Pannier bags and rear child seat

[BigWhiteRabbit]

Is this possible? Google searches aren't yielding me much. I need to drop a child off and then travel 5 miles to work....I need to carry shower stuff, clothes, lap top, lunch (if very organised!).

I will need to get a new bike as currently have drop handle bars. Plus the accessories.

Does anyone have any suggestions on if it's possible to have baby seat and panniers or how else I could get this to work? I would likely prefer rear rather than front child seat.

Thanks

Emily

How old is the child? I had one of these in the middle of my bike, was so lovely to be able to cuddle my little boy as it was the only time he sat still, also he just felt quite protected. Also the option of one of those trailer things. They look quite comfy and weatherproof.

Watching with interest as I'm in a similar situation. I have the rear seat for my toddler but had to remove my pannier rack for it. Have you looked at front panniers? That's my next port of call when payday comes. It would also be helpful to redistribute the weight on the bike. Having a child on the back makes the bike handle so differently because the handle bars cannot handle the slightest pull upwards. I can't stand up for hills because it would probably cause the bike to fall over. Hopefully front panniers would restore some balance.

Check out two wheeling tots and the cycle sprog websites. They have Facebook pages too so you could ask there. I’ve only ever used a trailer, so it’s never been a problem. I used to commute with the trailer (and panniers). I had space to store the bike and trailer indoors at work, but had to unhitch which was a PITA for a quick get away. Trailers are better for transporting them in crappy (or sunny) weather as they’re completely enclosed.

@Benedictcucumber try climbing leaning forward to push your weight on to the bars… similar technique when mountain biking up epically steep gradients. You kinda sit really far forward on the saddle to do it.

Thanks all for your ideas so far. I popped into a repair shop today as I thought they sold bikes. The didn't but a bloke there was very informative and told me that yes it is possible, but that you need to ensure you have a long seat stem so that the child seat attachment can fit higher up on it. He has done this with his own bike. Here is a pic, the attachment is on it, although no childseat. He has assured me though that it all fits well even with bursting full panniers. I've now emailed Hamax and Forme to see if they have any ideas....will let you know.

I guess my concern is ordering £700 worth of kit for it not to work together.

Emily

You can buy the extra long seat stem direct from Hamax. I had to get them for my bike as otherwise the seat was too close to the wheel. DH uses the smae ones on his bike and there is loads of space between the seat and wheel.

I used to do this, with a front bike basket like this one. Worked really well, loved having the basket at the front. The Reisenthal ones are nice and very strong, hold a lot, and clip off easily so you can just grab your stuff and go.

I had front panniers when I had DC1 on the rear bike seat.

Also front panniers will even out the weight. Too much on the back can make you skid and slide.

There are child seats that fit to a pannier rack (Topeak, Decathlon I think, and others) rather than suspended from the seat post. But - I can't attach a pannier at the same time as the child seat (I've the Topeak) so its kid or work bag for me, not both.

Still, its a better start position to find a solution.

Ah no, scrap that, I can't see how a pannier and kids seat both mounted to the rack could ever work as their lega are in the way.

My bike also had a basket for when I need a bag as well as a kid (always), but the pannier that the seat is mounted to is still there for me to use when just commuting.

You need from mounted panniers, and/or a courier bag.

Or a cargo bike.

Was trying to figure this out too. Found the solution on this blog littlefeetbigworld.com/yescycle/cycling-touring-with-a-toddler-equipment/

You can use a pannier rack extension. Should work with frame and rack mounted child seats.

hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/branded-bicycle-parts/steco/steco-rear-of-the-bike/steco-tas-mee-easy-assembly/steco-rack-extension-tas-mee/

In the end I bought a new bag from decathalon that is both rucksack and pannier bag. I used a rack mounted babyseat at the back. The bag is tall and slim so it doesn't get in the baby's face. The baby is in the seat for 10 mins max before dropping him off so although it's not a perfect solution it works well enough. After i've dropped him i take the seat off, store at the nursery and then put the rucksack on the rack.

I couldn't use the extended rack as I put my bike in special bike storage so there wouldn't be space.

It took a lot of thinking to get to this solution! 😂