Bike trailers and little people

[Ruth_Baldock]

Hello all,

After visiting the Cycle Show today, me and Mr Baldock are inspired! He's been cycling for donkeys years, and I am waiting for my first bike since I was 15 to arrive. (His is an SE Lager 2010 and mine is a Charge Plug 2010; both are single speeds and he rides fixed for those of you who...care)

Baby Baldock is just shy of 10 months and weighs 18lbs ish. We ideally wanted to get one of those seats that sits on the front of your bike, but they won't fit on either of our bikes. The ones that sit on the back ARE good but bloody fiddly to put on, as we'd have to buy pannier racks and all that jazz.

We're looking at an adventure ST3 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20683), and we're assuming the age limit is 12-18 months - 4 years. Does anyone have any experience with this particular trailer or failing that, trailers in general? Any other recs? Ta v much!

[The Nappy Lady]

Hi Ruth,

(iPhone post - Apols for typos Brandt is bracket & Hamas is Hamax)

I don't know about trailers, but have experience of the up front seats.

Why do you think they will not work on your bike? Is it the size of the 'stem' up to the handlebars? I would try to investigate a bit more if you can.

Someone lent me a wee-ride to use on my bike initially & I have now picked up a kinder sulky via this forum. It took a bit of fiddling & the help of BC Bikes to get the sulky sorted - I had to buy 2 different lengths of bolt from the DIY store as the ones which came with it were too short, next lot too long, final ones almost perfect but BC just shortened them slightly for me' & made sure the Brandt was on really tight. The advantage of the kinder seat is it fixes by 1 bracket on the stem & can easily be removed when baby isn't with you. Hamas do something similar - saw one go on eBay for ?7 the other day.

I love the front seat - so does baby C. We can talk to each other as we go along, she gets to ding the bell & I feel she is more secure as I have my arms around her. Will be sad when we have to upgrade to a rear seat before too long due to size & weight.

Hope this helps.

[taper]

i use a trailer like that. But not sure I'd want to use it for a child that young. Your kid is safe in a trailer, but they do feel very distant from you. Not sure they're suitable for a child less than 2. The Hamax seats that fix on the back are very good. All you need is a contraption that fixes on your frame (the bit under the seatpost). You don't need a rear rack.

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes, that's true, same type of bracket as you put on front post for the front seat. But tricky to have baby behind you & carry a rucksack as it is virtually in baby's face - not very nice for them.

With a rack you can just about get panniers on but tricky with rear seat in place too. I gues it depend whether you are likely to travel with a lot of luggage plus baby.

I agree the trailers wseem better for older children (also I hear tricky to store when not in use & wide to get in & out of the house.

[snowboarder]

Hi Ruth - we did the same last year re the cycle show!! I'd sold my last bike when pregnant and so needed baby friendly bike plus carrier that could go on either mine or hubby's bike....looked at front/back and trailers but found same issue re front (wont fit on certain bikes and ultimately an age/weight limit) and got scared of small one being so close to ground in trailer...in the end went for a hamax back seat as mentioned above as it fits via a bracket just below seat stem (good that baby bounces around independently of bike/you), and can buy 2 bracket holders so can easily fit on 2 bikes. Also realised when trialling various bikes if using back carrier it is v difficult to get on bike unless have 'ladies' style frame - as can't swing leg over back wheel when seat/baby in place!!

Sorry know not what you asked.....ps don't envy you on single speed around here!! Practically had a seizure cycling to Herne Hill and back the other day and have 18 gears...blaming it on pregnancy rather than complete unfit-ness of course....

[canadianlisa]

I thought I wrote earlier but it seemed to disappear somewhere. We looked into using the trailer when we were in Canada with our little girl who is a bit older than your boy. The bike shop was pretty clear that they would not recommend them for a child less than aged 2. I think it was due to the child's stability and the fact that they might choose to stand up or something while in the back. I also thought that such a little one might get a bit scared back there- all alone and not being able to see or hear you.

Yes single speed- you must be very fit (in a fitness way)!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Haha well I hope I'm fit- I'm training for the London marathon!

