[Engyo]

I hauled my daughter around in a trailer from ages 1.5-4. I had a Burley that I bought used, towed just about everywhere, and then handed down to my brother-in-law. That was great training for building up legs for long distance rides, too.

[wallydude]

I loved my Burley but love my Chariot Cougar 1 even better. In fairness, though, the Burley was purchased and used long before the Chariot was purchased. So, I'm sure the technology changed over the years.

[momule]

I used a Burley during those years and now have a Burley Nomad that I use a lot. The hitch attaches to the QR skewer and it is actually a cast aluminum peice that stays on the bike. The hitch is strong, easy to use and quiet. If you call Burley when you place your order they will send you the part that fits your bike and they do make a number of varieties for both QR and bolted on wheels.

I'm interested in all the comments about prices. When you consider that you are talking about putting a baby in this trailer should you REALLY want to buy the cheapest option available? Spend some money, buy a Burley, and enjoy the ride with confidence. And no, I don't work for Burley :-)

[momule]

Excuse me but isn't this a bit of a dumbass question? WTF, are you wanting to buy something cheap to haul a new baby around in? My opinion is that you should give up riding and teach the baby to walk instead of hauling around a sack of mail.

Geeezzzz.....have we forgotten what being a parent means???

[photosbymark]

Well there is cheap, and there is cheap. Cheap does not necessarily mean dangerous, and expensive doesn't necessarily mean safer. I don't have kids, but at the age when most people do money was far more tight than it is for me now. I suspect most with a new born are concerned about many things like college and a wedding one day. Saving a few buck on a bike trailer for a college fund isn't crazy but that is different than putting them in something that means you won't need a college fund. Yes parents have to make those types of choices on nearly everything, and just walking doesn't eliminate that. Sometimes there are not rigid right or wrong answers that apply to every situation and often they are made with the best information at the time, but often filled with unknowns.

People play football all the time and once in a while a kid gets a serious injury. Do you let YOUR kid play football knowing they could get a spinal injury if they play? You have no way to know if it will happen to YOUR kid. Kids get hurt on bikes all the time, but should everyone stop riding because you don't know if it will be YOUR kid that gets hurt?

Look at bike helmets. All of them for sale in the US meet CPSC standards. Some have more vents and look cool. Some are more expensive, and some cost less but all meet those minimum safety standards. Are you crazy for riding with a $20 helmet that fits well because you can't afford the $140 variety with more vents?

[momule]

Originally Posted by photosbymark

Well there is cheap, and there is cheap. Cheap does not necessarily mean dangerous, and expensive doesn't necessarily mean safer. I don't have kids, but at the age when most people do money was far more tight than it is for me now. I suspect most with a new born are concerned about many things like college and a wedding one day. Saving a few buck on a bike trailer for a college fund isn't crazy but that is different than putting them in something that means you won't need a college fund. Yes parents have to make those types of choices on nearly everything, and just walking doesn't eliminate that. Sometimes there are not rigid right or wrong answers that apply to every situation and often they are made with the best information at the time, but often filled with unknowns.

People play football all the time and once in a while a kid gets a serious injury. Do you let YOUR kid play football knowing they could get a spinal injury if they play? You have no way to know if it will happen to YOUR kid. Kids get hurt on bikes all the time, but should everyone stop riding because you don't know if it will be YOUR kid that gets hurt?

Look at bike helmets. All of them for sale in the US meet CPSC standards. Some have more vents and look cool. Some are more expensive, and some cost less but all meet those minimum safety standards. Are you crazy for riding with a $20 helmet that fits well because you can't afford the $140 variety with more vents?

Your points are well taken and, of course, correct. When I think back on all the dumbass things that I've done over the years it's apparently just blind good luck that allows me to still be around. My kids never were into football (and I understand that isn't the main point) but during the years that they played baseball I saw several of the pitchers get beaned on the forehead by a line drive hit that dropped them to the ground like a sack of spuds. At least we live in a world today where there are things like helmets....when I was a kid I don't think they even made them for bike riding. Scarey stuff indeed.