cycling with baby

clare82

hey,
im just looking for some advice/recommendations regarding cycling with a baby. my baby is 8months and im anxious to get on the road with her.
ive got a v basic mountain bike and am looking into getting an
ibert safe t seat (http://www.ibertinc.com/)
im interested in a front facing seat in particular as i want to be able to see her all times etc
has anyone any exp with this particular seat or similar?
also has anyone dealt w cots.ie ?(thats prob more suited to the parenting forum)

tia

Lumen

They're fine but you'll have to cycle with your knees apart.

Rear mounted seats are better, IMO, but 8 months is quite young. Can she hold her head up?

(I've totally forgotten what an 8 month old baby is like!)

shroom007

go for the seat on the cross bar with the foot rests below. the balance is better easy to get on and off and my kid was delighted to hold on to the handle bars and see everything.tried the others but felt a lot more secure with her between my arms once your used to it and they are it great

clare82

thanks
yea she can hold her head up alright.
i reckon ill end up trnsferring her to the back at a later stage but for now i think front might be better.

Undercover Elephant

It's worth trying a couple of options with a bag of spuds in the seat, because the handling of the bike can be quite different. I couldn't be doing with the front mount, personally.

Also, the younger ones tend to fall asleep. This is not great if there's absolutely nowhere for their head to go.

On the flip side, if your little one works out how to wriggle out of the straps, stand up and wave at passing cars, you'll know much quicker with the front mount. I'd imagine.

Flippyfloppy

In 'Merica they recommend waiting until the child is 1 years old.
I'm not sure why so here's the link http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm


Edit : *You can't get helmets for children under 1 year *

TonyStark

Forgive my ignorance on this one and I think I'm the only one that this is in general a bad idea to have a defenceless newborn strapped onto the bar of a mountain bike. Irrespective of the seat etc.

Personally I would wait til the kid was a little older and had some sort of road sense before even contemplating something like that.

An able bodied adult is at the best of times a vulnerable road user. I don't see the sense in adding a newborn baby into the mix.

Iwannahurl

My personal recommendation would be a Bobike seat, as used and loved by millions of Dutch cyclists: www.bobike.com

Their seats are for babies aged 9 months and older (9 kg upwards).

My personal feeling is that 9 months is too young, but I guess it's an individual choice.

Is your child able to sit up well? The Bobike seat works best if the child is fully alert, well-balanced and can sit still. Sleeping can be a bit of a problem, as they may slump over into an awkward position.

The advantage is that they're right up there with you, looking forward and taking it all in. My experience is that kids love the Bobike seat. EDIT: actually ours may have been 10 months, and the only tricky part was managing the inevitable en route naps.

The Dutch of course are completely practical about the business of carrying children -- sometimes the entire brood -- by bike: http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/2009/01/20/test-carrying-a-newborn-on-a-bike/

Here's another option, which I think I've seen in my locality:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdzKnW2noVI

clare82

oh that taga bike looks so cool
ive seen the bobike and yes its a contender alright, i reckon the ibert might give a bit more legroom though.
i guess its going to be a case of trial and error in that if she hates it we'll have to hold off for a few weeks before trying again.
the bag of spuds idea is a good one actually as ill need some bit of practice with the weight at the front.
im not too worried about her falling asleep as i dont think we'll be going any great distance in it as we no longer live in a city.
well be taking it v easy to begin with though...starting around the estate here etc and maybe even.....dare i saw it....cycling on the path :eek:

a148pro

I have the weeride and love it, its the number one thing I do with my young fella. Its on the crossbar in front of you so he can chat with me and point out stuff, direct me to JCBs / diggers to chase etc.

My knees are more akimbo which means a long cycle would be more painful but in practice I don't go that far on any one time, say half an hour max and I think he'd get restless sitting for longer anyway. It wouldn't be a touring option though, I think you'd have to put him / her behind you for that.

Re age I think the theory is they have to be old enough to hold their head up.

Re safety, you're as safe with the child as without the child. In fact you're prob safer with the child because you go more slowly and are hyper vigilant. Having road sense is really irrelevant with an under four your old imo as they simply don't have any 'life sense' at all, you have to keep them out of trouble doing anything, let alone cycling (where it will be recalled they are strapped in so its irrelevant anyway). But I wouldn't take him on a road that I perceive as being dangerous for cyclists due to the traffic, the quays for example.

a148pro

Also bear in mind that she's prob most at risk when you put her in and out and leave the bike rested against something or on the stand, thinking its safe but it might topple. There's some suggestion you can get a special stand for kids. If you look online you'll see lots of info.

strangel00p

TonyStark wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance on this one and I think I'm the only one that this is in general a bad idea to have a defenceless newborn strapped onto the bar of a mountain bike. Irrespective of the seat etc.

