child seats for a frustrated cycling dad!
Discussion
My little one is now nearing 10 months old and being a shift worker, I now have sole responsibility of her now on my days off as my wife has returned to work.
We like the outdoors so bought her a rucksack which I can get out for walks with, but I really would like to get her on the bike with me. Not looking at black runs, but some cycle tracks and fire trails would be nice! Plenty of forestry around here to get her out for a couple of hours.
I'm looking at cycle seats but its a minefield and it's hard to know what best to get. Front or rear, which mount etc.
I'll probably look to attach it to my hardtail as I don't think it'll work too well on a road bike.
Any recommendations on what to go for? Also, other than a helmet and warm clothing, anything else advised? She's a bit of a sleeper when she's in the car so would imagine that she'll be the same on a bike!
We like the outdoors so bought her a rucksack which I can get out for walks with, but I really would like to get her on the bike with me. Not looking at black runs, but some cycle tracks and fire trails would be nice! Plenty of forestry around here to get her out for a couple of hours.
I'm looking at cycle seats but its a minefield and it's hard to know what best to get. Front or rear, which mount etc.
I'll probably look to attach it to my hardtail as I don't think it'll work too well on a road bike.
Any recommendations on what to go for? Also, other than a helmet and warm clothing, anything else advised? She's a bit of a sleeper when she's in the car so would imagine that she'll be the same on a bike!
Everyone I have asked has pointed me in the direction of the Hamax Caress so thats what I will end up with thoughI have a few months to wait. Mounting point is good, scope to adjust position and high enough so junior can see whats going on.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/hamax-caress-bike-childsea...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/hamax-caress-bike-childsea...
Personally I'd go for a rear seat, as she'll quickly outgrow the front one.
If, like my daughter's seat, the body of the seat wraps above and slightly around the level of her head, then you might decide a helmet is not required. I found that if she fell asleep with the helmet on, her head would flop around most alarmingly with the extra weight. So I ditched it. As long as she's securely strapped in, I don't think there is any additional danger.
My one fits directly to a rack that came with it, which is good as I can just pop my panniers on the rack when the seat is not on. The ones that fit to a metal bracket are also good, as they are springier.
The only other difficulty is mounting when she is on the back - you have to kind of do a karate front kick at 90 degrees to the top tube.
If, like my daughter's seat, the body of the seat wraps above and slightly around the level of her head, then you might decide a helmet is not required. I found that if she fell asleep with the helmet on, her head would flop around most alarmingly with the extra weight. So I ditched it. As long as she's securely strapped in, I don't think there is any additional danger.
My one fits directly to a rack that came with it, which is good as I can just pop my panniers on the rack when the seat is not on. The ones that fit to a metal bracket are also good, as they are springier.
The only other difficulty is mounting when she is on the back - you have to kind of do a karate front kick at 90 degrees to the top tube.
Mine is the Topeak one: http://www.topeak.com/products/child-carrier/tpk_b...
Worth a search as its been discussed often. I went for a hamax siesta which works really well. My lad loves going out in it, gets really excited, but different things work for different people. Some like trailers, some like seats. Depends on what type of cycling you want to do.
It's not advisable to get them out much before they are 1 year old, and able to support their own head. I waited till ours was 14 months.
It's not advisable to get them out much before they are 1 year old, and able to support their own head. I waited till ours was 14 months.
Edited by S10GTA on Thursday 23 October 10:56
S10GTA said:
Worth a search as its been discussed often. I went for a hamax siesta which works really well. My lad loves going out in it, gets really excited, but different things work for different people. Some like trailers, some like seats. Depends on what type of cycling you want to do.
It's not advisable to get them out much before they are 1 year old, and able to support their own head. I waited till ours was 14 months.
I think 10 months, as per the OPs daughter's age, should be fine. But definitely ensure they can support their head well.It's not advisable to get them out much before they are 1 year old, and able to support their own head. I waited till ours was 14 months.
We got a pair of these from halfords:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/child-...
they aren't as plush as the seat above, but at £40 each I wasn't complaining! The kids love being out on them too, we've been out on the road (consciously avoided busy roads), cycle paths and gentle bridle paths and it's never felt unsafe. You may just need to be a bit aware of the extra weight on the back but at 10 months you'll hardly notice.
It's a great way to get about without having to pile everything into a car and push a buggie about. Plus it was great to be able to turn my legs over after too long out of the saddle.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/child-...
they aren't as plush as the seat above, but at £40 each I wasn't complaining! The kids love being out on them too, we've been out on the road (consciously avoided busy roads), cycle paths and gentle bridle paths and it's never felt unsafe. You may just need to be a bit aware of the extra weight on the back but at 10 months you'll hardly notice.
It's a great way to get about without having to pile everything into a car and push a buggie about. Plus it was great to be able to turn my legs over after too long out of the saddle.
I like trailers rather than seats. They are a little more bulky to store but are safer, don't affect your balance and have space for all the junk that a small child typically requires you to drag along. Got loads of use out of ours when my daughter was younger and she absolutely loved it.
Advice wise, don't just concentrate on the features of the seat from the child's perspective; you need to check it works from the rider's point of view too, e.g make sure the footrests on the child seat don't interfere with your heels when pedalling. Pushing the seat backwards to avoid this might result in too much weight over the rear of the bike, making the front too light.
Another recommendation for the topeak seat here. Use it on the daily commute to nursery, and I remove the seat and leave it at the nursery so it gets a lot of abuse going on and off.
