New Year's 2013, MOHAI-style

It's about time for another Kidical Mass Seattle ride, and what better time than EARLY on New Year's Day 2013? Those ankle-biters don't give a flying champagne flute how late you were up, they're gonna wake when they wake.

So put some caffeination on your inebriation & sleep deprivation, and come join us for a ride to the newly opened Museum of History & Industry's Family Day event at South Lake Union Park. We've been stoked for MOHAI to open all summer - it was a hidden gem in its old location, and now it's the centerpiece of the new SLU scene.

Meet at the Ballard Library at 9:30am, roll out at 9:45. Join the ride at the Waiting for the Interurban statue in Fremont if you prefer, 10:15ish. Or meet us there! It's an easy ride, flat, lots of trail and Westlake parking lot. Speaking of which, the city is planning to put a proper separated cycle track in said parking lot, which will be de-lovely and long overdue.

And speaking of bike improvements, don't miss the chance to double your donation to Seattle Neighborhood Greenways before year's end, and support a coalition of neighborhood groups that have dramatically shifted our city's emphasis from scary bike lanes for the "fast and furious" towards family-friendly, low-stress routes. 

Totsicles and Tree

Hohoho, it's that Tree on Bike time of the year. Our bikey BFFs CarFreeDays have been tree-hauling by xtracycle since back in the day. Here's a tree on a front-loader, our new Bionx Bullitt from Splendid Cycles. Which is of course getting its own post because it is the most awesomest car-replacement vehicle I have yet experienced.

Of course, there is a backstory to this photo. Not sure it was my proudest parenting moment. The children have gotten a bit delusional about the need for coats, hats, and gloves in the past month of riding around under a cozy rain canopy with a sleigh blanket. Scratch that. They have always been delusional about the need for winter-wear. 

At departure, warm coats, less fashionable/more waterproof gloves, and hats were offered. And offered again. Hypothermia discussed. Saids items brought with us. Errands were run, with the boy in a cotton long-sleeve shirt, coat sitting next to him on the box seat. By the time we reached the tree lot in a cold Seattle drizzle, both kids were shivering and crying to go home. Coats and gloves were belatedly donned. Hands didn't work. 

So we rode home, both kids wailing, collecting stares and glares, with me going on quite a bit more than I needed to about "And this, kids, is why you always wear a coat and gloves ..." If I had a one-armed man around I would have used him. Here was the result: 

Merry freaking christmas, thanks for the Jack Frost-bite, dad. 

Nothing a bath and hot chocolate couldn't cure. As for the whole natural consequences lessons learned thing? Not so much. Luc elected shorts and T-shirt for his next outing. Does this let-em-learn approach work for you guys, or have you made appropriate garb just as non-negotiable as a helmet? I'm thinking that for local errands they can learn their lessons, but if hypothermia or misery would blow up an actual plan that involves getting there by bike then parental mandates may need to be enforced. 

How We Ride Now

It's been a while since our omnibus posts about the ages and stages of family biking, and our stable has evolved enough to be worth describing a bit.

My personal favorite city bike, light cargo bike, and ride with 3-5yo passenger choice is ... the Brompton folding bike, with an obscure front-child-saddle attachment called the ITchair. There are enough odes to Brommies out there that I won't bother much here, but yes, it is all that. Magical folding clown-bike jet pack for 2. 

This beloved bike has travelled with me to SF, Berkeley, NYC, Vancouver, and Portland. Gate-checking has worked very well for me, with the bonus of getting to roll your bike and bag through airports. Trains and buses and subways are a cinch. With the trifecta of Brompton + smartphone (routes and transit planning) + transit, almost any trip is possible, with panache and adventure. And with the ITchair, you can do that all with your kid. Add in Zipcar or other car-sharing services and you can ditch the car, or a car, at least. Wicked cool. There just is no other bike that folds as small, carries cargo as well, is as fun to ride, and can carry a passenger. 

