It's like a rickshaw for toddlers and full of awesome!
um, where's your helmet?
[ed. note: I have ordered a helmet for my abnormally-large head. It would make me very happy if any further comments on this issue were directed to me privately via email, and these comments not turn into a referendum on whether or not I should EVER step onto a bike without a helmet]
Edited By Siteowner
Very cool. How do you make sure Juniper's feet and angles don't tangle with the spokes though? I was riding on the back of a bike when I was about her age and caught my ankle in the spokes. It was the most painful experience imaginable, and caused a serious injury that came close to requiring a skin graft. Kids + spokes scare me for that reason.
That is amazing. Has anyone ever called you the MacGyver of bikes? If not, I'd like to be the first.
That's freakin' awesome!
Have you seen the amazing Madsen bucket bikes? I am totally coveting one. They hold two kids or a whole lot of other stuff...
http://www.madsencycles.com/
That bike so rocks. The wicker baskets are kind of Wizard of Oz. Only your dog is too big to sit in it.
Man, totally totally cute. I work in biking so just got a two-seat trailer for my kids (also, my friend has a front seat and maybe she installed it wrong but I could barely pedal my knees hit it so often), but your bike is a think of great beauty and your children look so happy on it. Well, Gram looks pretty skeptical in the pics, but you can tell he loves it, too. Anyway --- I salute! Gorgeous all around (and aren't you old enough to decide if you want to wear a helmet or not? seems like it to me ...)
You guys and your awesomely creative lives never cease to amaze and inspire me.
LOVE the bike, and thanks to your wife, I've now stitched up 6 shopping bags, two purses and 3 sets of coasters.
Y'all rock!
now you just need to bring the dog
That bike is so sweet, kids should be proud. All of them together make Detroit looks so cinematic.
Well done.
don't think that I haven't thought about how to get the dog on there.
usually he just runs alongside us.
that is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. what an absolute thrill for the kids. i'm jealous.
Pardon my language, but holy shit that's the cutest fucking thing I've seen in ages.
very nice!
I love how you've put together a very functional Popcycle without the big bucks. I have a 2 month old and I can't wait to get back on the bike with her.
Oh man, love love looooove.
gorgeous, and I'm loving your rear seat; I've been coveting an omafiets for cargo-light trips and, if I ever get a large quantity of money all at once, I'm definitely going to put a Leco on the back. I'm so thrilled you all are going to have a summer of the bike!
and for future reference, a woman at the farmer's market this weekend was telling me how she and another mama hacked a 20" and a 16" bike into a kids' tandem for a five and seven year old last summer. would be perfect for Juniper and Gram when they're big enough to go solo!
That is just awesome. And Juniper's seat? Wow. That's rad.
You guys are just too precious. I love it. Glad to hear all about the summer of the bike!
This is awesome! And if I were to see you ride by I would be rubbernecking too. Start saving those pennies because in a couple of years when the kids are too big for this get up you will need a Madsen Bucket bike
http://www.madsencycles.com
Agree with everyone else's comments. The bike is freaking awesome! You are freaking awesome!
My parents had nearly the same set up when I was a kid. Circa 1973 they had a metallic purple Schwinn with a baby seat in the back (for me) and another on the handlebars (for my little sister). Only difference was that it was a bicycle built for two. We were surely a sight to see, the four of us coming down the road in Orem, Utah.
Your Dutch authenticity factor just increased like a bazillionty-fold. Except that a true Dutchman wouldn't put helmets on the kids or himself. Happy riding!
Totally inspiring. As usual. Thanks for your blog.
Awesome set up! We've moved on to one solo riding kid and one tag along bike. I definitely need baskets, though.
This is so cool, I admire your creativeness. I hope that you have invested in a good lock too - I have a feeling that others will covet it too.
I've wanted to get my husband a handlebar/front seat for my son to sit in, but do I have to order one from the Netherlands? Are any sold in the US?
Happiness. Thanks for posting this and the photos. I'm afraid to bike, but seeing this makes me think I should confront my fear. A 15mph hug? Bliss.
p.s. My husband has (and looks like my boys will also have) and abnormally large head. I have heard that in some places if your head is a certain size, legally you aren't required to wear a helmet. I dunno how true that is.
Wow, I'm really impressed - I would have thought that having the weight of a child on the front handlebars would have made it impossible to steer properly but I guess it's all about the balance of the seat. Impressive. So what age can kids (comfortably) ride on a back bike seat? I'm too scared to use a trailer because I can just picture a driver seeing me and not the trailer and crunch! NZ drivers suck and are not to be trusted with my child!
Rats, that should have been "to what age can kids ride on the back of a bike"? As in, when do they grow out of the seats?
