June 11, 2015 Nat Davis

A Stroller Romance: The Thule Urban Glide vs the BOB Flex

ashley strollers

The rain beat against the sidewalk, and cars streamed past, as Ashley gazed into the store window. Her two loves stood side by side in the display, stoic and silent, unaware of the turmoil that raced inside Ashley’s troubled heart.

“I’m sorry,” Ashley whispered. “I just can’t decide.”

Suitor #1: BOB Flex. Isn’t he handsome?

Ashley met BOB on her first day as a new employee at Magic Beans, during a quick tour. BOB stood at a jaunty angle, parked casually in a corner with his footbrake.

“You’ll be working closely with BOB Revolution Flex,” said the manager. “He’s one of our favorite strollers.”

There was instant attraction.

She saw past the high-strength aluminum alloy frame, and saw a mountain man from the back woods of New Hampshire. Broad shouldered, with a thick brown beard (carefully trimmed, but too wild to tame!), and reflective tape on his backpack for late night hikes. He was the kind of man that could disappear into the woods for a week and come back out unscathed. A man’s man, with a coil spring and elastomer core shock absorbers for perfect suspension, and a 70 pound weight limit.

Ashley waited a week before going and talking to him herself. “How long have you been working here?”

He didn’t say anything, because he’s a stroller.

They say that first love is the sweetest. Ashley had never really thought much about strollers before, but things were different with BOB. She could see herself with him, pushing 4.5 pugs through a mountain trail, with one more pug in the cargo basket. Maybe it was the sparkle in his deep blue, green, gray, or exotic orange eyes. Maybe it was his high-impact polymer composite wheels with pneumatic tires and tubes. But something about him took her breath away.

They grew comfortable with each other. She mastered all nine different positions of the padded handlebar.

But all beautiful things must seemingly come to an end.

Suitor #2: The Thule Urban Glide. How’s a girl to decide?

BOB had been out for a few weeks, since the floor model had been sold. He was a popular stroller, but Ashley waited patiently for the next shipment. In the meantime, Magic Beans threw an epic party: the Drool Baby Expo, the ultimate venue for a parent-to-be to meet the stroller of their dreams. Ashley was dressed for success, in her favorite green teeshirt, when she felt eyes on the back of her neck.

She turned around and saw him. The Thule Urban Glide.

Tall, dark, and handsome, with a surprisingly slender footprint. An educated city boy who wasn’t afraid to get dirty, with a hint of European mystique. Compact, one hand fold, and only 23 pounds. Sleek and polished, with a canopy that could be moved to block the sun when running. Four to five pugs in the seat, another one or two in the cargo basket. He wasn’t afraid of commitment, with a lifetime warranty and a 75 pounds weight limit, and great with kids, with his almost-flat recline.

“Where have you been all my life?” said Ashley.

He didn’t answer, because he’s a stroller.

The rain continued to pound. Luckily, Thule had a water-resistant zippered storage compartment, and the BOB had a weather shield to purchase as a separate accessory. But who would be going home with Ashley tonight?

Behind her, she heard a gentle voice: Eli Gurock, the owner of Magic Beans. “What’s wrong, Ashley?”

“I can’t choose between these two strollers. I love them both so much.”

“But Ashley,” said Eli. “You could get both.”

And they all lived happily ever after.

Are you ready to experience buggy love? Visit our Stroller Matchmakers at any Magic Beans location!