Talk to me of Child Seats and Helmets. « CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

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Talk to me of Child Seats and Helmets.

(24 posts)

Started 7 years ago by The Boy
Latest reply from biketrain

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The Boy
Member

So little man will be one soon, and the other half has suggested a babby seat for my bike might be a nice present.

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.

But not having him at the back would probably make mounting and dismounting easier.

Basically, I'm lost and need halp. All thoughts, experiences and recommendations welcome.

Posted 7 years ago #
chdot
Admin

A date for your diary -

10th June 2017 10:00 – 12:00

http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730

Posted 7 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

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 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17730

Posted 7 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

Oops, I see our posts crossed

Posted 7 years ago #
The Boy
Member

Oooh. That looks perfect. Added to diary.

Cheers.

Posted 7 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

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...

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.

Posted 7 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Having recently got a utility bike"

Wot sorta UB?...

Posted 7 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Yeah, "two-legged stand".

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.

Posted 7 years ago #
rbrtwtmn
Member

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.

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.

Your assessment about people seeing the child seems spot on to me.

Posted 7 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

I used a trailer. Tricky at chicanes but otherwise it worked fine.

Posted 7 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

@chdot - Did I tell you that I'd got an Elephant Bike

@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.

Posted 7 years ago #
The Boy
Member

@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.

Posted 7 years ago #
The Boy
Member

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.

* I know that wasn't *actually* the suggestion, but it's how I'm choosing to interpret it.

Posted 7 years ago #
Darkerside
Member

Top marks. Went from "other half buying me a baby seat" to "I'm buying myself a new bike" in under three hours :p

Posted 7 years ago #
HankChief
Member

"inevitable embarrassing dad mid-life crisis."

Oi. That's a bit too close to the truth for some of us ;-)

Posted 7 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

"inevitable embarrassing dad mid-life crisis."

Looks over at electric guitar and amp…

Posted 7 years ago #
piosad
Member

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.

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.

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…

Posted 7 years ago #
NiallA
Member

This is a bit shameless, so apologies in advance...

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.

Message me to follow up?

Posted 7 years ago #
LivM
Member

Re: helmets. Decathlon do nice children's helmets for not much money, obviously up to British safety standards.

Posted 7 years ago #
dessert rat
Member

only place I could find a helmet small enough for the then 9 month old MiniMcR was Go Outdoors @ Newhaven.

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....

Posted 7 years ago #
crowriver
Member

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.

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.

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.

Posted 7 years ago #
piosad
Member

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).

Posted 7 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Oh, that post above should read Hebie bipod stand.

Posted 7 years ago #
biketrain
Member

I have a rack mounted seat complete with rack to give away, should any one want them.

Posted 7 years ago #

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