Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

Original poster

calling cyclist!

19 replies

misdee · 06/05/2006 20:24

finally got my older two riding the other day, but need a seat for my baby, would you go for a reat mounted seat like \link{http://www.sterlinghouse.co.uk/ViewAccessory.aspx.qmap/ptId/280/pId/61496\this} or one that fits near thehandlebars like \link{ www.sterlinghouse.co.uk/ViewAccessory.aspx.qmap/ptId/280/pId/53865\this?}

OP posts:

Original poster

misdee · 06/05/2006 20:25

\link{http://www.sterlinghouse.co.uk/ViewAccessory.aspx.qmap/ptId/280/pId/53865\this?}

OP posts:

Filyjonk · 06/05/2006 20:37

Have both, don't like either tbh. Back mounted destabilises the bike, front mounted and you can't peddle properly, with much the same effect.

How old is the baby? could you get either a bike extendor tandem thing (there is a name...) or a trailer?

Loads of people do use seats happily, but I just don't feel comfortable with them, tbh. In a crash, or even if the bike fell over, the baby would come off badly.

sorry, I know thats probably not what you wanted to hear!

Original poster

misdee · 06/05/2006 20:42

i had a trailer with dd1+2 and i didnt like it. felt it was too low to the ground and close to fumes.

dd3 is 14months old.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 06/05/2006 20:43

I have that exact front seat, and a fancier back seat (Rhode Gear Limo). I prefer the front one. I can peddle fine, although my knees go out a bit more than normal (which is better, frankly). The real advantage of the front one is, you can talk to your child, and they don't lose shoes. Oh, and they can sleep on the blue pad, rather than by resting their helmet on your butt.

I had a crash, once, with a child on the front and a child on the back. Neither had a mark on them. It was a pretty minor crash (only the front wheel hit the car, we went down fairly slowly), but still - neither child was hurt, at all. I had a few bruises, though.

The half-bike tandem thing is fine, but only when the child is old enough to hold on and not let go.

NotQuiteCockney · 06/05/2006 20:43

Oh, the front one is a bit of a hassle to fit, though. You want someone pretty handy to do it (or you want to be someone pretty handy). Easy enough to put on and off once the bar is fitted, though.

Filyjonk · 06/05/2006 20:50

yes, agree re fumes, also they feel a bit exposed.

hmmm

tbh, my solution was not to cycle with them, but I don't like it very much.

the front one i suppose might work different on different bikes? so might be better on yours? My bike is quite small, that might make a difference. Have a horrible feeling though it was designed for men's bikes.

I really hated the rear one, everytime I turned a corner I thought ds was going to fall off. The front one was just a PITA, but doable.

oh + the front one is very very faffy to assemble, the rear one we had is ok.

NotQuiteCockney · 06/05/2006 20:53

I think biking with kids is harder if you're a smaller type person, too, Filyjonk. I never noticed much destabilising from a back seat, but then, I think I was always over 13 stone while doing that, with under 2 stone of kid in the back, so of course it didn't do much!

I'm reasonably tall, and so the gap between handlebars and seat is reasonable big (actually, I think my bike is a men's bike), so the front seat works. Maybe for a smaller person, on a smaller bike, it's not as good.

I even managed to ride with DS1 on the front seat when I was hugely pregnant with DS2!

And these days I ride with DS2 in the front seat, and DS1 on the tandemy thing.

Original poster

misdee · 06/05/2006 20:54

i had a rear seat with dd1, and do remember it was quite awkward turning corners, and she used to yank on my trousers .

i really want to ride with my kids, and seeing the older 2 are getting the hang of it, thought i should encourgae them over the summer months. guess, i'll be walking behind pushing the buggy, yelling at them not to go too fast

OP posts:

kid · 06/05/2006 21:00

I saw someone cycling recently with a seat on the back. They had a small child in the seat but the cyclist was carrying a rucksack on their back. The poor child had to keep their head turned sideways as there was no room to move.

I like the look of the front one myself, you would be able to see DD3 and she can see where you are going rather than looking at your back.

paulinka · 06/05/2006 21:01

so, could you actually ride with 2 kids, one on the front and one on the back?

NotQuiteCockney · 06/05/2006 21:01

Yeah, you talk about the cars and so on. It is quite nice and sociable. DS2 really really loves going on the bike, he gets very agitated once he sees me getting ready to bike, and will only calm down (and stop grabbing the chain!) when I put him in the seat. He'll sit waiting, on the bike, for ages, while I get stuff ready.

And yeah, kids on the back don't approve of knapsacks.

NotQuiteCockney · 06/05/2006 21:03

paulinka, if you mean, two kids on bike seats, yes, and no. I've done it, but I don't really recommend it. The problem is, it's really hard to put your leg over the bike, without kicking someone in the head, when there's a kid in front and a kid in back. I guess you could lower the seat a lot, to make it easier to get on and off, but that wouldn't be comfortable. Or you could put one of the kids on after you were on, if they were obediant and manageable, and you were somewhere quite safe.

It's quite easy if one is old enough for the tandem, but I don't think I'd dare that on a road before a kid was at least 4. I think.

poppyseed · 06/05/2006 21:08

I'd go for a Rhode Gear Limo anytime. They recline to aid sleep and have good side protection in case of impact (god forbid). The only thing I have against bike seats in general - especially with our large for age children is that your centre of mass is so affected with their weight and leads to instability of the bike. It is obviously personal choice though. I would use a Limo followed by a Burleigh carrier to bridge the gap before they can use a trail gator/tag-along and then progressing to going solo.

paulinka · 06/05/2006 21:25

halfords have a big sale at the moment on both trailers and child seats? any recommendations? my kids are 2 and 3? should i get a trailer or 2 seats?
any advice appreciated...
px

hub2dee · 06/05/2006 21:34

" it's really hard to put your leg over the bike, without kicking someone in the head"

LOL, nqc !

NotQuiteCockney · 07/05/2006 09:01

Paulinka, where do you bike? On bike paths, or roads? Are you in the country or in a big city? I wouldn't dare use a trailer in London, on the street, it's just not practical. But in the countryside, or on paths, I'm sure it'd be fine.

Also, how old are your kids?

bensmum3 · 07/05/2006 09:31

I have a rhode gear limo, and love it, have used it for 3 children, started at 5 months, right up till dd was 4,(but she was petite). Also fell off once, and ds was frightened, but unhurt.

paulinka · 07/05/2006 14:57

my daughter is 3 and son 2, i think ill get the seats because i will be more of a riding experience for the kids than sitting in the trailer. i ride round roads but not so busy

paulinka · 07/05/2006 15:05

rhode gear limo- where is the best place to buy it and how much would you expect to pay?

Flip