Clem Smith Jr L Baba Fiets

[Michael Baquerizo]

For father's day (aka the day of excuses) I decided to build up a bike to take my kid around on in the city. 

I actually began this journey a while ago, when I found this yepp budget on craigslist. as theyre not available in the states, i jumped on it. 

a year + later, after my kid had sized out of a yepp maxi, I purchased this clem complete off of craigslist as well, and decked it out with some bits I had in the bin, as well as some parts needed to make it so we could both ride together. 

now, complete with spoke guard, his own handle bars, and various other accoutrements i present the (almost done) baba (mandarin for dad and what my kid calls me) fiets. Obvious inspiration comes from dutch mama fiets.

We have a week off together, where we'll mostly be getting around on bike - but we've also been riding it around since fathers day. 

There are some issues. It's not perfect, but its still a great bike to ride. With his added weight its pretty flexy. The yepp seat comes with feet mounts that I can't get to stay in place. Will be trying some bar tape at the clamp area, as well as some loctite. 

Yepp budgets aren't available here and I imagine its because whoever oversees these sorts of products hasnt deemed them safe for the bike infrastructure the US has. that said, my kids been on a back bike seat since he was legally allowed to so I have a level of trust in him. 

The bars for him, were an amazon purchase, theyre terrible quality but they fit the application. I removed the grips, threw on some ESIs and taped them riv style. 

There are a lot of pros - the clem really is the perfect platform. I bought one for my wife and like it more for country use than my appaloosa. Getting this second one was a no brainer. The microshift shifters are the best friction shifter i've used. Worlds better than silver, and marginally better than shimano's offering (i've used 10s and 9 s). The new (old, i know) grip kings ACTUALLY grip, unlike the old style which gets quite slippery, especially when wet. The bike came with a B17S and it's turning out to be a great saddle. I bought a sim works obento rack (instead of the riv basket rack I have on my Sam) It gets the job done, and I can easily transfer my bag between both bikes. I won't max it out quite like I do on the basket rack 

The bike still needs some bits. I want a double kickstand on there because I dont like not having one, I REALLY want one of those Hebie Elastomer wheel stabilizes that Somafab sells, just waiting for a sale (or i'll order it from Europe), I want to get a Nalgene sized bottle cage to use as a reservoir for summer time hydration AND finally, I'd love to throw a dynamo + lights on there. Since I'm mostly riding during the day this is the least pressing, but it will happen...eventually. 

Sorry for the single pic, although i've basically never had luck uploading multiple photos on the this platform, so the one will have to do.

[Justin Kennedy]

Nice looking Clem, Michael! I think the Clem is a perfect bike for toting kids. I recently shipped my old 64cm Clem L from Brooklyn to Florida for a kid-toting beach cruiser to keep at the in-laws'. Some pics here. Thinking next time we're down, I'll switch to a rear-mounted Yepp Maxi. This one is set up as a single-speed with a chain tensioner and a double up front but no FD. I do the Will Keating trick and foot shift if I need to (or stop and manually shift it with my keys). It's set up on a 42-26t Clipper crank with a 16t cog. The only time I need to switch to the granny gear is if I'm in loose sand at the beach. It's a fun ride to say the least. 

[Michael Baquerizo]

Nice! If you don't have any experience with rear yepps, i'd spring for the frame mounted one. now that they've upgraded to the slimmer metal bars on the maxi, it makes the whole interface a lot less intrusive. i had a rack mounted one and it meant whenever i wasn't with my kid i had this ugly thing on my rear rack. 

yours looks a lot more spritely than mine, although once its moving i feel like it can really go.