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Best baby carrier

Evie08	19 Jun 08:26
Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi all I'm interested to find out your views on the best / safest baby carrier for bikes. Any suggestions would be gratefully rec'd. Thanks.

jonathon	26 Jul 17:58
Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	Hi, been using a bike seat with my daughter for about 10 months, one I have is from Halfords, not to expensive. important features to look for are leg protection. child's feet must not be able to reach peddals. head protection, if the bike falls will the baby's head hit the ground or the seat? and always check weight allowance. besides that, just find one you like. practice on some flat areas, having the child and the seat on the back sure makes for good exercise!

jonathon

26 Jul 17:58

Joined: 26 Jul 2008

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi, been using a bike seat with my daughter for about 10 months, one I have is from Halfords, not to expensive. important features to look for are leg protection. child's feet must not be able to reach peddals. head protection, if the bike falls will the baby's head hit the ground or the seat? and always check weight allowance. besides that, just find one you like. practice on some flat areas, having the child and the seat on the back sure makes for good exercise!

Mighty Antar	27 Jul 11:01
Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Bike:	Hi I used carriers for both of my sons (now fully grown!). It does depend on the child (both size and behaviour), how much cash you have and what type of cycling you intend to do. Unquestionably in my opinion the safest, cheapest and most simple option for @ 2-4 year olds is the crossbar seat. Make sure the child is sensible enough to hold on and not to stick their foot through the front wheel though and don't try anything off-road. I don't think they make these to fit mountain bike frames (probably a good thing) or ladies cycles yet and they are less widely available than those dreadful rear mounted devices. No good for a long ride but ideal for getting from a to b and doesn't add much to the bikes bulk. Second (or if money is no object), get a trailer, buy a decent one that folds and you can also use it for the shopping after the child grows out of it (you can usually squeeze the child inside until they are big enough for a bike themselves). It also guarantees car drivers give you the room you deserve on the road. If you would happily cycle with a flat screen TV stuck on the rear carrier then the rear seats are great but my advice is to ignore them and save up for a trailer. If the rear seat is well constructed then it will make the bike hopelessly unstable, difficult to get on and off and a fantastic wind break for whatever is stuck behind you waiting nervously for you to stop wobbling.

Mighty Antar

27 Jul 11:01

Joined: 27 Jul 2008

Posts: 6

Bike:

Hi

I used carriers for both of my sons (now fully grown!). It does depend on the child (both size and behaviour), how much cash you have and what type of cycling you intend to do. Unquestionably in my opinion the safest, cheapest and most simple option for @ 2-4 year olds is the crossbar seat. Make sure the child is sensible enough to hold on and not to stick their foot through the front wheel though and don't try anything off-road. I don't think they make these to fit mountain bike frames (probably a good thing) or ladies cycles yet and they are less widely available than those dreadful rear mounted devices.
No good for a long ride but ideal for getting from a to b and doesn't add much to the bikes bulk.
Second (or if money is no object), get a trailer, buy a decent one that folds and you can also use it for the shopping after the child grows out of it (you can usually squeeze the child inside until they are big enough for a bike themselves). It also guarantees car drivers give you the room you deserve on the road.
If you would happily cycle with a flat screen TV stuck on the rear carrier then the rear seats are great but my advice is to ignore them and save up for a trailer. If the rear seat is well constructed then it will make the bike hopelessly unstable, difficult to get on and off and a fantastic wind break for whatever is stuck behind you waiting nervously for you to stop wobbling.

A Nutter	13 Aug 07:07
Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 19 Bike: My Profile	Thanks for that reply, my friend was asking me for advice on this and I will now pass this on! Many thanks!

bigdave	24 Aug 11:03
Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	Without doubt the Copilot child seat is the most secure. It slides onto a pannier rack (supplied) making it much more secure than a post-mounted rack. We've used one for my son between 18-months and four. At four his knees/feet catch my legs. Progressed to a Trek tag-along bike whilst he practices with no stabilisers

jonathon	25 Aug 03:41
Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	I agree, co-pilot seats while making the ride slightly more energetic , are definatley the safest and most comfortable. My only complaint with these seats are that it can be slightly difficult to see my child but this can be remedied by frequent stops or a mirror. the system also has a roughly built in shock absorber which makes the bouncing lighter and more enjoyable for my daughter. I think I would consider a crossbar seat for a younger child though. easier to monitor and comfort

jonathon

25 Aug 03:41

Joined: 26 Jul 2008

Posts: 2

Bike:

I agree, co-pilot seats while making the ride slightly more energetic , are definatley the safest and most comfortable. My only complaint with these seats are that it can be slightly difficult to see my child but this can be remedied by frequent stops or a mirror. the system also has a roughly built in shock absorber which makes the bouncing lighter and more enjoyable for my daughter. I think I would consider a crossbar seat for a younger child though. easier to monitor and comfort

Blue Beer	03 Sep 11:35
Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Bike:	The advice I got from enthusiasts and a guy at Halfoerds was avoid the bike mounted rear seat and go for a trailer since the seat and child can make stability an issue. I got a twin trailer and get out with a one and four year old in tow. It is also handy for shopping or taking additional gear for the kids without having to use a backpack or paniers. It is also dead easy to unhook so I can go out by myself.

Blue Beer

03 Sep 11:35

Joined: 02 Jul 2008

Posts: 1

Bike:

The advice I got from enthusiasts and a guy at Halfoerds was avoid the bike mounted rear seat and go for a trailer since the seat and child can make stability an issue. I got a twin trailer and get out with a one and four year old in tow. It is also handy for shopping or taking additional gear for the kids without having to use a backpack or paniers. It is also dead easy to unhook so I can go out by myself.

alex	17 Sep 16:36
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Bike:	Could Mighty Antar (or anyone else) let me knoiw where he / she got the crossbar mounted seat. I have been looking everywhere and all I can find is full child seats with harnesses etc. and I just want a simple bike seat and foot rests. many thanks, ALex.

Mighty Antar	18 Sep 13:43
Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Bike:	Batchelors in Trowbridge had one in stock when I was in there just the other day - sorry I didn't notice the brand. They're on-line at: www.bikz.co.uk

carsaretheenemy	25 Feb 04:18
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 1 Bike:	does anyone know where i can buy a childs crossbar seat? thanks.

HeyWayne	19 Mar 07:06
Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 6 Bike:	Recently bought one of these from Costco for our 1 year old. http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=quick+n+ez+cycle+trailer&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=51ijS83eBaT60wTRl8HpCQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB4QrQQwAA He's seemingly happy in it - but we've only been out once so far!

bubbajones	19 Mar 10:46
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 9 Bike: My Profile	I was very keen to have a kiddy trailer around 6-7 years ago and there wasn't that much of a choice in the UK at that time. Now there is much more to choose from. I did a lot of searching when I was wanting to buy one managed to personally import a Chariot Cougar 2 trailer from Canada and think it was and is fantastic. It certainly wasn't a cheap purchase at around Â£460 with the jogging wheel (after duties and tax and shipping) but it has certainly been a head turner and there are ALWAYS comments about how great it looks when we are out. http://www.activekidsgear.co.uk/images/cougar%202.jpg It is much bigger that anything I had seen available on the UK market but the quality and usability is second to none. Previously I had only seen these trailers available from hire shops but now I see there are now a few UK shops selling them but prices are between Â£670 - Â£730. Ouch. My Â£460 seems a comparative bargain now! I am just disappointed now that it doens't get used that much as the kids are getting older and bigger. It is still used on occasions when I am organised enough to do the school run which is 5 miles as there is plenty of room for the bags, PE kits and sandwhiches and my 5 year old.
My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Wendover to Long Crendon Loop

bubbajones

19 Mar 10:46

Joined: 02 Mar 2010

Posts: 9

Bike:

My Profile

I was very keen to have a kiddy trailer around 6-7 years ago and there wasn't that much of a choice in the UK at that time. Now there is much more to choose from.

I did a lot of searching when I was wanting to buy one managed to personally import a Chariot Cougar 2 trailer from Canada and think it was and is fantastic. It certainly wasn't a cheap purchase at around Â£460 with the jogging wheel (after duties and tax and shipping) but it has certainly been a head turner and there are ALWAYS comments about how great it looks when we are out.

http://www.activekidsgear.co.uk/images/cougar%202.jpg

It is much bigger that anything I had seen available on the UK market but the quality and usability is second to none. Previously I had only seen these trailers available from hire shops but now I see there are now a few UK shops selling them but prices are between Â£670 - Â£730. Ouch. My Â£460 seems a comparative bargain now!

I am just disappointed now that it doens't get used that much as the kids are getting older and bigger. It is still used on occasions when I am organised enough to do the school run which is 5 miles as there is plenty of room for the bags, PE kits and sandwhiches and my 5 year old.

My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Wendover to Long Crendon Loop

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