Child Seat

RobAMerc

Hi guy's

Does anyone here have any info regarding child seats for bikes ?
I am wondering if someone could tell me how old the child has to be and if anyone has any recommendations.
It would be nice if Mrs AMerc and JuniorAMerc could come out for a spin the odd time.

Thanks
Rob

DualFrontDiscs

RobAMerc wrote: »

Hi guy's

Does anyone here have any info regarding child seats for bikes ?
I am wondering if someone could tell me how old the child has to be and if anyone has any recommendations.
It would be nice if Mrs AMerc and JuniorAMerc could come out for a spin the odd time.

Thanks
Rob

Rob,

Have a look at the self professed world's best selling child seat.

From about 9 months, up to 22KG or 6 years, depending on make/ model, etc.

When I was researching this topic I looked at Hamax and Bobike. Both good brands.

DFD*

*DoneForgivingDunces

DualFrontDiscs

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

DFD*

*DoneForgivingDunces

Haha. your sigs are getting better and better.

gmoorewest

I started using one with my daughter when she was about 8/9 months. Think it's Kooks, got it in Halfords. Would recommend foot straps as she is now 3 1/2 and her legs are longer than footrest. Not really an issue when they are small.

GlennaMaddy

I have used a run-of-the-mill rear mounted seat and a front mounted bobike, the bobike is great when they are small (<3yrs --can't recall the weight limit), the rear mounted seat is not as much fun for them but it will get you up to the stage when they start asking for their own bike ( my three and a half year old asked me for a strech hummer for her wedding the other day!)

doozerie

Another option to consider is a child trailer. There are a variety of them available but we have a Chariot Cougar 1 and we have been very happy with it. That particular one is significantly more expensive than a child seat, though there are cheaper models and brands available, but we have had no regrets so far.

Some advantages of a decent trailer such as the Cougar are: child doesn't need a helmet as the trailer has a very good harness/restraint and a roll cage, it is weather proof, it can swap easily from one bike to another (the hitch arm attaches via a ball-joint which is held in place by the wheel skewer), it has built-in suspension, it is more stable than a bike+seat and therefore less risk of child falling over/off, it has storage space for carrying stuff, it converts to a buggy with the addition of optional wheels, it can accommodate a child from baby stage up to 34kg in weight.

Disadvantages compared to a child seat include: greater cost, greater storage space required, can't talk easily to child in transit.

RobAMerc

thanks a mill for all the replies lads.

I like the idea of a trailer, but I worry about the feeling of them being so exposed to traffic out there.

I am aware how terrible drivers are and them seeing a bike is one thing but a trailer so low down worries me.

DualFrontDiscs

RobAMerc wrote: »

thanks a mill for all the replies lads.

I like the idea of a trailer, but I worry about the feeling of them being so exposed to traffic out there.

I am aware how terrible drivers are and them seeing a bike is one thing but a trailer so low down worries me.

I don't use a kid trailer myself and I have to admit it's because I share the same concerns as you. I've used a BOB YAK trailer in the past for grocery shopping and touring and whilst I've had no accidents, drivers simply don't expect cyclists to be pulling trailers. Flags and flashing lights are essential. Another (possible) concern would be that the trailer puts them very low down, effectively at exhaust level. That's a guess from me though.

Personally, I went with the Christiania Trike, which we love.

Another option, currently under build for myself, is an xtracycle. Check out the xtracycle gallery. You'd still be using a kid's seat for the first few years, but then you can use it without the seat. It also means you can take 'junior' shopping, strap a buggy to the side and go to the park, etc.

Regards

DFD*

*DialFourDisaster.

doozerie

I must admit that I originally had some concerns about using the child trailer in traffic too, but on balance it seemed like the best choice for us amongst the various options. After several months of use we've found that drivers are generally very careful around it - surprisingly they seem to recognise it instantly as a child trailer, as opposed to a cargo trailer, so they keep their distance and leave plenty of room when overtaking, etc. We have fitted a red light with 180 degree visibility to each side of the trailer, and a third light facing the rear, so it is very visible at night time from all sides. The reflective fabric of the trailer is also very good and practically glows in the dark.

After years of commuting by bike in heavy Dublin traffic I find it hard to completely shake off the fear of some idiot mowing you down, but in reality that risk probably applies as much when carrying a child in a child seat as it does when carrying them in a trailer. If a collision ever did occur though, I think a decent child trailer would offer greater protection but I hope to never put that to the test.

I think the xtracycle is a great idea too as a general transport option, though storing the bike could be a challenge with that extra length. Anything that makes a car even more redundant is a good thing in my mind, but my wish list of bikes is far outstripping my means now that I've added the xtracycle and a cargo trailer bike to it!

Oh, one thing that we have found very useful when using the trailer is to fit a kickstand to our bikes. I expect that this would also be necessary when using a child seat. We opted for Greenfield kickstands which attach to the chain and seat stays and they have worked out very well.

bigdogbarking

hi, i bought an ibood safe-t seat. It sits on the handle bars, doesn't affect handling, you don't have to ride bow legged and most importantly my daughter(15months old)absolutely loves to go out on the bike, and really gets involved with it as there are no restrictions on her view. I can't say enough good things about this seat.
Its peculiar looking too and i got quite a few looks when i was out on it first but it was amazing to see how many people were genuinely interested in it and asking where to get it, i've never seen anyone with one except me though, but according to reviews on american and english sites they are the biz.
Anyway i ordered it from www.tinyexperience.co.uk
I think it cost around 80pounds or so including delivery but the website will have full details anyway.

