Category Archives: kids

Car-free Kayaking

Posted on June 2, 2009 by Anne | 8 comments

Tim has been combing craigslist for the past six months looking for some inflatable kayaks that we can haul to the lake on the Xtracycles. We used to own sea kayaks before we had kids but sold them a few years ago. Loading and unloading the kayaks on the car and driving a mile to the lake was never worth the effort for us and we didn’t use them that often. It wasn’t that hard for us to let them go.

Still looking for a way to escape the beach crowds during the warm summer months, inflatables that can be hauled on the bikes seemed like a good solution for our summer boating needs. These inflatables aren’t going to get us to the San Juans, but are perfect for floating around the lake with the kids on a hot day. Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bikes, cargo bikes, extravehicular activities, kids, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, kayaking, kids, summer, sun, xtracycle

Our Hood Ornament Girls are Ready for Spring

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Anne | 2 comments

Spring has sprung in a typical Seattle way these past weeks, one day it’s 70 degrees and sunny and the next it’s 50 and raining. We’re not putting our winter clothes away any time soon.

However, my daughter decided last week that our girls were getting a little hot in their winter wear and they were ready for spring. The dolls’ outfits were not at all appropriate on sunny days. They got outfit changes last week. They are definitely ready for spring now!

Even if we changed them too soon, they are just dolls, they’ll be just fine.

– Anne

2 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids, kids' bikes, oma, weather

Tagged bike hood ornament, bikes, clothes, dolls, fun, kids, weather

With Kids, Sometimes We Ride on the Sidewalk

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Anne | 15 comments

Bike to School Month is in full swing. The racks have been full this past week despite the rainy weather. This hardy group of riders doesn’t mind biking in the rain. Way to go.

The increased number of pedalers around the school means a few biker, non-biker conflicts. We’re learning from each other and need to keep an open dialog so we can live harmoniously on the shared streets and sidewalks.

One recent conflict surrounded whether or not bikes belong on the sidewalk. In King County, bikes are allowed on the sidewalk as long as they follow the rules of the road and the sidewalk. Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

Tagged bike-to-school, bikes, sidewalk

Ten Days with the Madsen Kg271 Bucket Bike

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Anne | 15 comments

Warning. This post is loooong. Tim and Anne co-wrote it. Singly they tend toward verbosity. Together? Oy. Maybe grab a cup of coffee or beer before you start.

Probably the best thing about this little bike blog thing is all the great people we’ve met. Folks like David and Stephan from Dutch Bike, Marge (who we’ve yet to physically meet, but I’m sure we will some day), Marcus and Elliot from Austin on Two Wheels, Val, and more. It’s been a great ride.

One of our newest blog buddies, George loaned us his Madsen KG271 (you know, the long bike with the big bucket on the back) for a 10-day testing stint.

Full disclosure: George is friends with the owner of the company and asked us if we’d give his own personal Madsen a try and share our impressions. He didn’t ask for any sugar coating, and it’s a good thing. Tim’s not real good at being sweet.

Over the course of a week and a pair of weekends, we both had the opportunity to ride the Madsen as part of our daily routines (where we normally ride our Xtracycles and Anne’s Oma), as well as on a couple special-purpose, made-for-Madsen adventures. Tim picked up bags of compost; Anne transported three kids home from school. We even had some of our bikey neighbors take it for a spin. Overall, the idea was to see how this one bike (in one size, shared by two people of very different size) could fit into this bike life we’ve built for ourselves.

Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bike lust, bikes, cargo bikes, kids

Tagged bikes, cargo, cargobikes, kg271, Madsen Cycles, opinion, review

Getting Ready for Bike to School Month

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Anne | 4 comments

It’s hard to believe a whole year has passed since we planned our first ever Bike to School Month at our local elementary school . I feel so much older and wiser this year : ) Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

Tagged Bike to School Month, bike-to-school, kids, School, seattle

Testing the Madsen Cargo Bike

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Anne | 11 comments

Our blog friend, George, contacted us last week and asked if we wanted to borrow his Madsen for a few days to test it out and share our impressions. We’re always up for trying out new utility bikes, so of course we agreed.

I pedaled over to Ballard yesterday afternoon and picked up the bike. We’ve only had it for 24 hours and are not ready to post a full review.

But I thought I’d throw up a few pictures of the first afternoon with the bucket bike.

– Anne

11 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, cargo bikes, kids, sustainability

Tagged alternative transportation, Bucket Bike, cargo bike, Madsen Cycles, utility cycling

Sometimes They Need A Little Push

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Anne | 15 comments

Tim makes pushing a kid up a hill while riding his own bike look easy.

It’s not that easy. Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids

Tagged Family Cycling, riding with kids

Reading

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Anne | 16 comments

Some kids watch movies on those ever-so-handy-back-of-the-seat-dvd players, our kids read books on the back of the Xtracycle. Why not? Someone else is “driving”. The Snapdeck is a great place to sit back and enjoy a good book.

Even though the kids have been reading back there for some time and I’ve grown accustomed to the sight, it still makes me smile. I also chuckle when on-lookers stop and ask, “do you know they’re not holding on back there?”

Yes, I know. Thanks for your concern.

It’s beautiful in Seattle today. We’re going to ride up to the library and checkout some new books.

Have a great weekend!

– Anne

16 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids

Tagged kids, reading, snapdeck, xtracycle

Park Your Car and Walk a Block to School

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Anne | 17 comments

Ever since my kids started school, I’ve become fixated on a strange American practice: the school drive-through drop off. Many parents it seems have made the choice to drive by the school, open the door and drop their kids off at the school entrance without leaving the comfort of their car. I know every one does not live walking distance from school and some parents must drive their kids to school. But is it necessary to do a drive-through drop off? Can’t they park their cars and walk their kids to the school yard?

Sure it may be easier, more convenient and less hassle to do a drive-through. But what about the impact to the whole community around the school? What about the unnecessary pollution and increased traffic they are creating and the sedentary habits they’re teaching kids? Continue reading →

17 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School

Tagged Safe Routes to School, schools, seattle, Walk a Block

Xtracycle Shuttle Service

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Anne | 2 comments

Since the kids were out of school today we decided to spend the day at the Science Center. The Science Center is in the middle of Seattle Center on Lower Queen Anne, six miles from our house and just a little too far for me to haul both kids on the Xtracycle.

One fifty–pound passenger is completely doable. Add another and they eventually get bored and pick fights with each other. No fun for anyone. Especially not the pilot.

Usually, when I travel distances over three to four miles with both kids, I take the bus. But after days and days of fog in Seattle, the sun finally appeared and it was beautiful. I just couldn’t bring myself to load everyone on the stinky bus for the 30 minute ride.

I really wanted to ride my bike. Continue reading →