http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Talk to me of Child Seats and Helmets. en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:18:16 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251922 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:44:13 +0000 biketrain 251922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a rack mounted seat complete with rack to give away, should any one want them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251916 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 23:40:07 +0000 crowriver 251916@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, that post above should read Hebie bipod stand. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251915 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 23:35:08 +0000 piosad 251915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the head lolling issue, I've had reasonable success with the kind of neck cushions they sell at airports (also useful for carrying children around in rucksack carriers if that's your kind of thing). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251905 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 20:49:39 +0000 crowriver 251905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can also recommend the Hamax child seats. They are very well designed and robust. I had a basic upright one, but also a "deluxe" reclining model (Siesta) which could be ratcheted easily with a wee dial to give a more snooze-friendly position. Your child *will* fall asleep on the child seat if you cycle further than round the block. I found with the upright model the child's head lolled forward, which was not a very good snoozing position.</p> <p>Depending how big your kid gets, the Hamax will be good for up to 4, even 5 years old potentially. After that a tagging or the bairn's own bike will be good options.</p> <p>Also definitely a good idea to have a two-legged stand. I used a nifty Pletscher number where both legs fold neatly along one side of the bike. On my cargo/utility bikes there are bipod type stands, which just fold back with a leg either side of the back wheel. The best of these IMHO is the Heie bipod stand, which I have on my Pashley Pronto and it's very sturdy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251903 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 20:33:33 +0000 dessert rat 251903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>only place I could find a helmet small enough for the then 9 month old MiniMcR was Go Outdoors @ Newhaven.</p> <p>Splashed the cash and bought a Thule rear child seat (which has been most excellent) as the cx turned commuter bike doesn't have pannier rack mounts and I couldn't be faffed with p-clips etc.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251901 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 20:22:06 +0000 LivM 251901@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Re: helmets. Decathlon do nice children's helmets for not much money, obviously up to British safety standards. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251896 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:28:35 +0000 NiallA 251896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is a bit shameless, so apologies in advance...</p> <p>I have an old Hamax rear seat (about 8 years old) that both my children have grown out of. Would be delighted to sell it on for a nominal sum if it would be of any interest to the OP or anyone else needing one. Have 2 mounting brackets (enabling swapping between bikes). Although its old, we didn't use it too heavily, so it's still in pretty good condition.</p> <p>Message me to follow up? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251895 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:00:54 +0000 piosad 251895@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thirding @rbrtwtmn and @Greenroofer on back mounted seats that can be swapped out. I've had a Hamax for both of mine from just over 1yo and never had cause to complain. Any stand is also useful — I've always made do with a one-legged one with no accidents so far but not having one is just asking for trouble.</p> <p>You get used to mounting/dismounting in no time at all, though I would strongly advise to take a ride on the weekend before getting onto the mean streets for the nursery run because the balance and feel of the bike does change.</p> <p>I've not bothered with a helmet for child number 2. But it does open you up to angry drivists shouting at you to put one on. I always want to ask if they're saying 'or else I will drive at you' but they always whizz past… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251885 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:15:02 +0000 wee folding bike 251885@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"inevitable embarrassing dad mid-life crisis."</p> <p>Looks over at electric guitar and amp… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251872 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 12:03:27 +0000 HankChief 251872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>inevitable embarrassing dad mid-life crisis."</em></p> <p>Oi. That's a bit too close to the truth for some of us ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251871 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:57:05 +0000 Darkerside 251871@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Top marks. Went from "other half buying me a baby seat" to "I'm buying myself a new bike" in under three hours :p </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251869 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:27:20 +0000 The Boy 251869@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm quite liking the suggestion of a new bike* tho. I mean, I *have* been looking at fancy new road bikes, but I guess I'm an adult now so can always put that off until the inevitable embarrassing dad mid-life crisis.</p> <p>* I know that wasn't *actually* the suggestion, but it's how I'm choosing to interpret it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251867 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:25:44 +0000 The Boy 251867@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wee folding bike, trailer was considered. In fact, I often joked about getting a double trailer so I could both the boy and the dog. Unfortunately, tenement flat so not gunna work. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251866 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:24:53 +0000 Greenroofer 251866@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - Did I tell you that I'd got an Elephant Bike</p> <p>@rbrt - +1 for Hamax clip-on type. Not only does the springy thing isolate children from the road bumps, but it is so much easier to get the seat on an off, particularly if you swap between bikes. With another clamp on your other half's bike it means one of you can do the nursery drop off and the other do the nursery collection using the same child seat. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251865 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:09:04 +0000 wee folding bike 251865@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used a trailer. Tricky at chicanes but otherwise it worked fine. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251864 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:59:17 +0000 rbrtwtmn 251864@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Biggest issue is how to get kids on and off the bike. Bikes fall over really easily with a child on them. There are advantages/disadvantages to all arrangements in this regard.</p> <p>Some of the rear mounted seats clamp to the bike with an extended springy arrangement (do Hamax still exist?). I like these because the child is more isolated from the bumps on the road.</p> <p>Your assessment about people seeing the child seems spot on to me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251863 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:30:25 +0000 chdot 251863@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah, "two-legged stand". </p> <p>Got one on tandem (came with with it, never actually bought one or looked at types currently available) makes bikes MUCH more stable - just when you need it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251862 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:27:18 +0000 chdot 251862@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Having recently got a utility bike"</p> <p>Wot sorta UB?... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251860 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:00:40 +0000 Greenroofer 251860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>To add to the things to think about, I'd chuck in the thought about considering a two-legged prop stand. When were going through that stage, I didn't have a stand at all on my bike. Mrs G had a single legged stand. Neither gave us the convenience and confidence of having a bike that was vertical and stable. Trying to get a child into a back seat on a bike that was leaning against a wall often gave me scraped knuckles...</p> <p>Having recently got a utility bike with a two-legged stand, I'm amazed by how much easier it makes it. No need to find somewhere to lean it, and confidence that the bike will stay up. Definitely worth considering when you are child-wrangling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251859 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 09:54:34 +0000 The Boy 251859@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oooh. That looks perfect. Added to diary.</p> <p>Cheers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251858 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:45:39 +0000 sallyhinch 251858@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oops, I see our posts crossed </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251857 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:44:01 +0000 sallyhinch 251857@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Come along to the Bike Curious event if you can - there should be options to try and parents to talk to who can advise and you can try things out <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251855 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:41:51 +0000 chdot 251855@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A date for your diary -</p> <p>10th June 2017 10:00 – 12:00</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17795#post-251854 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:33:48 +0000 The Boy 251854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So little man will be one soon, and the other half has suggested a babby seat for my bike might be a nice present.</p> <p>Trouble is, I've opened an internet to look at the options and it's all a bit mind boggling. For example, do I get a seat that goes in front of me or behind? I reckon on front would *feel* more secure, but then he'd be hidden from drivists if i did happen to take him on the road. </p> <p>But not having him at the back would probably make mounting and dismounting easier.</p> <p>Basically, I'm lost and need halp. All thoughts, experiences and recommendations welcome. </p>