It’s all in the title. Suggestion for a bike trailer that will work with a CX bike (rim brakes)? Preferably one that works for 2 kids.
Budget?
Used to have a Croozer, was good. Width is fun…
We will get twins in January so I am in the same boat. After searching I found Burley, Croozer and Thule Chariot. Due to the fact that my wife and me are also running and skiing, we choose the Chariot Sport 2. It was also recommended by two friends (both have two kids).
I have a Thule Chariot that gets used most days. The advantage it has over every other system I have seen is that in 30 seconds it can be converted to a normal stroller or jogging stroller with all the hardware being stored on the unit itself. Just as a stuff carrying device when off the bike this is clutch. The downside is once you account for all the accessories these things are ball busting expensive new because you are buying a lot more than just a bike trailer.
In the family I think we have 3 or 4 Bobs and I actually rate the Thule better especially for larger kids i.e. 18 months+. The Thule is built like a tank to take the demands of bike trailer usage so its up for whatever you can throw at it. I mention this because I would have a look at the used market for Thules as most people who buy them never come close to actually wearing them out. As a side note in order to reduce the cost Thule seriously downgraded the brakes on the current generation of the chariots. If you are hauling 2 kids you want decent brakes and so ideally you want the version with real disc brakes and mountain bike style brake levers. Unless your kids are super complaint they will move and shake the whole system when being loaded and unloaded and without brakes on the trailer it becomes a circus. Needing an anchor for loading/unloading is relevant to all trailers so if you have a look at cheaper options test the brakes.
As a final note most if not all trailer systems are adaptable for quick release bikes (rim or disc) and thru-axle (with the appropriate adapter). Very easy to switch between bikes and systems so no big deal there. However with 2 kids plus the trailer you are talking a lot of weight and it definitely effects braking performance and causes wheel slippage issues when you go to accelerate. The trailers don’t actually put much weight over the back wheel so grip is an issue. Big tires helps but having used the setup on both a CX bike with discs and mini-Vs I found the discs much better. Children don’t like being hurdled into pot holes/speed bumps at full speed but given then width trailers avoidance often isn’t an option. Having the extra control of discs helps minimize squealing from the back. This definitely isn’t make or brake but it will impact how well the whole system works.
We have a Thule Chariot Cross double. Its fantastic. Loads of space for the kidss, pockets on the inside to store books, snacks etc. Each seat reclines. I also bought the running wheel so I can run to the kindergarten, pick them up and run home. Pushing 100 lbs is a good workout.
We have a much older/less fancy version of the Burley D’Lite https://www.burley.com/product/dlite/
Fit 2 kids up til the older one was about 5 1/2 and the younger was 3. It turns into a double stroller too which is kinda nice.
I have it attached semi-permanently to my townie, which is an old 26" mountain bike with slicks and rim brakes.
I’ll second the Chariot. Beyond using it as a bike trailer, we used it for all of our walks. I have an old Cannondale Touring bike (rim brake) bike that I hauled the trailer with and did not have any issues with braking power. The bike is set up with OEM pads with modern Tektro calipers / levers. My son outgrew the trailer developmentally and physically around two and a half years old. Now, he much prefers riding his strider bike. I was lucky and grateful that I bought the trailer used - after the initial depreciation the used value seems to stay consistent. It sold in less than a week and I got all of my money back.
We have a Weehoo Weego bike trailer with the jogging wheel accessory.
It’s not the top of the line brand but we have had this since our daughter was 2 and she is now 8 and we still use it. I can’t even imagine how many miles are on it. Thousands. The jogging accessory comes with it and the wheel can either be pinned in place or pinned to swivel. Very easy to remove and add on the bike trailer arm and attach to your bike. The push bar for running rotates up and down for different heights and angles. Has some storage in the back, a rain cover, a mesh cover and it seats 1 or 2 kids depending how you want to rig up the seatbelts. Padded seat for the kids and 2 pockets on the inside for storage and snacks. The floor where they place their feet is also a rubber material to make for easy cleaning on rainy or muddy days.
I would recommend. 10/10 for me.
