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It's been over 5 years since we joined #TeamOrangeYuba by getting our Yuba Mundo bike. It's time for a bit of a review.
At the time we had a 3yo and 1yo. Now we have a 8yo, 6yo, and 4yo.
I think that it's been one of the best purchases we've ever made. https://twitter.com/jim_i_am/status/618891688443035652
At the time we had a 3yo and 1yo. Now we have a 8yo, 6yo, and 4yo.
I think that it's been one of the best purchases we've ever made. https://twitter.com/jim_i_am/status/618891688443035652
It was 4x more expensive than any bike I had bought up to then, but if it's a deal if you're replacing car or public transport trips.
We primarily used it to get to / from daycare downtown (7-8 km) and for park adventures on weekends (up to 10 km each way).
We primarily used it to get to / from daycare downtown (7-8 km) and for park adventures on weekends (up to 10 km each way).
I have become the primary rider of it over the years. As the kids got heavier, my wife felt less comfortable with the kids on it, especially if they started to actively shake the bike.
We used to have an iBert child seat on the front which allowed me to have my arms the younger kid. This allowed me to feed them snacks, see what they were looking at, and talk to them easily.
It also had the very important purpose of keeping kids apart. https://twitter.com/jim_i_am/status/993612799145381890
It also had the very important purpose of keeping kids apart. https://twitter.com/jim_i_am/status/993612799145381890
Looking back at it, I had wished we had gotten the electric option. It would have been easier when 4 of us (me, 1 kid in front, 2 on back) were going around.
Most people assume it's electric though because I'm pretty fast off the line.
Most people assume it's electric though because I'm pretty fast off the line.
One benefit of a long tail over a box bike was the places I could park it. There were not as many options downtown for a wider bike. That is why I never bought the front "bread basket".
All the kids love it. But they are different.
The oldest has always wanted someone to carry her around. She still does. That's why I'm hauling around a capable, almost 9yo, sometimes. It gives us a chance to have a nice conversation.
The oldest has always wanted someone to carry her around. She still does. That's why I'm hauling around a capable, almost 9yo, sometimes. It gives us a chance to have a nice conversation.
The middle kid loves it too, but he needs more exercise.
When he was 3, I'd be coming home from daycare. About 5 km into it, he'd get bored and start making bad choice which would include attacking anyone else. It's not nice to be headbutted with a helmet.
When he was 3, I'd be coming home from daycare. About 5 km into it, he'd get bored and start making bad choice which would include attacking anyone else. It's not nice to be headbutted with a helmet.
In these times I'd kick him off (he's 3-4 years old), and he'd run for 1-2 km or until he was tired again.
When I was going very slow once, he even climbed out of the monkey bars, jumped off the bike and ran to his friend. It was a LOT of wiggling, but I was surprised.
When I was going very slow once, he even climbed out of the monkey bars, jumped off the bike and ran to his friend. It was a LOT of wiggling, but I was surprised.
He also was able to rub the corner of his shoe against the moving tire by putting it into the small access panel in the wheel protector.
If you ever want resistance training, have someone purposely slow your wheel everywhere you go.
If you ever want resistance training, have someone purposely slow your wheel everywhere you go.
The youngest has been less trouble. Other than tossing her best favourite stuffie into the bike lane many times, or being a harsh critic of my singing voice, it's been great.
I think that bike commuting with kids has been a huge benefit to our relationship. You don't get that driving.
Which I did in the winter. I hated driving.
Driving is WAY slower than my slow-ass biking too. Drivers don't get bursts of 60 km/h is slower than constant 15 km/h.
Which I did in the winter. I hated driving.
Driving is WAY slower than my slow-ass biking too. Drivers don't get bursts of 60 km/h is slower than constant 15 km/h.
We still end of driving to things that are pretty close when there aren't any safe ways to get there.
If there was a protected bike lane and the bike was electric, I think it would easily be a car replacement for most trips.
If there was a protected bike lane and the bike was electric, I think it would easily be a car replacement for most trips.
With the gearing, load, and my fitness, that bike is slow. It can climb a wall, but maxed out I couldn't break 25 km/h going downhill. The peddles just couldn't keep up with the gears at that point.
It's fast off the line though.
It's fast off the line though.
To wrap up for now, for the money it's easily one of the best purchases we've made. I think that it's helped build my relationship with the kids. It's helped me stay healthier and happier.
I'm very happy with having a cargo bike for the family.
I'm very happy with having a cargo bike for the family.
