Taking infants on bikes
Discussion
I've got a 7 month old, which has become my sole responsibility during my days off whilst my wife is at work. I'd like to be able to get on the bike in any way possible if safe to do so.
What have others done? I dont fancy taking her in a trailer and would rather take her on the bike if possible.
What have others done? I dont fancy taking her in a trailer and would rather take her on the bike if possible.
I ride with my son quite a bit, he's covered around 240 miles in his seat so far this year.
I did quite a bit of research beforehand and found it was not advisable to take a child on a bike much before 1 year old. They need strong enough neck muscles to be able to hold their own head up. My lad was 14 months before I took him out and he is quite sturdy. He is now 19 months and loves going for a ride, often going to get his helmet and encourages me to take him out.
I decided on the seat over a trailer as I do have to ride roads at times and felt a seat was a safer alternative to a trailer.
I did quite a bit of research beforehand and found it was not advisable to take a child on a bike much before 1 year old. They need strong enough neck muscles to be able to hold their own head up. My lad was 14 months before I took him out and he is quite sturdy. He is now 19 months and loves going for a ride, often going to get his helmet and encourages me to take him out.
I decided on the seat over a trailer as I do have to ride roads at times and felt a seat was a safer alternative to a trailer.
We started taking my son out in a bike seat when he was about eight months old. The first time he wasn't quite sure but after that he loved it, we have a Hamax Smiley on one bike and a cheaper rack mounted Decathlon one on the other, both work fine and he's happy in them for a reasonable length of time.
Get a helmet (we got one from Decathlon) and the other thing I'd say is that the seat makes a road bike feel a bit unstable, you certainly can't get out of the saddle and stamp on the pedals without rocking all over the place, so I'd suggest using an MTB or hybrid for kiddie ferrying duties if possible. Also, the seat tube mounted seats can't be fitted to a carbon frame just in case you were planning on carting your sprog around on the back of a Pinarello Dogma.
Get a helmet (we got one from Decathlon) and the other thing I'd say is that the seat makes a road bike feel a bit unstable, you certainly can't get out of the saddle and stamp on the pedals without rocking all over the place, so I'd suggest using an MTB or hybrid for kiddie ferrying duties if possible. Also, the seat tube mounted seats can't be fitted to a carbon frame just in case you were planning on carting your sprog around on the back of a Pinarello Dogma.
You can get seats from people like WeeRide where the seat is on the top tube in front of you - means the kid gets a better view and there's no chance of the parent's rucksack hitting the kid in the face (a personal bugbear of mine that I see way too often).
Friends of mine have had a lot of success with their trailers though.
Friends of mine have had a lot of success with their trailers though.
I was in a similar position to the OP in looking after the little one on my own. I got a forward facing weeride seat that we used from about 9mths onwards. On the old full sus mtb I could even do moderate off road riding as long as I took it steady on any rocky descents. The best thing about the weeride seat apart from the kid having a view of where you are going is the bike balance, whilst it adds weight obviously the bike maintains its balance and therefore handling.
It isn't too much hassle to swap the mounting bar either if you have different bikes, we use it on my bike and a tandem. Wouldn't really suit a road bike though.
I still use it to take him to preschool aged 3 1/2 although he is starting to get a bit big for it now.
I didn't like the trailer idea as you can't communicate with them and I also go out on the road so a bike seat seemed a safer bet.
It isn't too much hassle to swap the mounting bar either if you have different bikes, we use it on my bike and a tandem. Wouldn't really suit a road bike though.
I still use it to take him to preschool aged 3 1/2 although he is starting to get a bit big for it now.
I didn't like the trailer idea as you can't communicate with them and I also go out on the road so a bike seat seemed a safer bet.
Mr E said:
I use a trailer every day, but I would have concerns with the trailer on a road for any length of time.
The seats that sit in front of you look very sensible indeed.
This.The seats that sit in front of you look very sensible indeed.
I used trailers (plural) for 4 years but never on the road.
My brother uses a rear seat but it's mounted on a rack which places it further back, so the rucksack doesn't touch their son.
