“We did a 5 day tour of the Kettle Valley railway in BC. My wife and I with our 4 kids (6, 5, 3, 1) did about 5 days of self supported camping and cycling along an old railway bed. We saw lots or wildlife and beautiful vistas. I pulled all the kids and a bit of gear(tent, water etc.). My wife pulled a trailer with food for 5 days and sleeping bags and clothes for everyone. It was tons of fun, and the kids can’t wait to do another trip this summer!”
To bring this family adventure together, the Carmichael family utilized a variety of bike child trailers. Dad had a very interesting setup, with his 6 year old son and 5 year old daughter helping pull their younger siblings by pedaling their tandem trailer-cycle.

The younger siblings ride in a Chariot Cougar 2. This is an excellent child trailer for taking children bike touring as it offers a lot of great features that definitely come in handy during the vigor of bike touring. The Chariot Cougar 1 and 2, like the Chariot CX 1 and 2, is a suspended bike child trailer. Suspension, goes a long way to making the young ones more comfortable during long days of bike touring especially when the road gets rough or turns to dirt as it looks like it was for this families tour. Another bike touring worthy aspect of the Chariot Cougar as well as the full Chariot Cross Country Series, is that it performs equally well as a bike stroller. While bike touring, their is certainly no room for bringing on a stroller along. However with a 1 year old and a 3 year old, a stroller certainly comes in handy for any non-bike activities.

With Dad pulling all 4 kids, it was up to Mom to carry the gear. Mom utilized a Chariot Cabriolet, converted into a cargo trailer with a Chariot cargo conversion kit. With the whole families camping gear to pack, the large cargo capacity of this setup certainly looks like it came in handy.

We certainly hope that the Carmichael family sends us some more photos of their next summer travels. Have a look at some other great photos we’ve had of the  Hayden’s family train and Peter’s family’s bike touring adventure.

Well for one it takes a bike, which you probably have.  Second it takes a way to bring your kids along with you.  This likely will need something like a bike child trailer which you may or may not have.  And to keep it safe, we strongly recommend getting your kid or kids a bike child helmet.

Why get a child’s bike trailer in the first place?  Perhaps you are bike commuting with your children.  Or maybe you would like to go bike touring with your kids or maybe you are interested in just getting started with some casual family cycling in the neighborhood.

So we’ve got the how, the where and the why, but it seems like it is worthwhile to address some of the various  speculations about the safety concerns surrounding bike child trailers and helmets.  Diving in, what about bringing babies in bike child trailers?  The general rule of thumb is that 12 months is the earliest age that children should be passengers in bike child trailers.  Any younger, and you should consult with your baby’s physician.  A strong, well-developed child may be ready at a younger age, however factors, like speeds, terrain and potential risks should all be factored into any physicians recommendation and it is likely that most will play it safe with the 12 month recommendation.  For some good reading on the subject, have a look at the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute on bicycle helmets for babies.  Also have a look on the BSHI’s resources on bicycle helmets for children.

With hopefully a baseline of understanding here, we can carry look into the related safety concerns of how a child is transported by bicycle.   When researching children’s bike helmets, I stumbled across several articles about the debate between bike child seats and bike child trailers.  I would boil it down to the majority opinion being that bike child trailers offer the greatest degree of safety however some parents prefer bike child seats for their smaller footprint and for being closer to their child.

With all of this to consider when it comes to making a good choice for children’s bike helmets, we got started thinking about all of these factors in a recent post “getting started with children’s bike helmets“.  So finally, with this in mind, we are offering up a free Bell Childs Helmet with the purchase of a Chariot Carrier or Croozer Bike Child Trailer.

The bike trailer looked like it was utilitizing a regular style bike trailer hitch.  I noted on the bike trailer several interesting examples of DIY bike trailer ingenuity.  The features that caught my attention the most were the bolted in seat and the bike tranporting boom, which appears to have wheel bays for various size bikes.

With his daughter in the bike child seat, his son in the DIY bike child trailer along with bike, this dad is well equipped for car-free family transportation.

There are many options out there for child bike trailers,  Burley, Chariot, Croozer, Trek just to name a few.  There are also plenty of lower end child trailers sold at what I consider to be ” big box Stores”  you know, high volume, low quality.  So we are going to stick with the major players in child trailer technology.

