Cycling with toddler - help!

[Wheezal26]

Hi,

We've recently moved to Cambridge and I want to start cycling to work/nursery with our 18 month old but have no clue where to start with
A) Buying a bike in a Cambridge and B) choosing the "right" bike seat. My son is small for his age (9th percentile).
Front or back mounted? Any brand/style recommendations and places to buy both bike and child seat???

Thanks!!!

It's great that you are looking into cycling with your toddler.

In terms of logistics, it all depends on how long you want the solution to work for; whether you will be a fair-weather cyclist or an all weather cyclist; and how much money you are willing to spend. Cheapest option is a rear-mounted seat (will last till child is 3-4 depending on size and wrigglyness). The next step up is a detachable rear trailer eg www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/child-bike-trailers/burley-dlite-bicycle-trailer. The top-notch solution is a 'dutch bike' with child/cargo hold, good for multiple kids, shopping, dogs, etc and will last forever.

Particularly if you go for the rear seat option to start, as your child ages you might want to look at migrating to a 'tag-along' set up like this www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/child-bike-trailers/weeride-co-pilot-tag-along; or an adult/child tandem.

In terms of getting a decent bike for yourself, I have had very good service at www.townsends-lb.co.uk/. If the dutch bike idea appeals, visit schoolruncentre.co.uk/ . Second-hand trailers and tag-alongs often pop up on Gumtree. Good luck and enjoy yourself!

The 'weeride' front mounted bike seat is good - sits between you and the handlebars, so nice and safe and you can see little one at all times. We purchased when ds1 was about 10 months - only just outgrown it age 5 (and only because his feet don't fit in the shoe bits, he still fits seat ok and he's not small).

www.amazon.co.uk/d/9jt/WeeRide-Classic-Front-Mounted-Childrens-Safest-Bike/B002MCYWHG?tag=mumsnetforum-21

We have a Burley Bee trailer, which is excellent. Fantastic suspension, loads of room for 2 kids and tonnes of shopping, lightweight and extremely easy to set up and attach.

We chose it as it felt the safest option for our very little one - she's been in it since about 8 months / 0.4th centile. We use the Burley Snuggler, which is an extra insert a bit like carseat padding, and keeps her really, well...snug.

It's obviously not as easy as a seat attached to your bike, but for us the positives really outweighed the additional faff.

DS1 did many miles in a Co-Pilot Taxi, which was good and solid. It's rear mounted, so the cyclist's body protects from the weather, but did mean I had to invest in front panniers.

After that we had the Halfords folding trailer which did a fair few miles with both DSs. Remember to factor in storage and access for trailers and dutch bikes - not so easy down a little path behind the terraced houses of the Mill Road area, for example.

Had one session with these guys www.outspokentraining.co.uk/training-scheme/adult-cycle-training before taking to the road with the trailer. They also give route advice.

Thanks for all the information so far, very handy. I was thinking front fitted for stability but my concern is that as I am quite petite I won't easily be able to reach the handlebars.

Hi Wheezal26! In case it's helpful - with the weeride your seating position doesn't change as the seat simply sits between u and the bars and u don't need to alter the handlebars in any way. (Only slightly weird thing is that your knees kind of have to stick out to the side a bit as u cycle, but u get used to this !!)

chestertoncharley makes a good point about wind! when ds1 was under 2, we used a windshield to protect him (looked a bit silly! but did a great job of keeping the wind off him! And we discovered u can put a buggy rain cover over the shield and weeride, with toddler in it, and it makes a nice cosy, rain free ride!! for toddler at least!)

(When ds 2 came along, we also invested in a trike (winther kangaroo - second hand cost us £800 ... pricey but re-sale value is good, should easily get our money back, might make a bit on it). It is great, and again kids r at front so feels safe! but we still use the weeride, especially if ds1 is on his own bike and we r wanting to get somewhere fast or go on a family bike ride etc.. )

Happy cycling!