Because the Kona Ute needs an extra long chain, Sean said I could either just ride when the roads are clear or clean the bike at least once a week and be ready to replace the chain in the spring.  Sean then went on to share the secrets of his glorious rust-free winter riding on his own Batavus BuB bike.

Here's Sean's story:

Winter cycling as a family can be fun, adventurous, challenging, and many times, all three during one outing. We live in Calgary, Alberta and we get winter in all its glory - and fury. The glory can be found in the mist rising off the river during really cold conditions or in the magical quality of the sunshine in the morning - think Rivendell in Lord of The Rings (well, maybe not that nice!). The fury is found when cycling in -25 degree temperatures - nothing like your eyelashes freezing together, usually at the most inconvenient times!

Last winter I rode a bike with a derailleur system (Madsen bucket bike) and the bike was constantly in our shop for repairs to the rear derailleur, lubrication of the cables, and replacement of the brake pads. After that experience I decided this winter we would get a bike that would be maintenance free as possible. We settled on the Batavus BuB - a 3-speed internally geared hub with coaster brake and racks front and rear.

I love my BuB! The Shimano Nexus 3-speed system is flawless in all conditions and has required zero adjustments thus far. The gearing is hidden away inside the hub and the shifting cable has no breaks in the housing where moisture can get in and rust. The coaster brake functions perfectly in all conditions because there are no cables at all - you simply pedal backwards to stop. And the KMC zinc coated rust buster chain - oh how I love thee! No lubrication required. No rust. No grime - heaven! KMC makes these chains for single speed bikes as well as 6, 7, and 8 speed derailleur systems. We recommend them to people that use derailleur equipped bikes in the winter too.

We use our bike to get to school everyday, for trips to the grocery store, and to ride to work. To accommodate my 7 year old son we installed a Bobike Junior Kids Seat. The seat is rated to 32 kgs (70 lbs), has a built in reflector and luggage rack, can be quickly removed if not needed, and can be folded down flat. It also has a simple lap belt for safety (removable) and is a great option for families that cycle with older kids. The seat makes chatting back and forth so easy too.

If you are ever in Calgary, pop in and say hi.

Happy Trails!

Sean and Nadia, BikeBike Inc.

Thanks for sharing your inspirational story, Sean!  To read more about Sean's cycling adventures, check out his blog .  To share your stories of cycling with kids, please contact me, Kathleen Wilker:  families on bikes at gmail dot com.