levelgaze

Harumph. I paid £50 for a second-hand one the other week. And it was a copper who sold me it. And my passenger wants a new one. The front flap doesn't quite keep all rear-wheel spray out and he often tells me "bumpy ride!" when we get home. The truth is, he has seen his Nursery friend's transport (a top-of-the-range Chariot, which costs a lot, lot more), and he wants some of that. He's 2.5 years old - where do they get these acquisitive instincts, eh?

I had this occasionally on my Agattu. I had the rear wheel off to fix a puncture this morning, then when I rode to work, it was slipping like crazy. I had neglected to position the chain tensioner properly when I put the back wheel on. In rectifying this, I noticed that it was a bit sticky on its pivot, and wiggled it a bit. The chain and gear changes felt much, much better than they ever had.

Well, I have switched to a trailer - a friend had one for sale, so I thought I'd try it out. The little 'un loves it, although we can no longer chat as much as we used to (perhaps that's why he likes it...). It's certainly heavier / more noticeable going up hills! But I'm happy that he has some decent weather protection, which isn't really possible on a seat.

There are front-mounted child seats available - I like the idea, for the reasons you state (and also, of course, since the child might act as an airbag in case of a collision...).

A 'bloke in a bike shop' told me that he felt that trailers were better when your ride was mainly on cycle paths; seats better when dealing with traffic.

I have been agonising over this a bit recently, too. The prime safety advantage of trailers over seats is that they (allegedly) are likely to stay upright if the bike goes over onto its side. I can't commit myself to the idea of my little 'un being down at wheel level in a flimsy tube/fabric construction, though - I would much rather have him up high, in a big RED seat, so that everyone can see him. And I find that you are much more aware of them when they are just behind you. I have a cheap Hammax. It fits on an Agattu. I think you shouldn't fix it to a seat post, though - it needs to be the frame.

Danny-K, my (ahem) stats are not dissimilar to yours - I am also an inveterate (and happy) smoker, and have only recently taken up cycling again after 20-odd years. I have had my Agattu for a couple of weeks, and it has been an outright pleasure to ride, both alone and with my 2.5 year old on board. It's almost sinful. It also feels like a bike for the (ahem, again) powerfully-built - solid and with a lordly riding position.

I was tempted by the anti-chic of the classic yellow poncho, but decided to take it one step further by going for these babies instead.

Ah, there should be a key as well as the lever, should there? I can see where it should go. That's a pity - I'll get onto the supplier. On the plus side, at least it wasn't me being dumb... Thanks for the help. Jim

Thanks for the suggestion, fishingpaul. There doesn't seem to be any space for the key to turn - assuming the black triangular thing is the grip of a key. A minimalist diagram on said grip seems to suggest that you push it in and slide it down, but it neither pushes in nor seems willing to slide.

I have just taken delivery of an Agattu. What a lovely thing - I found myself giggling with pleasure when riding it, which was probably disturbing for passers-by. I am puzzled by the Abus lock on the rear wheel - how on earth does it work? I assume that the key (if that's what it is - the sticky-out bit) slides round the curve and then is removed? But it doesn't seem to move much, even when pushed in / pulled out / etc. It must be something so obvious that no Manual/Google answer is required - because I am the first person ever to be find it difficult... Jim