Good luck
+1 on Burley but realize brands change and I have had ours for over 20 years. As kids outgrew it used with dogs, grocery runs, etc. and probably will use it for grandkids. Bike can fall over and the trailer stays upright, which my guess is most do.
We had a Giant Peapod which I would rate highly for quality and value for money. Slightly on the smaller side for a double trailer which is both a pro and a con, so would depend what age your children are. Axle/skewer mounted so pretty quick to swap from bike to bike, even quicker if you get a couple of mounts.
One just turned two this weekend, the other one arrives in just under 4 weeks, so she won’t be sitting in the trailer before several months.
We had a used Chariot (before they became Thule) and sold it for the same price we bought it for. We used it daily for 2-3 years and then off and on for another year. We replaced the tires/tubes once and that was it.
Switching between biking/running/stroller/ski is easy and the kids loved it.
Don’t buy new - hunt around and find a used one that was stored indoors.
We love out charriot, I agree, get the one with brakes, ours is the pre disc model, but they still work great. (looking on the site, they might not make the hand brake models anymore)
BUY USED! I think new with all the accessories you need (or want) is Going to be over 1,000 bucks. (jogger, 2 infant slings accessories) we got ours on craigslist for 150 bucks. Like anything, a lot of people get them thinking they are going to run a marathon with it, and they realize kids are heavy.
Lastly, start the kids young, we put our daughter in at 4 months, started with walks, then moved to jogs, runs and bike rides. Several friends of mine gave me this advice, said when they tried to put kids in there at 1 of 1.5 years old, it was too much for everyone. Mom/Dad was not used to the weight, little one was not used to being in a “cage” and it made it so that it was so much work to go for a run they gave up. My daughter is now 4 and still likes to go for a run with me now and then. We are mostly onto trailer bikes now, but now we are starting on the second one!
These are one of those things that tons of people buy and almost never use so they try to sell 2nd hand. So look for used if your on a budget. I had a friend buy one at a garage sale new with tags (burley) and sell it for $100 more 5 years later.
We currently rock a schwinn. Is it as easy to take apart,put on, fold down as nice as a thule/burley? Nope. But works just as fine.
What you need to look at is how it is attached to the bike is it a pressure mounted to the chainstay or does it slide into the QR skewer.
Hey folks I am looking to buy a use Thule Chariot (about 10 yrs old, original owner) that comes with rain pocket, back pocket , front wheel for jogging and ski attachment, for $550 , is that a good price?
Resurrecting this thread because I find myself in the same shoes as marcrie. My wife and I are expecting twins in May/June, and I want to be able to run/ride with the kiddos as soon as they are able to give mom a break. Also with twins this looks like I’ll need infant adapters (x2) and possibly a stroller that accepts 2 car seats, which is a lot to ask out of a stroller, apparently.
I’ve looked at the Thule options (Urban Glide 2 Double and Chariot Double), but have some questions for experienced parents.
- The handbrake. Is a handbrake necessary? I’m living in Denver, with plans of moving farther west (remote work is the future) into the mountains, and I’m not sure a handbrake is optional for me. I would like to feel like I’m somewhat in control of up to 100 lbs. pulling me downhill.
- Conversion/multi-use. Usually, an item built for multiple purposes performs none of them well. I expect the same to be true for strollers, but please (seriously, PLEASE) tell me I’m wrong here. I’d rather have as few strollers and accoutrement as possible, but I also don’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road waiting for help because my multi-function stroller took a nose dive.
- Accessories. My first instinct is to buy all possible accessories that seem useful (I’m not a skier, so the Chariot ski attachment is useless to me), but I also don’t want to fall into the trap of buying all the accessories to only use 1 or 2. It strikes me that a rain fly, bug net, snack tray/grab bar (forgive my ignorance of terminology), and drink holder are useful, and likely to be purchased. Am I missing anything? Am I missing the mark on those?
I’ve also looked at BOB, Baby Jogger, and a couple others, but am most impressed with the choices presented by Thule. And, for the record, my OCD-nature could not handle the Kid Runner - no chance I could keep my focus on the road and not the kids behind me.