Personally I would wait til the kid was a little older and had some sort of road sense before even contemplating something like that.

An able bodied adult is at the best of times a vulnerable road user. I don't see the sense in adding a newborn baby into the mix.

Agreed, bloody stupid idea cycling with a small child in this country. I cycle to work and I despair when I see kids strapped onto their parents bike.

We don't have proper cycle lanes for it. When you eventually take a fall (and you will, everyone gets a knock at some stage), do you want your child to get injured?

Alek

I've cycled 400km from Dublin to Cork last year with a 8 month old child in trailer. No dangerous situations, all drivers were super cautious and careful seeing my cargo ;-)

hardCopy

strangel00p wrote: »

Agreed, bloody stupid idea cycling with a small child in this country. I cycle to work and I despair when I see kids strapped onto their parents bike.

We don't have proper cycle lanes for it. When you eventually take a fall (and you will, everyone gets a knock at some stage), do you want your child to get injured?

I think you're over estimating the risks of cycling in Ireland.

The only accidents I've had in a lifetime of cycling involved eating crisps while cycling, unclipping my pedals and one incident with a disused (and since removed) rail track.

strangel00p

hardCopy wrote: »

I think you're over estimating the risks of cycling in Ireland.

The only accidents I've had in a lifetime of cycling involved eating crisps while cycling, unclipping my pedals and one incident with a disused (and since removed) rail track.

Depends on where and when you cycle. If you're pottering about the countryside then maybe it is safe.

I commute into the city during rush hour traffic. I've been doored(driver apologised, but still), clipped by a van while in the cycle lane on the quays. Very lucky I didn't come off. There's no way I would risk my five year old on a bike in Dublin.

Lumen

strangel00p wrote: »

I commute into the city during rush hour traffic. I've been doored(driver apologised, but still), clipped by a van while in the cycle lane on the quays. Very lucky I didn't come off. There's no way I would risk my five year old on a bike in Dublin.

I wouldn't risk it either if I was that accident prone.

krissovo

My 6 month old gets on fine in a bike seat at the rear, he loves going out for a small spin. Make sure you get a very good 2 leg kickstand fitted but do not trust it with a baby on board as the children make the bike top heavy and vulnerable to tip over.

kenmc

my 1.75 year old loves going on the bike, has been cycling with me since she was about 0.8 years old. have a bobike rear seat on my rear rack, planetx kaffenback cx bike . bit awkward to put panniers on as well but manage ok.

Flippyfloppy

I'm sure 6 - 8 month olds do love it, but where do you get helmets?!

Alek

I have this one, fitted a small 1 year old quite well (he was approx. 8kg): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weeride-Spike-Boys-Baby-Helmet/dp/B005LLA1PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401430822&sr=8-1&keywords=child+helmet+spike

I don't use in a trailer though, only in the Hamax seat.

kenmc

can get small helmets in dutchbikeshop, but I got her one in Joe Dalys as Dutchbikeshop had none in stock when I went to them in the Marley park Saturday market.

rollingscone

People need to calm down about how 'dangerous' it is to cycle in Dublin.

I started off this way, while unblinkingly also thinking I was a bad cyclist because I wasn't cutting inside handlebar width gaps along buses and HGVs because that's what 'everyone else' did. Nowadays I see as many problems with cyclists as drivers.

Good road positioning, awareness and signalling make for safe cycling in Dublin. There are a lot of people (and I'm not saying it's anyone in this thread) taking outrageous chances, with running red lights, merging with traffic without due caution and undertaking HGVs, sometimes while on the phone not anticipating obvious hazards and then broadcasting how dangerous Cycling is.

strangel00p

Lumen wrote: »

I wouldn't risk it either if I was that accident prone.

oh, and I thought you were the one that fell on your face doing 10k through the phoenix park..the safest cycle path in the city.

rollingscone

strangel00p wrote: »

oh, and I thought you were the one that fell on your face doing 10k through the phoenix park..the safest cycle path in the city.

While by his own admission making a poor choice to do no hands at low speed.


Your argument might be in va spot of bother if you have to start manipulating the truth to keep it afloat.

harringtonp

Looking at some of the links to seats here and they all look quite big. I have a sturdy 2 year old fellow and am looking for a seat I can clip on and off easily onto the crossbar of my mountain bike.

