My stroller

Gillian asks, “What kind of a stroller do you have?”, and you know, I love my stroller so much, I thought I’d do a little commercial rave. NOT because I’m being paid in any way for this, but just because I’ve had one of these beauties for ten years now, and I love it.

This is my stroller:

I also have the sun canopy and premium rain shield, and of course (I am North American), the cup-holder. In my case, a water-bottle holder.

I don’t buy retail, but order straight from the manufacturer, Berg Design. Even with shipping (from Oregon to Ottawa, about $180), and customs fees (another $78), AND the exchange on the dollar (not so much right now), it still ends up being several hundred dollars less expensive than buying them locally.

And besides, Roger Berg is such a nice man! I’ve spoken to him twice, and he is ever friendly and helpful. Chatty, too. (I wonder if that phone call is a tax deduction?)

These things are light-weight (okay, not so much loaded with four children, but you can’t blame the vehicle for the payload!). They are manoeuverable. I can turn this thing with one hand. They are slim: I can fit it through any door I’ve yet come across. I won’t go slamming the competition, but I’ve had several other makes and the Runabout is by far the lightest, easiest-to-handle machine I’ve ever run. I currently have a two-seater other brand, and it’s not as easy to steer as my four-seater Runabout.

And durable. As I said, I’ve had one for ten years. This one is brand new, so my last one lasted… TEN YEARS. Ten years of 75-pound (plus) haulage. Ten Ottawa winters. Hundreds and hundreds of kilometres.

(No, I don’t store it inside. Nor do I have a garage. That baby winters under a tarp. Though this winter will be different: my old, rusted Runabout will be brought out, all greased up and ready for winter’s rough handling. My shiny new baby will come inside, and stay shiny and new. I fully expect my old Runabout, once equipped with a shiny new set of wheels, to handle another ten winters.)

There are downsides, of course. The seats are a little close together, particularly in winter when heavily-padded Canadian children are 30% thicker! Changing the angle on the seats helps a bit, but doesn’t eliminate this problem. It can be a little awkward, but there’s a knack, and it’s not that difficult… though the occasional boot does end up being removed in the extrication process!

Downsides… I did put an ‘s’ on that word… um…

No, that’s really about it. Just that one little thing.

Oh, unless you’re kind of introverted (like me), and you find the laughter and the pointing and the stares a bit much. That’s a downside — but more of my job than the vehicle! (And on other days, my extroverted days, I love it, and join in the smiles and the laughter.)

There you go, Gillian. More than you ever cared to know about Mary’s stroller!

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