Both of our boys grew up on our Xtracycle since 9 months old. We did everything on that bike and I put about 8,000 miles a year on it over 13 years before it cracked. They both bypassed strider bikes from already understanding the motion and rhythm and are both racing mountain bikes at 5 and 7 now. They also both have embraced riding for errands and lifestyle which is EXACTLY what I attribute my VO2 and aerobic capacity gains to. The power of lifestyle riding and community riding is Exponentially beneficial.
I suggest adding a large mirror to the bar end. I had something that velcro'd on whenever the trailer was attached and was sized like a motorcycle mirror. My son was very chatty and would often point and say "look!" or wail when something started bugging. With the mirror I could see his movement and facial queues and respond without turning around every minute and saying "what?". Our Burley trailer was handed down from family to family and is still going 20+ years later with a few replacement parts and canvas upgrades.
My 18 month old HATES the car and LOVES the bike! She arches her back and holds onto the doorframe when being put in her car seat. In contrast, she cries when we remove her helmet at the end of a commute on the back of our Yuba Spicy Curry AT. She wants to go on rides when there is nowhere to go. Every ride is training for bikepacking. Our first trip, I rode the girls to a very close campground (a friend’s backyard would’ve worked), while my wife drove and parked nearby. We had a bug-out option of the baby outright rejected the trip. I definitely recommend testing your rig, kit, and child (and spouse) in this manner, if possible.
This past summer I did my first bikepacking trip ever, and brought my 3yo son along in an Encore X. It a very short trip--just five miles of mostly road to a local state park--but it was definitely the highlight of my year. My recommendation for first bikepacking trips with kiddo is keep it super close to home. Leave from your house and stay at a place accessible by car in case you need to bail. If you're with your partner and kid, one of you can ride home, get the car, and come collect everybody. It will significantly lower your anxiety, and dealing with the stress of having a little one out on a bikepacking adventure was definitely the hardest part! That and the extra 50-70 pounds of gear the kid and kid gear accounts for. Speaking of, another tip would be to pick a flat route if that's available.
I'm about 20 years ahead of you in the parenting department and have converted my former kid hauler Burley into a fantastic flat bed cargo hauler. Great video! Nice to see some bikepacking gear put into daily utilitarian use.
You have to ditch the trailer and get a seat to sit above the top tube - ours were called Centric Safe Haven but I imagine they no longer exist. Not only does the position of the child make riding easier for you particularly off road - the weight is between the wheels so the bike is much more in control, but your child learns to ride as soon as they can sit up! All my kids know how to pick a line and how to move their weight around as they ride which they learned whilst sat in front of my chest and behind the handlebars. Also you get to chat with them as you go along. We bikepacked in the Alps, Wales, Lake District with these seats. And used them to get to day care too.
Super video Neil! Love a dad takin' care of business by being a fully engaged parent! I only wish we had acces to such cool rigs 35 years ago when our first born arrived! Love the Schwalbe's! I use their Winter Plus studded tires on my commuter for winter commuting/ shopping. What a great idea to have the smaller trailer tires! That kid is lucky to have you both as you all Pedal Further!
Used to haul Burley but my kiddo has the tendency to fall asleep every travel (be that commute or a family trip). Had to switch over to Thule as my Burley did not have the retractable backseat. That was a game changer. Before that, I had to stop each time the lil dude went to sleep (each trip, ~1h nap). If you're planning on buying one, take this as a must. Otherwise your kids head will be bouncing up and down, left and right, no matter how gently you'll ride But Burley > Thule when it comes to usage. Cheaper and easier to maintain
We bought the Thule for this exact reason. But while our kid loves the recline feature in the stroller, he absolutely hates it in the Thule and prefers to be upright even when sleeping. So ymmv. :-) Would like to try a Burley sometime, because our top of the line Thule is astonishingly half-baked in certain areas. Like the sun shade.
Oh yeah! Thule's cover (that stretchy material that imitates a window) is a huge crap. For now, kiddo understands that putting any pressure on it will cause damage. Burley didn't have that problem. Plus the cargo space was enormous (it was the DLite version). I would load it up with 2x5l water bottles and some additional groceries (and two kids in the front) and ride it to the camping place without an issue or any sort of damage
I've got a front loader yuba supermarche cargo bike and I've been riding my 4 yo daughter around in it since she was 7 months old. Made some studded tires with a few hundred #4 1/4 inch sheet metal screws for year round riding. We've been averaging ~1000 miles a year together. Love it. I plan on adding a mac ride kids seat to my bikepacking rig this summer for family camping adventures.
My kiddo carrier is a 20" Bike Friday haul-a-day with a similar trailer. The small wheel size is great for towing and acceleration in the city. The long wheelbase and low step over is confidence inspiring. The kid also has the option of using a bike seat on the extended rear rack.
Great Video. Do you have the tall or short Old Man Mountain rack? I also have full fenders on my Grappler, and would like to keep the rack as low was possible. Also, I got my first bike-packing Journal yesterday. That was much more in-depth than I thought it would be. Thanks!
Nice! I'm presently in the process of converting one of these into a bikepacking trailer for my Schwinn Stingray Chopper. Mine is from the brand 'Everyday', and I got it 2nd hand from someone who put it out on the curb. The fabric was in really poor condition, so I'm converting it to a hard shell and waterproofing it so I can install electrics. Just put in a dedicated solar panel this morning and am working on the battery bank next. :) Excited to hear how your rig works out. Much love!
I have that Fenix light and it's awesome! I am a little skeptical of the run time but dang it's bright and it runs much longer than my other rechargeable lights. Question, what shoes are you wearing when you talk about the Chesters? I am a big fan of the Scarpa Crux shoes bikepacking but yours look nice, too.
I have not done the proper lumen/time test, but I am happy with the light so far aslo. These are Black Diamond Prime Approach shoes, actually a pretty light weight shoe, but I like them for pedaling and riding around town in cooler temps.
Ice cream, small destinations, make little events exciting and don’t make any expectations so you don’t disappoint yourself. Take your time, enjoy the small things, and take lots of photos/videos
I did a Dadventure bikepacking trip with my older girls in October. We used a trailer to haul our stuff. Loved it. Probably some of my best memories on a bike
I'm here because of the future kiddo (excited and scared at the same time)! And, as a comment I'm commuting all year around in Finland and my go to rig to bike on the ice/snow is my 26" Long haul trucker. I'm a short person and I find myself more in control with small wheels riding on icy conditions.
Your videos are great and really informative. I was hoping you could give your opinion on the grappler as it rides on the road. I'm looking for a bikepacking bike. However, we ride alot on paved roads (not road cycling) as well and am curious to know how the grappler rides on the urban side of things. I'm more or less torn between GG, Ogre or even bridge club. The problem I have is local bike shops or even ones around our state that sell Surly never really have them all in stock and if they do never in my size. I'm a shorty at 5'4" so I never have the opportunity to try a bike out. I won't ride drop bars anymore due to my age and like a relaxed upright position. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Ty.
Love the parent bike content! When the little one gets bigger check out the Burley Piccolo. Not only is the rack mount trailer bike more stable than a seat post but my spouse and I have two racks for super quick swapping mid ride. Also the rack while heavy is great for extra bag mounts.
I bought a Burley Bee used and it is an amazing mountain bike trailer. Both my sons are too big now but I decided to sell my huge truck and try a gas-free pedal-powered life. I needed a safer way to carry surfboards to beach. Surfboards can catch a gust of wind and unless your riding a block to the beach trailer is the safest option. I started with a shortboard but have carried two longboards plus cooler and wetsuit 10 miles to beach and back on fire roads. My goal was 1) Surf 2) Stay off asphalt and avoid road rage, exhaust fumes and being hit-n-run'd again. So far its far more work than any normal person should attempt but bombing downhill with a 9' longboard is a rush. Makes parking at beach non-issue. Lots of boomers on road bikes are concerned there is a child on-board and pry or lecture. Doing anything different these days seems to brand one as subversive and people worry. I tell them its for my cats. They love the beach.
I used a two-child trailer from Allen with 16inch wheels. It turns out those wheels (made of plastic) didn't hold up for my use. It was probably the combined weight of my older two kids in conjunction with some hard bumps. I don't exactly know when the damage happened; because I didn't notice it until I disassembled for winter storage (sure, I stored over winter rather than ride kids in cold weather, but that's a different conversation). It wasn't easy to find a replacement for the single wheel, but I was able to find a pair of 20inch wheels with proper spokes. My LBS was able to swap the wheel axles (still in great shape) from the original to the new pair of wheels for a surprisingly low service fee. Anyway! The 20 inch replacements have been absolutely better than the 16 inch originals. It puts the bottom of the trailer a bit higher to keep the trailer bottom a bit dryer. It also tips the rig a bit forward to help with drainage of water through the drain holes in the front (under the feet); that is rather than tipped slightly back which encouraged water to pool in the back of the bottom. Water wasn't a huge problem, but it was something I noticed about riding in wet conditions. The spokes provide a bit, bit, bit more comfort for hard bumps, but it was seeing the broken wheels that reminded me to be more mindful while riding to avoid hard bumps. I recommend having a trailer engineered with shock absorption for anyone shopping around. We don't get out with the trail much anymore. I've got a trail-a-bike for my oldest kid and a tandem trail-a-bike for the older two kids. The youngest kid will have to wait a bit, but I'm confident I'll be introducing the trail-a-bikes before long. I'm already preparing the trailer to sell. It was a nice treat, but short-lived. I'm glad I bought Allen instead of Burley--the cost of the Burley feels too expensive now that I've had a trailer for a few years of riding. So, I could have maybe looked for a used trailer instead of buying new.
Neil I'd absolutely love to see you discuss kid trailers with all different bikers. I've seen RJ Sauer use a Thule then change to a Burly, Phoebe Sneddon uses a Thule. Family Bikepacking is a niche market so good content is rare to come across. When in the market for future family bikepacking / commuting gear, good quality and dollars is a big call. Any tips or tricks would be super appreciated.
I took two kids on a tandem trail-a-bike for an overnight with gear strapped to the racks or frames. I'm planning to get out with that rig again, but I did buy some new gear to lighten up and shrink the volume of gear. I missed the planned trip last year due to sickness, but it was a sad, sad cancellation.
Did you consider going with the Thule chariot, very popular and I’m curious to hear your thoughts as to why you went with this model instead. Cough cough, asking for a friend (already own one :p)
When I saw your first review of the Ghost Grappler, it was clear you liked it but I didn't realize you kept it and were using it for everything like this, that's awesome! I actually got one after that video. Mine has front and rear Surly racks and I think the same fenders. The rest is stock. I'd be interested in knowing if there were any tricks to getting those fenders on because the bike shop I got mine from had to do some "customization" to the front fender to make it fit. They cut the fender in half where it goes under the fork, and the front part is attached to the rack. Looks completely natural but seeing yours apparently that was not necessary. They were concerned it would be too close to the tire. I like the bike a lot. Where I am (Portland, OR) we don't have such harsh weather and to me, the extra large tires still just felt a little overkill for large amounts of paved road riding (although it might entirely be in my head). So it didn't act as a complete quiver killer. Anyway, I look forward to trying almost the exact same thing. I have a burley (I think slightly different but I'll look into those tires) and a kid that will be 3 this year and now I'm inspired to try bikepacking with him. For town riding, we've been using a bakfiets / box bike because it's nice to be able to see him up there and talk to him. But I've considered doing some bike camping with it and the real problem is it just can't climb a hill.
More of a question. I have a surly ghost grappler and I would like to attach a burly dog trailer. What size of a Roberts did you use and is there something else I would need. Mike
I converted a double kids trailer that I was given. to a cargo (small dog) trailer. It took some cutting and welding of the frame to create a roll bar and division between cargo and dogs and then a lot of sewing by hand for all new rainproof covers. It's brilliant. I may consider some sort of suspension for it in the future. Being the family 'mule' I can carry and tow about an extra 50-60 kilos when the family go bike camping.
You have some epic trips ahead of you….riding with your kids is some of the best time you Will ever get both positive and negative…first in the trailer then on Their own bike….happy trails and thanks for making positive bike happy videos and yes I just took a ride on my Marin pine 2017 27.5 + rigid in the rain with the sks bluemels …peace
Grab a WeeHoo trailer for kid rides. No joke the best single piece of cycling gear I own. I could swap my own bikes for another, but no kids trailer allows me to do as much with the kids (even big kids) and ride for real without feeling that I’m giving up any of my own ride. Worth a look!
Came here to say the same. Have taken my kid mountain biking and bikepacking with a gen 1 shotgun seat, and he absolutely loves it. Pairing the shotgun with a trailer if possible may be the best option for pleasant kidpacking experiences, entertainment when alert, but a place for them to rest by still moving.
Any insight on what happened to the Ghost Grappler name? Their website just calls it the Grappler now, and my new frame came with just a "Grappler" sticker.
Neil - vid question: you have a great speaking cadence and deliver a lot of info efficiently. Do you use a script? A teleprompter? Or are you just caffeinating and speaking extemporaneously? I appreciate the breadth of content you cover here. From badass rides to family considerations. Thanks!!!
If you can find the first video I used a teleprompter, I’ll send you a gift. It’s a more streamlined, provides better information and i feel it offers a better overall product.
How are the stubbed tires when there is NO snow and ice? I ride a Benno Boost E-Bike with my 9 year old on the back. We get ice/snow about 25% of the winter. Thinking about studded tires to be safe when there is ice, but wondering if they OK/Safe to use when there is NO ice.
I feel the need for some kind of kickstand when i'm commuting my atb. Simply because my large tires can't fit the bikerack at work and the storeroom is full of other bikes. No place to lean it against a wall. Any solution without potentially damaging my frame? Thanks!
Do you have spiked tires on your children's trailers? Do they also have tubeless or something? I always look forward to watching this channe from Japan! Japan also has many areas with heavy snowfall.
Always wanted to go to Japan and ski, thanks for checking in here. No studs on the rear tires, so it does move around a bit more, but it’s usually pretty grounded. The smaller plus wheels are set up tubeless, so I do run lower pressures in them for additional traction.
I have these same fenders on my commuter. I run 2.5" 29er tires. They're excellent but I've never removed them and had to be modified to fit my Ogre. Still I'd highly recommend them.
My kids have outgrown the trailer and are on rigs of their own now, but I still get a ton of use out of our old Thule Chariot. The logistics of commuting don't pencil out for me at the moment, but I hope to make it happen one day. Side question, Neil: How do you like the GG as a bikepacking rig for longer hauls? Is it too heavy? I currently have a Kona Rove I use for most of my adventures, but it's not quite suited for chonk like you'd find on routes like the GDMBR. I also have a hardtail, but it's a lot slower and less comfortable (to me) than my gravel bike, and between dad-duties and dad-bod, I don't spend as much time on single-track as I used to.
I don't think its that heavy, maybe a little over built for me, but thats ok. I just like that its super durable. And if you are not riding too much singletrack, I think its a great option, it does singeltrack, but works really well for dirt roads, and with the additional volume, it does tackle technical trails a bit easier. The bike is a great value.
Awesome Neil! When my kids were small I had an old bell trailer that I put through the ringer. Great memories. Now I have a grandson so I found a used single chariot that I need to attach to my trek stache. Is it complicated to attach to the thru-axle? Thx
I had to get a thru-axle for my chariot. I wasn't too complicated. Robert Axle project has lots of guides and videos on installing the hitch receiver onto the axle.
I plan to ride the rail trail from DC to Pittsburgh with my wife and son this summer. My child will be 2 at the time of the trip. And plan to haul him in a similar trailer. Except we are using solid wheels for the trailer. Below is a link to a film of the solid tire install on the trailer if you are interested. ruclips.net/video/sioV4bm8GOw/видео.html Summer 2024 we plan to ride the rail trail from Seattle WA, to Spokane. Have fun on the trips you do!
Wow, just watched the video, interesting. That looks like an effort to get them on. I’m running a tubeless setup on the burly, so my hope is we will see less flats.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom Good plan! Tubeless give you the best all around experience IMO. Better rolling resistance, better suspension, and if you get a nail or small rip in the tire just plug it. The solid tire will be an experiment I may switch to tubeless in the future depending on the experiment results. The stock road tires get way to many flats though. Also, thanks for highlighting the different wheel options. I did not realize that there were more than one.
My friend put this bike together for his son and before I knew it he was done ruclips.net/user/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L When the son came to put it together he was surprised to see it was already done. All he had to do was take the bike to get air and be on his way. My friend did not have any major problems putting this bike together; small issue was putting one of the brakes on straight; however when the son got home he was able to fix it. The bike rides well gears move correctly; good bike for the price. Wrote review after the son took the bike. Sorry.
But seriously, I have a TT singletrailer and it's so worth it. My son's pretty young still so the two wheel trailer was a little too bouncy and uncomfortable. He immediately took a nap the first time I took the TT out on a 12mi loop of easy single track. And the ski from my chariot was plug and play so I've been fat biking with it in the winter. It's a real game changer.
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Very cool! So much to learn.
Yes!! Please keep talking about the commuter aspects of biking and the importance to reduce car use ❤
I'm so impressed by all of this i don't know where to start.
Great video, Can't wait to get my fam bam out there too
Both of our boys grew up on our Xtracycle since 9 months old. We did everything on that bike and I put about 8,000 miles a year on it over 13 years before it cracked. They both bypassed strider bikes from already understanding the motion and rhythm and are both racing mountain bikes at 5 and 7 now. They also both have embraced riding for errands and lifestyle which is EXACTLY what I attribute my VO2 and aerobic capacity gains to. The power of lifestyle riding and community riding is Exponentially beneficial.
I suggest adding a large mirror to the bar end. I had something that velcro'd on whenever the trailer was attached and was sized like a motorcycle mirror. My son was very chatty and would often point and say "look!" or wail when something started bugging. With the mirror I could see his movement and facial queues and respond without turning around every minute and saying "what?". Our Burley trailer was handed down from family to family and is still going 20+ years later with a few replacement parts and canvas upgrades.
It will be nice to see your family bikepaking trip!)
Thanks for the cool content!
My 18 month old HATES the car and LOVES the bike! She arches her back and holds onto the doorframe when being put in her car seat. In contrast, she cries when we remove her helmet at the end of a commute on the back of our Yuba Spicy Curry AT. She wants to go on rides when there is nowhere to go. Every ride is training for bikepacking.
Our first trip, I rode the girls to a very close campground (a friend’s backyard would’ve worked), while my wife drove and parked nearby. We had a bug-out option of the baby outright rejected the trip. I definitely recommend testing your rig, kit, and child (and spouse) in this manner, if possible.
Love it!!!!
Surly Burley looks good 👍
For Offroad Bikepacking I would suggest something like the tout terrain singletrailer. You are much faster and stress free when all tires are in line.
Love your build on the Ghost Grappler!
This past summer I did my first bikepacking trip ever, and brought my 3yo son along in an Encore X. It a very short trip--just five miles of mostly road to a local state park--but it was definitely the highlight of my year. My recommendation for first bikepacking trips with kiddo is keep it super close to home. Leave from your house and stay at a place accessible by car in case you need to bail. If you're with your partner and kid, one of you can ride home, get the car, and come collect everybody. It will significantly lower your anxiety, and dealing with the stress of having a little one out on a bikepacking adventure was definitely the hardest part! That and the extra 50-70 pounds of gear the kid and kid gear accounts for. Speaking of, another tip would be to pick a flat route if that's available.
Thanks! Very helpful.
I'm about 20 years ahead of you in the parenting department and have converted my former kid hauler Burley into a fantastic flat bed cargo hauler. Great video! Nice to see some bikepacking gear put into daily utilitarian use.
Any build ideas to convert burly to haul a kayak?
@@mfranquemont1884 I'm sure it's been done. Once you've reduced the trailer to the flat frame they're pretty simple.
You have to ditch the trailer and get a seat to sit above the top tube - ours were called Centric Safe Haven but I imagine they no longer exist. Not only does the position of the child make riding easier for you particularly off road - the weight is between the wheels so the bike is much more in control, but your child learns to ride as soon as they can sit up! All my kids know how to pick a line and how to move their weight around as they ride which they learned whilst sat in front of my chest and behind the handlebars. Also you get to chat with them as you go along. We bikepacked in the Alps, Wales, Lake District with these seats. And used them to get to day care too.
yeah, maybe down the road, perhaps when he turns 2 or so. We are for sure going to be trying out the kids ride shotgun this summer at some point.
Super video Neil! Love a dad takin' care of business by being a fully engaged parent! I only wish we had acces to such cool rigs 35 years ago when our first born arrived! Love the Schwalbe's! I use their Winter Plus studded tires on my commuter for winter commuting/ shopping. What a great idea to have the smaller trailer tires! That kid is lucky to have you both as you all Pedal Further!
Amazing stuff ! I tow the Thule Cab with my ECR. I just not managed to mount the SKS yet but will end with sucess, hopefuly...
Used to haul Burley but my kiddo has the tendency to fall asleep every travel (be that commute or a family trip). Had to switch over to Thule as my Burley did not have the retractable backseat. That was a game changer. Before that, I had to stop each time the lil dude went to sleep (each trip, ~1h nap). If you're planning on buying one, take this as a must. Otherwise your kids head will be bouncing up and down, left and right, no matter how gently you'll ride
But Burley > Thule when it comes to usage. Cheaper and easier to maintain
We bought the Thule for this exact reason. But while our kid loves the recline feature in the stroller, he absolutely hates it in the Thule and prefers to be upright even when sleeping. So ymmv. :-)
Would like to try a Burley sometime, because our top of the line Thule is astonishingly half-baked in certain areas. Like the sun shade.
Oh yeah! Thule's cover (that stretchy material that imitates a window) is a huge crap. For now, kiddo understands that putting any pressure on it will cause damage. Burley didn't have that problem.
Plus the cargo space was enormous (it was the DLite version). I would load it up with 2x5l water bottles and some additional groceries (and two kids in the front) and ride it to the camping place without an issue or any sort of damage
Really starting to love that bike! Can't beat the price. Fenders are cool!
Fenders are cool!!!!
I've got a front loader yuba supermarche cargo bike and I've been riding my 4 yo daughter around in it since she was 7 months old. Made some studded tires with a few hundred #4 1/4 inch sheet metal screws for year round riding. We've been averaging ~1000 miles a year together. Love it. I plan on adding a mac ride kids seat to my bikepacking rig this summer for family camping adventures.
My kiddo carrier is a 20" Bike Friday haul-a-day with a similar trailer. The small wheel size is great for towing and acceleration in the city. The long wheelbase and low step over is confidence inspiring. The kid also has the option of using a bike seat on the extended rear rack.
Great Video. Do you have the tall or short Old Man Mountain rack? I also have full fenders on my Grappler, and would like to keep the rack as low was possible.
Also, I got my first bike-packing Journal yesterday. That was much more in-depth than I thought it would be. Thanks!
Nice! I'm presently in the process of converting one of these into a bikepacking trailer for my Schwinn Stingray Chopper. Mine is from the brand 'Everyday', and I got it 2nd hand from someone who put it out on the curb. The fabric was in really poor condition, so I'm converting it to a hard shell and waterproofing it so I can install electrics. Just put in a dedicated solar panel this morning and am working on the battery bank next. :) Excited to hear how your rig works out. Much love!
Love it!
I have that Fenix light and it's awesome! I am a little skeptical of the run time but dang it's bright and it runs much longer than my other rechargeable lights. Question, what shoes are you wearing when you talk about the Chesters? I am a big fan of the Scarpa Crux shoes bikepacking but yours look nice, too.
I have not done the proper lumen/time test, but I am happy with the light so far aslo. These are Black Diamond Prime Approach shoes, actually a pretty light weight shoe, but I like them for pedaling and riding around town in cooler temps.
Ice cream, small destinations, make little events exciting and don’t make any expectations so you don’t disappoint yourself. Take your time, enjoy the small things, and take lots of photos/videos
Love it, thanks. We’re going to start very slow. Camp in the backyard, followed by a short overnighter down the road.
I did a Dadventure bikepacking trip with my older girls in October. We used a trailer to haul our stuff. Loved it. Probably some of my best memories on a bike
Very nice to see an actually practical set up being featured! Now go and lace up that dyno hub you've been thinking about for way too long !
I'm here because of the future kiddo (excited and scared at the same time)!
And, as a comment I'm commuting all year around in Finland and my go to rig to bike on the ice/snow is my 26" Long haul trucker. I'm a short person and I find myself more in control with small wheels riding on icy conditions.
Your videos are great and really informative. I was hoping you could give your opinion on the grappler as it rides on the road. I'm looking for a bikepacking bike. However, we ride alot on paved roads (not road cycling) as well and am curious to know how the grappler rides on the urban side of things. I'm more or less torn between GG, Ogre or even bridge club. The problem I have is local bike shops or even ones around our state that sell Surly never really have them all in stock and if they do never in my size. I'm a shorty at 5'4" so I never have the opportunity to try a bike out. I won't ride drop bars anymore due to my age and like a relaxed upright position. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Ty.
Love the parent bike content! When the little one gets bigger check out the Burley Piccolo. Not only is the rack mount trailer bike more stable than a seat post but my spouse and I have two racks for super quick swapping mid ride. Also the rack while heavy is great for extra bag mounts.
I bought a Burley Bee used and it is an amazing mountain bike trailer. Both my sons are too big now but I decided to sell my huge truck and try a gas-free pedal-powered life. I needed a safer way to carry surfboards to beach. Surfboards can catch a gust of wind and unless your riding a block to the beach trailer is the safest option. I started with a shortboard but have carried two longboards plus cooler and wetsuit 10 miles to beach and back on fire roads. My goal was 1) Surf 2) Stay off asphalt and avoid road rage, exhaust fumes and being hit-n-run'd again. So far its far more work than any normal person should attempt but bombing downhill with a 9' longboard is a rush. Makes parking at beach non-issue. Lots of boomers on road bikes are concerned there is a child on-board and pry or lecture. Doing anything different these days seems to brand one as subversive and people worry. I tell them its for my cats. They love the beach.
I used a two-child trailer from Allen with 16inch wheels. It turns out those wheels (made of plastic) didn't hold up for my use. It was probably the combined weight of my older two kids in conjunction with some hard bumps. I don't exactly know when the damage happened; because I didn't notice it until I disassembled for winter storage (sure, I stored over winter rather than ride kids in cold weather, but that's a different conversation). It wasn't easy to find a replacement for the single wheel, but I was able to find a pair of 20inch wheels with proper spokes. My LBS was able to swap the wheel axles (still in great shape) from the original to the new pair of wheels for a surprisingly low service fee. Anyway! The 20 inch replacements have been absolutely better than the 16 inch originals. It puts the bottom of the trailer a bit higher to keep the trailer bottom a bit dryer. It also tips the rig a bit forward to help with drainage of water through the drain holes in the front (under the feet); that is rather than tipped slightly back which encouraged water to pool in the back of the bottom. Water wasn't a huge problem, but it was something I noticed about riding in wet conditions. The spokes provide a bit, bit, bit more comfort for hard bumps, but it was seeing the broken wheels that reminded me to be more mindful while riding to avoid hard bumps. I recommend having a trailer engineered with shock absorption for anyone shopping around.
We don't get out with the trail much anymore. I've got a trail-a-bike for my oldest kid and a tandem trail-a-bike for the older two kids. The youngest kid will have to wait a bit, but I'm confident I'll be introducing the trail-a-bikes before long. I'm already preparing the trailer to sell. It was a nice treat, but short-lived. I'm glad I bought Allen instead of Burley--the cost of the Burley feels too expensive now that I've had a trailer for a few years of riding. So, I could have maybe looked for a used trailer instead of buying new.
Neil I'd absolutely love to see you discuss kid trailers with all different bikers. I've seen RJ Sauer use a Thule then change to a Burly, Phoebe Sneddon uses a Thule.
Family Bikepacking is a niche market so good content is rare to come across. When in the market for future family bikepacking / commuting gear, good quality and dollars is a big call. Any tips or tricks would be super appreciated.
I took two kids on a tandem trail-a-bike for an overnight with gear strapped to the racks or frames. I'm planning to get out with that rig again, but I did buy some new gear to lighten up and shrink the volume of gear. I missed the planned trip last year due to sickness, but it was a sad, sad cancellation.
Did you consider going with the Thule chariot, very popular and I’m curious to hear your thoughts as to why you went with this model instead. Cough cough, asking for a friend (already own one :p)
When I saw your first review of the Ghost Grappler, it was clear you liked it but I didn't realize you kept it and were using it for everything like this, that's awesome! I actually got one after that video. Mine has front and rear Surly racks and I think the same fenders. The rest is stock. I'd be interested in knowing if there were any tricks to getting those fenders on because the bike shop I got mine from had to do some "customization" to the front fender to make it fit. They cut the fender in half where it goes under the fork, and the front part is attached to the rack. Looks completely natural but seeing yours apparently that was not necessary. They were concerned it would be too close to the tire.
I like the bike a lot. Where I am (Portland, OR) we don't have such harsh weather and to me, the extra large tires still just felt a little overkill for large amounts of paved road riding (although it might entirely be in my head). So it didn't act as a complete quiver killer.
Anyway, I look forward to trying almost the exact same thing. I have a burley (I think slightly different but I'll look into those tires) and a kid that will be 3 this year and now I'm inspired to try bikepacking with him. For town riding, we've been using a bakfiets / box bike because it's nice to be able to see him up there and talk to him. But I've considered doing some bike camping with it and the real problem is it just can't climb a hill.
More of a question. I have a surly ghost grappler and I would like to attach a burly dog trailer. What size of a Roberts did you use and is there something else I would need.
Mike
I converted a double kids trailer that I was given. to a cargo (small dog) trailer. It took some cutting and welding of the frame to create a roll bar and division between cargo and dogs and then a lot of sewing by hand for all new rainproof covers. It's brilliant. I may consider some sort of suspension for it in the future.
Being the family 'mule' I can carry and tow about an extra 50-60 kilos when the family go bike camping.
You have some epic trips ahead of you….riding with your kids is some of the best time you Will ever get both positive and negative…first in the trailer then on Their own bike….happy trails and thanks for making positive bike happy videos and yes I just took a ride on my Marin pine 2017 27.5 + rigid in the rain with the sks bluemels …peace
Grab a WeeHoo trailer for kid rides. No joke the best single piece of cycling gear I own. I could swap my own bikes for another, but no kids trailer allows me to do as much with the kids (even big kids) and ride for real without feeling that I’m giving up any of my own ride. Worth a look!
When you get a Shotgun style seat you’ve got to post something. My daughter adores it! Being up front is the best.
We have one, just waiting g for things to warm up! Can’t wait, to try it.
Came here to say the same. Have taken my kid mountain biking and bikepacking with a gen 1 shotgun seat, and he absolutely loves it. Pairing the shotgun with a trailer if possible may be the best option for pleasant kidpacking experiences, entertainment when alert, but a place for them to rest by still moving.
Any insight on what happened to the Ghost Grappler name? Their website just calls it the Grappler now, and my new frame came with just a "Grappler" sticker.
Neil - vid question: you have a great speaking cadence and deliver a lot of info efficiently. Do you use a script? A teleprompter? Or are you just caffeinating and speaking extemporaneously? I appreciate the breadth of content you cover here. From badass rides to family considerations. Thanks!!!
If you can find the first video I used a teleprompter, I’ll send you a gift. It’s a more streamlined, provides better information and i feel it offers a better overall product.
@@beltchenko ahh. Got it. I agree. Thanks man.
Only advice is: lots of snacks, lots of stops, and plan for fewer miles than you think. And have fun!!!
