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child bike seats

cowabungachris
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hey guys,

i'm buying some bycycles this weekend for me and the wife, and i'm trying to decide on what kind of child seat is best. i've seen a seat featured in Parenting magazine that mounts in the front, behind the handlebars over the nut-crunch bar. it seems like a good idea, but every bike shop owner i talk to seems to say that it is unsafe, and that i should buy one that mounts over the back tire. i'm wondering if they are just scamming me cause they want me to buy one of theirs, and the front mounted ones are only available online. the bike shop guys say that it is unsafe cause i could probably crush my kid if we take a tumble. but it seems like safer to me than not being able to sheild her at all if she's in the back.

any input would be great.....

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Submitted by cowabungachris on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 7:28am.

dbrigham
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i'm curious too

I'm curious about this, too, as we have a 10-month-old who I'd love to bring along on rides. Well, that is, after my wife and I tune up our old mountain bikes that we haven't ridden in, oh, 6 years (funny, our son is almost six too). My son has just about mastered riding w/out training wheels and it will be nice to do some family rides on the bike path that runs along the river near our house.

www.davebrigham.com


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 7:51am

Tim E
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I had both, and honestly

I had both, and honestly they both sucked. With the boys in the back, they were always leaning out one side or the other, dragging the bike over with them. And they always seemed to do a rapid switch and throw you off at the worst times. It might have been a mass issue though too - at the time I was about 145 fighting 30-40# of restless child..... The front mount was better for balance but they were in the way for sharp steering and I don't know how many times I got their helmet in the face. If you're big and tall you might have more clearance though. Once they were about three they were on the trail-a-bike and life got good.


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 7:59am

asantone
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child seats

Here's an interesting article on the relative merits of each seat style:

http://www.ibike.org/education/infant.htm

The bike shop push-back may stem from the fact that the front mount is much more popular in Europe than here in the States. Both seat styles effect bike handling and raise the center of gravity.

I myself went with a trailer. It's more expensive, but I do a lot of riding with my son (almost 1000 miles last year), so safety and stability were major concerns. Your milage may vary.

SOAP BOX ON
Which ever direction you go, I strongly encourage helmets for everyone everytime you ride your bikes. There are some nice adjustable models out there for the children and Mom & Dad should lead by example.
SOAP BOX OFF

Tony Santone


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 8:15am

RenoDad
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I would go with

A trailer as well. Bike Nashbar has a good cheap one available. Costco just came out with a nicer one that also converts to a stroller that we just bought and really like. I just cannot imagine a front loaded unit not interfering witht he control of the bike.

Greg


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 8:43am

Gaming with Baby
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Trailer

Aside from swimming and hiking, riding is the only form of exercise I've enjoyed. I've spent the last year preparing for the time that Butters would be big enough to justify buying a bike and taking him out. Now that were here, and I've spent the last year doing the research, a trailer is the way to go. Most of the good ones won't go over if you spill it, unlike a seat, so that right there is a huge plus.

-Will
gamingwithbaby.com | all your diapers are belong to us
my flickr


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 9:05am

KevH
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neither

get a trailer.

I have the costco one, it's heavier than a burley but cheaper and still folds up small enough to fit in the back of my subaru impreza wagon.

I'm Not a Slacker


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 9:12am

brianc
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We had a rear seat

We had a rear seat and it was fine. In hindsight, I think I would've preferred a trailer style. You can pack a picnic or do more exploring kind of bike trips if you only have one child in the trailer.

Now my oldest is on his own bike and my youngest is on the trail-behind.

As TimE said, life got good!

BrianC


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 1:40pm

New No.2
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Carrier

http://www.topeak.com/products/Child-Carrier

Topeak make the best/most adaptable rear mounted seats, thatis to say not over the top tube (nut crunch bar.) If you get this type of seat nake sure you geta rear mount kickstand.

Concider the type of riding you will be doing. If you are commuting then a a trailer may not be the best option but for fun in traffic restricted areas a trailer is agreat idea.

Be Seeing You.


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 10:07pm

ticktock
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The best of both worlds...

Here.

..........................................
http://www.altparenting.com


Fri, 05/02/2008 - 10:32pm

KevH
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This is all you need

I'm Not a Slacker


Sat, 05/03/2008 - 7:36am

Itux
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Depend on your expertise

For me, it depends more in your expertise, I have seen both types of seats and sometimes both of them at the same time, very common in The Netherlands and Belgium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzG9D0MJyHU

======================
Congregatio pro erudio et auxilium
Information Technology User X
Itux


Sat, 05/03/2008 - 11:56pm

cowabungachris
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chose the ibert front seat

we actually bought the front ibert seat the other day, and it seems pretty great. sophia laughs and claps her hands when i take her out riding. i feel like i have better control having her between my arms. if any of you get one, make sure your handlebars are wide enough for your arms to stretch out, and not be right next to the child. beach cruisers are great for this kind of child seat.


Sun, 05/04/2008 - 5:24pm

dbrigham
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with trailers

With trailers, what age is it safe to put kids in? My daughter is 10 months old and by the time I get my shit together and tune up my bike and buy someplace for her to sit, she'll probably be a year.

www.davebrigham.com


Mon, 05/05/2008 - 8:48am

RenoDad
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1 Year

Is the reccomended age.

Greg


Mon, 05/05/2008 - 1:29pm

dbrigham
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thanks

Thanks, Greg.

BTW, my son (who I'm shepherding in my photo) is now a full-fledged member of the two-wheel bike-riding fraternity. I'm very proud of him and he's very proud of himself.

www.davebrigham.com


Mon, 05/05/2008 - 8:05pm

RenoDad
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We went to the REI

In Sacramento and Jack was all over the idea of try to ride the bikes there. At 2 he may be a little young, but he definitely wants to.

Greg


Mon, 05/05/2008 - 10:55pm

PittCaleb
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 Joined: 2007-10-08
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trailer

Just to add my 2c, and since i haven't posted in a few weeks, trailer, full stop, end of story.

The thing with bike seats is if you wreck, the kid wrecks with you and from a great height. Even with a helmet, i see major injury in even the slightest of accidents.

With a trailer, I used to claim you could wreck and your kid would be fine. Then I wrecked 2 years ago. I was going 20 MPH on a country road when I hit a pile of broken glass (thanks local FD). I went down hard, the last thing my GPS said before it turned off was 21 MPH. The trailer remained upright and Josh said from the inside, "Are you ok daddy?"

That's why I use a trailer! If he would have been on a bike seat, we would have been waiting for an ambulance, I am sure. FYI, I am jealous of the previous poster who rides 1,000 miles a year. I have been doing about 300 annually. Last years bike log whos 344 miles, only 10 without the trailer attached! Ouch! This year I'm doing a 400 mile solo ride in July, so I'll get some time without finally!

Lastly - I suggest a double trailer. Wider and collectes more wind, but you can bring the neighbor kid too. And With a now 3 year old (2nd kid to use it) I put him in the center, books, small McD's toys, drink in one side pouch and crackers in the other. He's in heaven and often falls asleep back there. I love my trailer. He couldn't read books on a bike seat.

We did the Five Boro Bike Tour Sunday (see my Flick Photos) and today I'm planning a 15 mile ride with my youngest. They're good from 1 yr to 5 years depending on how strong your legs are! Hills are a bear!

cheers,
PittCaleb

This is what you need:


Tue, 05/06/2008 - 7:26am

RenoDad
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Man

That is an awesome train. :-)

I bet that takes a bit of power from the locomotive. :-)

Greg


Tue, 05/06/2008 - 8:44am

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