Child Bike Carrier Advice
Child Bike Carrier Advice
Author
Discussion

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
Thinking of buying a rear child seat to attach to my cross bike.

Holiday in France later this year and our boy will be 2 years old.

Never ridden with one before and a little hesitant about the safety aspect though riding will be on cycle paths not roads.

Couple of questions - does the child need to wear a helmet also? Is it realistic to think he may sleep in it if supported properly?

Looking at Yepp and Hamax offerings, any help advice or recommendations would be very welcome.

boyse7en

8,179 posts

194 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
Not sure what a cross bike is (cross county racer?) but with rear-rack carrier seat fitted on my MTB my kids always wore a helmet, and usually fell asleep. My eldest was so small when we started that we used to pad the seat out with a blanket to stop her sliding around so much.

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
The bike I am planning to use:


Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
astroarcadia said:
Thinking of buying a rear child seat to attach to my cross bike.

Holiday in France later this year and our boy will be 2 years old.

Never ridden with one before and a little hesitant about the safety aspect though riding will be on cycle paths not roads.

Couple of questions - does the child need to wear a helmet also? Is it realistic to think he may sleep in it if supported properly?

Looking at Yepp and Hamax offerings, any help advice or recommendations would be very welcome.
100% the child should wear a helmet. It is very realistic to expect the child to be able to sleep in a child seat, especially a reclining one (note, Yepp do not make a reclining model...).

Yepp are pretty expensive for the lack of features offered, however Hamax are the market leader.

If that bike is carbon then you've had it. Can't use a child seat on a carbon bike as you can't clamp the brackets securely enough.

What's your budget?

pembo

1,244 posts

222 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
I ride with my little lad (10 months old) on a Hamax seat behind me, I would definitely say get a helmet but another useful addition is a puddle suit if they are young and it won't be completely optimal conditions, it keeps him dry and provides a bit of a wind block as he seemed to get pretty cold (I didn't notice the cold because I was pedalling).

My seat fits onto a rack that is mounted on my Genesis Cross bike but it doesn't look like you have any rack mounts there. Hamax also do a fitting that clamps on to your downtube above the front derailleur but as said above this would be a problem if it's a carbon frame. If you are on an alu frame it looks like you don't have a cable in the way around there which is what made that fitment an issue to me.

Sleep wise, they don't manage to stay awake very long on the back of the bike in my experience.

mike9009

10,868 posts

272 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
We used a cheap child seat from Tesco. (I cannot remember the brand!) It was perfectly secure and we went cycling on roads through France with it. I was using it on an old aluminium mountain bike, but we also fitted it to my wifes hybrid. I don't see why it would not fit your bike. I have a Chris Boardman road bike now and I am looking to attach it to that for my ten month old son.

I would highly recommend a helmet, my daughter had a Specialized Small Fry Helmet at ten months old and she still wears it now at almost five years old.

Mike

Edit : sorry, ours was a Hamax too, but bought with clubcard vouchers through Tesco!


Edited by mike9009 on Monday 31st March 19:47

S10GTA

13,784 posts

196 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
As mentioned, you can't use a seat with a carbon bike.

I use a Hamax siesta for Theo who is now 15 months. Originally I got the basic Hamax but sold it after two rides as he fell asleep and his head was rolling around. The siesta is much better if you plan on riding further than the local park.

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
Viperzs said:
What's your budget?
No budget on this really. Safety is key, happy to spend money on a quality product.

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
Good advice regarding a wind protective shell for the little one.

Looks like a helmet is a must (he loves wearing mine anyway so should not be a problem!)

I like the look of a Hamax Caress:



Love the idea of him snoozing whilst I ride, win-win!

Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
The Caress is by far the best seat out at the moment. It's built to grow with your child as everything is adjustable. It can all be done with one hand as well so you can make any adjustment with the little one in the seat, leaving one hand to secure the bike.

You won't be disappointed if you get that. If your bike is aluminium then it'll fit fine. Your son will definitely fall asleep in it too biggrin

pembo said:
If you are on an alu frame it looks like you don't have a cable in the way around there which is what made that fitment an issue to me.
Even if you had cables the hamax bracket can fit behind cable routings smile

Edited by Viperzs on Monday 31st March 22:17

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
Hamaz Caress ordered from Wiggle tonight.

Thanks for the help. Will post a pic when fitted.

Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Any time, I hope you both enjoy it!

If there are more bikes in the family you can get an extra bracket to swap between them really easily as well.

Which colour did you go for, the white/black one?

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Gone for black and red to match the bike.

Edited by astroarcadia on Tuesday 1st April 10:22

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
Arrived today and fitted in 10 minutes.

A really well made item, well packaged and thought out, reminds me of opening an apple product. Expensive yes, but I believe it is good value.

Strapped the boy in and did a few circuits on the drive, he instantly loved it!






Highly recommend Hamax Caress and the speedy service of Wiggle.

S10GTA

13,784 posts

196 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
Is that bike carbon?

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
No.

ALawson

8,054 posts

280 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
Nice kitchen and play area in the garden!

S10GTA

13,784 posts

196 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
quotequote all
Looks ace on the road bike. I'm not brave enough to use ours on anything other than the mtb. Word of warning, setting the seat to recline really fks with the balance of the bike.

Viperzs

979 posts

196 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
That looks awesome on your bike; great colour match!

The seat looks like it sits a bit close to your saddle but I can see there is some room for you to slide the Caress back a bit on the bar if needed.

astroarcadia

Original Poster:

1,725 posts

229 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
Thanks guys, Have been running 4Seasons 25mm this winter but will probably put some 28mm Schwalbe cross tyres on when riding with the boy.

There is good fore-aft adjustment and the key is to keep the centre of the seat in-line or forward of the rear axle. Still a bit unnerving to start as the mounting bracket flexes over bumps. Like anything I'm sure confidence will grow over time/use.

Agree regarding the recline so will be keeping in the upright position.