Seems like every sidebar I pass features this:
I’ve even seen posts from people just desperate to win it (apparently there is a July contest and posting gets you entries – run don’t walk!)
Now, I’m not going to claim to be that much of an athlete to begin with – but I think this looks like a nightmare. Seriously. Pulling a bucket full of kids around? Yeah – no thanks.
Who came up with this idea? And who tested it out? Obviously people who live on very flat terrain.
Well, if you are a Madsen enthusiast, dying to get one of these babies in time for your family vacation at the beach, I have one question for you: How much do your children weigh?
My oldest son is only four, but he’s pretty gigantic. So that’s almost 60 lbs. of kid right there. Then there are the two year old twins who are both about 30 lbs. Altogether – that is well over 100 lbs of child to lug around.
How much do you think these kids weigh?
(in a skirt no less!) My second question is, have you ever pulled your kids around in a wagon? Yes? Okay – now strap that wagon to the back of your bike and hit the trails. Try to find one with a good incline. ‘Cause THAT sure sounds like fun!
I could just see myself on one of my neighborhood hills, sweating bullets and only just barely moving. At some point I would finally feel my muscles seize up, then fall over sideways, bike, kids and all. And I won’t even get into the terrifying image of downhill inertia taking over…
When I first saw this thing, I laughed. I thought it must be a joke. A pretty, blue joke. But surely not something that people would actually want. I mean really – is this what the masses think of when they hear, “fun summer afternoon”? If I surveyed the blogosphere at large, would there be a resounding “YES” to the Madsen?
Insert Family Feud scene here:
Richard Dawson: The question is: What is a popular summer activity?
Johnson Family: Swimming!
Richard Dawson: We’re hitting the beach or the pool…Survey says!
Scoreboard: X
Richard Dawson: Hmmm. Out of 100 people surveyed, no one likes swimming… Okay…let’s try again. The question is “what is a popular summer activity?”
Johnson Family: Tennis!
Richard Dawson: Meet me on the court at ten…and Survey says!
Scoreboard: XX
Richard Dawson: Ho! Too hot for tennis… You have two strikes now, so one more to go. What is a popular summer activity?
Johnson Family: Pulling a bucket of children uphill while riding a bike!
Richard Dawson: We’re going with the Madsen! And Survey says!
Scoreboard: dingdingdingding Pulling a bucket of children uphill while riding a bike = 100
Survey says: bloggers LOVE Madsen.
Just another example of why I’m not fun….
Is it me…or in that illustration does she have a muffin top? I have a muffin top, if riding a bike with my now 120 pounds of children would cure it, I may sign up…this does not make me want to tote kids in a basket on my bike at all! If I'm going to do that (aside from the fact my kids 10 and 7 year old friends would CRUCIFY them) I'd have to be guaranteed a svelte figure!
That was HILARIOUS. "Bucket of children" – I can't stop laughing. And the Family Feud scene? You are creative girlfriend.
Oh, and no. I have no interesting in pulling a bucket of children (bahahahaha) around town. None whatsoever.
Pulling a bike full of dead weight, umm, I mean kids, in 95 degree heat? No thanks. I don't even like riding a completely unencumbered bike – this Madsen thing looks like sheer torture to me!
Loved the FF shtick though.
That was so funny Kate! I love the family feud dialogue! Hysterical. And I DO want to win that bike, bucket of children and all!
I couldn't agree more. It looks adorable, but sounds like an absolute nightmare to me!!
yeah, that's definitely on the "looks cute, not practical list". OR, it's some sort of crazy device that Satan has placed on our world to punish us for our bad deeds.
I'll pass. ;)
Found you… somewhere. I live in TX so that would be misery. I have a hard enough time pushing my kids in the double stroller. Plus, call me square, but it doesn't look very safe.
Oh my gosh… so funny! I didn't think this bike was real at first, either! I pull my children in their red radio flyer wagon, and that's tough enough, thank you very much – my oldest who is almost 4 is 51 pounds, and my baby, who is 18 months old on Saturday is 27 pounds. Yeah, that's a lot of weight right there! And to do this sort of thing while they're attached to my bike? UGH, no thanks! Also, I'd be scared they'll flip out… climb out… I would hate not being able to see them. Plus, I'm a real klutz, so I'd probably get in a million little accidents!
I'm with you, sister. That looks like a whole bunch of UN-fun to me. Blech!
I enjoyed reading this! Family Feud scene – so funny!
I agree. That was my first thought when I saw that thing. And in my neighborhood with all the hills, that bike could be used by the CIA.
fun is the furthest thing from my mind on that one…words that come to mind, hemerhoids (can't spell), groin tears, kid road kill….just to name a few
LOL I agree – but I still want it for groceries at the beach!!!!!