I love watching how much the bike has changed your family in such a short time.
Your setup is proving my inability to get a basket is more about laziness and fear (for construction) than my bike's ability to hold one.
My mom had a big plastic yellow seat on the back of her bike when I was little and we used to bike to the end of our street where the neighborhood ended and the farmland began to see the cows. (I do it now in the summer.) We stopped because she lost her balance and had to throw her body under the bike so I wouldn't get hurt, so reading about the kickstand has alleviated my fears that the same would happen to a family (I admittedly don't know) now.
Great bike. Even better comment by Juniper.
This is the most awesome thing I have ever seen. I want to be Gram and ride on the front. All the fun, none of the work.
We have a lady in our neighborhood who rides her bike with 6 dogs attached. She has some sort of rig attached to the bike that has arms that the leashes attach too. She has the dogs trained to stop when she does.
I'm de-lurking to tell you how awesome the Popcycle is. My daughter is too big now to ride in the bikeseat behind me. I miss her chatter.
This bike is probably the coolest thing, ever! My fondest memories are riding on my dad's bike. My little girl will be one next week, we're looking into the iBert. Do you know anything about that particular seat? I am sure you've gotten 100's of questions about the bike seats and why you chose them, but just curious if that's one you considered. I really enjoy reading about these little snippets of your life. Thanks!
I rode in that exact same bike seat (Juniper's seat) when I was a little girl! My dad bought it at a garage sale in the mid 70's. I have awesome memories of in depth conversations while we rode around Minneapolis. Thanks for the flashback!
Wow, this post brings back the memories!
I had a red & white seat just like that on my ol' blue Schwinn in elementary school (mid 80's). I had no idea it was anything special until I read this -- I think it was from the flea market; I just thought it looked like it belonged with my heavy ol' antique-y bike and it was a perfect place for Kermit The Frog to sit, secured with a piece of yarn.
Oh, wow, a not-ugly kid bike seat! I've been looking for one of those. But more imporantly...you, the die-hard Dutchman, paid for shipping from the Netherlands? CRAZY.
That is awesome! But where does the dog go?
Man, that is just ALL KINDS of AWESOME.
Am ever so slightly jealous.
just curious why you ordered the seat from Holland... our local bike shop sells the weeride and our son's been using for a year and a half. we love it!
I didn't like any of the front-mounted bike seats available at bike shops in the area. The green plastic one seemed awkward with non-mountain-bike style handlebars and I was really convinced by Sarah's testimonials about the dutch seat. I just really, really like the placement of the kid on the bike with the bobike seat.
Eva, not sure how much a random comment will help, but we bought the ibert seat at the recommendation of our local bike shop when my daughter was one and have used it happily ever since - she's now a little over two. She loves it, she likes grabbing onto the handle bars, and my husband loves being able to peddle her around. My only warning would be that the clamp doesn't fit all bike styles - some friends of ours ended up buying a new bike to go with the seat! Double check before you buy.
Interesting point... In our experience the ibert sits lower than the one you have, at a slightly slanted angle... the handlebars have not been a problem.
Where did you find the seatbelt that you sewed into the seat? That's the type of thing that would have had me stumped if I was attempting to put such an awesome contraption together.
If last summer was the year of the jogging stroller, and this summer is the year of the bike, how will you ever top it for next summer? You'll have to build your own airplane!
Very impressive.
That's the coolest bike in the world! Did you check out some of the tours that wheelhouse is running this summer? They look fantastic.
I am in awe of the popcycle.
I must have one of those leco seats but I'm sure everyone else here will beat me to ebay.
does the seatbelt you installed have a clasp and does Juniper keeps her feet on the baskets?
I love the summer of the bike - can't wait to hear more.
That is just so cool! The kids are going to have wonderful memories of the summer of the bike!
oh I adore it. the back seat is superb! we have a mamacycle (like sarah's but with another bobike on the back on top of xtracycle) "Clementine" and she's amazing ride. I really need a better kickstand though. I also need to ride it more often, so thanks for the inspiration!
mamma mia, I know you're a runner, but junie and gram make for some heavy free weights. you must be turning all that hard body!
i am so impressed with that bike right now.
and it's priceless that your kids call you pops. priceless.
Oh that is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
This is going to be the summer of no more bike seats here: the kindergartener wants to learn to ride his own bike.
Compliments for the Dutch-factor! I agree with you on the pleasures of talking and pointing things out to your kid. I live in Holland and have a trailer, but I miss the contact with the little one while riding. Since we do not own a car, however, the trailer is a convenient transport for weekly groceries...
Simply Awesome!!!
