Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to be so upset about a bike seat?

19 replies

bikeblues · 12/08/2012 20:42

Please help me get some perspective. I am incredible disappointed and angry over a bike seat!!
After much research we decided to invest in a co pilot limo bike seat for ds 1st birthday and a bike for dh. This is a big investment for us and the idea being that it was going to be a fun family activity for the 3 of us and a way to keep fit. We were hoping to use it most weekends.
Bike shop werent familiar with co pilot but said they could make a special order for us.....unfortunately the bike that my husband bought with thier advise turns out not to be compatible with co pilot. This was only discovered aftyer we had taken bike away and used it. So we were persuaded to take the topeak bike seat instead. The problem is the Topeak doesn't recline like the co-pilot ,and as we discovered today when we were out, when ds falls asleep we need to stopp cycling as his head was lolling around and it looked really uncomfortable and unsafe. I think this means we can really only do short cycles or very carefully plan them so he doesn't sleep - not the ticket to carefree cycles I had pictured

As we were pushing our bikes someone cycled past with a sleeping child in a co-pilot. I was soooo peed off and have had this horrible simmering fury ever since.

I'm thinking of writing a letter of complaint and trying to get a replacement bike so we can get the copilot but am wondering if this is a huge overreaction.I also dont feel too hopeful of any success with that. Does anyone have the topeak and love it? is there any way to stop that awful head lolling??I really dont normally get so worked up about stuff but this has really got me obsessing about it.

OP posts:

honeytea · 12/08/2012 20:45

It sounds like it was your fault that the bike and seat didn't fit. You should have researched the bike you were buying before you bought the seat/bike.

GhostShip · 12/08/2012 20:50

It's your own fault and you won't get anywhere writing a letter.

GhostShip · 12/08/2012 20:58

What bike have you got?

Which shop did you go to?

alphabite · 12/08/2012 21:02

simmering fury over a bike seat?

GhostShip · 12/08/2012 21:03

You wouldn't believe how angry some people get over bike parts.

I had someone who was 'positively dismayed' today.

lljkk · 12/08/2012 21:03

I don't blame you for wanting to scream with frustration.
I have wrapped one of my jumpers around the child to help hold them back in the seat a bit more, like a reclining seat.
FWIW, we are keen cyclists & never had a reclining seat until we got to DC4; somehow we managed with the other baby-tot DC, their heads just lolled. It never seemed unsafe to me, but admittedly they don't sleep as well as you'd like, and are more likely to wake up a bit grumpy.

I am wondering if you could flog the Topeak & get a similar seat that actually reclines.

Whatevertheweather · 12/08/2012 21:04

Actually I think if they advised you the two would go together then you do have grounds for a complaint. I would definitely go back and speak to the shop.

Original poster

bikeblues · 12/08/2012 21:05

we told the shop which seat we wanted and asked their advice about the bike. They were both ordered at the same time and with the understanding they were going to be used together.

OP posts:

twinkletwinkleoldbat · 12/08/2012 21:06

I have cycled with all three of my children in baby seats and never even knew reclining seats existed! All three of them fell asleep on occasion, resting their heads forward on my back or backpack. Is it possible you could swap the seat you have for one with a higher back, to support the head more? Or even use one of those padded neck things (u-shaped) that you can get for babies in buggies or car seats? Please don't give up!

goingtoofast · 12/08/2012 21:08

My son used to fall asleep in his seat and it was never a problem, if he wasn't comfortable he wouldn't have fallen asleep.

How do they both attach to the bike?

Original poster

bikeblues · 12/08/2012 21:08

The only thing we were picky over in fact was the bike seat

OP posts:

Idlegirl83 · 12/08/2012 21:09

I would sell the bike seat and get something more suitable - don't think you're going to get far with trying to return the bike :(
How about a wee-ride? You can pick them up fairly reasonably second hand - we've got one and it's fab and my 1 year old daughter can sleep very happily on the head rest :)

IneedAbetterNicknameIn2012 · 12/08/2012 21:09

Like you I bought a bike and bike seat at the same time. I asked in the bike shop (toys r us) if the seat I wanted (from Argos) would be compatible. They told me add long as the seat fitted frame diameter x. We then researched the seat to sure it did.

Did the shop say the seat would definitely fit the bike, out just that they thought it would? because if it's the latter I dont see how you can blame them tbh

goingtoofast · 12/08/2012 21:12

Could you sell the seat and buy the co-pilot to fit on your bike?

GhostShip · 12/08/2012 21:13

OP, look into getting a Yepp head roll, it's to make the child's head more comfortable.

GhostShip · 12/08/2012 21:14

If you told me what bike you have I'd probably be able to help you more

Original poster

bikeblues · 12/08/2012 21:18

My preference would definately be to find a way to use the topeak successfully. For those who cycle do you have a way of stopping/reducing the head lolling? I wondered about one of those neck cushions - anybody had any joy with that? He had fallen forward into a flexed position and I wondered if his straps werent tight enough but on looking closer I dont think that was really the problem as it was pretty tight. Am i just being over worried about the lolling? I was cycling behind so could just see it swinging from side to side and got a fright.

OP posts:

IwanttoflyonA380 · 13/08/2012 17:44

Just googled both of the child seats and they both fit on a rear rack so why wont the co pilot fit?

Noqontrol · 13/08/2012 17:54

I think you would have a case, as the advice they have given you was incorrect. You wouldn't have bought that bike if they had given you the right advice.

I had a similar thing with a mid sleeper bed that was supposed to have slide. When it arrived the slide wasn't with it. They promised to send the slide but weeks down the road it turned out a slide couldn't fit the type of bed. They offered to refund the cost of the slide as I already had the bed, which had been used by then. I wrote a very strongly worded letter asking them to come and collect the bed as it had been purchased following inaccurate advice from them. I also threatened to take them to court, which I would have followed through. Anyway, they backed down very quickly as they were in the wrong and came up with a very agreeable solution that I was happy with.

I would write to their complaints department with a strongly worded letter if I was you.

Flip