While I'm sure my 7 year old son, who refuses to learn how to ride a bike on his own, would love me to lug him around until he's in his teens on that thing, I'm positive I'd never make it up my driveway – which barely has an incline – with him (or air) in those buckets!
I bet it would make a very lovely lawn ornament with some flowers planted in those buckets.
:)
Hah! Seriously. Why not fill a wheelbarrow with bowling balls and hitch THAT to your bike. I imagine it's great for tiny tots, but then do they have to wear helmets? The whole thing just seems ill-conceived.
I'm with you on this one and besides did you notice the gal in the ad is walking the bike not riding it?
I'm with you. I can't even make it up my street on a regular bike, sans kids, so a bucket full of kids, or dog/s would not be okay.
I have a mountain bike and that tote looks very similar to the one in my floor that I'm packing full of my daughter's clothes. A little rope and I've got myself a homemade Madsen!
Seriously though, Arwen's a whopping 15 pounds now and there's no way in H I'd even want to pull her around on anything but very flat land. And we trail bike! Heck no. I need nothing else causing me trouble.
That lady in a skirt! Hah!
holy crap. That looks like a TON of work.
Oh my god, I thought it was just me.
I'm pretty sure it's not recommended to put FOUR children in that bucket, so the thought of the fighting that would ensue in my driveway is reason enough to never want to see this bike again. Ever.
Oh Kate so true!! You know how people stop you at the store while it's filled with your 3 kids and sometimes you really just keep going because you're pushing 100 lbs. and are on a roll. But, I push them at the store out of necessity, not a joy. In fact, that might be a kill-joy for me.
I'll be the stick in the mud on this one (also, bicycles — excellent way to get me to comment).
The point isn't fun in the sun but transportation. Once people figure out that they don't need to fire up the car for every little jaunt involving cargo or kids, they can end up saving a great deal of money, gas, pollution, and a ton of aggravation over traffic and parking stress — plus, of course, the added benefit of healthy exercise.
The design of the bike in question (you could probably find a more practical model from a different company, such as the Surly Big Dummy, without a bucket), is actually very stable and lends itself really well to pulling a ton of weight. The super-extended rear wheelbase and low gearing makes that possible. In my opinion, though, nothing beats ye olde bakfiets in bicycle child transport.
No one is allowed to complain.
Wait, that's not a torture device? I thought that was an advertisement for the Medieval Festival…
High-larious!!
I love the image of her with the kids. She's so fun loving! One of those kids is totally going to shove the other one out at the first opportunity.
Speaking of dead weight, it would be hard enough to drive them around with just that, but it's not like they're going to stay still. Have fun keeping that upright when a 100 pds of kid throw themselves to one side to look at a puppy.
Oh my. You are so correct. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Unless mom is a marathon, professional cyclist, triathlete or some other totally physical being how could you manage?
Children could seriously get hurt. I thought at first it was for groceries or something. Even still it just wouldn't work for me. I would be calling someone to come pick my tired self up and take me home.
I'm curious, do you just win the bike or do you win the woman too?
I don't have any kids but I can tell you right now I wouldn't be doing that, but if it came with a woman to haul your kids around for you! Why not!
HaHaHaHaHA! I'd like my kids to pull ME around. And I promise not to wear a skirt…
OMG it looks like a RICKSHAW!!!! lol….
HAHAHA!!!! I personally think they are Ugly! But you brought up some good points I didn't think of!
Um yeah. I have zero desire to pull my kids in a bucket on a bike. No thanks.
Also… I so wish you were going to BlogHer. You'll be missed!
I already have something like that at home..it's called a wheelbarrow!
hahahahaha!! thats great! sorry, gotta run… i am going to go throw on a skirt and pull my family around… NOT! lol
I am the oddball but I still think it'd be fun. Granted I live in Louisiana so riding a bike with NO kids in it right about now sounds bad, but in the Spring/Fall on our flat terrain it would be fun. The link is on my blog and I still hope I win!
{ Lindsey }
http://greatfullday.blogspot.com
Hear, hear AND it doesn't even look particularly safe. We purchased an adult size trike for our disabled son and he managed to tip it over going around the corner on a regular basis. The only thing worse than going splat on the ground is going splat on the ground just in time to have an adult sized trike land on top of you.
As a woman who pushes a triple stroller, no way, I can barely bike without the bucket of children. Hilarious.
You kill me!! This was very, very funny!! I snorted – that funny. Yeah…no…I would never want to drag around a bucket full of kids.
ha! ok yes the bike looked cool to me i must admit. although how did i not notice how not fun it would be to actually use it!