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Original poster

Any cyclists around, particularly ones who use child seats?

11 replies

WriggleJiggle · 08/08/2009 22:40

I haven't been on a bike for ages, however, at the weekend I borrowed one. WOW, it was fab. I had forgotten just how much fun cycling was! .

Anyway, I visited Halfords and was terribly diaspointed that they were so unhelpful.

I like the idea of using a front child seat. Halfords told me they were terribly unsafe, are they?

I'm going to be using the bike along tracks and on paths over fields, with the occasional bit of road to get me to the start and finish of rides. Does this mean a mountain bike would be the ideal type?

Do I really need 18 gears, or would (say) 10 do?

Lots and lots of question, sorry!

OP posts:
oranges · 08/08/2009 22:43

No real advice except Don't buy from Halfords! They are bad. Go to a proper cycle shop, esp if you want to carry a child.

itwasntme · 08/08/2009 22:44

Front seats are for smaller children, can't remember the weight limit offhand. The back ones are better. We have one and we love it.

My daughter used it until she was four and riding on two wheels herself, and now my 18 month old son goes on the back.

I have a simple mountain bike and it does me fine.

itwasntme · 08/08/2009 22:45

Do you have Decathlon in UK? I bought mine there and they were great. (We are in Barcelona)

thisisyesterday · 08/08/2009 22:46

i have a seat on the back. did lots of research and ended up with a co-pilot limo as appeared to be safest and had the best reviews.

i did look at the front ones but was worried that ds1 could have grabbed at my arms and stuff as we were cycling along. also he is quite tall so we would get more use out of the rear one.

now i have 3 children and need a trailer or a tricycle lol

agree that halfords are rubbish though, find a good independent bike store if you can!

mpuddleduck · 09/08/2009 10:17

I would highly recommend the co pilot limo as well. I have a basic mountain bike and cycle on rough tracks a lot and it is great, I came off once, and ds was still nice and secure in his seat, a bit shaken but not even a scratch.
I got my seat from ebay and it was like new.

sarah293 · 09/08/2009 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

notevenamousie · 09/08/2009 10:34

I have a seat on the back of mine (dd is 2.8) - tho the guy in the shop said trailers are actually safer. It's good exercise, that's for sure! I also vote for a hybrid from an independent bike shop.

puddlejumper · 09/08/2009 10:42

I used a seat on the back for several years on a hybrid until my 5 year old outgrew it and I wanted to also bring along my 2.5 year old. So I just bought a trailer on ebay this summer and we all love it. It is the best piece of kid equipment I've ever bought.

Just got back from cycling in donegal on some old logging tracks through the mountains and forests. The tracks are bumpy and we went slow, but it was amazing. The trailer actually steadies the bike somehow. And if the trail gets too steep it's easy to get off and push or ask the kids to jump out and walk for a bit, which they love doing.

It converts into a buggy. And it has storage room for picnics. So we can bimble around all day with it. Can't say enough good things about it. Nor can the kids!

Original poster
WriggleJiggle · 10/08/2009 13:46

I certainly won't be going back to Halfords. I liked the sound of the front seat as it would mean I can keep an eye on dd, and I thought she would get a better view of everything. I can imagine it might make it harder to turn the bike possibly?

I'm not going to be doing much cycling, probably just a couple of times a week for an hour or so, so I don't want to spend too much.

I like the sound of a trailer, but it wouldn't fit on the paths around here, and getting through the gates would be too difficult I think.

OP posts:
hettie · 10/08/2009 14:00

ok- echo the advice about going to proper bike shop. DD wil get great view form rear seta- best are the co-pilot brands (get one that clips to a rack- far more stable). Co-pilot seats are expensive but you can pick them up from ebay. If I am being totally honest you will find that cycling a mountain bike on grass/mud with a child on back is way beyond what you will be able to do from the fitness you will get from that amount of cycling. Get a hybrid- much more comfortable and mountain bikes are no good on the road/path. Good brands would be trek, specialised and ridgeback- get the frame fitted to you in the shop for size and reach (crucial to prevent back strain). You mioght get bargains on last years models, but try and go for the most expesive set (this means gears chains etc) that you can afford the very least an entry level shimano set...

notevenamousie · 10/08/2009 17:32

A single trailer is no wider than your elbows! They really are amazing bits of kit!

I have a specialized, the most I could afford - so worth it. Enjoy - that's the main point I think anyone would try and make!

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