Just bought a child bike seat for my bike - what else do I need?

[MrsThierryHenry]

I've spotted some plastic rain covers on ebay which will go over the bike seat; has anyone used these before and if so would you recommend a particular design/ brand?

Also apart from getting a good helmet for my tot is there anything else I should consider?

do the rain covers go over the bike seat with the child in them?

It sounds like you have everything you need to get started.

Presumably you have lights and a bell on your bike already?

you need ........nerves of steel i lived in lincs and often pedalled ds3 around on the back of mine - he loved it but its a bit heart in mouth the first few times...also a megafone to shout 'sit still' would be handy

Yes, from the piccy it looks like they do. Bell - yes! Lights - will do. I'll not be cycling at night for a while yet so I'll make sure I get a good set well in advance. Come to think of it I should prob make sure the back lights will still be visible if DS is wearing rain cover on the bike seat...the cover's quite long and might hide the light.

Do you cycle with your kids in tow? If so, how do you find it?

DS is 5 so has his own bike now, but bloody hell it is nerve-wracking when he is on the road, you definately need nerves of steel.

It might be an idea to get some reflective strips to stick on the back of the bike seat if you haven't already got any?

Everyone cycles with kids around here, it's quite normal to see a child on the back and another one on the front, and a tag-along attaqched as well! So it must be quite easy once you're used to it.

Hats, lights obviously, bright clothing

Drinks bottles and bike attachments - hot work cycling with kids. Useful to have a little strap onto the bike with a zip-up bag with lock (often they are triangular to fit in the crook bit of the frame) - great for a mobile phone/tyre pump. keys etc.

Oh lawd...I can see this is going to cost me a small fortune!

Nerves of steel...hmmm, now there's a thought. Specially as I'll be cycling in London - don't worry, we have loads of cycle paths around here, so I won't be battling against parked cars and wide boys in Escorts with spoilers (hmm, there's a reason they're called 'spoilers', isn't there?!)

I got a poncho that looked great when demonstrated over seat in the bike shop, but when I tried it in real life, the wind got underneath it and it threatened to envelop DS. Now put it on under the harness, tho' this isn't ideal, so an all-in-one suit for child would be better. Still, I've got it so I'm using it!

• Fluorescent tabard?
• Panniers/basket to put all the gumf in? Front mounted ones useful to counterbalance the extra weight on the back.
• locks and lights obviously - the flashing LED ones are good for fog/rain/twilight

Smug grin as you get fit & save the planet?!

BlueChampers, thanks loads for that anoraky tip. I'll get an all-in-one instead.

What do you mean by a fluorescent tabard? (am I being dim here?)

Found a lovely, funky front basketty thing from an expensive German design duo. Think I'm getting sucked in by the promise of looking cool (for the first time in my life!)

fluorescent tabard/vest/jacket - the sort of things that guys working on the road wear. If your local cycle shop doesn't stock them, shop elsewhere! Can also be found in high street car parts shops (Halfords etc) as I believe some European countries require you to carry one in the car.

Hi,

it's a long time since the original message was posted, but I'm hoping you're still around - where did you find the child bike seat cover? We take our 10month-old to nursery every day on a back-mounted bike seat and are desperate to find a cover/canopy to keep the wind and rain off him (something like what you can get to go over a buggy, but which will fit on the childseat). I've seen somebody with one of these, but have not found anything myself - what was the brand of the one you found on ebay?

Thanks
Melisande

The one we have is more of a cape with a hood rather than a buggy-cover like one. Tell you what, someone cleverer than me could come up with a bike-seat cosy-toes thing too. In a good fluorescent colour!