Love it! In Japan that bike would be called a "mamachari" (mama chariot) it's very common here. I've even seen some people with the double kids, plus another strapped to their back, or in a sling on their front!
Necessity Truly is the mother of invention..
I Agree with the reader that said get a good lock...The bike is flippin cool
this is amazing.
Wow! I agree with Erin--it's like a McGyver or Mr. Gadget bike. Like Jacqui, I always worried about the trailer issues--I think you have absolutely come up with the perfect solution. I applaud your ingenuity and design skill; maybe you should patent this setup?
I had the same rear seat on my mom's bike when I was four or five. When she fell I had to be pretty agile to keep my head up (no helmets in 1975), but it sure was stylish. Hopefully you're a better bike rider than mom was.
awesome. that is all.
That is all kinds of awesome. At one point i rode with two kids in the trailer and one on the bike - best shape i've ever been in and some of my favourite parenting memories so far.
The bike seat on the front is just awesome! And it's amusing that this morning I was thinking about trying to get a seat for my mountain bike to put my munchkinman on. I've got to try and find somewhere around the Flint (ish) area that carries the front mount ones now!
Way to go on the bike seat for Gram! I was a nanny in the Friesland, NL and was just amazed by all these Moms riding around with 2 (sometimes 3!) kids on their bike. Not only that, but maneuvering those tricky roads at the same time.
This is so awesome.
You guys are going to have a fantastic summer.
Two words..
Bike Lock
You crack me up. In a good way, of course. Today has been absolutely craptastic, a full day of dealing with all of the things that come along with having your wallet stolen out of your locked car in your own driveway. And then learning that your credit card has paid for some loser's pizza and Verizon bills.
Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you for making me smile. Your family is adorable. And so is the bike.
Hmmm if only I could fit all three triplets on a bike but I don't think I'm strong enough to haul their 90 pounds around with my own leg power. Maybe I need a triple decker scooter...
nice popcycle! that's beautifully done. lucky kids!
to the person who asked if you had to order the bobike seat from the netherlands, nope, they're distributed in the states by kool stop - http://www.koolstop.com/bobike/index.php
i ordered my rear bobike from them directly 4 or so years ago. cleverycles.com should carry them too.
Sweeeeeet ride!
I hope you have a great summer cruising with your kiddos.
We got rid of our car about 2.5 years ago, temporarily we thought. We found hauling our girls around by bike to be incredibly transforming in so many ways, that we still find ourselves without a car, and it's great!
Great post! Love the bike, must admit to being really jealous of both it and the fact you have decent cycle tracks. Very jealous indeed.
Your kids are going to have a great summer, you can just tell.
Very cute. Don't have time to read all the comments, but just one tip from a biking-with-kids vet: The moment of loading is the most dangerous one of the ride, and will only become more so as everyone grows. I don't know how you get two kids up there and hold it steady as you set off. I share your distaste for trailers, but at least everything stays upright while you get everyone in place. I really wish I hadn't sold mine -- it would be great for grocery-shopping today.
I almost cried when I read this.
I don't have very many memories of my father (at least, not many GOOD ones), but one of them is sitting behind him in my faded yellow plastic kiddie seat and wrapping my 3-year-old arms around his waist, while chattering away at him. I can't remember if my little bro was up in front or not, but I would venture a yes. The bike had a second plastic seat that fit over the crossbar, right behind the handlebars and my brother would grasp the handlebars in his chubby little hands and giggle.
Those memories have survived almost 30 years without any sort of visual or verbal reminders.
You are not giving your kids bike rides. You are giving them so much more.
I can't tell you--this is the most useful HOW TO for us right now...if we can get our act together...THANKS!!!!
Absolutely glorious! Love the baskets-I think you may start a trend with those. Your children are going to have such fantastic memories of the 'Summer of the Bike'.
I do have to second Lise's gentle warning, though. As a child I, too, got my foot caught in the spokes while riding on the back of a bike. It was like sticking my ankle in the meat slicer at the deli.I have a deep half-dollar sized scar to remind me. (um...too graphic?) I'm sure you'll remind Juney to keep her feet on the baskets.
I definitely clapped and may have squealed with glee to see pictures. So fantastic.
Thanks! That is genius...seriously. We are inspired...
Tory
Awesome. Truly.
[Just want to point out that the kids' helmets should be tipped forward so they cover their foreheads.]
I'm full of admiration for your creative, stylish problem-solving. You are too cool.
This bike almost makes me almost believe in god...almost 
Precious, just precious!
Ha ha, here I was thinking I was all original in offering the Madsen bikes for when your kids outgrow the little seats, and it seems I'm like the 30th commentor with that advice! Love the bike, envy the energy and attention required to use it. Good daddy.
