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Original poster

Cyclists who carry toddlers - do you recommend trailer or bike seat?

49 replies

Racers · 18/02/2008 12:02

This is for DH who wants to take DD (2.8) to nursery/himself to work on his bike, certainly over the summer when the weather is better and I'm on Maternity Leave.

The journey is only about 15 minutes, all is a designated and well-used cycle route (ok not the first 300 yards from our house!), 3/4 is dedicated cycle path, which is brilliant. Two sections are quite steep, though fairly brief.

Would you go for the space saving seat on the back of the bike or a trailer? I think the trailer would be easier to pull along but will be a bit of a squeeze for storage at home. Is the trailer safer, do you think?

OP posts:

frogs · 18/02/2008 12:08

Bike seat. Kids like them better, because they're at adult height and can see more. I think also safer on roads, as the trailers always strike me as a bit low and invisible.

You get used to the imbalance from the extra weight on the bike seat very quickly. I have a fat little 4yo on there without problems, and even occasionally still balance my leggy 8yo on it, though the straps don't do up on him.

Anchovy · 18/02/2008 12:12

What frogs said. I second the bike seat. Also you can talk to them. I have a sturdy and opinionated 4 year old who likes going in the bike seat and generally commenting on the world as it goes by.

Anna8888 · 18/02/2008 12:18

My sister has something very like this. Up to four children, a passenger and shopping

Original poster

Racers · 18/02/2008 13:31

thanks, you have a good point about her being able to see etc. She hasn't used a pram for about 6 months as is a keen walker so we wondered if she might find the trailer a bit pram like. It would take too long to walk though! Maybe we'll get the seat and see how he gets on up the hills. Had no problems at center parts and we were in a hilly bit at whinfell

OP posts:

MamaPyjama · 18/02/2008 14:28

Bike seat - trailers are a pain to get through squeeze points onto bike paths and will take up a huge chunk of your shed/garage/hall. We have one of these www.neviscycles.com/photos/familybike_600pxw.jpg and have just attached a tag-a-long in place of the back seat for ds

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 15:02

Going against the grain, but I think bike trailers are safer - if you fall off a bike the child falls too, whereas a good trailer will not topple over even if you do. I am quite good at falling off my bike though I don't like the idea of a bike seat behind me for that reason, although DH has no problems with ours. We're going to get a trailer so I can take both kids out (training for a 600km charity ride in August)

And as you are on mat leave I assume a 2nd child is/will be in the picture, so that one could travel along too

Agree though that it depends on the child + temperament, so I'd look into hiring a trailer/bike seat a couple of times before you buy

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 15:03

Forgot to say, I wouldn't take a trailer on proper roads. Probably wouldn't take a bike seat on proper roads either, but as I said, I can fall spectacularly...

OneHandedTypist · 18/02/2008 16:21

Trailers are safer when you fall, but they take so much more effort that they add on time, and more time on journey could mean more opportunity for an accident to happen, if you think about it.
Plus I have fallen over with child in seat... and guess what? We were both okay -- honest.
For little commute like this just get a cheapo seat from Argos, I suggest.

MamaPyjama · 18/02/2008 17:00

We had a Burley goldplated trailer which was used almost entirely on roads as it was too wide to get onto cycle paths. You must have access to an excellent network of cycle paths AW if you can avoid 'proper' roads. Where I live you stand more chance of being run over by a cyclist than a car in the centre of town, but the cycle paths are still rather lacking, so at least part of every journey is on a proper road, ie, one that cars go on.

DH has certainly dropped the bike with a child in the bike seat and everyone has survived. Until your new born can sit, you won't get them both in a trailer at the same time - car seats are a bit too bulky to squeeze in a trailer with another child.

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 18:26

I wish we had great access to cycle paths We have to drive somewhere 1st, which will be a right PITA with trailer, I just can't figure out any other straightforward way to get out training with 2 young ones...

Think I'm being a bit pathetic worrying about falling off with bike seat

iMum · 18/02/2008 18:27

Bike seat is far safer than trailer which is recommended only from 3 years up i think

sazm · 18/02/2008 20:52

hi,my sister bought a bike trailer,and only used it once as it was so heavy she could hardly pull it,her lo is small and weighs about 20lb,

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 21:20

Trailer bikes are recommended from 3yrs, but they can go in bike trailers from much younger - once they can wear/support weight of a helmet. I can manage to pull (hired) trailer + DD 37lbs + DS 29lbs + picnic stuff even up slight hills and I'm not that fit and about 2stone overweight

trockodile · 18/02/2008 21:32

If you are getting a bike trailer you need a good one! We have a croozer (which with a special hammock can take a newborn I think), it is very comfy, better suspension and better weather protection.Good storage and also useful as a pushchair.

iMum · 18/02/2008 21:36

Spose also it depends tho what the roads are like, I ride to school with my 2 ds's and ride almost exclusively on the pavement apart from quiet residential roads where we get some road skills practice in. I dont think I would even use a bike trailer (ie the one they sit in) unless it was on cycle paths exclusively or at centreparcs!

pickie · 18/02/2008 21:39

bikeseat here as well, we have Bobike Mini (up to 2-3 years/15kg) and a Maxi (think up to age 6 or 25kg)

grannyslippers · 18/02/2008 21:41

I went for a bike seat because I thought I could get out of trouble more easily, we are in narrow country roads and I can easily pull into the side to take a breather or let someone pass. It's good to be able to see and talk to him as well. It's a lovely thing to do together.

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 21:43

(Racers, sorry for sidetracking!)

Trockodile - are the seats really supportive in your Croozer? We hired a Burley one but DS 11mths slumped quite badly, then hired a Trek one with great seats, but didn't like the trailer (mesh too close to DD's head ) DS is a porker and no doubt too heavy for a newborn hammock...

RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 18/02/2008 21:45

I have always used a bike seat with DD3, she is five and a half and I can still just about manage her on it, (she is very light for her age). I find bike trailers a bit scary in traffic tbh. I am just about to promote her to the tagalong bike however.

trockodile · 18/02/2008 21:51

Amazonian-Didn't need hammock as ds was 2 when we bought it.He is quite little and is so comfy. Bucket type seat so really supports him. We had a cheap one first and he slid all over the place.

JingleyJen · 18/02/2008 21:53

Sorry to hijack thread.. would it work to have a bobike mini on the front and a bobikemaxi on the back? would my bike collapse under the weight?

iMum · 18/02/2008 21:55

I thought that child seats on the front of bikes were dangerous?

MamaPyjama · 18/02/2008 21:56

Our trailer was no more scary than the tag-a-long is - the rig is about the same length as a double decker bus both ways. At least with a trailer you know they're not going to fall off...
ds adores his new tag-a-long and 'pedals' along to the cry of 'Look at me, isn't my tag-a-long brilliant!' addressed to all and sundry and shouts of 'Are you pedalling?!?' from me. He is just five and is tall and weighs a ton, so bike seat, sadly, too much of a squash.

We have friends who ride a tandem with a trailer on the back. Now that is an impressive rig!

FrannyandZooey · 18/02/2008 21:58

I used trailer for stability reasons - I am another wobbler

didn't find it too arduous to pull large 4 year old although have given up gracefully now am pg

dp just bought a tag along, I am scared of it

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 22:05

Thanks Trock.

F&Z - which trailer do you have??

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