Who has one? What kind is it? Is it convertible to a bike trailer? How soon did you put the little one in it?
I’ve got lots of questions and all I know is that the cheap ass ones from Babies R Us are not going to cut it.
The original — Baby Jogger, have both the single and the double. Kids went in when they could hold there heads up. Still required padding and support all the way around them. Approx age, 2 months, the double a bit longer cause its more an upright position.
I’ve used a Baby Jogger brand, I think the Baby Jogger II model, for about six years (two kids). It’s held up very well. My only complaint is that it’s not quite as quick and easy to set up/take down as some of the newer models.
Get one with larger wheels if you run trails. Ours has twenty inch wheels and it’s amazing what you can go over without bothering the bairn. Invest in the extra-heavy duty rain cover. You only have to face your spouse once after getting caught in a storm without a cover to make this money well spent (I speak from experience: the kiddie was completely fine, just soggy). It’s pretty easy to find mosquito nets that fit over them at big baby stores, which is nice if you run anywhere buggy. Make sure that whatever you get fits easily in your car. Test drive to make sure that whatever you’re considering fits you.
As far as I remember, we started using ours when our kids were about three months old. Both our boys napped soundly while running, even on trails.
I would imagine that there might already be a thread on this somewhere on the forum, but here is my two cents. We have one child–9 months old–and a single Baby Jogger with shocks and 16 inch wheels for her. It’s great, it’s light and I can fit it in the back of my little station wagon. (Also bought cover for it for $50 since I live in VT.) Baby will be old enough closer to 6 months, but when they have good head control. Some joggers are set up so that you can use them earlier (they recline more), but they tend to be more for the non-running parents who want a cool stroller. For our bicycles, we plan on getting a double stroller (Chariott brand–check them out online or in the latest issue of Inside Triathlon), since I don’t mind the extra bulk behind my bike…and maybe we’ll have another kid some day, plus we ski and the Chariott has a x-country ski set up. It also can be made into a stroller and a jogger, in case that second kid comes and makes our single baby jogger obsolete. Babies need to be one year old before they can get pulled behind a bike. You will also not find a helmet to fit a child under one. Remember that little ones cannot tell you: I’m cold, sand is blowing in my eyes, my head is bumping against the side of the trailer etc. We don’t plan to use either one as a stroller–they are just too big for the places that we go to socially and for that we have a great $17 umbrella stroller from Babies R Us–it’s rusty as hell and I’ll have to get a new one next year… It’s so salty up here, we need to wash the Baby Jogger after every use in the winter and it’s just been too cold for the most part of this year (2 weeks under 0 F) to get out with her. Another great place to check out joggers is on epinions.com. You can also get used bike trailers at swaps and bike sales, but they are hot items and go fast, so get there early. And, if you live someplace sunny, check out the sun shield that comes with the jogger. (Unfortunately we don’t have that problem here!) HAve fun with your little one!
-DMG
BabyJogger II. Had Kate in it at week 3 for walks (with an insert to keep her noggin straight and supported), first run on smooth pavement at about 3months. I love it, it;'s a great running stroller. Took her in the Vancouver Sun Run last April, this is a 10k run that has over 40,000 participants. The stroller handles well, and is big enough to say “out of my way, lardass!” There’s nothing so satisfying as passing people going uphill while pushing the 16lb stroller with a 10-20lbs kid inside it 
Am interested in getting a bike trailer, but not sure about the whole safety/comfort thing… she’d only be in it for max 20min each way (to daycare and home on my way to work and home). Any other opinions on these contraptions?
I had the Baby Jogger brand for my two kids. Loved it, and I think they did, too. I’ll tell you the best long-term effect I got from using it. It turned me from a heel smashing hack runner into a Pose-like runner. When its time for new shoes, the heels are hardly worn, while the toes and mid-foot areas are shot. Before baby jogger I was thrilled to break 20 mins in a 5k. I now regularly run mid-18’s and my kids are 8 and 11.
Big wheels are the way to go. You might also find that if you hold the jogger handle primarily with the right hand, the right tire will wear first, and vice-versa. You may find the front tire wears oddly as well and needs to occasionally be reversed on its wheel. So rotate tires.
Oops, I thought that said “Stunning Rollers.” My mistake … carry on.
Thanks, you rock. Might even sell the babyjogger for a combo hogger/bike trailer…
After posing the same question to my tri club and doing some shopping we bought the Bob Ironman. Keep the flames to a minimum. I feel bad sporting something with the ironman logo and having only gone oly distance but this stroller is really nice. It tracks straight unless you don’t put equal air in the tires. All the wheels pop off easily for transport and it has shocks for my baby’s comfort. We also have a wind/rain gaurd for cold weather and a mesh thing that cuts down on most of the sun. I think the Ironman model is the one with the skinny tires or we just ordered it that way. The BOB strollers mostly come with knobbies for off road but the skinny tires would work fine on a trail also.
The bottom storage basket is a good size.
Our son had really good neck control from an early age so at about 10 weeks we got persmission to take him for a run from our pediatrician. The general reccomendation is 3 months. As someone else said, he did have some extra neck support from a chamios pad thing he was on. Since I take him on early morning runs we have a sheepskin type sack that is made for a stroller that we zip him up in. It also helps to keep the toys with us for the ride.
The BOB does not have a bike adapter as far as I know.
I think the BOB is a good choice.
And another thing. We just got a bike seat for our baby that clamps to the gooseneck of a bike. This is only possible for a beach cruiser type bike. I think the brand name is BoBike and it is manufactured in either the Netherlands or some where near there.
In doing so we went helmet shopping this weekend and Trek just started making an infant helmet with and adjustable velcro cincher in the back that fit him great (he will be 7 months in about 10 days).
No question the Chariots are great!!! We have both the sindle and the double for our kids ages 1, 3, and 5 (as masters!). The convert from jogger to stroller (small whells) to trailer with ease and work great at all three.
Note, they are sold in the US under the Trek label; but, you don’t have to be a Trek distributor to sell them so any LBS can order one for you. They are great!!! I personally looked the world over (they are sold in Europe too, but I forget the brand) and believe they are best for what you are looking for.
Good luck!
I have the Bob Ironman model and thing that it is a great deal. It is light, rolls well, and best of all it folds compactly with one hand. I live in a small condo on the 2nd floor so weight, folded size, and ease of folding were top priorities. I looked at the cool-strides and Baby Jogger but they were harder to fold and larger, which might not be an issue if you just keep it in the garage but didn’t work for me.
The Chariot is nice but did you see the price? I can’t afford that and don’t live in a place where a behind the bike carrier is practical (busy roads). I think Tom mentioned it a post a while back that he feels behind the bike carriers should only be used on jogging/multi-use paths.
Andrew
Somehow I don’t think the wife would go for those.
I have the Baby Jogger, its great. started my daughter in it when she was about 4 months. check with your peditrician, I think you could start at 3 months if they are strong enough.
I now have a 5 week old son, so I bought a double kelty, heard good things, but I havent tried it yet.
Got the BOB Ironman edition in a charity auction. It works great (although at the higher end of the pricepoint is you pay retail). I rides straight & is good on & off road. My daughter was about 28 months when I got it, so can’t comment on how early to put a little one in. Just make sure they have neck strength. The stroller absorbs the shock well. I would recommend it.
-Tim