Talk to me about front-mounted bike seats for older children please...

[Thurlow]

So, moving house soon and will have to cycle. DS is a very short 4yo. We'll get him cycling asap but for ease I'm thinking having him on my bike too and from childcare, about a 5 min cycle. I was going to get one of these front saddles, anyone got any experience? I liked the actual Shotgun but I don't think my bike will hold it (don't get me started on how difficult it's been to find a bike for someone who is 5'1...)

Also, if I use one of these, can someone tell me how on earth I get me and DS on and off the bike?! Is it best for me to get on then lift him up?

Sorry to derail your post but why MEN's bikes?? Could it not have been ADULTS bikes??

You stand straddle on the bike, feet on the floor than lift him on. Are you going to be cycling on the road with cars?

The men's bike reference is because of the crossbar - women's bikes don't as a rule have a straight crossbar for mounting the extra seat....

Ha! I know. Don't get me started on the genders and sizes of bikes. You can't buy a kids bike using the CycleScheme vouchers, even though most large kids bikes are the same size as small women's bikes and the company I was buying it from actually tagged all the large kids bikes as small women's bikes!

We'll be on the road but I am booking cycling lessons with someone who will take me and older DD around the roads we'll actually be cycling on. I won't have DS on the bike when I do any major junctions or very busy roads, the route with him I could even go on the pavement if I had to

Sorry to be blunt and rude - it looks shite! Firstly I’d be extremely concerned about it slipping on the top tube whilst child sat on it. Also the possibility of it damaging the top tube from r, or if it slips. it If your top tube is angled (not parallel to the ground) the child will struggle to stay on the seat as the saddle will be sloping. Where on earth are the child’s feet supposed to go?! I know it gives reference to foot rests, but doesn’t show them or how they work.

I’m saying this as someone who has a 4.5 year old and he’s come along on bike rides with me since 4 months. We are a cycling family and our lives revolve around cycling, consequently I’ve spent ages researching the best methods for DS to come along too. Initially via trailer, now mainly shotgun and followme tandem. I’ve owned a shotgun for the past year. I spent ages researching and was torn between that and the macride. The Shotgun has been excellent. DS loves it and is super comfortable on it. It fits rock solid on carbon mountain bike frame. It hasn’t slipped or damaged it.

I use the shotgun for road and mountain biking. But all on my MTB.

It isn’t so much the child height that’s the issue/ consideration with an up front seat, but their weight - check the weight limit of the seat. That thing you linked doesn’t specify one which is also a bit worrying!! Eg The Macride can take a heavier child as it fits differently to the shotgun and distributes the child’s weight differently.

I get on my bike, DS stands on a step and kind of climbs whilst I lift him. It’s not difficult.

I really recommend the Cycle Sprog and Two Wheeling Tots websites. Both have excellent Information and product reviews on everything kids cycling related.

No, you're not being rude, I need the advice!

My bike is this www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/specialized-sirrus-10-hybrid-bike-2021-in-lilac__15557?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=90921-9104&gclid=Cj0KCQjwp86EBhD7ARIsAFkgakjo6oBmWAGfFHkKJsjGM2HAaTDHPI-mKNhs1dckv670wJwR-ko5fpMaAlIhEALw_wcB so I'm concerned that the Shotgun won't fit at all. I can't really get a different bike as there's such limited stock everywhere in my size. Do you think the Shotgun will work? I like the look of the Mac but to be honest, it's a huge amount of money when he might be cycling alone very soon

I’ve no idea. Sorry. You could contact customer service for both and ask, they would certainly advise.

I do know (from bitter experience!!) they are hard to get hold of and go for a premium secondhand. So you won’t lose much.

I think... you may perhaps be best off going with a Followme Tandem... especially as you talk about a busier junction etc. I’m useless at linking. Sorry. But google Followme Tandem and see what you think.

Again. Pricey. But. Has much more longevity as it’ll take all wheel sizes up to and including a 20”.

