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Original poster

Cycling- Chid Safety Seat or Child Trailer?

9 replies

fio2 · 31/07/2003 11:07

Would appreciate any help on this subject please. We have bought two montain bikes and with two children 3&almost2 was wondering what would be the best, a child seat that attaches to the bike or a child trailer. Has anyone got any experience of either of these? Are they difficult to balance with, heavy, which is the most convinient for travelling about with and which is the safest? My dd has SN so I am not expecting her to be riding a bike for some time yet. Very grateful for anyones input. Thanks

OP posts:

cazzybabs · 31/07/2003 11:31

We use a bike seat on the front of the bike for dd (nearly 15 months I want her to stay small ) and its fine - I just can't cycle as quickly away from the lights. The thing that put me off a bike trailer was they are low to the ground and I would worry about riding on the road with them with cars not able to see them! I am not sure of the weight of the bike seat for the front bike - it might only go up till she is 3 or 4(?) - the one that goes at the back lasts longer (in terms of weight of child), but its supposed to be harder to cycle with (but lots of people do!) and there is even a crazy woman round cambridge who has one child on a seat on the front (but its only a little seat thing) and one on proper seat thing on the back!

StripyMouse · 31/07/2003 11:34

I agree with cazzybabs - the trailer seems so vulnerable to traffic comapred with the front seat system. They are so low on the ground that I worry other drivers won?t always see it...Have you thought about hiring for a day from a bike shop to see how it feels first hand?

Demented · 31/07/2003 22:24

Are you going to be using the bikes on roads or just cycle paths etc? We have a seat on the back of my bike and I last used it when DS1 was about 2 3/4 (I was about 10 wks pg at the time mind you) but I do remember he was very heavy. We hired a trailer when we visited Oasis when DS1 was about 2 1/4 and I found it much easier but I agree with the others about the safety on the road with the trailer.

Original poster

fio2 · 31/07/2003 22:30

mainly off road but I will most probably use it on road occasionally aswell. We are quite lucky where we live though as we are near to town and have very good cycle paths. I actually never thought about a trailer being less visible so thanks for pointing that out After reading everyones replies we may start off with seats and if they do get too heavy then try out a trailer. Dh thinks a trailer will be too heavy up hills.

Thank you everyone for your replies

OP posts:

FiFiRob2000 · 11/08/2003 18:07

New to this so hope it works!
We have a trailer for our son - used it since he was 11mths.
We have only used it on cycle paths.I would definitely NOT reccommend it for main road use, though I have seen people doing this.
My DH usually has it on his bike, but I have used it once on mine - much more stable & easy to pull than you would think, though I chicked out of uphill & let DH tow it!
DS sits in middle. there are straps for 2 side by side, but not v wide so I think that 2 kids would be a squeeze.
Ours packs flat too so is easy to get in the boot of car, plus it came with a bright orange flag. Best thing is to go & try them out. Our local cycle shop was very helpfull.

Nome · 11/08/2003 19:04

We have had a trailer for ds since he was four months. We just strap his car seat into it. It's very easy to cycle with. Ours came with a big red flag and streamers and is very visible - cars give us a wide berth. I use cycle paths where they exist, but going on the road hasn't bothered me since the first few times out. I didn't like the idea of coming off my bike with ds in a seat high up. The trailer will stay upright even if I fall off my bike. We think it's great and hope to use it until ds is old enough to sit on a trailer bike.

zebra · 11/08/2003 19:16

Trailers usually are bright yellow & come with flags; I think they're pretty visible. I like the trailor for long journeys, cold or rain. Trailers are more comfy for the child. The seats are better for using trains, little journeys. We use extra reins to strap the child more securely into the seat. We just buy the cheapest seats, works for us.

Trailer is more effort to tow, but the seats unbalance you more (A LOT more if child is over 3yo); so I'd say trailer easier over all. You can carry extra luggage in the trailer. Plus you can still have panniers on a bike with trailer, whereas seats usually preclude rear panniers.

We are just about go to Italy on cheap flights & will take 2 bikes with 2 child seats & front pannier bags to get around(with a few train rides); wish us luck!

Nome · 11/08/2003 21:25

We're off to Brittany in September - bikes provided by the gite, so we're taking the trailer as it folds flat enough to go in the boot of the car.

Original poster

fio2 · 13/08/2003 09:10

Good Luck Zebra. We have actually bought two bikes and two rear seats...yesterday so this weekend we will be trying them out. Thought start off with the seats then if dd does get to big for the seat will buy a trailer then. Some of these trailers are more like puschairs now though-really trendy.

Now anyone know any good ( & flat) cycle tracks in the Midlands area???

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