co-pilot bike trailers

So, we've gone from bike trailer, still in use occasionally, to bike seat up high, to bikes in tow or co-pilot behind the bike. We are on the search for one that will work on the road and light trail. I found a couple of message board threads, but thought I would pull it all into one place on a blog post.

One option I found enables you to connect with a regular child's bike, which has the obvious benefit of flexibility. It's called the Trail Gator Bicycle Tow Bar. So, this would give the kids the option of going solo or connected. Here's the Trail Gator existing bike:

Other options seem to have a lot more choices. Lots of considerations, how does it connect to a bike or multiple bikes, does it have gears or not and of course the harder to measure, how stable is it.

• Many folks like the Trek best. Lots of good reviews, 6 gears, some folks say the square frame is more stable.
• The Burley Picolo gets lots of raves too.   
• The WeeRide looks cool too, sounds like they have a lot of market penetration, but I have read that some folks have started with a WeeRide and then moved to other co-pilots like the Trek. It looks like all of them are free wheeling single speeds, nice for maintenance I guess.
• The Novara REI options are cool, single speed as well, quality, good price I am sure. 
• The WeeHoo is neat, looks like a recumbant trail a bike. 

Lastly, this looks cool as a back rest, a little added stability maybe on trails. 

This thread had a lot of good feedback

Inwood Hill climbing

Inwood Hill climbing, originally uploaded by rvelez127.

Thanksgiving 2012

The Platt family visited NYC for 2012 Thanksgiving, keeping us company up in sunny Inwood. We were able to get all the touristy adventures in, Empire State Building, Times Square, Museum of Natural History, Parade Balloon Inflation, P364 Carnival, Union Square Market, and a visit to New Jersey. We met up with the Tzaks at the Museum,Balloon Inflation, and Carnival. Lots of good eating at Carmine's, Zen Palate, and the Old Mill Inn in Jersey with the rest of the Velez familia.

Some super heroes visited the apartment
Of course Elmo showed up in Times Square
Fortunately, there's lots of fun playgrounds in NYC

Some food and fun at the Old Mill In
And no trip to New Jersey is complete without hanging out in a parking lot

For the full Flickr album
for the fun roll in the grass video

Riding the dirt jumps at Highbridge Park

Ramon is having fun on his push bike, riding around the park and neighborhood. We went to Highbridge Park's dirt jump park and he was loving it. He did get a bit distracted at the end with a rock in the dirt, but the park is great.

spiders

spiders, originally uploaded by rvelez127.

happy birthday Veronica

happy birthday Veronica, originally uploaded by rvelez127.

Two parties

Adventures in Potty Training

Ramon had his first really large poo in the potty today. It was like 2 feet long. I kid you not. He got really excited when he got off the pot to admire it.

He yelled, "Look, Mommy, it's a wormy poopy!"

I agreed that it is really cool to do big poos on the potty. I wasn't thinking about the large, messy poo I had to clean off his legs and shorts last night in the Francisco's bathroom, I promise.

As he washed his hands afterwards, he looks at me and says, "I'm gonna be dreaming about that tonight, Mommy....that big, wormy poopy."