Bike seats

[Favouritestofall]

Dusting off the old bicycle to keep fit. Would like to use it to take my toddler out and about too. Any recommendations for bike seats?

What's the difference/pros and cons of these new ones I see where the kid is sort of standing at the handle bars with you compared with a seat on the back?

Looking for comfort and safety for the wee one.

Thanks!

We've used a few in the past, and really rate Hamax as a make. They have a few styles, so it's worth you looking at them to see what features you like/need, but ours always felt very safe and no complaints from the kids.

Thanks I'll look at these.

Another question, are they a pain to take on and off bikes? I'm wondering if my husband and I need a bike seat each or can we easily swap one seat between bikes?

We’ve had Hamax and Thule; frame mounted ones are clamped onto the tube that the seat post slides down into and we’ve bought two of the mounts - one for each bike - to
make them interchangeable.

At least one of our hamax ones we had 2 attachment units for - one for each of our bikes, and we could just click the bike seat back and forward between the two bikes very easily. Definitely easier and cheaper than buying and storing multiple seats :)

Thank you! I already like the look of Hamax Caress and see that you can get an adapter for it

No idea about using one of those behind-the-handlebars seats as they weren't a thing when mine were wee, but when I see them I always think kiddo looks very cute and happy there.
Only thing is...are they expensive? How long before before the child becomes too tall for the parent to see while cycling?

It seems as with car seats that the more you pay the safer and more comfortable they are.

Not sure what you mean about not seeing them as they get taller. By the time a child has outgrown the seat they'll be on their own bike a lot.

My son is never off his bike but he's 2 and a half so can't ride on roads. But we live in a small town and my son rides his bike to nursery. We see 4 and 5 year old children riding bikes with adults on the quiet roads here- not on the main roads.

Good point. That will be true for a lot.

Re. The front seats, we have a few and by the time the DC were 4 they’d outgrown them/were too tall for me to see around, but too little to cycle themselves, even on a follow me tandem. So we have pannier mounted seats now too…

Thanks that's helpful. I think we will stick to the pannier seat too

@Favouritestofall On the pannier verses frame mounted debate; we’ve found pannier mounted have the most longevity as as the child grows and gets heavier, the frame mounted ones have more sway and bounce which I find affects my bike handling. The pannier mounted is more part of the bike and less bouncy if that makes any sense!

I’m short with shorter arms than average and couldn’t use the front seat behind age 2. The back seat lasted till about 3.5 or so.

I live in a very hilly place. I’m sure in flatter areas the back seats last till age 5 or 6.

Yes that makes sense and I can picture what you mean. Pannier mounted looks nice and sturdy. Although I suppose that means you can't use a pannier bag and would need to cycle with a rucksack

@Favouritestofall DP has a pannier extension on the back of
his to carry pannier bags, I’ve got a front pannier rack and bags, which I think, weight wise - when I’ve got shopping in them etc, evens the bike out nicely.

So helpful thank you 🙏🏻