Child Bike Seats

[DamienCBR]

My daughter is now 2 years old and loves playing in the garden. I bought a new GT a couple of years ago in a vain attempt to get me riding again, however it has not worked but i need to get out on the bike and start to get fit.

With the weather being so nice lately it has got me thinking about going out on the bike again and i though my daughter would enjoy coming too. I am not sure what type of seat to get, the ones in Argos are cheap in comparison to Halfords. Looking at something like below, any ideas or recommedations, appreciated.

D



I only got the pic of google...

[pdV6]

Personally I prefer the kind that attach to a panier rack; the seat tube-mounted ones like that just don't look very sturdy to me.

I'm sure they're fine (and have the advantage of a bit of built-in "suspension" for the passenger) but can't help feeling that a solid mounting is better.

[Damiencbr]

I know what you mean. Not having any experience of them has lead me to post this thread.

Hopefully there are some PHer's that have used them

D

[Kermit power]

I have a bike trailer, similar to this one, which I picked up second hand off Ebay for around £50 which to me is superior in every way, unless you spend a lot of time trying to pass stationary traffic.

I now have a 4yr old and an 18 month old, and can comfortably transport them both in it, in the unlikely event I crash, they're in a fairly rigid frame on 2 wheels rather than perched up high behind you, they get a view of something other than your back, absolutely love the rickshaw feeling, and frequently get waved at by pedestrians, which they lap up!

For me, I find it a more comfortable cycling experience as well, as I don't feel like the whole centre of gravity of the bike has changed. Possibly worth a look?

[DamienCBR]

Chris,

That looks pretty good actually a little more money but i have had worries about the height my daughter would be at. If i were to fall off when she is on the seat attached to the back she could damage herself however this does looks slightly safer.

D

[bor]

I have used one of those child seat.
Advantages: Simple to use, relatively safe.
Disadvantages: High centre of gravity, particularly when you are manouvering a low speed.
Fitting: I had to grind some of the plastic away to avoid fouling my gearshift cables.

I would be happy to use one again.

[DamienCBR]

Thanks Bor!

Any other comments.

D

[Kermit power]

Another advantage I forgot with the trailer is that you can carry a reasonable amount of other stuff in there as well. We'll frequently cycle up to the gym to take them swimming, and have 4 towels and swimsuits in it for example.

[DamienCBR]

Actually that is useful. Being 2 years old you can imagine the stuff that needs to come along and then there is the stuff she wants to bring along like Eeyore

D

[Wigeon Incognito]

I don't mean to scare monger here and don't have kids so maybe I'd feel differently if I did, but I imagine I'd be terrified of having my kid on the back of a bike/towing them in a trailer out on the open road.

With the standards of driving and congestion on the roads these days it seems like an unnecessary risk - and a fairly real one too.

I'm not normally a saftey conscious person but yesterday a cyclist with child trailer swerved out in front of me without looking to pass a car that pulled out of a driveway slightly into his path. Had I not been alert it would have been the child trailer that ended up under my car. It set me thinking that any child is effectively trapped in the seat/trailer so increasing the danger.

[Damiencbr]

I think there are pros and cons to the attached seat and the trailer idea. One concern i had was being hit from behind ie: directly into the trailer where the kid is sitting. (i was hit from behind whilst stationay on my motorbike)

To be fair it will be used mainly in the country and round the block. New estate with little trafic.

I am sure my little one will love which ever i choose. It is just good to hear other people advice and comments.

Cheers
D

[puggit]

Looking to get something to move Puggit jnr around in too - but have discounted the trailer due to safety concerns, but also - can it go offroad at all?!

[spdpug98]

puggit said:

Looking to get something to move Puggit jnr around in too - but have discounted the trailer due to safety concerns, but also - can it go offroad at all?!

We have a trailer for our little one, he is only 6 months old so we put the car seat in and strap it in. We always use the trailer off road (on cycle paths) as we live very close to the New Forest and use it there, I would never use it on the road though

[vex]

What ages can you get bike seats from.

I am in the same position, 5 1/2* bikes in the garage and I really need to get back out on at least one of them. With a 9month old daughter we were thinking of a bike seat, but wifey doesnt want her on her bike and I have a full bounce Gary Fisher with spd's!

Any ideas?

Might look at the trailer idea off ebay though.


* I have a unicycle that I really want to learn how to ride

Edited by vex on Thursday 3rd May 13:43

[DamienCBR]

vex said:

What ages can you get bike seats from.

I am in the same position, 5 1/2* bikes in the garage and I really need to get back out on at least one of them. With a 9month old daughter we were thinking of a bike seat, but wifey doesnt want her on her bike and I have a full bounce Gary Fisher with spd's!

Any ideas?

Might look at the trailer idea off ebay though.

I have seen some very young children on the back of bikes, part of the problem is getting a helmet to fit. My daughter is 2 and quite a small two, the helmet would need to be adjusted to fit her.

I know what you mean, my wife fell off quite badley a couple of years ago and has never really re-gained her confiedence. I dont have a full bounce but do have the spd's, i seem to snap out of them pretty quick these days, especially after trying to bounce on the back wheel and falling backwards without popping out of the spd's.

D

[greatgranny]

I have both the seat and a trailer.

I only used the bike seat once as it felt so unsteady. Also with child in seat its very difficult to actually mount the bike. Your leg has to go over the x-bar.

The trailer is excellent and I only used it on cycle trails such as disused railway lines in the Peaks.

My oldest is too big now but when she can ride more confidently on her own i will take the 4 year old and 4month old in the trailer with eldest riding her own bike.

[thewave]

You're all being so silly spending all your money on child seats.


...............ET.............

It's cheap and effective

I've had my 16month year old on the handlebars twice now and he loves it! (only over 200m on cyclepath)


On a more serious note.
I have schwinn with a child seat like the one at the top of this thread. Spiderman helmet on the nipper.

[kiwisr]

I was looking at one of these :

www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360023411&N=Hamax%20Siesta%20Child%20Seat

Scandanavian made, with loads of safety awards, and the Europeans are big cyclists and big on child safety, so I'm not really concerned.

[Damiencbr]

kiwisr said:

I was looking at one of these :

www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360023411&N=Hamax%20Siesta%20Child%20Seat

Scandanavian made, with loads of safety awards, and the Europeans are big cyclists and big on child safety, so I'm not really concerned.

That does look like a quality peice of kit.

D

[pdV6]

I have this one:
www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=4000000058

Attaches to a pannier rack (included) rather than the seat tube, which I reckon is more sturdy.