How are the stubbed tires when there is NO snow and ice? I ride a Benno Boost E-Bike with my 9 year old on the back. We get ice/snow about 25% of the winter. Thinking about studded tires to be safe when there is ice, but wondering if they OK/Safe to use when there is NO ice.
I feel the need for some kind of kickstand when i'm commuting my atb. Simply because my large tires can't fit the bikerack at work and the storeroom is full of other bikes. No place to lean it against a wall. Any solution without potentially damaging my frame? Thanks!
Let's compare 2-wheel and 1-wheel trailers (and the various attaching hardware).
Do you have spiked tires on your children's trailers? Do they also have tubeless or something?
I always look forward to watching this channe from Japan!
Japan also has many areas with heavy snowfall.
Always wanted to go to Japan and ski, thanks for checking in here. No studs on the rear tires, so it does move around a bit more, but it’s usually pretty grounded. The smaller plus wheels are set up tubeless, so I do run lower pressures in them for additional traction.
I have these same fenders on my commuter. I run 2.5" 29er tires. They're excellent but I've never removed them and had to be modified to fit my Ogre. Still I'd highly recommend them.
Could you make a video about cleaning products for helmets and riding gears especially in multi day rides? Thanks!
My kids have outgrown the trailer and are on rigs of their own now, but I still get a ton of use out of our old Thule Chariot. The logistics of commuting don't pencil out for me at the moment, but I hope to make it happen one day.
Side question, Neil: How do you like the GG as a bikepacking rig for longer hauls? Is it too heavy? I currently have a Kona Rove I use for most of my adventures, but it's not quite suited for chonk like you'd find on routes like the GDMBR. I also have a hardtail, but it's a lot slower and less comfortable (to me) than my gravel bike, and between dad-duties and dad-bod, I don't spend as much time on single-track as I used to.
I don't think its that heavy, maybe a little over built for me, but thats ok. I just like that its super durable. And if you are not riding too much singletrack, I think its a great option, it does singeltrack, but works really well for dirt roads, and with the additional volume, it does tackle technical trails a bit easier. The bike is a great value.
Awesome Neil! When my kids were small I had an old bell trailer that I put through the ringer. Great memories. Now I have a grandson so I found a used single chariot that I need to attach to my trek stache. Is it complicated to attach to the thru-axle? Thx
I had to get a thru-axle for my chariot. I wasn't too complicated. Robert Axle project has lots of guides and videos on installing the hitch receiver onto the axle.
Yep, check out this link, it super easy to figure out what axle works for your rig: bit.ly/3J3VLAT
I wonder how those fenders will hold up in muddy conditions. Mine got fully caked in a few hours.
How do you lock the bike and trailer up?
As they age consider adding a Kids ride shotgun or Mac ride seat. The kiddo loves them.
I plan to ride the rail trail from DC to Pittsburgh with my wife and son this summer. My child will be 2 at the time of the trip. And plan to haul him in a similar trailer. Except we are using solid wheels for the trailer.
Below is a link to a film of the solid tire install on the trailer if you are interested.
ruclips.net/video/sioV4bm8GOw/видео.html
Summer 2024 we plan to ride the rail trail from Seattle WA, to Spokane. Have fun on the trips you do!
Wow, just watched the video, interesting. That looks like an effort to get them on. I’m running a tubeless setup on the burly, so my hope is we will see less flats.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom Good plan! Tubeless give you the best all around experience IMO. Better rolling resistance, better suspension, and if you get a nail or small rip in the tire just plug it. The solid tire will be an experiment I may switch to tubeless in the future depending on the experiment results. The stock road tires get way to many flats though. Also, thanks for highlighting the different wheel options. I did not realize that there were more than one.
My friend put this bike together for his son and before I knew it he was done ruclips.net/user/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L When the son came to put it together he was surprised to see it was already done. All he had to do was take the bike to get air and be on his way. My friend did not have any major problems putting this bike together; small issue was putting one of the brakes on straight; however when the son got home he was able to fix it. The bike rides well gears move correctly; good bike for the price. Wrote review after the son took the bike. Sorry.
Just for laughs, if you haven’t watched it already, check out Danny MacAskill’s RUclips vid called “Danny Daycare”.
But seriously, I have a TT singletrailer and it's so worth it. My son's pretty young still so the two wheel trailer was a little too bouncy and uncomfortable. He immediately took a nap the first time I took the TT out on a 12mi loop of easy single track. And the ski from my chariot was plug and play so I've been fat biking with it in the winter. It's a real game changer.
Say kiddo one more time, I dare you
Kiddo, kiddo, kiddo…. Oh, kiddo.
Kiddo
Kiddo
And how about another…kiddo.
In America a future home on the road.
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