CycloX or MTB to carry little one?

[crashS2K]

Keen to get out and about with the new addition to our cycling clan who is 8 months old.

Unfortunately, both my road and MTB have carbon frames so no rack mounts and unsuitable for the seat-post clamp system on our Hamax Siesta.

I could re-build the Specialized Rockhopper alloy frame that has been in my shed for the last 5 years but since I have been doing all my miles on the road these days thoughts turned to a cyclocross bike as a winter trainer and also suitable for leisurely spins with little one.

Any thoughts as to differences between cycloX or MTB in terms of comfort, safety etc. I guess key differences between the two would be drop vs. flat bars, canti vs. disk brakes, tyre volume and geometry.

LBS has a Cannondale CAADX on sale which I like the look of.

TIA

[CoolC]

6 of one, half a dozen of the other, but bear in mind that when you have little 'un on the back your going to be travelling at a very leasurly pace.

I'd say the relaxed geometry of a MTB would be a better plan.

[anonymous-user]

Narrower bars and less tyre contact would make cx quite sketchy handling with higher centre if gravity. Would go for mtb personally.

[marc2]

crashS2K said:

Keen to get out and about with the new addition to our cycling clan who is 8 months old.

Unfortunately, both my road and MTB have carbon frames so no rack mounts and unsuitable for the seat-post clamp system on our Hamax Siesta.

I could re-build the Specialized Rockhopper alloy frame that has been in my shed for the last 5 years but since I have been doing all my miles on the road these days thoughts turned to a cyclocross bike as a winter trainer and also suitable for leisurely spins with little one.

Any thoughts as to differences between cycloX or MTB in terms of comfort, safety etc. I guess key differences between the two would be drop vs. flat bars, canti vs. disk brakes, tyre volume and geometry.

LBS has a Cannondale CAADX on sale which I like the look of.

TIA

My (ahem) little darlings are now well past bike seat age (16 & 10yrs now) but I faced a similar dilema a few years back.
I used a mountain bike, my reasoning being- Geometry- a bit twitchy on the crosser-which would only be exagerated by the higher centre of gravity created by the baby seat, the ride is very harsh due to the stiff alloy frame & relatively narrow tyres...28c or 32c was what I had available & the canti's were at best rubbish, compared to 'v' brakes, never mind hydraulic discs, so with the aditional weight of a child & seat I could use the aditional braking power & extra grip afforded by bigger tyres & a larger footprint on the ground which a mountain bike provides....
Once set up on my MTB & with a child installed in the seat I found additional benefits to the MTB which I hadn't anticipated- the upright riding position makes it (feel) safer in traffic & I found myself riding more cycle paths/old railway lines/bridleways etc to playgrounds & picnic spots- a role the MTB fitted into perfectly.
My crosser (at the time) had a triple front, if your choice only has the two, then there is another reason to choose the MTB, make those hills easier for yourself... Out of the saddle is not a realistic way to tackle hills as the seat sways alarmingly- so 'sit & spin' in the granny ring... that kid may feel light at first, but it doesnt stay that way for long
Made me all misty eyed writing about this, I loved taking both my kids out on the bike seat, then trailer bike.... whichever bike you choose- enjoy. I only blinked & they had grown up