We've had one off and one kick to the face when I instinctively swung my leg rearwards to dismount. That’s in over 300 individual rides, all off road on sandy terrain.
Just make sure your bike has suitable geometry, a pet hate of mine is seeing a child squashed behind an arse or a backpack.
We've had one off and one kick to the face when I instinctively swung my leg rearwards to dismount. That’s in over 300 individual rides, all off road on sandy terrain.
Just make sure your bike has suitable geometry, a pet hate of mine is seeing a child squashed behind an arse or a backpack.
A lot of people seem to like the Hamax because it can move backwards away from the rider as the child grows. The waiting is killing me, probably got another 6 months to go to be hoenst so just in time for summer! 
As for trailers, I see a woman on my commute with a Burley trailer that looks awesome, I think its the "D'Lite" which isnt cheap but it is a robust looking bit of kit she is out in all weathers towing it and her child seems happy enough in it. Mrspablo isnt keen on the trailer idea but if its for bimbles down to Bath on the cycle path I think I'll get away with it,
As for trailers, I see a woman on my commute with a Burley trailer that looks awesome, I think its the "D'Lite" which isnt cheap but it is a robust looking bit of kit she is out in all weathers towing it and her child seems happy enough in it. Mrspablo isnt keen on the trailer idea but if its for bimbles down to Bath on the cycle path I think I'll get away with it,
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 23 October 11:47
Mr Will said:
I like trailers rather than seats. They are a little more bulky to store but are safer, don't affect your balance and have space for all the junk that a small child typically requires you to drag along. Got loads of use out of ours when my daughter was younger and she absolutely loved it.
We've debated the relative merits of each form of transport in the past, and both have their place. But I think it's fair to say safer in the right circumstances. A trailer would be unsafe for me to use because of the longer and wider footprint - I couldn't turn as easily or at all in certain parts of my route, and couldn't fit through a lot of gaps that a bike can. And the only road I ride is a very narrow single lane country road, and a car and trailer wouldn't fit!
We have a trailer, and two seats and both have their benefits. My son first used the seat when he was about 9 months old, and loved it from the beginning so I'm sure there's no issue with the age of your kid. We have a fairly basic Decathlon seat on a town bike my wife uses, and a Hamax Smiley on her MTB (I used it on a singlespeed too). Mini-me doesn't sleep in the seat and never has done (he won't sleep in a buggy either) so we have no need for one which reclines, and the advantage of the Hamax is it doesn't need a rack and mounts to the seat tube, it's also super-easy to switch between bikes if you have a second mount for it.
We recently bought a trailer which is slightly more comfy for him, but he does like to throw his shoes and socks (and toys, and drinks, and snacks...) out of the front while I'm riding along. It's harder to park and secure, which isn't an issue here but might be in the UK, and we went for a single seat one so width isn't a problem but a double trailer is pretty wide and might have trouble fitting through some tighter gaps. It is heavy, so makes climbing harder, but you don't notice it much on the flat.
For me, I prefer the rear seat option for short rides and the trailer for longer trips. A front seat messes with the steering and if the child wriggles a lot (like mine does) it's not fun. With the rear seat it's a lot easier, but I'd agree that with a road bike it puts the CoG too high and doesn't feel stable so a hardtail is a better option there.
We recently bought a trailer which is slightly more comfy for him, but he does like to throw his shoes and socks (and toys, and drinks, and snacks...) out of the front while I'm riding along. It's harder to park and secure, which isn't an issue here but might be in the UK, and we went for a single seat one so width isn't a problem but a double trailer is pretty wide and might have trouble fitting through some tighter gaps. It is heavy, so makes climbing harder, but you don't notice it much on the flat.
For me, I prefer the rear seat option for short rides and the trailer for longer trips. A front seat messes with the steering and if the child wriggles a lot (like mine does) it's not fun. With the rear seat it's a lot easier, but I'd agree that with a road bike it puts the CoG too high and doesn't feel stable so a hardtail is a better option there.
Cheers for the replies, she is more than capable of holding her neck up, she's currently trying to stand unaided so she quite good in that respect. I thought about a front seat as I'd be looking to get her on her own balance bike once she could be considered capable of doing so.
It's going on a Genesis hardtail which isn't too slack. What made you choose the one you bought?
I'll have a look at those recommended so far!
It's going on a Genesis hardtail which isn't too slack. What made you choose the one you bought?
I'll have a look at those recommended so far!
Chicken Chaser said:
Cheers for the replies, she is more than capable of holding her neck up, she's currently trying to stand unaided so she quite good in that respect. I thought about a front seat as I'd be looking to get her on her own balance bike once she could be considered capable of doing so.
It's going on a Genesis hardtail which isn't too slack. What made you choose the one you bought?
I'll have a look at those recommended so far!
I had a front seat (wee ride?) but my eldest grew out of it fairly quickly (was less than 1 yr), and I found it annoying having them in front - hard to mount the bike, and sit in a position without banging into each other. I have found a rearseat a much better prospect as it doesn't interfere with steering or cycling at all.It's going on a Genesis hardtail which isn't too slack. What made you choose the one you bought?
I'll have a look at those recommended so far!
Chicken Chaser said:
Why did those who went for seats not go for a trailer? I'm not sure about trailers, we don't have an awful lot of cycle lanes round here and I don't fancy a trailer on the road. Having somewhere to take all of her stuff is a bonus though!
Exactly that reason. Didn't fancy a trailer on the road.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff