Jump to content

Recommended Posts

My nearly four-year-old daughter will be attending a school a ways away from us and I am considering taking her to/from with a bicycle, since our public transport options aren't very good and we don't have a car. Any advice on what sort of kit to use? I'd like to get a fairly simple/lightweight bike but haven't purchased a bicycle in over 20 years so don't know what I might want, and am completely flummoxed as to what to put her in -- front seat, back seat, trailer, front basket-thing. A very short part of the trip will be on a road with heavy traffic, but I should be able to use sidestreets for the rest. One consideration is that, especially if the equipment is expensive, I'd like to be able to use it for the next few years, if possible. Also, I'm curious what people do to keep dry-ish when it rains? Slickers for everyone?

I use our bike loads to ferry daughter around. I think she's too old for a front seat but a back seat would be fine and easy for long distances. If you have to go on a busy road I wouldn't recommend a trailer or front basket, especially at school hours. Just get a classic ladies bike and get the seat at a bike shop. The seat should last for years, and I've had my classic ladies tourer bike for over 20!


In terms of rain, you need waterproofs but it's also worth working out your public transport options for those really rainy days when it would just be too much.

I'm getting a Christiania bike, which is a trike with a big box on the front for kids, but then I have 3 (kids that is) so might be a bit much for your needs.


We used to take our eldest on the back of the bike but once he got past 2.1/2 he felt too big. I'd try before you buy in case you find this with yours. It was probably that our bike/seat combo was wrong, I've seen plenty of people managing with bgger kids than that so it must be possible. Our child seat was a Hamax one that mounted on long metal poles to the adult seat post. Once he got big it was too bouncy and got in the way of the back wheel going over the ever-present speed bumps. (he loved it though!!)

Thanks very much for the responses! I've now heard the same thing about the seat making it more difficult to cycle from a few people. Does anyone know if there's anywhere around where I'd be able to test out a few different seats? I've now been to several of the closer by shope (BC Bikes, Brixton Cycles, Evans in Clapham and the shop a few doors down), but each seems to carry just one or two types of seat, and there didn't seem to be any way of trying them out.
If you are looking for something long-term, you might also consider a tandem. They are expensive, but, worth it if you are going to be doing it for many years. We currently ride with our kids on a tandem as well as a triple seated bike all over London . Tandems are safer and more stable than a trailer. Our youngest started when he was 3 and a half and he is 8 now. We had to place blocks on the pedals at first as he was too short. The bike will suit him/us prob for the next four years. If you divide the years of usage by the price it is reasonable.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thanks for stating the bleeding obvious
    • Yes, they are intelligent ❤️ Various methods of deterring the foxes (aka stopping them coming and crapping on your lawn) have been suggested in this thread. If you don't want to try them, and prefer to keep clearing up the crap and complaining about it, well that's YOUR choice 🙄
    • Weather going to be hot from today thru to weekend so I hope all dog owners walk their pooches early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. Woofers can survive the odd day without going for walkies in the heat or having to race around with their pack in the heat. Try brain games with them around the house - hid treats for them to find, given them a kong..  Mental stimulation is as good and beneficial as walkies and does tire them out.     And whilst on the subject of heat and dogs, do remember that leaving a couple of windows open while you run into a shop etc to get groceries etc …. Is not good enough / the inside of a car obviously gets very very hot… and one could be delayed in ship, thru no fault of your own - meanwhile, your woofer is suffering.  Common sense really and if you are a new owner, probably really never thought it through ie walking dogs in heat or leaving them in car in heat. The majority of people on this site are caring, supportive people only offering advice, expressing concern when they see stupidity.  
    • Weirdly (well, weird as it happened very shortly after I had posted that) I got a notice the other day (the first time in the near enough twenty years since I joined the forum) telling me I had reached my limit of "reactions". I posted a screenshot on here. However I did not actually seem be prevented  from  making any more!   What is your purpose in doing that? This is a useful, long running and well loved (by me, anyway) local forum. It provides information on matters of local interest, an opportunity to easily sell or give away  unwanted things and buy or be given things you want, information on upcoming local events and interest groups. It is also a well moderated place to discuss both local and wider issues. And it is used by a variety of different kinds of people, as would be expected - we all have different personalities, experiences and opinions, and that's part of what makes the forum such a great local asset. Since rescuing the forum when the previous admin left - it could have disappeared altogether - Joe has put and continues to put an enormous amount of work into setting it up on a different platform (?) , maintaining it, and keeping it a safe and pleasant place for everyone using it. I'm sure you and others will correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels to me that dissecting "posters and their patterns" in the way you describe - presumably then to post the results on here?  - is just going to sow seeds of discord which could stop some people posting altogether and generally change the whole nature of the forum. I think that would be very sad, and I hope that that isn't your intention? Are you going to include your own posts in this? You have joined the forum relatively recently, and seem to be self-described as a "Pain".
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...