Bike riders! Tempt me out of my car!

[Miyazaki]

I would like to cycle my daughter to her childminders initially and ultimately cycle to work. I haven't cycled for ages - I know I'd like a step through frame, but is there anything more I should look out for? And which are the best bike seats for kids?

Dd2 is 20 months and solid. Area is flatish (no steep hills) and very urban.

Is this insanity?

Budget for everything is £500 max.

I have a Giant bike and it is fab - step through frame, huge wheels and steady as a rock for piling shopping on. I haven't used a child seat but I imagine it would feel very safe. Lots of my friends who live in hilly places are buying Ridgebacks though, as they are very lightweight.

You might want to contact Cycle Training UK and see if they run courses in your area - lots of councils subsidise the training massively. I think I paid about £3 for mine - a very nice man came to my house and showed me everything I needed to know about cycling with a toddler on the back. We went for a ride round some back streets then back along the main road. He gave me loads of tips on getting her in and out, road positioning, safety etc. I was an averagely confident cyclist but like you very worried about cycling with a child on the back but it made a huge difference and I think to be honest confidence is half the battle.

As for cycling to work, today is day 3 of my new cycle to work regime and even Trafalgar Square is manageable. So much better than the tube - I get to work feeling all perky and zingy. It's great!

Sheherezade - I had a Ridgeback hybrid city bike, absolutely loved it. It was about £200 10 years ago so I guess maybe £250 ish now?

cycle training uk sounds fab. wish i'd known about that when i first started cycling with dd in the hamax.

it is true you need to be aware of the extra weight on the back. especially when getting the child in and out of the seat etc.

dd likes to make me wobble by deliberately leaning out of her seat but i am more confident now so it's not a problem. can't say teh same for the cold hands down my trousers to warm up or the slapping of my bottom and yelling "faster mummy! faster!"

little madam!

ps: agree with whoever said to buy a decent bike if you have the cash and will use it. my father's best advice was always "buy the best you can afford".

snickersnack - great link, will look into it. I think a confidence boost would be just the thing.

paddlechick - I can see my dd doing that lol

thanks!

SheherazadetheGoat - I have a Saracen Hiway on which I have clocked up 14400 miles (over 5 years I hasten to add). I am cycling 16 miles per day with DS (10mo) in a Co-Pilot seat, plus an extra mile a day on to the office, and we're loving it. Hardest thing is doing up his helmet without nipping under his chin. Front panniers are good for the gubbins but if you haven't cycled for a while, best practise with them first as they do change the steering, and watch out, they're mounted lower than rear ones.

2 pieces of advice NEVER lift the front wheel when DC is in the seat on the back - leads to very hairy moments of bike shifting
and look at getting this book I thought I was a good confident rider but reading through this has given me tips and increased my confidence. Have given some of the tips to DW too and she is much more confident on the bike now.

It could also be worth seeing if your employer takes part in the cyclescheme. you can buy a bike out of your pre tax salary over a year. It end's up being half price spread over a year.

Forgot to say that front panniers do at least counter-balance the extra weight on the back end. Lurkingdad, I'm going to take a look at that book.

Guys

Long-time sport, touring and utility cyclist here, with six bikes in the cellar (yes, they're all for different things, thanks for asking).

A few bits of advice, for what it's worth:
Read Cyclecraft, by John Franklin
Get your bike from a local bike shop (LBS). They should check what sort of cycling you want to do and match you up with the right bike. They should let you try a few models and give good advice. Avoid anything that costs 79.99 from a supermarket. Only go to Halfords if you are very sure of what you want as they are not always as well trained as they might be. Don't buy off ebay unless you've already tried the bike you are looking at.

There are some nice cycling forums on the web too - try cyclechat.com

Enjoy!

blue champagne where did you get the front paniers from. i want to cycle more but was unsure where toput the stuff i'd need to take with me if dd is on the back?and testing by our couple of short rides anything to help counterbalance cn only be a bonus!

also those of you who ride in towns do you ride on the road, or the path (assuming it isnt busy with pedestrians?)

Hi Dylsmum, they came from the bike shop that fitted the child seat. You might be better with an independent shop, which could order them in if necessary, or I'm sure you could get them on-line. Mine are Altura. They're not cheap, but they are good! I'm sure there are less expensive ones out there if you don't know how much you're going to use them yet.

In town, I ride on the road, but try to keep to the quieter ones.

thanks bluechampagne. i will look into those as you say i may look to see if i can find cheaper first and replace them if i use the bike lots. i'd like to just need to build up my cnfidence a bit.
not many quiet roads where i live its a very built up area think i'll do some little rides to build up confidence, i drove to a park witht he bike the other day and rode it round got on ok, but dd wasnt on back as she was at her dads. think i'll go to the park and practice with her n it before attempting the roads