Looking at short local spins of a few minutes so it doesn't need to be particularly comfortable, just safe, compact and easy to clip on and off.

Any suggestions ?

kenmc

the crossbar-mounted ones tend to be like mini saddles, with a pair of footrests mounted on the downtube for their feet, and they hold onto the handlebars near the stem. Seems to be for older kids, 4 or 5 maybe - kind of like a fancy version of "give us a crosser". Wouldn't trust it for a 2 year old as they are not likely to hold on the whole time or keep their feet still.
I initially wanted a front carrier but not a snowballs chance in hell it could work with my bike. Also the back carrier tends to last longer in terms of weight carrying ability, and if the weather is inclement your body tends to shield them from the worst of the wind and rain. Front seats also mess the balance of the bike more apparently.

the bobike clips on/off in about 5 seconds once the attachment is mounted to the rack. You can also get a seat-tube mount which detaches equally quickly.

monument

TonyStark wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance on this one and I think I'm the only one that this is in general a bad idea to have a defenceless newborn strapped onto the bar of a mountain bike. Irrespective of the seat etc.

Ok, we'll forgive your ignorance...

TonyStark wrote: »

Personally I would wait til the kid was a little older and had some sort of road sense before even contemplating something like that.

I'd say you'd need a cargo bike or trailer for a baby goat on a bicycle.

When do kids or children get "road sense" and what does that matter if the parent is the one in control? That's an honest question, I'm trying to understand your self-proclaimed ignorance.

TonyStark wrote: »

An able bodied adult is at the best of times a vulnerable road user. I don't see the sense in adding a newborn baby into the mix.

If you think that at the best of times adults are vulnerable, that may colour your perception of things. Don't you think?

TonyStark

monument wrote: »

Ok, we'll forgive your ignorance...


When do kids or children get "road sense" and what does that matter if the parent is the one in control? That's an honest question, I'm trying to understand your self-proclaimed ignorance.

I guess I just don't understand the stupidity of people that want to carry a baby that can't even hold their head up as their neck muscles are still weak around on a bike.

Could you point me to the relevant safety standard of the type of helmet that the child of the age mentioned by the OP would be able to wear eg. the British one BSEN14765

I think you would agree that everyone on bikes ought really to wear a helmet, i dont see the reasoning that a "passenger" would not need one. If there is a helmet available for the infant then fire ahead. IMO in this case the child is too young.

Lumen

strangel00p wrote: »

oh, and I thought you were the one that fell on your face doing 10k through the phoenix park..the safest cycle path in the city.

I wasn't cycling with a child seat attached.

JDxtra

Personally, I’d leave the baby at home. That type of precious cargo is extremely delicate and completely irreplaceable.

Flippyfloppy

JDxtra wrote: »

Personally, I’d leave the baby at home. That type of precious cargo is extremely delicate and completely irreplaceable.

Seriously, it's a bit mad that car seats have to go through such tests & have DVD guides made in their honour etc, whereas bike child seats seem so flimsy, and the child doesn't even have the extra safety measures ie a car

kenmc

TonyStark wrote: »

I guess I just don't understand the stupidity of people that want to carry a baby that can't even hold their head up as their neck muscles are still weak around on a bike.

Could you point me to the relevant safety standard of the type of helmet that the child of the age mentioned by the OP would be able to wear eg. the British one BSEN14765

I think you would agree that everyone on bikes ought really to wear a helmet, i dont see the reasoning that a "passenger" would not need one. If there is a helmet available for the infant then fire ahead. IMO in this case the child is too young.

Oh Yay, Friday. And a bank holiday one at that!
Hope the vending machine stocks popcorn.

Lumen

JDxtra wrote: »

Personally, I’d leave the baby at home. That type of precious cargo is extremely delicate and completely irreplaceable.

Babies are actually fairly easy to replace. You just have to do what you did to make the first one.

TonyStark

kenmc wrote: »

Oh Yay, Friday. And a bank holiday one at that!
Hope the vending machine stocks popcorn.

Sorry I'm off for the weekend! Could someone recommend a roof-rack? I want to tie grandma to the roof of my vehicle with some rope. :-)

hardCopy

strangel00p wrote: »

Depends on where and when you cycle. If you're pottering about the countryside then maybe it is safe.

I commute into the city during rush hour traffic. I've been doored(driver apologised, but still), clipped by a van while in the cycle lane on the quays. Very lucky I didn't come off. There's no way I would risk my five year old on a bike in Dublin.

