What sort of child seat for cyclocross bike?

kenmc

I've a PlanetX Kaffenback Disc-braked commuter (like this)which I would like to use with my wee one now that she's able to sit upright alone; the problem is what sort of carrying device to use with her? As I have drop bars, I presume that one of the front-mounters would be a no-go? Any of the pictures I've seen of a front child-seat carrier tend to be sit-up-and-beg.

I could refurbish my going-to-leinster-matches-in-the-rds brother's old MTB a bit to take a front seat, but truth be told it's too large for me, so is really only good for the 3 or 4 km that I use it for during rugby season so my nice bikes don't get thrashed while locked up at the game, so it's not really an option I think.

I know from carrying 2 panniers on the back of the kaffenback with a laptop, lunch, ulock etc that the handling of the bike changes dramatically, so I'd imagine that when you add a (very active!) toddler to the mix you will end up with some "interesting" moments.

Initially I will be dropping her to/collecting her from the creche on the way to/from work, and that will probably be it through the winter; at the moment that's probably about 1km with baby on bike each way. Come next "summer" (or something resembling that), would like to go a bit further, but that'd depend on how she takes to being on the bike I guess, so am not really willing to fork out on a trailer, at least initially.

Anyway, cut to the chase; can I consider a front-mounted child seat for my setup, or must it be only a rear-carrier one?
Ta
K

cyclic

Nice bike. Steel/alu?- too lazy to check. No problem with front child carrier- just check for reach in the shop- shouldn't be an issue. Carbon- buy another bike.

kenmc

cyclic wrote: »

Nice bike. Steel/alu?- too lazy to check. No problem with front child carrier- just check for reach in the shop- shouldn't be an issue. Carbon- buy another bike.

Ta, it's steel. So you reckon it'd be ok to use with drops, and that the seat/child wouldn't prevent me getting to the shifters etc, and that I wouldn't be eating her helmet?

John_Rambo

Would you try a trailer for her? They are warmer in the winter and you can carry all the creche paraphernalia that goes with it in the trailer, there's less distance to go if you fall too, actually, the trailer stays upright.

Best of luck.

TinyExplosions

You know the only real answer is one of these.

I've also been looking for something not a million miles away, and this seems a potential, depending on the width of your bars (it meeds at least 13" between em to fit the seat.

cyclic

My experience of trailers was not great. They take time to set up- are a bit fiddly to connect. They're bulky to store. You're much longer and less agile in traffic. It's tricky getting them strapped in when it's finally set up. Likewise getting them out is a pain. They are sitting low and enclosed. They can't see what's going on- it's more like being in the back of a car- colouring book anyone?. You can't communicate with them while you're riding, and they (I've 2) fight. They get bored and antsy quickly. Forget a trailer. Those cargo bikes of course are great, but if you really can't reach with a front seat, get a rear one. The kids love them, all above problems non- existent. Only problem is lolling around when they fall asleep, particularly on the rear one on longer rides. Solution is to not be out on long trips after bedtime (mea culpa), keep up the flow of info and communication. However, the straps work well, Never had an issue in 2 years with the 2 on seats on the bike. We cycle a lot. It's a joy!

kenmc

TinyExplosions wrote: »

You know the only real answer is one of these.

I've also been looking for something not a million miles away, and this seems a potential, depending on the width of your bars (it meeds at least 13" between em to fit the seat.

Yeah my dream is a bakfiets. Must move to Holland again...

cdaly_

kenmc wrote: »

Ta, it's steel. So you reckon it'd be ok to use with drops, and that the seat/child wouldn't prevent me getting to the shifters etc, and that I wouldn't be eating her helmet?

I used to give my youngest crossbars with drops up to the age of about 10. He would lean on the aerobars and I could (just) reach the hoods.

kenmc

cdaly_ wrote: »

I used to give my youngest crossbars with drops up to the age of about 10. He would lean on the aerobars and I could (just) reach the hoods.

Did you have any sort of seat for him? Or did he just perch. Or worse, straddle? :eek: