On ya bike!

 

Months ago we bought a bike trailer but it’s taken me a long time to feel comfortable with using it, both the logistics of putting it together/attaching it to my bike and my concern regarding Master Z – he’s so low, his head wobbled alarmingly (for me) when riding it, helmut or no helmut, at what stage of development is it safe to use etc. I received a lot of conflicting advice about the ideal time to start. Some people start from when their bubs age is measured in weeks, some professionals recommend waiting until the child has solid neck control, or is walking and therefore has more developed core muscles. Eventually I came down in the side of “We’ll do it when I feel comfortable with it”
R has been extremely patient – we could almost do a comic strip timeline of the months since purchasing it, “Can we use it now?””How ’bout now?”, “We should be fine now, right?”. There were periodic trials, after which I would decide that I still wasn’t comfortable wit it, his head still wobbled too much.
A large part of my caution is because bike trailers haven’t been around that long, so we don’t really know yet what kind of effects it may have on neck development down the line. I think that different parents have different things that concern them. R isn’t comfortable with Master Z eating sand/dirt/wood chips, and I, well, there a lots if things which I am not comfortable with or which concern me and feet, neck and spine come under the heading of “Things which I possibly get paranoid about, but I’m not going to change that paranoia yet”. This is completely different from the category of things which I’m uncomfortable with, but will suck up a little personal “ick” factor because it is something which is not a real risk, in my mind.
Anyway, I digressed. Bike trailer! A couple of days ago I decided that Master Z and I were going on a ride. So we did! It took nearly 3/4 hour to leave the house – trying to drag the carrier out of the house with a littlie saying “Up peez” and trying to climb in, is not a quick or easy task. I was determined though, and we made it out. We did it again yesterday, and this morning. I’m finessing what we need, getting quicker at getting ready to go and R is bringing home my hardware requests, such as a length of chain and lock so we can keep the trailer locked up outside so I don’t have to drag it from the study every day.
Of course, the trusty iPhone has been there to capture these moments:

 

 

 

 

 

As for the helmet debate, well as the photos show we finally decided no helmet. The whole trailer is a roll cage, he is in a five-point harness and the trailer is on an articulated arm so that even if I fell over on my bike, the trailer won’t tip. I am not a speedy rider, we will only be riding on bike paths, with the exception of one or two local, very quiet roads so the likelihood of tipping the trailer is very slim.

We did try a helmet initially, but frankly I was more concerned about him having the helmet on than off. The trailer doesn’t seem built for use with a helmet. The back of the trailer pushed the helmet forward, thus obscuring Master Z’s sight and pushing his head forwards. With his head pushed forwards, the helmet strap was positioned across his neck in a way that I felt was more dangerous than doing without the helmet.

I tried to find out if there a regulations regarding helmets use in trailers, but couldn’t find much at all. I have been peering into all trailers that I’ve passed for months now, trying to determine if people generally use helmets or don’t. It seems to be a mix. We tried propping him forward with a cushion, as suggested by someone in a bike shop, but that compromised the effectiveness of the harness, and was extremely awkward and uncomfortable-looking.

Obviously, the helmet will come into its own when Master Z gets a learner bike, which is good because it is so cute!!!