 at 11:40am

Just saw this post, lots of great photos to look at here.  http://www.tinyhelmetsbigbikes.com/blog-we-ride/family-biking-friends

Permalink Reply by JMinHP on October 3, 2014 at 4:33am

   My new commute next spring will be 20 miles round trip (or 55 if I don't take a train). I'd like to think I can ride my son to school then continue with my commute on the cargo bike. Does anyone have any experience riding a Mundo or Edgerunner longer distances (either with or preferably without electric assist)? 

   For what it's worth, I used to have a Trek FX with the free radical rear end that I commuted 12 miles round trip, and it wasn't too bad. But, I've test ridden a Mundo and it's a beast, and the Edgerunner has the funky 20" rear wheel. So I'm not sure my experience is applicable.


Chris said:

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 Siouxzi Donnelly on October 3, 2014 at 4:44am

My husband is an onsite computer consultant, he bikes everywhere around the chicagoland area. Often on the Mundo. So I would say that 10 miles each way with your workday in between would be totally doable. But, if you want to make your trips a touch easier, you can invest in the pricier motor-assist version. It might make the longer distance go a bit faster.

I should note, my husband got hit by a car and another cyclist (different instances completely) the bike didn't show even a scratch (neither did he fortunately). Also he brought home a flatscreen tv on the thing. It's a great hauler.

JM 6.5 said:

   My new commute next spring will be 20 miles round trip (or 55 if I don't take a train). I'd like to think I can ride my son to school then continue with my commute on the cargo bike. Does anyone have any experience riding a Mundo or Edgerunner longer distances (either with or preferably without electric assist)? 

   For what it's worth, I used to have a Trek FX with the free radical rear end that I commuted 12 miles round trip, and it wasn't too bad. But, I've test ridden a Mundo and it's a beast, and the Edgerunner has the funky 20" rear wheel. So I'm not sure my experience is applicable.


Chris said:

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 Louie Louie on October 3, 2014 at 5:42am

I have a bullit and love it.  My front bucket is on the narrower side so I couldn't fit more than my daughter but she loves going for rides on the "super bike."  I have also used the bike to carry many things, guitars, printers, garbage cans, etc.  Great bike for city riding.

Permalink Reply by Anika on October 3, 2014 at 10:49am
I regularly bike between 15 and 30miles on the Mundo with around 100lbs of weight on it. No electric assist although occasionally I contemplate it. It is totally doable. Max distance on it to date was 65 miles with 250 lbs loaded. A bit more of a struggle but also doable. The bikes are geared well enough to make carrying large loads no big deal - you just might not go as fast.

I've heard that the last few years, a few people have done Ragbrai with the Mundo successfully.
Permalink Reply by KayCee on October 4, 2014 at 9:55am

If I had to ride the Mundo fully loaded more than 20 miles a day, I'd consider putting an e-assist on it- I hate headwinds.  And sidewinds.  And some bridges... Unloaded though, I don't mind it at all.  

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