ITchair's are really hard to come by (they seem to be coming back as "Pere" accessory, with novel Bobike Mini adapter for younger kids?), and quite expensive if you do. One option I've been thinking about would be a narrow "grip deck" that could be attached to the top of the main tube. Because as cool as the "passenger stands in front of you" trick is, it's just too slippery and narrow up there for my 3 year old. But with a slightly wider platform, with skateboard grip tape, that didn't interfere with fold or pedaling, I think we'd have a great solution for bike to bus days in the winter. Both Luc and I got a bit wimpier last winter about wet cold commutes to work/preschool, so often found ourselves taking the Brompton to the bus.

Our youngest has also graduated from front seats (sniff), so we are rolling with a longtail version of our city bike conversion. Yes, we have joined the xtracycle tribe. It really is a remarkable platform. Rides not much different from previous city bike incarnation,with cargo and passenger flexibility available at all times. Luc's strapped into a Bobike Maxi, as he still tends to snooze on the the bike:

Drew is following in CarFreeDays' footsteps with fancy sidesaddle, no hands riding positions and running starts, dismounts, and Secret Service escorts where she runs alongside the bike with a hand on the snap deck. This is my current favorite family cargo bike, and the Seattle family biking scene is all about Big Dummies these days, thanks in no small part to Madi's cheerful advocacy and Edward, the cargo mechanic at Ride Bicycles. 

Drew's first running remount, courtesy of Madi / FamilyRide

The MADSEN is still the kids' favorite choice, as they like the social seating configurations, roller-coaster ride feel, sturdy kickstand that allowed them to clamber in and out, and the ability to slump over, lie down, nap, dangle their feet out of the box, etc. I still think this bike is great for younger families where having comfortable nap options are important. A front-loader box bike works well for that as well. But that kid and cargo-loading flexibility does come at a hill-climbing cost. 

So, we added a CleanRepublic front electric hub assist, in the bike shop "build your own wheel" cheaper version, with lithium battery pack. It was a screaming deal, but a PITA to get the front disc brake to work (I think things are easier now). Even at a relatively-underpowered-for-cargo 250W, having this motor was fantastic. Still got plenty of workout - it just majorly expanded our choice of routes in a hilly town, distances we'd consider biking, improved our trip times, and really reduced any lazy barriers to piling into the bike instead of the car. It flattens mild to moderate hills, and otherwise makes a cargo bike feel like a normal bike to ride, in terms of effort. To crunch up steeper hills on a regular basis you would want a burlier assist.

However. The dirty secret of the ebiking "revolution" is that lithium batteries remain seriously unreliable (and expensive), with longevity in the 1-3 year range. Ours died hard 14 months in - 2 months after the anemic warranty expired. To replace it will cost almost $500. This does not make me happy. Even with top-of-the-line systems like Bionx, battery failures are depressingly common. So. If you go electric, look for longer warranties on lithium batteries, consider getting a deal on last-gen NiMH, or budget high running costs from battery replacement. Dig into A to B magazine's fantastic commentary and reviews for more insight on electric assist.

For another perspective on family cargo options from a Hill People perspective, don't miss Hum of the City's saga on finding the perfect cargo bike to replace their car. Stay tuned for the thrilling finale ... eMundo? Bionx Big Dummy? Or a dark horse like an electric Bullitt or Metrofiets?

As for us, we also also shed a car this year. We still have our Subaru, but my first car, an '89 Honda Civic with custom paint from my friends at Maria's Children, went off to the junkyard this year after conclusively giving up the ghost. Sad to see it go, but nice to realize that we didn't really need 2 cars. I have a Zipcar backup option, but haven't needed it yet. If I can get a new battery and MADSEN raincover going for this winter I think we'll be in great shape.

I couldn't bear to part with the hood. So I kept it. It now adorns our garden.

"Midtails" - The New Family Ride?

There's an emerging new category of cargo bikes out there, informally called the "midtail," as they feature an extended badonkadonk, but not as long as bikes in the "longtail" category like xtracycles, mundo's, and madsen's.

I've noticed 3 versions of this new style pop up in the past year, and we spent a bit of time discussing them on this weekend's Kidical Mass Seattle camping trip (details to follow when I get some photos - let's just say that Bainbridge Island was hilly but not chilly, we got a great waterfront spot at the campground for only $5/adult, and the pie was plentiful).