Neither is better than the other. Both are better than NOT riding at all but I would have concerns over the age of your baby. As said above, they need to be able to support the weight of their own head before you should try this.
We have a Hamax bike seat that we used from about 16 months, mainly because e is a November baby, and Jan / Feb were rubbish weather.
He's getting used to it now at 20 months, and seems to enjoy it. We took him on a 7 mile Forestry Commission ride last month, and he enjoyed most of it, apart from a few bigger yumps. I have to wear a ruck sack pretty high, and it's odd having a little chap decide to play the bongos on your bum, but otherwise, it's fine from my perspective. Makes the rear heavy when he's in, so you can't just chuck the bie around like I do normally though.
He's getting used to it now at 20 months, and seems to enjoy it. We took him on a 7 mile Forestry Commission ride last month, and he enjoyed most of it, apart from a few bigger yumps. I have to wear a ruck sack pretty high, and it's odd having a little chap decide to play the bongos on your bum, but otherwise, it's fine from my perspective. Makes the rear heavy when he's in, so you can't just chuck the bie around like I do normally though.
trailers are great - particularly with the addition of a wine box, a log basket, a load of cushions and rugs, a porta-potty and a MAHOOSIVE Union Jack (out of shot). The only tutting I received was a note in the log basket saying my Union Jack was upside down when I left it parked-up
And yes I was on the public highway - though strictly back roads. Plod even gave me a thumbs-up.
Aerate said:
trailers are great - particularly with the addition of a wine box, a log basket, a load of cushions and rugs, a porta-potty and a MAHOOSIVE Union Jack (out of shot). The only tutting I received was a note in the log basket saying my Union Jack was upside down when I left it parked-up
And yes I was on the public highway - though strictly back roads. Plod even gave me a thumbs-up.
(sample size of one, I know...)
Edited by Mr Will on Thursday 7th August 10:18
ewenm said:
You can get seats from people like WeeRide where the seat is on the top tube in front of you - means the kid gets a better view and there's no chance of the parent's rucksack hitting the kid in the face (a personal bugbear of mine that I see way too often).
Friends of mine have had a lot of success with their trailers though.
However, the Weeride is a very bulky system and makes you have to ride in a very unnatural position.Friends of mine have had a lot of success with their trailers though.
A rear mounted child seat is definitely what you need if you don't want a trailer. What's your budget?
I can't say I would agree with the comment about the unnatural riding position for the weeride. I find that yes I have to ride with a slight turn out compared to the normal position, but have done many miles both on and off road like this and it has never caused me a problem. It's not like you are going to be in the saddle for long periods with a little one probably a couple of hours tops.
We hired a bike with a rear mount seat before getting the weeride and even when the nipper was 9months I found the bike balance upset and wanting to tip as you dismounted. Combine the better balance with the extra communication you can have with the little one and I find the weeride hard to beat. A pic from a few years ago up above ladybower, he didn't like being left against a gate.
We hired a bike with a rear mount seat before getting the weeride and even when the nipper was 9months I found the bike balance upset and wanting to tip as you dismounted. Combine the better balance with the extra communication you can have with the little one and I find the weeride hard to beat. A pic from a few years ago up above ladybower, he didn't like being left against a gate.
Having tried both, I found trailers much more stable, visable, weather proof, comfy and probably offer more protection in the vent of an "issue". (although if you get hit it doesn't matter what you choose!).
You'll be able to go for longer as well, sometimes used to give mine a picnic to eat while we rode around, happy days
You'll be able to go for longer as well, sometimes used to give mine a picnic to eat while we rode around, happy days
My "little chicken" used to sleep whenever I took her out in the trailer. In the end, I bought her a decent sleeping bag so we could even go out in the Winter. She always jumped at any chance to go out in the trailer, often collecting her teddies and comfy pillows to take with her.
In the lovely warmth of Atlantic-Coast France in August:
On the 2011 Birmingham Skyride (cooler but comfy enough):
In the lovely warmth of Atlantic-Coast France in August:
On the 2011 Birmingham Skyride (cooler but comfy enough):
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