Bike Child Seat

[Mike400]

Anyone use one? how safe are they?

Was thinking of getting one so my 2yr old could come on the odd cycle with me. If she was on the bike I wouldnt be doing any road stuff so no traffic to worry about.

[mechsympathy]

We've got one of these It seems sturdy enough and miniMechs loves it.

[Mike400]

that looks fairly decent, certainly more substantial than the halfrauds ones I seen...

might look into that although im in two minds whether or not to get a trailer instead?

[mechsympathy]

Mike400 said:

might look into that although im in two minds whether or not to get a trailer instead?

We looked at them but the decent ones are expensive and we were concerned about using them on the road as they're so low.

[littleandy0410]

I bought one of these for my nephew for his 2nd birthday - my brother cycles to work, but had to use the car on the days when he takes his son to nursery on the way. Now he doesn't have to use the car if he doesn't want to. My nephew loves it! (Plus my bro uses it for other stuff when his son's not in it!) http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Mekon]

I've had my boy in trailers and then on child seats since he was about 8 weeks old. Hasn't done him any harm. For a while, I kept the trailer attached when commuting even when he wasn't in it, as I found passing vehicles were way more accommodating. We used a WeeRide Kangaroo, so he could see more than my back, and so it was easier to interact. We've now got a bakfiets. Complete overkill, but my missus can't drive.

[Mike400]

littleandy0410 said:

I bought one of these for my nephew for his 2nd birthday - my brother cycles to work, but had to use the car on the days when he takes his son to nursery on the way. Now he doesn't have to use the car if he doesn't want to. My nephew loves it! (Plus my bro uses it for other stuff when his son's not in it!) http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Looks sturdy enough, the only downside is that the child is completely enclosed and on a good day cant see her liking that much!

[james_tigerwoods]

Are there any good ones for 1 year olds?

[Kaelic]

mechsympathy said:

We've got one of these It seems sturdy enough and miniMechs loves it.

Had one of those for my daughter was good but much prefer the mid-cycle version the kangaroo thing is, as it means they can see where they are going. Did ponder a "trailer" at one point but always worried that if anything happened the kid would be too far away to try and protect etc..

I would say the kangaroo thingy would have been perfect for my daughter when she was younger

[littleandy0410]

From what I remember, it's got 2 screens, one clear plastic one, and a "mozzie net" type screen. But you can always roll both screens up so it's open at the front. Might get a bit muddy from the backwheel spray though!

This is just an example, there are other ones on the market which may be better - I bought that one for less than £60 in the sale, some of the more expensive ones are probably better.

Word of recommendation though: Buy (and carry) a spare inner tube and pump if you do get a trailer. My bro has had a couple of punctures on the local bridleway/footpath he rides down.

[mechsympathy]

Kaelic said:

Had one of those for my daughter was good but much prefer the mid-cycle version the kangaroo thing is, as it means they can see where they are going.

When we got it miniMechs was too young for anything less supportive.

[Mike400]

littleandy0410 said:

From what I remember, it's got 2 screens, one clear plastic one, and a "mozzie net" type screen. But you can always roll both screens up so it's open at the front. Might get a bit muddy from the backwheel spray though!

This is just an example, there are other ones on the market which may be better - I bought that one for less than £60 in the sale, some of the more expensive ones are probably better.

Word of recommendation though: Buy (and carry) a spare inner tube and pump if you do get a trailer. My bro has had a couple of punctures on the local bridleway/footpath he rides down.

I suppose the worry would be a stone or something flicking up from the rear wheel hitting the kid while the screens are rolled up?

[pdV6]

mechsympathy said:

We've got one of these It seems sturdy enough and miniMechs loves it.

Another vote for the CoPilot Limo - it's plenty sturdy and does a good job of enveloping the child in case of a spill (they'd still need a helmet though). I prefer the panier-rack mounting system to the "cantilever off the seat tube arrangement"; mechanically it has to be a lot less prone to breakage.

I had the same concerns as Bill about a trailer on the road, although plenty of folk seem to like using them.

[Chrisgr31]

My daughter rides in the Hamax Siesta seat which does the job, although I do find it in the way when she is in it and I want to swing my leg over to get on the bike! However when she was 2 she didn;t like it, as she couldn't see! So at that stage had one which mounted in front of me on the crossbar. That was great until she found she could operate the gears!

As she is 5 this year I am contemplatuing a trailer bike for her, but not sure where to get one as Halfords don't seem to sell them!