My husband Scott works at Splendid Cycles here in Portland. They specialize in cargo bikes and have a wide selection of e-bikes. Over the last several months I have enjoyed hearing the stories of families coming in and leaving with smiles on their faces and a sense of adventure in their pedals. So, with Father’s Day quickly approaching I decided we should take the leap and plan our first family bike tour.

Two young children, two very packed cargo bikes and two adults with all the camping gear sounded daunting but if you never give something a try you'll never know how wonderful it could be.

As I lay in bed mostly packed for our tour and with the kids in bed filled with excitement, a little doubt started to kick in. I began to wonder if I in fact was a little nutty to think this trip would go smoothly. I hadn’t ridden my bike further than 10 miles in over 3 years, and a typical cargo bike was heavy and awkward and I was not in stellar shape. That said, the feeling of excitement, the chance at giving my children a wonderful experience, and my optimistic attitude saturated those doubts and I went to sleep ultimately looking forward to the adventure.

The Plan:

Hillsboro to LL Stub Stewart Recreational area.

Miles: 65 miles over two day

Average speed: 16 miles per day

Bike specs: Riese and Muller (R&M) Load with full suspension, fits two kiddos and R &M Packster 80 with five kiddo Badger wood box and Blaq Packs canopy. Both bikes have Bocsh Performance Line E-assist mid drive motors.

Off to a beyond fashionably late start, we pulled up to Splendid Cycles to pick up our chariots. With some minor adjustments, and tweaks the bikes were loaded in the trailer behind our automobile. Our starting point was our friends' place in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Still slightly nervous I straddled my R&M Load for the first time. I experienced a rocky 15 feet but then, smooth sailing. With a fully packed cargo area and with two loaded panniers on the rear, I was pleasantly surprised at how graceful this machine was to ride.