These bikes appeal to families with one child, or those looking for a bike to complement other pedal parent options they may have. There's room on the back for one kid comfortably, two in a pinch, plus there's potential for more cargo in panniers. One of the main motivators for families to get one of these is the potential to have a reasonably "normal" bike that is easier to carry, park, and store with always-there option to pick up or drop off kids or cargo. One of the best features of the midtails is the potential to fit a "cargo bike" onto public transportation - the front of a bus, or a hanging Amtrak rack. 

But I've got some issues with the versions that are out there. Call them a very promising start, but here's some unsolicited feedback from somebody that hasn't ridden your bikes yet. You're welcome! 

Here are the midtails of 2012:

Kona MinUte

Photo by Mitch Mandel

The $999 Kone MinUte is a smaller version of their Ute. Families report that by spinning the front wheel 180 degrees, it just fits on their local buses. It reportedly rides like a typical bike, is relatively light, and comes with waterproof panniers. 

And yet ... the disc brakes it comes with are reportedly subpar ("junky" according to this SF family, and they would know about braking needs). Also, Kona chose larger 700c wheels, and the rack with groceries and kids thus ride higher than they need to, which affects handling, and makes the bike tippier than it needs to be. I also wonder why the panniers couldn't be a bit longer. The kickstand is also too narrow for reliable kid-loading.

Yuba Boda Boda

Also clocking in at $999 is the Boda Boda Cargo Cruiser, the younger sibling to the Yuba Mundo, which comes in two sizes with slightly different frame configurations:

Photo from Yuba Cycles

Stylish, no? And reportedly hauls a lot for a lowish weight of 35lbs. And comes on smaller 26" wheels.

BUT. Because this frame is shared with an upcoming electric version, the rear rack is way above the wheel to leave space for a battery pack. Which again puts the heavy "live weight" higher than it needs to be. Plus they come with V-brakes instead of disc, and up here in the drizzly NW we are done with V-brakes. I'll need a test ride to see how the "cruiser" styling does up hills.

[Update] Yuba clarified in comments that the wheels and frame are disc-ready, so you can add the disc brakes of your dreams, and also confirmed that the Boda Boda is bus-friendly, with the front wheel flip.

Kinn Bikes

These brand new Kinn bikes are actually designed and BUILT in Portland! They cost twice a much ($2000ish depending on configuration), but with handbuilt quality wheels, locally built cromoly frame, racks, etc that's not a bad deal. Nice article about the genesis of this new company here on BikePortland, with an excellent comment section.

Photo from Kinn Cycles

Besides winning the looks prize (for me, at least), there are many clever features on this one. The front wheel flips 180 and latches there for bus racks. The rear rack has a small lockbox for tools and valuables, spins out to support wide loads (like a pizza box or crate), and even has a hidden mount for a Yepp Maxi seat! Adjustable footpegs are built in, and internal gear hub is an available option. 

Some quibbles. While disc brakes are welcome, I wish the Avid BB5's were BB7's. The folding double kickstand may be decent with groceries but should not be trusted with kids (I've broken a similar Pletscher double with kids on board). And I don't see panniers yet but given the nature of Portland there is no doubt that bicycle luggage artisans are hard at work. I wonder how they will fit with the footpegs.

And yes, the wheelsets are the larger 700c size. Even on the smaller frame size. Nooooo!

Truth is, I think Kona and Kinn are coming from a speedy commuter bike place, whence such wheelsets are enjoyed for their fast and smooth over bumps qualities. And these will be ideal for taller parents for whom the primary purpose of the bike is commuting longer distances, with more occasional heavy cargo. But for designers coming from a cargo bike direction, smaller wheels are better, as they are stronger and carry loads lower. Not to mention being more versatile bikes for families of diverse height. 

In fact, if I were designing a midtail I'd skip 26" wheels and go all the way to 20" wheels. Now, I'm not averse to a certainly clowny je-ne-sais-quoi to my bikes. In fact, my favorite small, transit-friendly cargo and kid hauling setup is a 16" wheel Brompton with front ITchair. 

Others in the family cargo world agree. The Xtravois 2.0 is probably the finest cargo bike design work I've seen in the past few years, and rolls on dual 20" wheels:

Photo from Clever Cycles

Dang I want this bike. There is some talk of a semi-production run. Make it so.

Another upcoming cargo bike with promise is the new Xtracycle design: the EdgeRunner Electric (p/review at Momentum), which is a one-piece frame (not bolt-on) with 26" front wheel and 20" rear. Plus electric assist, which is the future of cargo biking if the whole lithium-batteries-are-still-expensive-and-have-sucky-longevity issue ever gets sorted.

You like? I do. Their new Hooptie accessory will likely grace my xtracycle come fall, if we decide the handholds and side-protection are worth giving up on Drew's running mounts and dismounts.

But again, if it was me, I'd build a bike that has dual 20" wheels, fits on buses and Amtrak, has enough room on the deck for 2 kids, and to make up for rear cargo lost to legroom, a frame-mounted front rack for extra capacity up front. I was even going to sketch something out for this post, when I remembered a little sumpin that went by my twitter feed a few months ago ...

Photo by Jared MadsenWoot. There it is. A prototype MADSEN is monkeying with. With a serious centerstand to boot. Although that and the front rack would interfere with other bikes on bus rack, but hey, they're removable. Now, I don't know if that wheelbase is short enough to fit a standard bus rack, or exactly how I'd sort kids and cargo on the back, but that's the general idea. If my current MADSEN is any indication, this hi-ten steel bike would probably be heavier than the alu and cromoly midtails above, making it harder to load-unload from a bus, and less nimble up hills, so this would probably not be the ideal allrounder multimodal family whip. Tradeoffs. But a lighter cromoly version of what Jared's cooking up sure would be nice to ride. That is, after they release the MADSEN rain canopy in time for this fall, right? Ahem.

But I hope the designers above can take inspirado from the designers below, and get that cargo low, with quality disc brakes and burlier centerstands as standard features.

What say you, family bike people, and designers? The latest generation of velofamilies has been very interested in midtails, and I'd love to hear what you think. 

Bike to Camp for Pie

Here are the details on this weekend's first ever Kidical Mass Seattle pedal parent bike camping adventure!

Route has changed due to the shambolic evil that is Hemp Fest. I have nothing against the herb, but do resent the annual week-long effective closure of a major N-S bike corridor due to all-hours walking-under-the-influence trustafarian chaos. As does anyone that commutes that route. Let's have next year's hemp event be on the Aurora Bridge, and ask drivers to push their cars across, mmmkay thx.

So. We meet at the Waiting for the Interurban Sculpture in Fremont at 10am on Saturday, and take Westlake to the Ferry. Somehow. Details TBD. Or meet us at the Seattle to Bainbridge ferry terminal if that works best for you.

I take this route because it sounds as if most people coming are not having little ones riding their own bikes (which is wise because there are lots of miles on this one). But if you can't have your under 10-11yo kids on your bike, let me know soon for alternate route selections, please.

Ideally, we catch the 11:25am ferry to Bainbridge, and get to Fay Bainbridge Park early enough to get spots (check-in at 2:30pm, but would rather be safe). Grab lunch on the island, check-in and make camp, then enjoy the beach and the island. I'll probably bring snacks and enough grub for my crew to cover one meal plus breakfast, and count on lunching or supping on the island, or picking up more groceries after we dump our stuff. We can work it out ...

And sleep a smug scofflaw cyclist slumber, then head over to Bike for Pie, at the Marge Williams center by about 10am (leaves at 10:30am). You are hereby reminded to go to this page to prepay via Paypal, and print reg and waiver forms to bring.

Don't miss the discussion on the Seattle Family Biking group about logistics if you need help getting stuff over, and feel free to post ideas or questions below. See you Saturday!

Summer in Seattle Schedule

Georgia, from abigailstclair on tumblr

Our sippy cup runneth over with family cycling events this summer ... here's what's in store for the next month:

Meridian Park / Wallingford Farmer's Market Meetups

Join the Seattle Family Biking facebooking group for these and other meetups, tips, hot craigslist finds, and more!

July 21st - Kidical Mass South

The indomitable Morgan of Family Bike Expos and now BikeWorks is organizing every-third-Saturday southside Kidical Mass rides this summer, that meet at BikeWorks. Woot on wheels! See these events and more on the SeattleBikeBlog Calendar.

