Got a new bike toy recently. April has been hinting about wanting a bike-mounted child seat for a while now. I'm not a big fan, but she really wanted one and did the research and even went and got it. All I had to do was install it. Do I enjoy an excuse to drop everything else and work on a bike? You bet. The bike is a little clunky and heavy with the seat attached, but it comes off easily by means of a sliding quick-release. If we wanted to we could even mount a second rack and quick-release on one of my bikes to swap the seat between rides.
We ended up at a playground where more cute photo ops awaited ...
April has already used the seat to get Sylvia to the babysitter several times. I even ran the seatpost up on her bike and picked Sylvia up with it one day. It is not too bad really; it balances the weight nicely. Sylvia enjoys having the view and she even does a little backseat driving reminding Daddy when there is a car coming on a cross street. Overall the seat appears to be a good addition to our collection of kid and cargo toting bike devices. With the new one coming in March I'm certain we will get a lot of use out of the bike seat. My goal (and partially our shared goal, I think) is to be a 90+ percent car-free family. I'd say we're 70 or so percent now. Here's a recent write-up of a car-free family of five. I work with Martin and he is a die-hard four season commuter. We'll see if we can get there. There are a few tricks to learn and some lifestyle changes to be incorporated. It's a worthwhile challenge though.
And, finally here is one of those gems that appears when you have a free-spirited two year old in your midst. Sylvia loves to play dress up. This is a particularly eclectic outfit she's assembled, crowned by my Surly cycling cap. Couldn't have staged it better myself!
3 comments:
I thought for once you were going to have a post where Sylvia had pants on the entire time, then you have to throw in that picture at the end. She'll be a hoot at parties in college.
Trust me, I've considered the grim future for a concerned father. It's funny, when I uploaded it I didn't even notice she was sans pantaloons, as the French might say. What can you do?
that daughter of yours sure is brave.
but I guess i'd trust a seat installed by you..
have a good weekend buddy.
if you get a wild hair, come down for the weekends cross race.
we'll put ya up.
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