Hope this helps

RockHipHopper

I'm the same and will be investing in one as soon as the nipper is sturdy enough. I was sold on this one originally: http://www.weerideuk.co.uk/
A friend has one and swears by it. I hadn't seen the safe-t-seat. A possible runner. Think the wee-ride is about the same price; £80/90. Seat up front all the way!

Lumen

RockHipHopper wrote: »

Seat up front all the way!

My knees wouldn't appreciate being splayed out like that.

My rear mounted Hamax is great. Or the trailer when I need to take two.

jinka

this one is the biz..kid sits in front.

http://www.cots.ie/safet-t-seat.html

bigdogbarking

Lumen wrote: »

My knees wouldn't appreciate being splayed out like that.

My rear mounted Hamax is great. Or the trailer when I need to take two.

Really with the safe-t seat you have no need to ride bow legged at all, its very comfortable unlike some of the others that seem a bit further back than that one

RockHipHopper wrote: »

I'm the same and will be investing in one as soon as the nipper is sturdy enough. I was sold on this one originally: http://www.weerideuk.co.uk/
A friend has one and swears by it. I hadn't seen the safe-t-seat. A possible runner. Think the wee-ride is about the same price; £80/90. Seat up front all the way!

I was originally tempted by this one too, especially with the headrest but how often will it actually be used? the cross-bar thingy-ma-bob kinda put me off because its rather unsightly and awkward looking.although i imagine it would be solid at least, though the safe-t seat just connects onto the front of the handlebars so it moves with the bike too making steering easier.

jinka wrote: »

this one is the biz..kid sits in front.

http://www.cots.ie/safet-t-seat.html

I didn't realize they were sellig them from an irish site, thats cool, i know where to point people now, thanks jinka.

This really is an incredible seat, i'm only recommending them because i'm so happy worth it, even off road its holds up brilliantly, and the laughs from my daughter coming downhill at speed is so cool
normally i wouldn't bother with pushing any products on anyone,and would rather let you make up your own mind, but seriously you won't be disappointed if you get one, here's a pic of my daughter and I on the bike.

tomasrojo

doozerie wrote: »

The reflective fabric of the trailer is also very good and practically glows in the dark.

It actually does glow in the dark! I noticed it the other night when I was going to bed and turned out the light in the sitting room where I'd stowed the Chariot Cougar. Wasn't sure what it was at first. The grey fabric of the covering is retroreflective, but the white fabric is phosphorescent, like some old clock hands used to be.

tomasrojo

doozerie wrote: »

After years of commuting by bike in heavy Dublin traffic I find it hard to completely shake off the fear of some idiot mowing you down, but in reality that risk probably applies as much when carrying a child in a child seat as it does when carrying them in a trailer. If a collision ever did occur though, I think a decent child trailer would offer greater protection but I hope to never put that to the test.

That was my thinking as well. There was also that German study comparing trailers and bike seats that concluded that trailers were the safer option. There's a link to it in an old thread, but I don't have it to hand right now.

My experience with using a goods trailer is that motorists give bikes with trailers plenty of room, probably because they're a bit out of the ordinary. I imagine a trailer that looks as if a child is in it would get even more room, but I haven't taken my child out in mine yet. Going to do a few practice runs without the child in the trailer first. The Cougar is a great stroller anyway, quite apart from its merit as a trailer.

tomasrojo

I don't it was AZT that did the study I had in mind, but this is quite reassuring:

http://www.chariot.de/en/safety/proven-safety/

The fact that well-built bicycle trailers offer good protection in traffic was also verified by trials at the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT), which conducted its own tests of various child carrier systems in typical accident situations. For example, when a passenger car traveling at 20km/h collided with the side of a bicycle with trailer, the trailer “was only pushed aside and surprisingly did not roll over.”

Lumen

bigdogbarking wrote: »

Really with the safe-t seat you have no need to ride bow legged at all, its very comfortable unlike some of the others that seem a bit further back than that one

I only own drop bar bikes, and when I looked at the picture it seemed that the riders knees went slightly underneath the seat, which seems dependent on having the sort of high bar position you get with a hybrid. So it didn't seem worth the risk.

Anyone used a safe-t seat with a drop bar road bike?

jinka

If anybody is looking for the safe t seat that's in the picture above the guy selling them is jim@ 0851976818..and yes they are superb:D

newworld2010

The front mounted childs seat is a great idea ..you can c the child ..the child can c the world..not just your back!..i think its called the safe t seat and should be available in most bike shops.

candyman

I know this thread is over a year old but I'm hoping someone can help out...
I'm looking for a reliable stockist of the ibert safe-t-seat in Ireland - Has anyone successfully purchased the safe-t-seat in Ireland?

I've tried cots.ie and littledreamers.ie but to no avail - neither pick up the phone and very slow on email responses.

Any one got a reliable recommendation? Would also look second hand but doesn't seem to be many out there...

quenching

candyman wrote: »

I know this thread is over a year old but I'm hoping someone can help out...
I'm looking for a reliable stockist of the ibert safe-t-seat in Ireland - Has anyone successfully purchased the safe-t-seat in Ireland?

I've tried cots.ie and littledreamers.ie but to no avail - neither pick up the phone and very slow on email responses.

Any one got a reliable recommendation? Would also look second hand but doesn't seem to be many out there...

I had 2 sent from Canada a few years back, couldn't have been any easier if I remember correctly. Don't bother with local "suppliers", they're unlikely to actually have any in stock and will probably only order them if and when you ever get a reply.