And marcrie, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there seem to be two main categories of unhelpful feedback posted on double stroller reviews: (1) people who have one older and one younger child, or (2) people who train for a 5k and are happy to just walk the whole thing. Twin parents of ST, please, I’m begging you, give me some real help here.
We had both the single and double chariot. We LOVED them, and got a LOT of use. We had the rain and bug flaps - both well worth. We also got the stroller wheels and were shocked how much we used them. We did NOT have the hand brake and did not have a problem (very little city running). We would certainly do it again. I will say that the single jogger got way more use than the double. The double trailer probably got more use. Again, we loved at EVERYTHING (20 years ago) and would do the Chariots again today.
Consider a Burley Trailer. Depending on model, holds 2 kids and works for biking and running with appropriate accessories. I used with two kids starting at age 7 months and the last one left at age 7 years when we finally wore out the ball-bearings after thousands of miles running and biking. Somehow the spouse never minded my workouts when the kids joined me and left her with some peace and quiet in the house with a dog and cat… As a side bonus, it paid for itself in saved babysitting fees when training for IMs.
Resurrecting this thread because I find myself in the same shoes as marcrie. My wife and I are expecting twins in May/June, and I want to be able to run/ride with the kiddos as soon as they are able to give mom a break. Also with twins this looks like I’ll need infant adapters (x2) and possibly a stroller that accepts 2 car seats, which is a lot to ask out of a stroller, apparently.
I’ve looked at the Thule options (Urban Glide 2 Double and Chariot Double), but have some questions for experienced parents.
- The handbrake. Is a handbrake necessary? I’m living in Denver, with plans of moving farther west (remote work is the future) into the mountains, and I’m not sure a handbrake is optional for me. I would like to feel like I’m somewhat in control of up to 100 lbs. pulling me downhill.
- Conversion/multi-use. Usually, an item built for multiple purposes performs none of them well. I expect the same to be true for strollers, but please (seriously, PLEASE) tell me I’m wrong here. I’d rather have as few strollers and accoutrement as possible, but I also don’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road waiting for help because my multi-function stroller took a nose dive.
- Accessories. My first instinct is to buy all possible accessories that seem useful (I’m not a skier, so the Chariot ski attachment is useless to me), but I also don’t want to fall into the trap of buying all the accessories to only use 1 or 2. It strikes me that a rain fly, bug net, snack tray/grab bar (forgive my ignorance of terminology), and drink holder are useful, and likely to be purchased. Am I missing anything? Am I missing the mark on those?
I’ve also looked at BOB, Baby Jogger, and a couple others, but am most impressed with the choices presented by Thule. And, for the record, my OCD-nature could not handle the Kid Runner - no chance I could keep my focus on the road and not the kids behind me.
And marcrie, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there seem to be two main categories of unhelpful feedback posted on double stroller reviews: (1) people who have one older and one younger child, or (2) people who train for a 5k and are happy to just walk the whole thing. Twin parents of ST, please, I’m begging you, give me some real help here.
I have a Burley dlite with the jogger conversion.
Yes, you should be able to jog with both pretty easily. Honestly most joggers or converted joggers will let you run ok with toddlers. Only issue with the burley is the handle slips pretty easily, which is annoying as the kids gain weight.
Get the handbrake.
A dlite won’t hold two car seats. You’d be lucky to get one. I don’t know if any trailer will carry two car seats. For a jogger you’re fine with the infant adapter but the age of appropriate biking for kids is a third rail of bike parents. Most peds will tell you wait until they can hold their own head up for long periods of time, which is 9+ months (a year if you’re my giant headed son). YMMV
Accessories- bug net useful, rain fly more useful for chilly days than rain. Snack/drink holder dumb IMO, you’ve got tons of space in the stroller to store those things.
If you’re like me and switch between running and biking frequently, consider how easily it is to switch. The Burley is just annoying enough to frustrate me. Also, consider how these things pack down. The dlite folds and barely fits in a car. A SUV or minivan would be necessary for anything bigger.
Resurrecting this thread because I find myself in the same shoes as marcrie. My wife and I are expecting twins in May/June, and I want to be able to run/ride with the kiddos as soon as they are able to give mom a break. Also with twins this looks like I’ll need infant adapters (x2) and possibly a stroller that accepts 2 car seats, which is a lot to ask out of a stroller, apparently.
I’ve looked at the Thule options (Urban Glide 2 Double and Chariot Double), but have some questions for experienced parents.
- The handbrake. Is a handbrake necessary? I’m living in Denver, with plans of moving farther west (remote work is the future) into the mountains, and I’m not sure a handbrake is optional for me. I would like to feel like I’m somewhat in control of up to 100 lbs. pulling me downhill.
- Conversion/multi-use. Usually, an item built for multiple purposes performs none of them well. I expect the same to be true for strollers, but please (seriously, PLEASE) tell me I’m wrong here. I’d rather have as few strollers and accoutrement as possible, but I also don’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road waiting for help because my multi-function stroller took a nose dive.
- Accessories. My first instinct is to buy all possible accessories that seem useful (I’m not a skier, so the Chariot ski attachment is useless to me), but I also don’t want to fall into the trap of buying all the accessories to only use 1 or 2. It strikes me that a rain fly, bug net, snack tray/grab bar (forgive my ignorance of terminology), and drink holder are useful, and likely to be purchased. Am I missing anything? Am I missing the mark on those?
I’ve also looked at BOB, Baby Jogger, and a couple others, but am most impressed with the choices presented by Thule. And, for the record, my OCD-nature could not handle the Kid Runner - no chance I could keep my focus on the road and not the kids behind me.
And marcrie, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but there seem to be two main categories of unhelpful feedback posted on double stroller reviews: (1) people who have one older and one younger child, or (2) people who train for a 5k and are happy to just walk the whole thing. Twin parents of ST, please, I’m begging you, give me some real help here.
I have a Burley dlite with the jogger conversion.
Yes, you should be able to jog with both pretty easily. Honestly most joggers or converted joggers will let you run ok with toddlers. Only issue with the burley is the handle slips pretty easily, which is annoying as the kids gain weight.
Get the handbrake.
A dlite won’t hold two car seats. You’d be lucky to get one. I don’t know if any trailer will carry two car seats. For a jogger you’re fine with the infant adapter but the age of appropriate biking for kids is a third rail of bike parents. Most peds will tell you wait until they can hold their own head up for long periods of time, which is 9+ months (a year if you’re my giant headed son). YMMV
Accessories- bug net useful, rain fly more useful for chilly days than rain. Snack/drink holder dumb IMO, you’ve got tons of space in the stroller to store those things.
If you’re like me and switch between running and biking frequently, consider how easily it is to switch. The Burley is just annoying enough to frustrate me. Also, consider how these things pack down. The dlite folds and barely fits in a car. A SUV or minivan would be necessary for anything bigger.
This is super helpful, thank you. I’ve noticed that most don’t take two car seats. Is that to suggest that these are safe without a car seat (using an infant adapter)?
The drink holder would be for a bottle for me - something I can grab and squeeze a drink out of while running. The kids should be able to hold their own drinks/snacks - I agree.
The packing down is another point I’m considering, though admittedly less than others, and more ease of packing than packed down size. I drive a full size SUV, so not terribly concerned about how much space this will take up. Bonus points if it’s a one-handed folder, since I’ll have two little ones squirming about.
The timing is an interesting question - when is it safe to take babies on the road? I’ll consult with our pediatrician, but it does seem to vary significantly from parent to parent. Some are saying 3-4 months, some are 9, some are 12. Given that these two will likely arrive early, they’ll be premies and on a bit of an extended timeline. Even if they do arrive on schedule, they’ll still likely be premie-sized. Clearly I will not be running/riding with them in that stage of development, but I will be looking for signs that they’re ready. Just, what does it mean to be “ready”?
Hoping to get more helpful replies like this. The single most frustrating thing in researching these things is that the advice is generally from unreliable or underqualified sources. I find ST to be neither, so it’s good to hear from you all.