My previous commutes have included: Clontarf to DCU, Clontarf to the south inner city; Clontarf to Phoenix Park; Fairview to Blanchardstown; Blanchardstown to Clontarf and Cabra to Blanchardstown.

I'd say that was a fair mix of road and traffic conditions by mountain bike, hybrid, road bike and on TT bars.

Cycling is not a high risk activity, I don't consider myself a high risk cyclist (bar an occasional spin on an Italian motorway) and I would certainly exercise caution if I was carrying a tot on the bike.

monument

TonyStark wrote: »

I guess I just don't understand the stupidity of people that want to carry a baby that can't even hold their head up as their neck muscles are still weak around on a bike.

It differs from child to child, but from about 6 months onwards a baby should be able to hold its head up. More so with the 8 month old mark mentioned in the OP.

TonyStark wrote: »

Could you point me to the relevant safety standard of the type of helmet that the child of the age mentioned by the OP would be able to wear eg. the British one BSEN14765

I think you would agree that everyone on bikes ought really to wear a helmet, i dont see the reasoning that a "passenger" would not need one. If there is a helmet available for the infant then fire ahead. IMO in this case the child is too young.

Lots of presumptions there -- visit the helmet thread of you want answers.

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

Seriously, it's a bit mad that car seats have to go through such tests & have DVD guides made in their honour etc, whereas bike child seats seem so flimsy, and the child doesn't even have the extra safety measures ie a car

A key part is that it "seem so flimsy" -- based on what exactly?

And what extra safety measures ie a car are for babies or small children?

Something to do with that the risk to a child is not just impact between the car and another but just impact of the child and the car they are in or impact between the child's brain and scull?

We're talking about a design speed if higher than 7 times the average cycling speed. Parents cycling tend to be pottering along.

But you also maybe bringing your view of the risk of cycling into the debate without saying so.

I've yet to spot a young child not strapped into a bike but you see it all the time with cars on motorways and n roads.

Flippyfloppy

monument wrote: »

It differs from child to child, but from about 6 months onwards a baby should be able to hold its head up. More so with the 8 month old mark mentioned in the OP.




Lots of presumptions there -- visit the helmet thread of you want answers.



A key part is that it "seem so flimsy" -- based on what exactly?

And what extra safety measures ie a car are for babies or small children?

Something to do with that the risk to a child is not just impact between the car and another but just impact of the child and the car they are in or impact between the child's brain and scull?

We're talking about a design speed if higher than 7 times the average cycling speed. Parents cycling tend to be pottering along.

But you also maybe bringing your view of the risk of cycling into the debate without saying so.

I've yet to spot a young child not strapped into a bike but you see it all the time with cars on motorways and n roads.

Well, cars themselves are crash tested. Like cyclists with children's drivers tend to drive quite slowly with their children in the car. Guidelines state children are rearward facing for as long as possible & aren't in car seats for longer than 2 hours. Car seats also have head supports, and body support. The head support is great for allowing baby to sleep, which is often when moving for a baby of 8 months. Since 2007/08 all cars needs to be fitted with isofix as it is deemed the safest way to travel.

There doesn't appear to be any guidelines for babies in carrier seats on bikes, except the American link I provided earlier stating that children should not be carried on a bike until 1 years of age. According to that site you can't get helmets for children under one? Yet on google it seems people cycle with babies in slings and hard plastic seats, parents wearing protective gear and the child without. Accidents appear to include injuries incurred while child is strapped in and parent mounts the bike.

kenmc

hang on a second now, don't go looking to the USA for inspiration on cycling guidelines, sure even adults are not supposed to cycle in vast swathes of that country according to some.

so lets just suppose we ban kids from bikes till <random age, weight or size>. now, how do you stop them getting injured while learning to walk, climb or jump? you might reasonably point out that the risk of injury from a bike is higher than from falling down, but babies fall down a lot more than they go on a bike, so the number of opportunities for the lesser risk injurys is far far greater

Damo810

What could go wrong? I'm sure they'll enjoy every second!

clare82

Hey I've meaning to come back here and update ye all.
I got the ibert safe t seat (the front mounted one) and it's great. I lowered the saddle as much as possible so I can put my feet completely on the ground when we stop. The seat isn't really that awkward to cycle with as I'm always cycling so slowly anyway. Most importantly though, baby loves it. She's just over 1 yr old now and anytime she sees the bike she gets excited. I've used the rear mounted seats on rental bikes and while they are perfectly good; I can't interact with her at all.
All in all; a great little seat