Cycling - any advice on seat vs trailer?

[WaitingForWineOClock]

I'm keen to get back to cycling but be able to take my currently 6 month old DS with me.

I'm not sure whether to go for a seat on the back of the bike or a trailer for him. I'm also not sure when he'll be old enough to go in it (1 year?).

I like the idea of him being on the back of the bike as we can talk more easily as we go along and I feel he's a bit vulnerable stuck out the back of the bike on a trailer. On the other hand, I worry about tipping over with him on the back (particularly if he decides to lean over and screw my balance) and that he's less protected than in a trailer if we do go over. I hasten to add at this point that he won't be going anywhere in anything without a cycle helmet!

I'll only be cycling with him on cycle paths (except where I have to spend the odd couple of minutes on a road to go between paths), so traffic isn't really an issue.

Any advice on which device is best and from what age I can use them would be much appreciated.

Any other tips on cycling with little ones would also be great!

[BikeRunSki]

We've used both, at different ages. We put DS in his car seat in the trailer at about 6 months. At about 10 months he could sit up in it by himself, but from 14 months to 3 ish he preferred the seat, and looking around. Once he was too heavy for the seat he was back in the trailer , this time with his little sister for company, until he could ride his bike by himself, and on a tagalong for longer rides.

[BikeRunSki]

Check out a website called Cyclesprog too.

[BlueChampagne]

I've done both too. Went over once with each! Co-Pilot Taxi protected him well the first time, and the trailer stayed upright even though the bike went over. If you start early (I think DS1 was 8 months when he went in the Co-Pilot) then you have plenty of time to get used to the weight as they grow, and drill into them not to wriggle! From what I remember, 1 year onwards is best for the trailer, without car seat.

Other tips? Wrap him up warm! If the seat is behind you rather than in front, your body will shield him from the worst of the weather.

If budget allows, and if it's available locally, you could get some cycle training (eg www.outspokentraining.co.uk/training-scheme/adult-cycle-training - I did this with the trailer.

If you need to carry stuff, you might need to sort yourself out with some front panniers, depending on the bike seat you go for. I found these probably took more getting used to than the seat.

Good luck and enjoy!

[WaitingForWineOClock]

Brilliant advice, thank you. I had no idea you could get trailers which the car seat can go into, what a great idea! Thank you both.

[BikeRunSki]

Ours was just an ordinary trailer, which we put the car seat into.

Have you seen the Thule Chariot thread? Looks like an awesome bit of kit, but a couple of years too late for us.

[BikeRunSki]

here

[Quodlibet]

You can get a seat which goes on your crossbar. Much safer in my opinion. Dd loves hers.

[WaitingForWineOClock]

Thanks all and thanks for the link BikeRunSki, the Thule Chariot looks almost too good to be true! Fingers crossed!!!

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

I used a trailer (chariot) until dc were around 12-18 months old, then switched to a front seat (bilby polisport) which sits below handlebars. Much better than the weeride which sits on yhe crossbar as it forced my legs out & couldn't pedal for ling without my knees hurting.