I really appreciate the information you gave me about the front-mounted child seats. Unfortunately, I am not very happy with those ones. Every front seat I see doesn't offer a lot of back and head support for the baby, and I'm afraid I won't have enough leg room to pedal correctly. I like the idea of being able to interact with my son during a bike ride, but I want him to be comfortable as well. Being out in the sun makes him sleepy, so I want him to be comfortable on the ride, even if he does fall asleep.
So I am looking into rear-mounted child seats now. I figure I can put a mirror on the handle bars so I can easily see my son if I need to. I have a couple of questions for those of you who use a rear-mounted seat:
Do you find it awkward to not be able to swing your leg over the back tire to get on and off the bike? I'd be afraid that I would forget my son was back there, and accidentally kick him. Is it difficult having to bring your leg over the center bar?
Also, do you have any recommendations of a good brand? I have been looking into the Co-Pilot Limo Child Seat and the Topeak Baby Seat. Are these pretty good? Is there anything good or bad that I should know about these two brands?
I really appreciate any more information you all can give me :D
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
I have never ridden with a rear seat. I do however have a tandem. It has similar issues in terms of mounting. I have to consciously raise my leg higher to clear the rear handlebar. I find it more awkward to step over the top tube. I occasionally bump the bar but not very hard. I would not worry about the potential kid strike. You are not doing a jump kick to get on the bike so any contact should be relatively minor.
I think either would be fine. If product history holds, the Topeak will be the better one. A very nice brand is Kettler. A Kettler will be harder to find locally, but I have found all of their kid products to be bomb-proof. I know they can be found online.
An eyeglass/sunglass mirror may be easier to use to peak at your son. If you are using a drop or "road" bend bar, I'm not sure how well a bar-end mirror will be able to adjust to that angle. There are mirrors that mount on brake levers that might do better on drop bars. If you are using a flat bar, the bar-end mirror is the only bar mount option I know of.
You may very well be able to find a good used rear bike seat.
PaulH
A dropped frame bike is really useful for riding with a child seat. I rented a bike with child seat once when no trailers were available. The thing felt quite wobbly. I had about 30 pounds ao beach chairs and umbrellas lashed to it, so that may have contributed to it. I like trailers a lot better, particularly as going places with children usually also means carrying stuuff.
Paul
sailor2
Do you find it awkward to not be able to swing your leg over the back tire to get on and off the bike? I'd be afraid that I would forget my son was back there, and accidentally kick him. Is it difficult having to bring your leg over the center bar?
It has not been a problem for me, although several people suggested that you might want to want "ladies" frame for ease of mounting.
I also noticed that I don't swing my leg anymore even when my kids are not behind me.
Also, do you have any recommendations of a good brand? I have been looking into the Co-Pilot Limo Child Seat and the Topeak Baby Seat. Are these pretty good? Is there anything good or bad that I should know about these two brands?
I tried both of them (Co-pilot on one ride, Topeak on several rides) and they are decent. Right now I use Bobike Maxi a.k.a. Peapod, but both Topeak and Co-pilot are easier to install if your frame has the eyelets. Topeak has suspension, which I felt was good for a small kid, but getting excessively wobbly for a child approaching upper limit of the seat (40 lbs).
None of them would be perfect for a sleeping child, one possible solution would be to mount a seat at about the 15 deg angle (my neighbor did this with his Topeak ), to have a slightly reclined position.
Hey - maybe it's a new marketing possibility - have an adjustable angle back seat - upright when awake, gently reclined when asleep.
sailor2
Darn - I just checked Google.
There are actually a lot of reclining bicycle chairs, but not is US.
Like:
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/Products/Snooze_Deluxe_Reclining_Child_Seat.aspx
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/Products/Snooze_Child_Seat.aspx
I might pick myself one when I travel to London this summer.
BTW: Limo has some reclining adjustments, but I was thinking about more recline than Limo allows.
Phantoj
I think the Copilot Limo has a reclining seat. Not sure how it works.
Both the Copilot and the Topeak are designed to attach to racks that are mounted to the bike via rack eyelets. I think this is a better setup than the clamp-to-bike models.
I have the Topeak, and I appreciate how easy it is to take on and off.
When I am using the seat, I lift my leg over the top tube. The seat is on a tandem with a child stoker, so I have to get him situated before I get on anyway. Lifting a leg over the top tube requires agility on my large-framed bike.
Sci-Fi
I haven't seen any child seat that allows comfortable sleeping. For rear mounted child seats, it's almost a necessity to have a 'step-through frame' bike.
There are alternatives though:
Baby Bjorn (http://www.ohbabygifts.com/scripts/prodList.asp?brand=7&gclid=CLDHmo-WiJACFQ2aOAoddCsctg) is popular in Europe and most models have head support. Child/baby can be facing in or out depending on age and weight.
Kelty Wallaby Child Carrier (http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770456) is lower cost and has head side padding. Can click on the link and read the one review at REI.
masiman
There are alternatives though:
Baby Bjorn (http://www.ohbabygifts.com/scripts/prodList.asp?brand=7&gclid=CLDHmo-WiJACFQ2aOAoddCsctg) is popular in Europe and most models have head support. Child/baby can be facing in or out depending on age and weight.
The bjorns are not very practical for riding, at least from my experience. My bike position has the baby facing towards the ground. I end up having to ride with my fingertips to try to ride in a more upright position so there neck does not get too tired. Also, the kids legs are pretty much on yours, making pedaling harder.
What works pretty well are side carry slings. The baby still hits your legs a bit and they do swing beneath you if you ride in a racing style position, but it is not too bad and very comfortable for the baby.
sailor2
I second that Bjorns are not suited for riding.
If your kid has strong enough neck muscles for strapping on the back though I recommend Ergo ( http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/ )
Here is DW wearing our daugther, roughly 1 year old:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ssailor/IMG_5290.jpg