That is a pretty sweet ride.
I don't think the front seat would fit on any of my bikes though... and if other people have the same problem, you could try a WeeRide. I have been quite happy with it, and Beth gets excited every time she sees the bike. A slightly more complicated mounting system though:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XojGhQ...-h/
IMG_1354.JPG
(sorry about the long link...)
Anyway, having the kid up front is awesome - feels like you are much more engaged, and she can point and babble and nod off
Cheers,
Grant.
Love it!
Once again, you are inspiring me, Jim. I love that back seat, and will be researching where to buy one for ourselves.
After we get bikes, of course.
How sweet to see how much love you put into that bike. It makes me excited to pull my little Schwinn out of my closet and start riding her around town.
I'm a friend of the guy who runs CETMA (hi Lane!) so I got all geeky and excited when I saw that link. He's got a great rack (har har).
My father had an enormous black Raleigh. He put me in the wire basket on the front handle bars to ride. I remember being scared to death yet exhilarated. Your beebs will have the best memories.
Oh, I rode for many hours in that EXACT child-seat. Fond memories!
Ana
Love it! Thanks for the pictures!
I've seen a lot of those Bobike seats here in Davis, CA, but never a seat as sweet as Juniper's!
Well done!
What helmet is Gram wearing? I am looking for a helmet for my 1 year old to wear in our bike trailer but am having trouble finding something small enough.
Fishing creels!!? You're a frickin' genius. I've been trying to think of some cheap-a@@ way to add a basket to my bike and those are the best!
That is seven kinds of awesome. I especially love the photo of your daughter in the retro bike seat.
Please write more stories like this one. I know your kids will be glad you did.
SO AWESOME. maybe wood can sit on your shoulders and juggle as you pedal along? it's a thought. you might even recoup the cost of the bike in donations.
Love the idea and would be more than happy to get something like this going for us too, but unfortunately I am too short (and perhaps too weak) to make it work. From what I understand, if you are on the short side like me (5'even), you really can't even keep one kid balanced while you try to mount your bike. Any thoughts on this?
are they foot rests for the back child's seat? my cousin got his feet caught in the spokes when he was riding with his dad. very painful and awful experience. just a cautionary comment!
That's pretty much the coolest thing ever.
How do you deal with the balance issue? Or maybe you aren't a dork like I am, and actually have a sense of balance. I went with a trailer because I was worried about the long fall. Now I just have to worry about the long bike+trailer.
Love the pictures. Glad you are having the year of the bike.
You are tha man. I wish we lived in the same town so that you guys and my dutchman + daughter could ride about together. Nina is on an "afterburner" now. She has gotten heavy enough (42 pounds!) that she has to help with the pedaling a bit.
Your bike is awesome!! Having seats on the bike for the kids is similar to the babywearing movement. I love it!
I've been lurking for a while, so enjoy your stories of Lafayette Park. I grew up there, we moved from upstate NY to Lafaytte Park when I was about 3 and I lived there till 16 or so (parents divorced at 12 and time was split) but still I grew up there. My Dad was an urban planner right out of college when we moved, naturally he picked Lafayette Park to move to (might have been an original owner, have to ask some time). Anyway, we lived on Nicolet, parrell with The Pavillion and right across the yard from the Food Plaza (is that still there? cool Jewish family owned it then and they had great deli and wonderful treats, remember snitching change to hand over to them regularly). I think our addy was 1336... and while reading your blog and seeing the pics, I always imagine you in the VomSteigs place (second from the end) or at the end unit, in the home where the kid always threw crap apples at me... Don't ask me why?
Quite a lot of comments on the bike- I think it's great but the thing I like about the post is that you are with your kids....talking, pointing things out, actually interacting. I see so many people with the kids in the back - the phones in the ear.. Anyway, your kids are very lucky. I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now and it's like having a damn good conversation - thanks.
Hey wow - it's been a little while since I stopped by (we were huge Juniper fans back in the La Leche League / Sleep Wars days), and here I find you on the same family biking obsession that we have.
I love "15 MPH hug" - biking every day with my daughter up front has enriched our relationship more than anything I can think of. She truly is the "Queen of Ballard" up there, waving to folks and commenting on "gaggles of geese" and the like.
In fact, we started a family biking site, since the online info on front seats, kid cargo bikes, and other "high occupancy velos" was hard to come by. And we called it "totcycle", much like your popscycle.
