I got very confused by all the stuff about quill-heads and A-stems
sorry for being confusing! They're just different ways of doing the handlebars/wheel attachment (quills being older-skool than A-headset); can explain further if it would be helpful but will refrain in case it wouldn't :)
If you would be happy with a non-parent holding Imogen while you try stuff do let me know -- would be happy to come across & meet you there! Although I guess Owen might want to try bikes too.
Rather to my surprise, I found the trike much easier to steer than the two-wheeler. Having ridden a trike before & had a similarly terrifying experience, I was expecting to find it really tough, but for some reason it was actually pretty intuitive. (doop found it so as well, so not just me.) I *think* partly because the bars don't look like handlebars (more like a pram handle), and the box swings with them -- so you feel more like you're driving a pram or a BIG BOX around a corner & just happen to be sitting down & pedalling behind it. If you see what I mean? I think perhaps it looked different enough not to trigger my automatic 'bike' reflex.
The two-wheeler was actually harder to steer (because the wheel is *so far* out ahead of you, so the turning activity is happening about a metre up front). And yeah, the keeping-upright-while-stopped is a big minus point for me because one of the things I'm concerned about with all of this is buggering up my hips/knees AGAIN.
which is to say: we're getting a trike, contrary to my expectation when we went along.
no subject
sorry for being confusing! They're just different ways of doing the handlebars/wheel attachment (quills being older-skool than A-headset); can explain further if it would be helpful but will refrain in case it wouldn't :)
If you would be happy with a non-parent holding Imogen while you try stuff do let me know -- would be happy to come across & meet you there! Although I guess Owen might want to try bikes too.
Rather to my surprise, I found the trike much easier to steer than the two-wheeler. Having ridden a trike before & had a similarly terrifying experience, I was expecting to find it really tough, but for some reason it was actually pretty intuitive. (doop found it so as well, so not just me.) I *think* partly because the bars don't look like handlebars (more like a pram handle), and the box swings with them -- so you feel more like you're driving a pram or a BIG BOX around a corner & just happen to be sitting down & pedalling behind it. If you see what I mean? I think perhaps it looked different enough not to trigger my automatic 'bike' reflex.
The two-wheeler was actually harder to steer (because the wheel is *so far* out ahead of you, so the turning activity is happening about a metre up front). And yeah, the keeping-upright-while-stopped is a big minus point for me because one of the things I'm concerned about with all of this is buggering up my hips/knees AGAIN.
which is to say: we're getting a trike, contrary to my expectation when we went along.
Sizing: they don't come in different sizes; I think the theory is that the design makes it possible to adjust over a wideish range. Having said that, this review suggests that there is a lower height point & recommends trying it out at your sort of height. FWIW, Velorution were v helpful to us when we tried things out (we were clear that we were only considering our options, had no intention of buying on the spot, & might not buy at all!) so I'm sure they'd be happy to give you a hand. Or to advise over the phone whether they think you'd be able to get the seat low enough for you? I'm not sure if there are other box-bike options for shorter folk or if e.g. Bakfiets are easier to get lower on...
waffle waffle BIKES waffle :)