By Debra Scott
Why did I choose the Chariot sidecar? First I’d like to acknowledge its drawbacks. It is a single function piece of equipment. It can only carry one child, doesn’t have any extra storage and it doesn’t convert to a stand alone stroller or a ski pulk in the winter. It is a sidecar and that is all that it is. So at first glance it may seem a tick impracticle, however it does have its advantages and I’ll tell you why I like mine.
Ease of Use
It is lighter than the double seater (or single seater for that matter) pull behind bike carrier because it only has one wheel but it also FEELS lighter because there is no drag so extra weight. I have to pull around with me is only the weight of the sidecar and the weight of the child. I’m not a strong biker so extra weight is a concern for me.
It is surprisingly easy to manoever. It looks really wide and people often ask me how it corners but it is amazing actually. I’m always amazed at how easily I can turn and how I’m never as wide as I think I am.
Safety
I also love the fact that I can talk to her while I ride. Being right beside me we can talk about what we are seeing or what our plans are for the day – if she were dragging behind me I wouldn’t be able to do this and I’d always be worried about cars getting to close to me (I know this is irrational but it freaks me out). As I’ve said, I’m not the strongest biker so for me having my child rides close to the ground was important. If I miss manoevered the bike (which is a very real possibility for me), she isn’t going to fall from a great height.
My children are far apart in age so I never needed to carry two children at once in the carrier. Now I have my eldest hooked on to my bike with a Trail Gator and we look like something very comedic coming down the street. But we do have fun!
Would I buy the sidecar again? Yes in a second.
Debra is a mother of two kids, actor, teacher, graphic designer and an outdoor convert. Debra has travel and lived in Europe and Asia before settling down with her husband Brad in Toronto.
Debra Scott is moderator and graphic designer for Activekidsclub.com and also the one to contact for community support. She is also the organizer for The Beach Club outdoor playgroup in Toronto.