When it is all said and done, in my opinion there are really only two brands to look at for quality, not that  other brands don’t design and produce good child trailers it is just that these two companies have specialized in producing child trailers and have become known for their quality and design

Chariot Carriers has long been setting the industry standard for design, function, and usability.  Designed in Canada, where they even produce a few of their high end models, Chariot produce a wide range of single and double child trailers.  Chariot is considered to be the Mercedes Benz of child trailers, with a Mercedes Benz price tag  included.  They offer every accessory and creature comfort for both parent and child passenger.

Burley is the most recognized name in child trailer,  so much so that people refer to any child trailer as a Burley.  A case of Brand domination of an industry, similar to Kleenex and Q-tip.  I’ve seen people refer to their own child trailer which in fact wasn’t a Burley Trailer as being a Burley.  A company does not achieve that type of recognition with out a history of producing quality products that last and satisfy both parent and child alike.  If the price tag on a Chariot is a little much then Burley is really the only other option

All this said, what do the kids like to ride in?

Well there you have it, at least for this round of voting, Chariot Trailers it is.  I mean a picture is worth a thousand words and this picture has both infant and older child passed out in a Chariot Cougar II.  It must be a great ride if everyone falls asleep.  Chariot wins this round but we will have to see if Burley can clench the next.  If you want the best and are willing to pay for it then Chariot has a trailer for you.  If not then Burley is right there with something that will put a smile on you and your little ones face for years to come.

If you think you know a couple who you consider to be  hard core parents think again, allow me to redefine your notions of hardcore bike parents.

For those of you who don’t know who Dara Marks Marino is let give you a little back ground.  A few years ago Dara was one of the best cross country races on the NORBA circuit, ranked top five in the nation for a while. She also killed it on the road bike as well, finishing in the top five multiple times in the womens pro bike field at the Tour of the Gila, one of the hardest stage races in the country.

Troy Marino is know as the Epic Rider, if its long and gnarly Troy will be there, doesn’t matter how hard or how long it takes to finish Troy sees it through.  When I’m riding my MTB, Troy is still hiking the back side of the peeks looking for one more turn in the powder, but then you’ll see him on his MTB the next day.

I once watched these two race a duo at a 12 hr race in Cortez where they switched off watching Mckenna, their baby girl, every other lap.  I remember Troy telling me stories of him talking Mckenna hiking up snow bowl to ski tracks before the resort opened when she was just a few months old.

So ya like I said, nothing mediocre here. Troy and Dara sent us some pics and a story about Mckenna’s first ride up Waterline Road in her Burley D-lite Bike Child Trailer.  She was about 7-8 weeks old  and she made it up to 9,800 ft awarding her the nick name “The Lung”.

Now we should state that these two are a rare couple.  Their physical abilities are tremendous compared to the average parent.  Just consider the genes that went into Mckenna.  So unless your have comparable mental and physical prowess like Dara and Troy, you might want to wait until your child is a little older before you try and get epic with them.

The pictures speak volumes for this one, this might be the ultimate kid/ gear bike train we ever seen.  Given these shots are a few years old, but minus the panniers Peter has connected a Burly child trailer to a Burley trail-a-bike to his bike.  Now throw in front and rear Jandd panniers on his bike and rear and top Jandd panniers on the trail-a-bike  and you have a set up that would make Burlington Northern jealous.  Even his wife has her bike set up with a BOB Yak and front and rear panniers.  Its a good thing the oldest boy can ride by himself, I cant imagine pulling four children, plus gear.
Its great that Peter gets the help of his son on the Burley trail-a-bike, I’m sure every little bit helps to haul that load.  I wonder if it beeped when he backed it up.  Peter is here to show that having one child, or two, or three even should not stop you from getting out on the bike for a couple of days, and don’t worry about the work out, if you pulled anything close to this setup you’ll probably be pooped after 20 mi.  Nice job Peter, way to get the family out on two wheels.

Here is a link to another post about a well constructed touring train, although this one does not include the child option it is as impressive.  If you are interested in creating your own bike child trailer train check out our new site launching soon, Bike Kid Shop

We are currently offering closeout pricing on all – yes, you read that right, ALL – of our Burley Child Trailers.  Burley makes top-of-the-line bike child trailers so that you and your family can enjoy the great outdoors together.  Burley’s child trailers are great for transportation and recreation.

