tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post2307672777277681597..comments2022-03-31T06:58:50.121-07:00Comments on mamafiets: Friday Family on Bikes...MineEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12222080327159563684noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post-84737131142669402742014-05-18T15:28:03.850-07:002014-05-18T15:28:03.850-07:00Hello! The little bike in the 1st picture is a 12...Hello! The little bike in the 1st picture is a 12" child's bike we bought used. I think it was a Raleigh or a Trek? We painted it, gave it new tires, and otherwise spruced it up. <br /><br />We also connected the bike to mine with a product called a Follow Me Tandem. I believe they are still sold at Clever Cycles in Portland, which also has an online storefront. <br /><br />Good luck!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12222080327159563684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post-22684607853054267422014-05-18T03:04:51.490-07:002014-05-18T03:04:51.490-07:00Hi Emily,
What model and make is the chil bike tr...Hi Emily,<br /><br />What model and make is the chil bike trailing in the first picture? Are you satisfied with it? We have been looking for a bike like that for ages<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post-31131509992655576492011-05-08T14:03:11.636-07:002011-05-08T14:03:11.636-07:00Hi Emily,
We have really enjoyed (and used) our Fo...Hi Emily,<br />We have really enjoyed (and used) our FollowMe. Some people balk at the price, but it is indeed about the best solution out there. I'm looking into purchasing a Fr8 as well, so I've enjoyed your reports. Thanks!<br />HankHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00105854838678123335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post-44236619085199680252011-05-05T06:28:02.409-07:002011-05-05T06:28:02.409-07:00Ash, this is a great question. Big does have a re...Ash, this is a great question. Big does have a rear coaster brake on his 12" bike. He does occasionally (almost always accidentally) engage it while were moving. Ultimately, though, it hasn't been a significant problem for us. Here's how we work around it:<br /><br />-- If Big accidentally engages his brakes, I say something like "Oops, I think you're braking. Please pedal for a second." It's most often the case that he is simply resting his legs, and has put some unintentional pressure on the pedals. If he pedals for a second, and then rests, he usually gets his pedals to a spot where he can rest comfortably without braking.<br /><br />--It does sometimes happen that he brakes intentionally in a typical pre-school age display of displeasure. When this happens (and it's pretty rare), I treat it (to use a car metaphor) as though he had just removed his seat belt in a car. (The truth is that it's more annoying than it is unsafe for him to brake. I can still balance when he's braking, but I could imagine a scenario where it might be unsafe for him to brake while we're in motion.)<br /><br />We pull over to a sidewalk, I remind him that braking in transit is unsafe, and I tell him that I will wait for him to calm down and act safely before we continue our ride. We also have a bike trailer, but he'd much rather ride his own bike. We talk about how riding his own bike is a big responsibility. (And we don't just talk about it when he's upset and acting irresponsibly -- it's good to talk about it at other times too, especially in a positive way.) If he seems to need an extra push in the right direction to calm down, I remind him that I am looking to see if he can be responsible enough to ride his own bike, or if we need to go back to pulling him in the trailer. (And if I thought he needed to go back to the trailer, we absolutely would.) He has always stepped back up to the plate.<br /><br />I hope this answers your question! I need to write a thorough review of the Follow Me. We really like it. (Although Eugene has good enough bike infrastructure that I'm hoping to teach Big to ride his own bike on the streets this summer, instead of towing him on the tandem.) However, there are things folks should know before they decide to buy one, and I had a hard time finding a review in English. The only real problem we encountered is that the Follow Me is made of aluminum, and it can bend slightly out of shape if your bike falls over a lot, as my previous bike did. If you are planning to use a Follow Me, I would recommend that you get a good double footed kickstand (aka centerstand), and carry cargo in something with a low center of gravity (like panniers), instead of up high on a milk crate, as I did. It has been easy enough to tweak the Follow Me back into shape in our experience, but this aspect of the design is something you should consider.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12222080327159563684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8160971028706958786.post-49069905306168715822011-05-04T17:48:19.266-07:002011-05-04T17:48:19.266-07:00I have a question about the follow-me. My child...I have a question about the follow-me. My child's bike, like most 12" and 14" kid's bikes, has a rear coast brake set-up. Have you found that Bigger will brake while you're pedaling? What happens if this occurs and how have you taught him to avoid doing that?Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12340920411498031715noreply@blogger.com