Clubhouse Fort FAQ

Clubhouse Fort FAQ for the GSD Gen 2

Updated on 

BASICS

Q. What is the Clubhouse Fort?

A. The Clubhouse Fort is made up of 4 different accessories that come together to form a nice protected shelter for young passengers. The 4 accessories are:

  • Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+
  • Sidekick Wide Decks
  • Storm Box
  • Storm Shield

Q: Is the Clubhouse Fort a kit? I have not seen it for sale at my local bike shop.

A: The Clubhouse Fort is not a kit. It's a combination of different accessories (all sold separately) that were designed to work together to provide maximum weather protection and comfort.

Q: What is the Kid Lid? Is that a separate product?

A: The Kid Lid comes with the Storm Box. It's a water-resistant cover that cinches around little passengers like a spray skirt, keeping out the wind and cold.

CARRYING PASSENGERS

Q: Does the Clubhouse Fort accommodate 2 child seats inside?

A: Absolutely. The Storm Box was designed to fit around the included Child Seat Expansion Bar of the Clubhouse+ and Clubhouse Gen 3, so fitting two seats inside is no problem—check out this article for more info on compatible child seats.

Q: What's the max recommended size for passengers fitting inside?

A: We recommend a max height of 140 cm (plus a helmet). But we tend to go conservative on these types of things, since seating setups can vary a bit from rider to rider. So if you're close to the max height, why not do a test fitting with your Tern dealer?

Q. Is this also good for transporting dogs/pets?

A. Possibly. Pets come in all shapes and sizes. You'll have to do a test ride to see if your buddy fits comfortably in the Clubhouse Fort and can safely stay put inside.

FEATURES

Q: Is the Clubhouse Fort waterproof?

A: The goal of the Clubhouse Fort is to protect kids from driving wind and rain. The Storm Shield is made from waterproof Nylon material with a waterproof rating of 12,000 mm, while the Storm Box is made from waterproof tarpaulin fabric. However seams are not sealed so under heavy rain you would expect to see some water seepage from seams and zippers.

Q. Do any of the walls/windows roll up or down for ventilation?

A. Both sidewalls roll up for complete ventilation. But even when the sidewalls are down and zipped shut, the back wall has a vent so it doesn't get too hot and muggy inside.

Q. Does it fog up?

A. Fogging is not a big issue with all of the available ventilation features.

Q. Any reflective properties?

A. Both the Storm Box and Storm Shield feature yellow 3M reflective strips. They are super reflective and durable. In addition, the silver printing on the Storm Box and Storm Shield are also reflective.

Q. Can I add a light to the Clubhouse Fort?

A. Yes. Both Storm Box and Storm Shield feature attachment points onto which additional lights or reflectors can be fixed if desired.

Q: Can I still vertically store my GSD w/ the full or even partial Clubhouse Fort installed?

A: The Storm Box covers the four Vertical Parking Contact Points on the back of the GSD frame but if you use a little extra care when choosing where and how to park vertically, this should not be an issue. Also, if the expansion bar is being used with the Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+, you cannot vertically park.

BUILDING THE FORT

Q. How do I build the Clubhouse Fort?

A. Follow these steps:

Q. How long does it take to install?

A. The Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+, Sidekick Wide Decks, and Storm Box are semi-permanent attachments to your bike and take a few minutes to install or remove. The Storm Shield takes about 60 seconds to install or remove so you can do a quick weather check before your departure to decide whether to put it on or not.

Q: What do you recommend as the default configuration for the Clubhouse Fort?

A: We recommend having the Sidekick Wide Decks, the Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+, and the Storm Box installed all the time. There's nothing more convenient than having a 160 L soft bucket on the back of your cargo bike, while remaining compact and nimble up front. And if you're expecting nasty weather, it'll take you about a minute to install the Storm Shield.

EVERYDAY USE

Q. Can the parts of the Clubhouse Fort be easily carried on the bike when not in use? The weather varies quite a bit during the day where I live.

A. Great question. The parts of the Clubhouse Fort are designed to be modular and interchangeable. The Storm Shield sidewalls can be rolled up when the weather is nice or only sun protection is needed. It can also be completely removed and stashed in the Storm Box. The Cargo Lid and Kid Lid can also be stashed inside the Storm Box when not in use.

Q. If I'm buying this for hauling kids in cold weather do I also need the Cargo Lid Lock?

A. No, but we find the Cargo Lid Lock to be a handy item. You might find yourself doing the occasional grocery run while out with the kids, and in that case the Cargo Lid Lock might come in handy. The Cargo Lid Lock can also be used for securing components or child seats as a secondary lock.

Q: Will riding with the Clubhouse Fort make the GSD less stable and more difficult to ride?

A: Riding with the Storm Box is just like riding with panniers on the back of the bike. The Storm Shield does catch more side winds and may take a little getting used to for a novice rider. We recommend you ride solo a few times with the complete Clubhouse Fort setup to build up your confidence. Once you get used to it, add the kids (and some rain) and you'll have instant weather protection.

Q. The Storm Shield looks really close to my seat. Will it cramp my position?

A. No. The saddle braces the front of the Storm Shield and actually adds stability. But you can adjust your seat to any height and ride normally.

CARRYING CARGO

Q: Will I be able to carry cargo in the Storm Box if I have two child seats installed in the Clubhouse Fort?

A: Using the Storm Box with two child seats is like using Cargo Hold 52 Panniers with two child seats. The kiddos' legs will take up some of the space, but there will still be room to store things.

COMPATIBILITY

Q. Can I build the Clubhouse Fort on GSD Gen 1 bikes?

A. The Clubhouse Fort was designed for the GSD Gen 2. But some of its components may work with the GSD Gen 1 equipped with the Clubhouse (Gen 1). See the compatibility chart below:

 GSD Gen 2GSD Gen 1
Clubhouse Gen 3
Storm BoxYesNo
Storm ShieldYesNo
Clubhouse+  
Storm BoxYesNo
Storm ShieldYesNo
Clubhouse Gen 1
Storm BoxNoNo*
Storm ShieldNoYes

* The Storm Box is not compatible with the GSD Gen 1 but may still fit with a hack that requires additional components.

Also, please note that while the Clubhouse Gen 3 and Clubhouse+ are backwards-compatible with the GSD Gen 1, the original Clubhouse is not compatible with the GSD Gen 2.

Q. How can I use the Storm Shield on a GSD Gen 1?

A. To use the Storm Shield on a GSD Gen 1, you will need a Clubhouse (Gen 1). For more information, click here.

Q. Why doesn't the Storm Shield work with a Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+ on a GSD Gen 1? And why doesn't the Storm Box work with the Clubhouse Gen 3/Clubhouse+/Clubhouse Gen 1 on a GSD Gen 1?

A. We work very hard to make new accessories backwards compatible with existing bikes. But when you optimize for a new bike, backwards compatibility can be impossible to maintain.

If an accessory does not have full functionality, we consider it not compatible. However, there may be hacks that allow compromised functionality and could work for some riders or use cases.

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