Anyway, for folks wanting to learn more about biking with your kids, check these posts:
Front seat rundown (you can often find a bobike mini on ebay for about $40):
http://totcycle.com/blog/all-abo...bike-
seats.html
A celebration of kids as cargo:
http://totcycle.com/blog/high-oc...-
manifesto.html
Convert that old MTB into a useful city bike:
http://totcycle.com/blog/queer-e...n-bike-
guy.html
Inspirational kid-carrying bikes (to which I should now add yours!):
http://totcycle.com/blog/cool-bi...lling-
card.html
Ok. I agree with all who say that is absolutely cool.
But seriously - and this is not a rhetorical question - when you have it loaded with both kids and a farmers' market trip, what percentage of your weight does that beast weigh!?
Holy smokes. My bike weighs about half of me on its own. (But yes, I am a small, short, weak girl.) If I tried to load two humans and some milk on there, it would be straight comedy until I fell right over after advancing one inch by pure luck.
This is amazing... I can feel the spring breeze... It looks like you guys live in Holland, not in Detroit! Amazing!
SSSSWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!
My folks had the same back seats on their bikes when I was young...
Whee, what joy! I can only imagine the memories you're creating for Juney and Gram.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new bike. Write about it all you want. In fact, start a new feature in the left hand column titled something like "adventures of the popcycle".
This is so timely. Last week I was sending my husband some links to Craigslist bike stuff, including an "afterburner" like Laura mentioned above. Hints for my upcoming birthday. I've been craving some bike action lately. My bike has been untouched since moving to Durham. I am a little afraid of sharing the road. But I am ready to try.
Just got an Xtracycle about 6 weeks ago for commuting and schlepping our 5 year girl (also "The Short Kid" in her class) back and forth from school. I can't believe how much fun it's been. Now it's me who throws a tantrum on days when we have to take the car.
Ooooh, so nice. I would love one but am hesitant because I know how San Franciscan's drive. Will my daughter and I survive?
Echoing what Lise and Morgan commented: it would be a really, really good idea to obtain some sheet plastic or something similar and lace it behind the footpegs of the rear seat to prevent ankle/spoke contact. Speaking as a pediatrician who has treated those kinds of injuries in the emergency room, you don't even want to take that chance. Even a big sheet of canvas or leather might work--as long as it prevents the foot from slipping into the spokes.
okay, I was hesitant to address lisa and morgan (and now doccamazing) because I thought it was obvious from the photographs, but there are two metal guards in place to prevent the feet from getting into the spokes. These are a part of the child seat. I literally could not force the kid's feet into the spokes if I wanted to.
My first clear memory from childhood is of flying over a brick pathway through an avenue of green trees, the wind in my face. My mom used to pick me up from the sitter's on her bike, and we rode through a park on our way home. Loved it, obviously (I was 2 or so).
I KNOW my seat was nowhere near as cool, though!
This made me feel like a total dork. This made me gasp and smile and think to myself "I wish The Junipers were my FRIENDS! They're SO COOL!"
Yep. Dork. But my god! Look at you guys!
I read today that Joy is being razed. Trust you'll be pedaling over there to take some photos?
this is the cutest! we have a front seat, a back seat and a trailer. adds options when you are riding with three little ones
i like the front seat too, but the little guy doesn't like it. he wants to be in the trailer with his big brothers.
wishing you lots of summery bike adventures.
Oh wow, that is so awesome! I spent many hours as a baby/child on the back of my dad's bike in a seat very much like Junipers! (minus the foot guards...oops! It was the early 80's ha ha)
I'm pretty impressed with your riding skills too. I get all whiny about how heavy my bike lock is in my basket, let alone two kids and groceries! Rock on!
that's quite a ride you got there... my folks had the exact same bike seats when I was a kid.
I have to hold you personally responsible for this:
http://emersonporter.blogspot.co...-her-
trike.html
Please send me an email so it is private.
EJ LEVY
Hey! This is the guy from the prosecutor's office who saw you riding down Gratiot the other day. I just showed your popcycle pictures to my kids (7 and 5). They liked it. They think I should get a popcycle too. Happy pedaling!
Wow! Your bike is beautiful.
One of my favourite all time memories is of biking with dd on the back of the bike in the afternoons during a stay in Tianjin, China . Lots of rubberneckers because of my blonde hair. One tried to take a second look and very nearly caused a pile up.
Cool! Even more cool is the fact that my father had EXACTLY the same bike set-up when we lived in the Netherlands (Bloemendaal)in the mid '60s. My brother sat at the front, I was at the back....we never wore helmets,and there wasn't a seat-belt to be seen, but we never fell off. The only mishap occurred when Dad, who in his ignorance had bought a man's bike, swung his leg out behind him to dismount and kicked me in the head! Off he went back to the shop and got himself a "Damenfiets' (ladies' bike) and off we went!
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