
Amarillo
Tom
Super Poster
VIP Member
Clare and I are at the early stages of planning an extended tour of Europe with our two young boys, beginning early June 2017, and returning home June, July or August 2018, read for the eldest boy to start school in September 2018. Ben will be 3 years 6 months and Jack 2 years 2 months when we set off.
On honeymoon we drove to Croatia and took our tandem of the roof of our car. We found that car/bike was a very effective way to explore towns and cities. You can stay at cheaper places outside the town centre and explore, even the most congested towns, very effectively by bike.
Ben is already an expert on a balance bike, and I would expect him to be cycling this time next year. Jack cannot yet walk, but as soon as he can he'll be learning to balance on two wheels on a balance bike.
So what do we take with us for a year in Europe? We will be taking bike for the boys, but clearly not for riding about town, campsites only.
Option 1 - Tandem and Burley trailer
Option 2 - Bromptons with Burley trailer for one of the Bromptons
Option 3 - Bromptons with a child seat on each
Option 1 has the whole-family-on-a-bike appeal. But the only place for the tandem is the roof, and getting it up and down there is not trivial. Plus it will make the van a very tall vehicle.
Option 2 is good, we can store the Bromptons securely in the van, but the trailer takes up quite a lot of space.
Option 3 is the most compact option, but those child seats will not support a young child falling asleep.
Option 1 will require no further purchase. Options 2 & 3 would mean that we would need to buy a second Brompton.
On honeymoon we drove to Croatia and took our tandem of the roof of our car. We found that car/bike was a very effective way to explore towns and cities. You can stay at cheaper places outside the town centre and explore, even the most congested towns, very effectively by bike.
Ben is already an expert on a balance bike, and I would expect him to be cycling this time next year. Jack cannot yet walk, but as soon as he can he'll be learning to balance on two wheels on a balance bike.
So what do we take with us for a year in Europe? We will be taking bike for the boys, but clearly not for riding about town, campsites only.
Option 1 - Tandem and Burley trailer
Option 2 - Bromptons with Burley trailer for one of the Bromptons
Option 3 - Bromptons with a child seat on each
Option 1 has the whole-family-on-a-bike appeal. But the only place for the tandem is the roof, and getting it up and down there is not trivial. Plus it will make the van a very tall vehicle.
Option 2 is good, we can store the Bromptons securely in the van, but the trailer takes up quite a lot of space.
Option 3 is the most compact option, but those child seats will not support a young child falling asleep.
Option 1 will require no further purchase. Options 2 & 3 would mean that we would need to buy a second Brompton.