Bike-curious family workshop is great success

Well, that was fun.

As previously mentioned by your humble curator, there was a ‘bike-curious’ family workshop today at Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh. Lots of families who already use bikes to shift kids around brought along their various contraptions, and lots of other families got to ask questions, try things out, and eat free cake.

There was even sunshine.

I spent most of the two hours answering questions about a trailgator and tagalong that had been temporarily donated to proceedings by HankChief (of CityCyclingEdinburgh), but still found the time to take a few photos.

The joints stars of the show were a pair of Urban Arrows, one family-owned and one a demo bike from Laid Back Bikes. These are the bleeding edge of cargo bike development, with a ‘lightweight’ aluminium frame, foam front cargo box, and built-in crank-drive electric assist.

Yes, of course I had a shot. On public roads and everything.

There were three (count ’em) of Edinburgh’s favorite tandem — the Circe Helios. SRD even managed to bring hers along, despite currently being laid low by some terrible lurgy. That’s probably a statement on how easy the Helios is to manoeuver (without wishing to diminish SRD’s herculean efforts…)

There were a good number of child seats for more conventional bikes around, including the Bobike on the Helios above, the Yepp Mini (front) and mumble mumble (rear) below:

Plus a load of others, including this rather attractive side-saddle wicker contraption:

There were also a load of trailers, including the one below which could also convert into a kind of high-speed stroller:

I didn’t get any photos of the trailabike or trailgator that I was actually there to show off, which was a little stupid (particularly as they were very popular). The ’gator is effectively a tow bar that joins your seat post to the front of your child’s bike whilst lifting their front wheel into the air. Whilst being a little more unwieldy than a dedicated tagalong, it does mean that at suitably safe points on your journey you can uncouple and ride as completely separate vehicles. Hang on whilst I steal a picture from somewhere…

There we are. The tagalong was the same concept, but without the front wheel on the kids bike. This makes for a more rigid trailer and eliminates the wheelie angle for your tow, but obviously means you can’t let your child ride by themselves at any point.

There were also loads of kids bikes, including a good handful of very nice Islabikes. I didn’t get any photos of them because they were permanently in use, and I didn’t have the energy to go round asking for consent to use photos.

The workshop finished with a bike group ride (‘Kidical Mass’), which is possible in Edinburgh as they actually have a smattering of cycle infrastructure on which you can safely take a mass of kids. Hats off to Edinburgh Council, and a glare at the short-sightedness of Glasgow’s Land and Environmental Services.

Here’s the group ready for the off, taken over the bars of the Urban Arrow that I’d managed to acquire…

A grand time was had by all, so definitely a congratulatory drink in order for the organisers (both of this event, the overall Women’s Cycle Day, and the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling).

PS: if you can identify any of the bits I’ve forgotten, do let me know in the comments!