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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:

FrannyandZooey · 18/02/2008 22:06

a philips but dp says usually called Avenir or Raleigh?

FrannyandZooey · 18/02/2008 22:08

dp has just reminded me, when we got it, it had a screw on clamp which was DREADFUL and lasted about 2 weeks

we switched to a bolt on axel type hitch and would only recommend that type

amazonianwoman · 18/02/2008 22:08

Thanks

My head is spinning with the choice, and I can't find a single shop locally that actually has one in stock to view other than Halfords...

FrannyandZooey · 18/02/2008 22:13

well I certainly would not get another clamp style model
bloody useless and possibly dangerous in fact
thank god we could bodge an axle hitch thing onto the one we bought or it would have been a very expensive piece of junk

MiMao · 18/02/2008 22:16

I have both and recommend both.

I have two kids.

Both are from Halfords.

My trailer is a two seater but you just use the centre straps if one child is just in it.

It is the best £100 I ever spent and is also a double buggy so we use it for holidays. My oldest is five and youngest almost two and they fit fine in it still. It is how I stay fit and you can also put shopping in the back.

I would point out that I am an experienced cyclist and use to ride through central London most days so I would practice in parks and quite roads until you get lots of practice. If there is lots of traffic and its not moving, I just get off and push bike along path until the road clears and get back on the road.

I use the seat if I am not shopping and just taking my youngest somewhere.

Because you are having another I definitely suggest you get a trailer but there is no rush because your baby cant go in it until he/she is 1 years old. Get the seat for now, we paid about £45.

Have fun and good luck!

pickie · 18/02/2008 22:21

jingleyjen - I have both the Mini and the Maxi on my bike and nearly use it everyday. have a sturdy Dutch bike and it is fine TBH Also have 2 massive sidebags (on the bike that is on the back

DC are 2 and a half and 4, heavy when going up the hill but otherwise fine

MiMao · 18/02/2008 22:24

By the way the trailer can collapse flat and be stored under a bed or put in a car boot

JingleyJen · 18/02/2008 22:24

pickie are you telling me your saddlebags are full of Gin????

Thanks for the answer thought.. our nearest swings are 2 miles away and I used to cycle with DS1 but with both of them it is just too far to walk there and back cycling would be the perfect solution.

fletchaaarr · 18/02/2008 22:24

For me a trailer - DS2 was safer and more contained, and wasn't invisible because of the huge great flag we had (and the long vehicle sign which made people look!)

pickie · 18/02/2008 22:29

JJ I wish! Love the idea of me going up hill sipping a G/T!

usually go into town with both of them to get meat/fish and also very handy for gloves, hats, rainsuits and the like. Also used to have buggycarreir on the back but they are ok now without buggy

People in our area know me as that mad woman on the bike!

JingleyJen · 18/02/2008 22:30

mad gin drinking woman on the bike

sounds brilliant.. I love the idea of having a reputation as an eccentric!

Original poster

Racers · 19/02/2008 12:59

thanks for all the replies, lots of food (and gin) for thought!

Good point about getting past bollards on the cycle route, DH thinks they might be a bit of a pain even though we are looking at a single seater trailer. May have to get a tape measure out!

Will have to investigate the clamp mechanism and whether it folds easily for storage, thanks.

However, I think he'll go for the seat to be honest, in which case he will just have to take it easy for my blood pressure to stay within limits!

OP posts:

amazonianwoman · 19/02/2008 13:42

How good is this contraption

Original poster

Racers · 19/02/2008 13:57

very cool!

OP posts:

amazonianwoman · 23/02/2008 14:00

Even cooler

Jools Oliver has one. I want one too for the school run...

babyjjbaby · 23/02/2008 14:39

i prefer a bike trailer i got one from halfords a spokey jo one i have used for a 1 month old i put a cot quilt foled up in there and i lie him down init then put a harness round him and attach it to the straps on the bike trailer and u can put a little pillow in there to raise him up which is better i don't find they are too big they fold up and it is easy to do also people can see them easily due to the big orange flag think they are great would love a baby hammock tho to try never knew u could get them

the bike seats i don't like i put a 3 year old in one and found it awful every time she moved it nade the whold bike wobble i thought it was very dangerous and u can't justy stop when u have got a seat as they topple over when u get off i would try the trailer first or get a second hand one

amazonianwoman · 23/02/2008 14:49

Ordered a bike trailer yesterday, even though I'm lusting after a £2k triobike.

Sooo excited, can't wait to use it

gomez · 23/02/2008 14:53

I use a two seater trailer (Burley Ladybug) with my two youngest. They are now 16 months and 3.5 - had them out last weekend for the first time since last October and I was puffing a bit. But then I haven't been out since last October either so that would explain it! We used a cushion stuck behind DS's back last summer (he would have been about 8 months when we started using it) to help keep him steady - although only when in it on his own, was fine when DD2 was in beside him.

I personally don't like seats -either on front or back of bike, But am short-ass with small bike - found I had no balance at all or couldn't see over the top. And of course couldn't take both out on my own.

I cycle on the road and have no qualms - but I don't live in a busy city or town. Never had issues with gaining access to any cycle paths - just need to be careful on the approach sometimes. Folds easily and fairly compactly too.

amazonianwoman · 23/02/2008 19:46

Fab - I just ordered the Burley D'Lite which I think is the same as the Ladybug but without the fab ladybird cover Glad you like it!

gomez · 25/02/2008 21:15

Aye they are basically the same I think. Have fun and let us know how you get on.

Top-tip - get a hot water bottle for the next couple of months for your DD to cuddle. We had DS in a buggy snuggle with a hot bottle and DD2 with a travel rug and hot bottle at the weekend and both snug as the proverbial bug. I on the other hand needed no assistance with keeping warm .

amazonianwoman · 26/02/2008 13:51

Good tip Am bidding on a snowsuit for DS cos I'm too lazy to keep removing the footmuff from his pushchair. I think a hot water bottle will help to tempt DD into the trailer too...

I'm sooo excited - have even planned a traffic free route to school for September

shouldhecomplain · 26/02/2008 21:24

It's possible to adapt the trailer so that you can fit a carrytot-type seat in...we went out when dd2 was 2 weeks old.

Good thing no hv in sight. She's an ace cyclist now, aged 12.

You can only fit in one child if you put the carrytot in though.

amazonianwoman · 27/02/2008 08:49

Yes, saw the carrytot thing, looks fab, but DS is too big now 11mths and too heavy

Might cycle to the clinic to put the fear of God into my HV...

Did you watch the C4 programme last night about attempts to cut down on cars in Marlow? DH & I sat watching very smugly - he cycles into Manchester daily, I walk to preschool and plan to cycle to school in Sept

nappyaddict · 15/03/2008 18:26

does the bobike mini fit a suspension bike?

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