Carrying kids and hills

[The fish]

Hi there,

Am looking for an electric bike, and am thinking of a decent crank drive as I plan to put a child seat on the back, and I have hills to get up in London. Anyone else have a kid on the back? I am wondering if I will get up the hills, iif my passenger is say up to 20 kg?

Ta

The Fish

 

[indalo]

I am wondering if I will get up the hills, iif my passenger is say up to 20 kg?

Ta

The Fish

If it's any help, I have carried that kind of weight quite often on my low-powered, early Panasonic crank-driven machine and I have never needed to go lower than third gear (of 8) so I would expect any modern machine to cope quite easily with that kind of load.

Indalo

 

[flecc]

Here's a Panasonic crank drive Lafree that I used in the hilly North Downs for recycling duties. I think you'll agree your 20 kilos will be no problem, the empty trailer alone is 14 kilos and then there's the drag from its two wheels. I've also used it to carry scrap fridges, CRT TVs and cookers:

 

[JamesC]

I think that the crank drive bikes are ideal for carrying kids or pulling them in trailers.

Here is a thread that I started a while back, when the grandchildren were smaller than 20kg, using front child seats. The oldest have grown out of front seats now, and we have been using a trailer.

On one point, I find that a step through bike is way better than having a cross bar when children are aboard. It is so much easier to come to a halt, and step off without fear of the bike overbalancing.

And of course you are not tempted to swing a leg over the saddle and kick a rear seat child off the back !

James

 

[grasshopper]

... I've also used it to carry scrap fridges, CRT TVs and cookers:

Steptoe's OTHER son!

 

[The fish]

Thanks so much for this. Have gone for a kalkoff and will enjoy the hills I hope. I have seen so few electric bikes in hilly north london, it just seems a no brainer to me. I did not get step through cos the reach is less, so will just have to take care. Better buy some decent waterproofs now. Will post pics when set up complete.