This closeout sale is an opportunity you really don’t want to miss.  Burley will not likely be making any major changes to their bike child trailer line in the next few years, so this opportunity may not be available again for a few years.  So if you want a great deal on a Burley Child Trailer, the time to act is now!  This sale will continue as supplies last, so get yours before we run out!

Burley Honey Bee – $239!

The Burley Honey Bee, which normally sells for $375, is closing out for $239. The Honey Bee is a versatile family trailer that allows you to buzz around town with your family running errands and having fun.  The Honey Bee includes a stroller kit, which makes this great trailer even more adaptable to fit your needs.  Like all Burley trailers, the Honey Bee is designed to meet all ASTM standards and is built with a roll-cage and 5-point harness to keep your little one(s) safe.

Burley Solo ST – $349!

The Burley Solo ST, which normally sells for $549, is closing out for $349.  You can’t really beat a price like that, not to mention the Solo ST is a light, nimble, and comfortable trailer designed to fit one child at a time.  The Solo ST comes with a stroller kit and bicycle hitch.  The trailer has a number of great features, include a cargo compartment to carry books, bags, groceries, and more, as well as elastomer suspension to make the ride smoother for your little one.  And of course, the Solo ST meets all ASTM standards.

Burley dLite ST – $539

The Burley dLite ST, which normally sells for $599, is closing out for $539.  The Burley dLite ST is the big brother of the Burley Solo ST and has many of the same features, but will fit two little munchkins instead of only one.  The dLite ST also includes a stroller kit and bicycle hitch, and is available in two colors.  And naturally, the dLite ST is super safe and up to par with all ASTM standards.

Burley Encore – $399

Last, but certainly not least, the Burley Encore, which normally sells for $449, is closing out for $399.  The Encore is very similar to the Burely dLite, but with just a few differences, the Encore is a bit more affordable.  The Encore also fits 1 or 2 children and includes a bicycle hitch.  No matter the differences in features, the Encore does not compromise safety one bit, so you can be assured that your little ones are safe.

If your little one is starting school for the first time or not quite ready to ride to school on his or her own bike, Chariot Carriers are the perfect solution to bike child transportation.  The Chariot Cross Country series are extremely versatile, allowing you to transfer smoothly between cycling, strolling, and jogging needs.  And on the weekends, you can take advantage of Chariot’s hike and ski functions as well.  For families that focus primarily on riding, the Chariot Classic Series offers a great line of trailers that are ready for the bike, but can still be converted to other functions.  Croozer offers a great line of fashionable and versatile child trailers as well, so you and your little one can arrive in style.

Haul your books, lunch, all those papers you graded last night, or even your soccer gear or hockey equipment to school with one of Croozer’s cargo trailers.  The Croozer Cargo is the perfect all-around bike trailer for any occasion, with a top cover that will keep your loose papers from blowing away – but Mr. Smith, the trailer ate my homework!

Dogs have to go to school too, so bring your furry friend to obedience school in one of Croozer’s dog trailers.  The Croozer Mini is perfect for your smaller furry friends, while the Croozer Dog can haul your bigger buddies of up to 100 lbs.

Chariot Carriers is known for their premium child transport systems.  All of their Carriers are made with incredible attention to detail.  The Cross Country series, made up of the Chariot Cheetah, Chariot Cougar and Chariot CX are available in 1 0r 2 child versions.  My favorite aspect of the Cross Country Series is the seamless flow between different functions.  The Cheetah, Cougar and CX can be used equally well for cycling,  strolling or jogging.  There are even additional kits available for skiing and hiking.

The Chariot Carrier comes as a chassis only and we find our customer purchasing for any and all of the above combinations of uses.  BikeTrailerShop’s Operation Manager, Jeff Hankens recently became the proud father of a baby boy, Abe.  Jeff decided to get a Chariot CX-1 for it’s great all around use.  Their choice was one purchase that could be used for all the variety of adventures that he and Sarah would be taking Abe on in the coming years. To start, they are mainly using the CX-1 for a stroller (with infant sling) and once Abe is a bit older will have him out on bike rides.