Kiddie Carrier 2000 Review

As a bicycle enthusiast with young children, I must admit I have toyed with the idea of getting a trailer for some time but until now, had not seen anything that made any sense to me. There seems to be a lot of non-cyclists designing these trailers apparent from the ‘converts to jogger’ concept I kept seeing. I can see how some people might think hey - cycle round for a while, then lock up the bikes and continue on foot - shopping perhaps? But for me, a design that delivers both trailer and jogger is just too much of a compromise. On one hand you have a heavy, cumbersome trailer - the other a heavy, unwieldy pram. Hmmmm.

First Impressions

From my first glance of the Kiddiecarrier, I was in love - what was immediately clear was that in making the Kiddiecarrier, Philips had decided to focus on creating this product to do one thing well, rather than two things badly. It does not double as a pram but the Kiddiecarrier is as desirable as a bugaboo pram and only half the price.

Call me impulsive but I did not test drive the trailer at all. I simply sat my daughter in it and towed her a couple of meters by hand to test the balance and that was it. I would like to claim it was when I saw how it folded down flat and small enough to fit into the most compact boot that I was won over but this would be a lie as I only discovered this fitting it into our small Toyota Corrolla to take it home.

Once the Kiddiecarrier was home, it was connected to my ‘commuter outfitted’ MTB in under 10 minutes (this included restoring the trailer from it’s flattened state for the first time without instructions and about three minutes looking for our helmets) and we were away. About half way round the first block on our maiden voyage, I was braced and ready for buyers remorse to kick in should the Kiddiecarrier not deliver as expected but I am please to report the Kiddiecarrier performed brilliantly.

Kiddiecarrier Top 10 Benefits

1. Low resistance for easy towing
2. Low and stable - felt solid and gave confidence when cornering
3. Wet weather screen built in
4. Debris deflector to prevent dust and dirt from the rear wheel hitting your child
5. Quick release towing connector has releases trailer from bike in seconds
6. Head turning good looks in brilliant orange for added visibility and safety
7. Sprung coupling for smooth turning and jerk free towing
8. Generous luggage area behind the kids makes it perfect for shopping and longer trips - we intend to go camping with (small) tent and sleeping bags stowed here
9. Quick release wheels and folds flat for easy storage and transportation in a car etc
10. Lightweight aluminum frame and compact size means you can easily maneuver the trailer into tighter spaces (i.e lift, narrow paths etc)

So is the Kiddiecarrier worth such a glowing report? Absolutely! If you have ever cycled with a 10KG+ child strapped to a kiddy seat behind you and had an accident as minor as the bike falling over, you will realise just how vulnerable small children are in this position. The trailer fully encapsulates your child and largely separates them from injury should Daddy (or mummy) lose his footing and drop the bike. Also, the trailer unburdens your bike. Riding with my daughter in tow on a larger run over the weekend actually felt quite normal. Actually it was better than normal as nothing beats riding with company.

What is The KiddieCarrier (or any bicycle trailer) Like to Tow?

For the uninitiated, I would liken towing the trailer to being a little like going ever so slightly up hill. Gear down and everything feels pretty normal. I would even go so far as to suggest that my wife would be comfortable towing it with one of our munchkins. On a side note - I think 18mts is probably the earliest you would be popping a child in a kiddy seat, trailer or anything like this) When the second little one, currently 7 weeks, gets up a bit I may have to take over again but we will see (the Kiddiecarrieris designed to accommodate one child centrally or two side by side)

When Better is Cheaper

Finally, I should pause a moment on the subject of price as the Kiddiecarrier has managed a rather remarkable trick that I have never before seen in the bicycle world. I own three bicycles and my wife two and in every case, a premium was required to get the lightweight version. With the Kiddiecarrier somehow it is about the cheapest trailer despite being the lightest by far when compared to more expensive dual function trailers.

Don’t ask questions - just get down to the store and quietly purchase your own before somebody catches on.

Comments