Hardcore

I decided not to give up on the bakfiets as a viable means of transporting the kids in cold weather. And with a little rearranging, I was able to find a way to keep them both warm and helmeted in the box. First, I took the seats out (the front seat snaps out, and the back seat folds up), and covered the floor of the box with cushions (much like I did when giving my mom a ride). I added a sheepskin for extra warmth, comfort and coziness.

Lastly, I tossed in some fleece blankets and then
covered the box with the rain cover to block the wind.

The kids can fit with their helmets on because the lack of benches gives them extra head room under the cover. Luke and Jaz sit next to each other in the back, and Zeben sits rear-facing in the front. It is definitely a warm and cozy solution.

It felt so great to be able to ride into town without listening to a soundtrack of complaints about the temperature. The kids don't exactly love the new set-up (Lukas especially feels a bit claustrophobic whenever he first gets in), but they're being pretty tolerant. I think it looks like heaven in there (I would have loved it as a kid), and the kids are definitely kept toasty warm despite the frosty mornings. The only difficulty is that I've lost all of my under-the-benches storage space, and I need to figure out a better storage solution for the back rack. And it was too cold for me to wear my helmet, so I need to find some type of hat that works with helmets.

When I arrived at the boys' school on the first 35° morning with the new winterized version of the bakfiets, many of the other parents congratulated me with awe. "Wow," they said. "That's hardcore." And, I have to say, I kind of agree. I did feel hardcore, hardcore and free.