Test: Croozer Kid Vaaya 2: Cargo bikes everywhere - what actually happened to the good old child trailer? It's as popular as ever, even if it's now such a common sight that you hardly notice it anymore. A good opportunity to renew the acquaintance with the life stage companion of the kindergarten years - and to give young parents tips that they still have in front of them.
Anyone who enjoys cycling a lot and has organized their daily life around this healthy, practical, and environmentally friendly means of transport will have to adapt when children arrive. In the coming months, mom and dad will be out and about on foot, with a sling or stroller – but wait! That's the keyword that brings us to the topic. Weeks and months in advance, parents-to-be take care of things like the baby's bed, the nursery decor, and even how to get around in the early days. But before they spend between 500 and 1.500 Before spending tens of thousands of euros on a stroller, hopeful cyclists should carefully consider what the coming years will look like. For example, at the latest, six months after birth, a baby can be transported in a child trailer using a reclining seat. More precisely, if you use the trailer as a stroller, you'll be pushing your child in it from day one; a few months later, the baby's muscles will be so well developed that the hammock-like seat will easily absorb the vibrations of cycling—especially if the suspension cushions the bumps in the road.
Skip the stroller
And since the purchase of a trailer is a sensible option for cycling parents anyway, they should consider skipping the comparatively rather shaky and unstable, but almost equally expensive stroller and going straight for a solid trailer like the Croozer Kid Vaaya 2 from the Cologne-based provider . A trailer like this is extremely practical: apart from its actual purpose, it can be pushed easily and manoeuvrably, with a single-seater also fitting through the narrow supermarket checkout. The storage space is large, so that shopping can be transported as well as baby accessories, bathing suits and much more. In addition, the concept is not exhausted after a short time: where a pram can still be used as a buggy for a few months and then there is hardly any demand on the second-hand market, a trailer can be used until the first year of primary school - until they are seven, children are allowed in the trailers are towed. And then they can definitely make room for their little siblings, because anyone who buys a high-quality model can expect a very long service life.
Advantages over family cargo bikes
But are trailers still "in"? If you look around in city traffic today, you will discover family cargo bikes with electric motors everywhere, in which children are driven to day care, to school and to sports. These large vehicles have numerous good points, such as the powerful engine or the spacious loading area. But there are also some disadvantages: Due to the large dimensions, they cannot be accommodated so well; their usability is less versatile than that of a trailer, which can be taken on a walk or jog, can be taken to the outdoor pool and, when folded, fits into the trunk. And last but not least, a family cargo bike can be quite expensive: high-quality models cost around 5.000 euros, and for this sum you can get a whole small family fleet of expensive trailers, high-quality e-bikes and top trekking bikes. This is also an advantage of the trailer: it can be coupled to a normal bicycle as well as to an e-bike; Electrical support for pulling is not absolutely necessary.
No security concerns
Whenever bicycle trailers are discussed, the topic of safety always comes up. In a world full of evaporating plastics, talking about the specific risks of materials used in trailers doesn't seem entirely appropriate, and in terms of accident hazards, trailers are considered the safest way to transport children while cycling. The passenger compartment of the trailer is extremely stable; even if a trailer tips over, nothing will happen to the child - as long as it is buckled up, which parents must always ensure. Children only have to wear a helmet if there are two of them sitting in the trailer – they could hit their heads in the event of strong vibrations. Last but not least, the trailer has no effect on the handling of the bike - unlike a child seat, which makes things much more shaky. Of course, you have to adapt to driving, for example at bottlenecks; but with a cargo bike it takes a lot more getting used to due to the strange steering behavior.
You will find a checklist for safe driving with child bike trailers Here.
Specifically good: the Croozer Kid Vaaya 2
From the general to the specific: with the Kid Vaaya 2 from the Cologne-based specialist Croozer, you can experience just how beautiful life as a young family cycling can be. The spacious two-seater is one of the best trailers on the market and is extremely solid and durable, while being comfortable and safe with suspension and integrated position lights. Two children can be comfortably seated in the Croozer, held in place by a five-point belt; behind them is a large storage space with a volume of a good 50 liters, which is loaded from the rear of the trailer. Among other things, the height-adjustable push bar offers parent comfort. Croozer uses materials that have been tested for harmful substances, although given the good ventilation there is no need to worry too much. Many equipment details have been tried and tested for years, such as the wheels, which can be tightened by pressing the center of the hub, and the folding mechanism, which turns the trailer into a flat package in just a few simple steps.
All this and much more is revealed very quickly when using it; the trailer may be a high-quality technical product, but basically it is not a bit complicated. Parents and children quickly grow to like it: it makes everyday mobility easy, it's safe and practical and very comfortable for the passengers, even in bad weather. Wrapped in warm blankets and protected from moisture by the transparent hood, children can discover the world around them through the large viewing window - which passes them at a leisurely pace, so that they can hold it in their minds well. And at some point the children know the routes of their city surprisingly well.
Resale
When it's time to say goodbye after years of use, both parents and children feel melancholy. A new phase of life begins, especially since the end of the trailer period usually coincides with school enrollment. When young parents then respond to the classified ad and come by with their baby to pick up the used trailer, not only do a few hundred euros sweeten the pain of separation - but also the knowledge that someone else is now on their way into family cycling life might.