It fits through your rear axle and attaches to the child’s front axle. You are essentially towing them, but they can pedal (and it’s clear when they are peddling 😂). It’s really easy to unhitch them so they can ride independently. The Followme then folds away and attaches to your seat post so both of you can ride unattached. It’s ideal for longer rides where a younger child might tire, so hitch up and tow. Likewise to get them up a steep or long hill. Also if you have any road sections where you want to be in control of them. You can also ride your own bike with theirs attached, without them on it. So it’s great if you do a school run and there’s nowhere for them to leave their bike in the day. It is a very well engineered, robust, high quality bit of kit. Again. Expensive. But also sell very well secondhand. I got mine secondhand for £10 less than new 😱 But I wanted immediately and there was a months wait new.

There are similar bits of kit. The trail gator which looks like a broom handle that you attach on to your bike and theirs to tow. I was concerned about the stories of it being hard to fit and working loose. Then several reports of child bike being at an angle. Another of the child coming loose on a descent. I understand the trail angel is similar.

There’s also something called a weeride. It’s basically a wheel with a saddle and bars that attaches to the adult bike. The child can’t ride it independently though. I also read similar issues to the trail gator in it being difficult to attach and maintain an upright position, it tends to slip to an angle.

I find the Followme incredible. It handles extremely well. We use it for mountain biking, not, really gnarly stuff but fairly rugged. I’ve also used it up and down mountains (on the road). It performs well round hairpins at speed! It just feels very secure and safe.

I should add. My DS (âge 4.5) has been cycling (peddles, no stabilisers, he went straight from a Balance bike) since 3 and a few months. He’d been balance biking since 18 months. He’s pretty much cycled everyday since 18 months. Age 4.5, the shotgun is still a crucial bit of kit to us. He’s now cycling with gears on a 20” wheel... with all that he wouldn’t manage much of a ride independently with me, even with me going super steady. He just gets so distracted, it’s frequent stop, start. He also wouldn’t have the stamina to ride for that long. An hour at the most. So I feel we’re a very long way off not having a use for the shotgun!! He’ll get too heavy for it, long before he doesn’t ‘need’ it.

It does largely depend on what your normal cycling looks like though!! My life literally revolves around it, so DS has to fit in around it. I was never going to scale rides back to Taylor exclusively to him, but buy ‘stuff’ that meant I could carry on as normal. Ours tends to be 3ish hours over a day in the summer. In the winter I still use the trailer (and now!! as it’s so cold!!) as it’s too cold for him on the Followme or Shotgun, even though he’s extremely well wrapped up. The Followme is better in that respect as at least he’s peddling. The upfront seats are awful if it’s wet, windy or cold, or all 3 as they are just sat there. You can only put so many layers on. It’s their feet and hands mainly... you can’t put too much on their feet or hands as they need to be able to feel and grip the bars, then fit their feet safely through the stirrups.

Thank you, that's all so helpful. I don't think the ride behind ones will work as I'll have to leave the bike at the station but I get what you mean about them not cycling well all the time - maybe it will be easier to accept he'll be on my bike for another year and invest in something like the Mac. It will only be for short 5-10 min rides so the cold will be less of an issue, but that's a really helpful reminder!

If I was buying now, I’d go for the Mac Ride, purely because the weight limit on it is bigger than the shotgun... so you’ll probably get more than a year out of it. I can’t remember why I settled on the shotgun. I was very torn as they both have excellent reviews (I checked various cycling forums and blogs). The Mac Ride looks much more likely to fit your bike (but do check with them). I’d definitely recommend either as they are so similar and our experience of the shotgun has been excellent. DS absolutely loves being on it, he gets to see so much. It’s lovely having them cradled in your arms... he’ll turn round and kiss me. We chat away to each other. He crouched down and goes ‘aero’ on descents 😂😂

I meant to add you may need to drop your saddle height a wee bit. I had to as my knees were hitting him a bit. I’m guessing it’ll be similar with the Mac ride.

Thank you, I think you've convinced me into the Mac Ride, especially if they keep their resale value!

how about getting a rack to ghd back (would be great to get shopping home as well and a rear seat like this?

It’d depend on what the weight limit for the rack is. That seat alone weighs almost 2kgs. My rack will safely carry up to 18kgs. My DS weighs 17kgs (he’s 4.5, so similar age to Thurlow’s DS). That aside I wouldn’t trust DS not to put his feet in the wheel, or bend down and put his hand in the wheel!! But all kids are different.