July 28th - Kidical Mass (North)

We will meet at 10am at the Ballard Commons (spray and skate) Park, and ride across the locks and down the waterfront, for a BYO picnic at the Olympic Sculpture Park, followed by waterfront arcade, carousel, and the new Seattle Great Wheel!

August 11th - Cargo Bike Roll Call

Save the date. Cancel your travel plans. Tell the airlines your goldfish died. Just do it. I don't know much yet about this except that it will be the most awesomest. Hosted by Madi at FamilyRide. Update: Facebook event is up.

August 19th - Family Bike Camping with Bike for Pie

Saturday August 18th we will ride to the downtown waterfront, ferry to Bainbridge, ride a few miles to Fay Bainbridge Park for a family bike camping overnight. Details to follow.

The next day, on Bainbridge, is Bike for Pie.

Bike. Pie. What else needs to be said? (Beer.) Register now for their family ride. Do preregister by August 12th to allow for adequate pie baking.

And yes, that will be a lot of riding. Ballard to ferry: 7 miles, ferry to camping: 7 miles. The next day -camping to pie start: 7 miles, family ride: 12 miles, ferry to Ballard: 7 miles. That's a family riding century. But you'll be fueled by the power of pie, and juiced up with sweet smokey sleep deprivation.

Family Bike Rumble?

Like this, but with bikes.At some point this August, North must meet South.

That's either North of the Ship Canal meets South, or SEA at PDX (August 26th SE Portland Sunday Parkway meetup anyone?).

Sharks vs Jets. MADSENs vs xtracycles. Artisanal long johns vs whatever we can get on Amtrak.

Road trip with rented uhaul trailer for our cargo bikes? No need for actual rumble, leave the switchblades at home, just would be fun for the tribes to meet. Post your ideas and events in the comments!

Bicycle Boombox

'Tis the season for summer jams, and what better way to enjoy them than cruising around on your bike? We've been wanting tunes on the bike for years now, but didn't feel up to creating a block-rocking-beats trailer like those that come along on Bike Party! rides and such. 

And our 3yo Luc fancies himself quite the DJ and Justin Bieber cover artiste. Don't ask how he was exposed, just know that it was out of our control. Showing him MattyB videos on YouTube is entirely our unforced parenting error, however. Here is Luc doing his best MattyB:

Luc is living this rap game, people.

Here is an easy way to play music for you and yours on your bike: the Logitech Mini Boombox, $80. It has a wireless bluetooth connection to your phone, so you can play music, stream Spotify, whatever. What I like is that Luc and Drew can pause and skip songs in the playlist from the boombox, while I retain my phone and the ability to skip tunes and lower volume.

It gets a workout inside the house, and in the yard, to be sure, but also mounts easily on the bike! The boombox happens to fit in our bottle cage, with a little anti-slip padding and a velcro strap to encircle it and keep it from slipping out the side. For such a tiny box, it puts out enough sound to start to feel self-conscious about the neighbors, but not enough to feel bad about it.

And yes, depending on what we're listening to, it's noise pollution, but we're usually just passing by, so no one has to tolerate the Biebs for that long.

Another wireless speaker that is bigger & better but would require more of a custom mount is this Braven Speaker (charges your phone, rugged exterior).

We rode home from the July 4th Gasworks Fireworks last night, through throngs of pedestrians and traffic. Music turned out to be a less obnoxious way than dinging nonstop to warn people walking under the influence that we were coming through. The theme from Greatest American Hero was a big singalong, flyalong hit. 

How are you enjoying music on your bike? 

Kidical Mass to Wallingford Greenway Partay!

Seattle's first of the new Neighborhood Greenways (the low-stress, traffic-calmed, people-friendly streets formerly known as Bicycle Boulevards) is opening this weekend, with a big neighborhood car free Wallingford Greenway Party, ribbon cutting, bicycle blender, and the Return of the Gelato Bike!

Madi of FamilyRide is leading this Kidical Mass from Green Lake to the Greenway Party this Saturday, June 16th. Depart NE Green Lake, on the grass around the playground at the Green Lake Community Center, and we'll follow this route.

Meet at 4pm, ride at 4:15pm, arrive for Ribbon Cutting, Kid Parade, road chalk, hot dogs, bike blenders, and GELATO from D'Ambrosio Gelato in Ballard and Cap Hill! Marco and Enzo, the family gelato team, make the bestest, most authenticest, and most generousest gelato in town.

Come one come all! These Greenways are the future of low-stress family biking in Seattle, so this is a big deal. And our family loves a street party ...

And join us afterwards for an all night bike scavenger hunt, the 9 to 5. CarFreeDays has the scoop ...

Gelato Bike in Action

Kidical Mass to Pedalers' Fair

Just back in town after a Brompton-NYC-work-trip (another in a long list of posts I should write), and barely in time for Pedalers' Fair this weekend, in our very own Ballard! Bike crafts! Slide show by Russ and Laura of Path Less Pedaled! Food! Beer garden! Fellow family bike peeple! What more do you need?

And so we ride, this Saturday! And in May, of course, we wouldn't miss Bike to Work & School Day on May 18th. Which leaves June and July wide open for suggestions, but I guarandamnteeit that one Kidical Mass ride this summer will be bike camping! Ride to Bainbridge Ferry, then to Fay Bainbridge for an overnight, possibly in conjunction with Bike for Pie on August 19th. 

As what few readers remain may have noticed, I do need help planning and organizing these rides, especially south of the ship canal, so contact me if you have a ride idea you'd like to own and lead. I'd like to get a regular third-weekend-of-the-month rotation going, but have conclusively demonstrated that I can't do it by my lonesome.

We'll keep this one simple, and classic. Gas Works Park by the play barn/play area. 11am this Saturday 4/21/12. Leave at 11:15ish, ride the Burke Gilman to 1415 NW 49th St for the bike crafts fair. Russ and Laura start at 2pm, if you're able to stick around. Food is promised, but I don't know how kid-friendly. BYO backup food, or know that there's lots nearby, including el camion truck 3 blocks away. Yes.

Novembrrr Kidical Mass: Ship Canal Trail

We're back! That's right, after missing most of a glorious summer, our little family bike ride that could is back on track, just in time for ... snow? So says the forecast. Bah! Either way, this route is short, temperate, and will be capped by delicious warm and cold beverages for one and all.

Why this Saturday, November 19th? Because the Ship Canal Trail is done, and there's an opening ceremony, and we plan to be among the first to ride this spiffy gem on the other side of the canal from the Burke Gilman Trail. 

This is another "missing link" trail, that now connects Burke-Gilman, Dexter, and Westlake with Magnolia and the Elliott Bay Trail to downtown. The Ship Canal Trail has previously been a scenic and secret trail to nowhere, but now has real utility. 

We checked it out this summer when the yellow segment finished, and were delighted by a real live maritime firefighter training session on a mock ship, complete with MASSIVE PYRO! 

No promises on Saturday. But it sure would be a toasty way to welcome folks to the trail. Hint hint pyro people.

Let's meet at the Ballard Library at 10am, ride through the Locks, and through Fisherman's Terminal to the 11am opening ceremony. There will be a short stretch of on-road action between the Locks and Terminal. We can do it.

Then we'll ride this scenic (in an industrial then canal sort of way) trail, and pop over the Fremont Bridge for a lunch at Fremont Brewing. We'll bring hot cider to warm folks up. Fremont Brewing is BYO food, and quite kid friendly. You can pack a picnic, but there is adjacent teriyaki, and nearby sweet and savory PIE. 

Then anyone who likes can ride back to Ballard with us on the Burke Gilman Trail. This ride will be a great chance to show off your "how I keep the kids warm/dry" tricks for winter! We've got a MEC Newt Suit a la FamilyRide clan that we're liking for the wet. And contemplating hot-water bottle with waterproof-on-one-side picnic blanket for the cold.

If you don't have kids with you that day, or live in a Capitol Hill/South Seattle direction, may I suggest an alternate event? Because Cranksgiving 2011 bike ride/food drive happens to be on the same day (sorry Tom!). We really enjoyed it last year, but my kids were more totsicle than totcycle by the end of it, so I don't think we'll make it such a big loop with snow in the forecast. But you should.