Bike seats and panniers balance?

[Countjc]

Hiya

Just wondering if any of you cyclists could give me some advice about biking my toddler around with my work stuff.

I'm about to get him a bike seat for the back of my bike ( he currently goes on a wee ride on the front of my husbands). I'm going to need to be able to carry my work stuff too so thinking either a basket or front panniers. Just wondering what other people use and how they find the balance?

Many thanks

[pebbles]

I have a basket with mine and to be honest I have never noticed the balance being a problem however i don't carry that much.

I chose a basket rather than panniers as I did feel I would have to totally balance them out for me not to lose balance - if that makes sense

[Gubodge]

I find a heavily packed basket unbalances me more than any lopsided amount on the back of the bike. I've never tried front panniers, but I would assume that the lower centre of gravity would affect the balance less. But I would have thought you could fit a hamax style rear seat and rear panniers at the same time.

[James Barber]

Low front panniers but you ideally need to balance them.

[AnnaCBH]

Check your seat and pannier rack, I can't use mine as the child seat covers the top of the rack, I'd go with the above poster and look for front wheel racks, enjoy!

[cashewnut]

You might have already decided against this but I use a wee ride plus back panniers. Never have any problems with balance even carrying laptop on one side.

You can get a spare bar for the wee ride if you want to both use it. See this thread for advantages/disadvantages:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1046867,1047428

[MonkeyMoped]

I have a Hamax (sp?) seat and a Rixen and Kaul front basket. Weight/volume is sometimes a bit pushed, but on the whole, I could manage work clothes, shoes and handbag. I was able to leave towel and shower stuff at work, which helped. I haven't seen a back pannier that works with a seat (I used to use an Ortlieb), but would love to get recommendations.

These are the baskets - super easy to click on an off http://www.klickfix.de/index.php?mod=21&lang=en

Bon Velo in Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill stock all this and more and were really helpful.

[Countjc]

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for the tips. I've gone for the Yepp back bike seat, as he's too big for the wee ride seat, and a basket for now. The guys at BC bikes were superstars at fitting it all and making sure a stand could work.

I think I may need to add front panniers at some point as I often need to transfer lots of books from work but I'll see how I manage with the basket for now.

Thanks again