Molly, the front seat dilemma is down to ther not being enough room from where th frame meets the handlebars. However, you mentioning bc bikes has given me the idea to go in there tomo and ask what kind of seats are availble for our frames. Tried googling the seats you mentiond but to no avail!

We bought the trailer anyway, for use in a year or so- we could always rent it out to sporty families in the interim!

[James Barber]

I'd really recommend arranging a visit to London Recumbents in Dulwich Park - see if you can arrange some advice from owner Nigel Frost.

He and his wife have only ever cycled their kids from year dot. They specialise in family cycling and have every type you could imagine with a wealth of experiences.

Our family have had great service from a Nihola (Danish bike) which can take baby seats. Once had 6 x 4 year olds in it. lots of fun. also kids in the front 'bucket' so easy to keep eye on them.

[candj]

We have a double Chariot which I've actually never hooked up to a bicycle, but have only ever used for jogging, er I mean walking. When we purchased it we also purchased the 'baby sling' that fits inside so that a young baby would be more secure (has a padded headrest and harness). It has loads of options, gadgets and storage and takes regular bicycle tyres and they came in a multitude of colours and designs - double buggy, single, all terrain wheels and can easily switch from bike trailer to jogging buggy. We got ours in Canada, but I'm pretty sure you can purchase them here in the UK as I've seen them around.

[Gubodge]

We bought a Burley trailer that London Recumbents were getting rid of. We used it from when our youngest was around 9 months, as although able to sit up fine she was still too small for a seat. She loved it, although I suppose she may have been less keen if she hadn't had her big sister in beside her. We've had both Hamax and Co-pilot rear seats as well, both of which I'd recommend, but not so useful when trying to get two small children and the shopping home from sainsburys.

I would admit though that if money were no object I'd have got a bakefiets.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Candj, this sounds the sort of thing we SHOULD have bought. D'oh! A quick scan of the website confirms that the baby kit...thing sounds ideal. How much are they though? We can't seem to find a price on the website at all...

[candj]

Hi Ruth, I can't exactly remember the price but think it was upwards towards $1000 because my husband insisted on having all the gadgets (what a surprise), ie, the stroller wheels, the bicycle attachment and the jogging kit and of course the baby sling and we got the double so it was more than the single. You can get the basic model which is a lot less.

I'll dig through my paperwork as I had to buy the all weather cover here in the UK and I contacted the company in Canada and asked for a local UK retailer. Will let you know. You could probably also contact Balfe's to see if they could order them or at least they would be able to tell you where to go to have a look at them.

[The Nappy Lady]

Ruth,

Having now looked at a photo of your bike on line I think a front seat would be out anyway because you are going to be riding leaning forward, rather than sitting upright (sit up and beg as I call it!). So, you are going down the right route with rear carriers or trailers.

Hope you manage to find the perfect one eventually.

Good luck, Molly

x

[candj]

London Recumbent in Dulwich Park (place James mentions) and in SE6 Compton Cycles has them.

Hope that helps a bit.

[taper]

Ruth

Off topic a bit, but as you're doing the London Marathon you might be interested in this thread where a few of us are gathering to provide moral support as the nights close in and the weather worsens.

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,542380

I'm integrating into my training my thrice weekly hauling of my daughter in a trailer up Camberwell Grove and Herne Hill. LM should be a doddle after that.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Thanks for your advice, all! In the end, I went for the Hamax Smiley. We got it today from BC Bikes, Baby Baldock LOVES it. We've mounted it on Mr Baldock's bike and I'll be trying it soon on mine :)

Taper- ta v much- will most likely be in touch! My training is a bit ridicolous at the moment- I did a half marathon when I was 19 and the year before I got up the duff I did a 10k for cancer research. It was...laughable to say the least.

[Ruth_Baldock]

And...for evidence and 'aw' factor: Mr B and Baby B on the bike

[The Nappy Lady]

Fab! Love the helmet, he looks soooo tiny in that seat. Awwwww....

[Ruth_Baldock]

He loves the helmet too, thankfully. It looks hilarious- all big on his teeny little head...