RON8O

Well, I'm finally looking to get back on two wheels, but have a few questions from you more experienced cyclists.

1) is it possible to put a child seat on a road bike like the Trek Madone? Of course the added weight kinda defeats the purpose of spending the cash on the Madone in the first place, but when I take the child seat off it would be a nice light Madone again. ;-)

2) Are there some bikes that are easier to put a child seat on than others? (which bikes?)

I'm a new dad (as of three and a half weeks ago), and although it's too early to put my son on my bike right now, I'd love to have that option when the time comes.

I'm also in the market for a mountain bike, so I'll be posting a similar thread there.

Thanks in advance!

logdrum

I think those racks that clip to the seatpost can only take 25 lbs and they are actually heavy tehmselves and may crack the carbon. But I won't be surprised if someone has created a lighweight carbon child carrier and clip for less than 3 lbs but probably would cost a lot of moolah. I think you want your MTB for this application anyway

DieselDan

I would NOT clamp anything to a carbon frame.

mzeffex 

It probably says, or at least at one point although the sticker may have been removed, to never clamp anything on a carbon frame. Anything.

jtarver

BOBike makes a stem mounted front carrier. You'll need an additional part($30 or so) to attach it to a threadless set up. I like mine, started riding with the little dude at 6 months. Helmets don't come any smaller than that.

Flatballer

I wouldn't clamp a child carrier to a carbon seatpost or a lightweight carbon frame.

There's always the trailer option, which is popular with some of the racer dads on here. The style that clamp onto the dropouts put very little weight on the frame, and are generally safe for even the lightest weight carbon frames.

And on being a father!

RON8O

Good point about clamping things to carbon, I'll definitely avoid that happening thanks to your tips.

Have a photo of your setup JT?

roccobike

Go to Craigslist. Find a bike flipper in your neighborhood. Look for a used rigid fork MTB, Trek 800 is a great choice. Buy a good one for $100 or less. Install child seat.

JSWhaler

I use an old rigid mountain bike only on the rails to trails.

msh1283

Am I the only one who is really opposed to child seats on a bike? What happens when you get hit by a car or you have some component failure and have a serious crash? Just seems like a really bad idea to me, given how many things can go wrong that you have little to no control over.

PlatyPius

Kid seats on bikes are one of the worst things I've ever seen. A trailer is 5000% better; and then, only on a MUP or in a neighbourhood with low traffic.

Of the bike-mounted seats, the front mounted one is best.

Ever tried getting on a bike with a rear kid seat? Can't swing your leg over, or you punt Jr. in the head. Can't lean the bike over, or he/she starts wailing like a banshee. And FFS, don't do what I've seen people do a couple of times.... get off the bike, put down the kickstand, and wander into the ice cream store. With Jr. still in the kid seat.

If you're set on a on-the-bike kid seat, plan on getting a step-through frame "city bike".

Flatballer

Getting hit by a car is a concern, but can be mitigated by riding on safe roads and riding defensively. I don't feel like I'm putting myself in peril every time I go ride, so why would I worry about riding with my kid?

If you have just a normal crash, what happens depends on how you're carrying them. In the trailer style, they would be likely to stay upright while you fall over. Even if they don't, they're strapped in and wearing a helmet, it's not like you're going 40 mph off a cliff. If you're carrying them on a seat behind you, they'll probably be fine, they're well secured in the seat, and wearing a helmet. They'll stay strapped in, and the seat will take the brunt of the damage.

I'm not a dad though, so take my opinion with a few dozen grains of salt.

merlinextraligh

Trailers are a hugely better option.

1. hitches are available that hook just to the QR, with no issue of clamping to CF
2. the child is much lower to the ground if you do have a wreck. Falling from the height of child seat is not a good thing for an infant
3. in most wrecks the trailer will stay upright even if you go over
4. the kid has an aluminum roll cage which offers some protection
5. motorists think its cute and respect the kid giving you a wide berth
6. you can stuff the trailer with books, toys, stuffed animals, drinks snacks, etc, keeping the kid happy

You definitely want a trailer not a child seat

Flatballer

You could mount the bike by swinging your leg over the handlebars. It's not that hard if you're semi flexible.

When I become a dad (years down the road hopefully, *knock on wood*, please just not anytime soon!), I'll be using a trailer style. They're closer to the ground if they do somehow tip over, and they're insulated from what might happen to me on the bike.

hairnet

Trailers are great. Motorists treat you with 100x more respect when you tow one around.

merlinextraligh

And as for the risk of riding with a kid, I think you have to use some common sense in picking routes, and what level of risk you'll accept.

However, if you think the route is too dangerous to expose your kid to (with the added protection that the trailer is hugely visible and most motorsits will give the trailer a wide berth) then you have to ask yourself is the simple act of riding yourself beyond the level of risk you're willing to accept.

Moreover, the greatest risk the current generation of kids face is obesity related diseases from inactivity and poor lifestyle choice. Kids born today may have a shorter life expectancy than the previous generation for the first time in American history for this reason.

And the Number one thing that determines whether kids grow up to be active is the example their parents set for them. So what is the bigger risk to your children?

Flatballer

Hmm...

How much are they again? How heavy? Could I just strap one on my bike and put a doll in it, and still get respect?

dnslater

I would go with a mountain bike or hybrid. The upright geometry and riser bars make it much easier to ride. Bikes handle much more different with a 30 lb child over the rear wheel. I couldn't imagine trying to control my road bike with that setup. Standover height is important here too. I would look for a used hybrid or mountain bike to use with the child seat. If you can afford a madone, you can likely spare a few hundred for a bike for your childseat. I wouldn't use a trailer with a carbon bike either. They might not put much weight on the frame, but they stress the rear triangle in ways it wasn't designed for when stopping and starting with kids in tow.

As far as safety goes, modern bikeseats such as the Bell Cocoon fully protect the head and neck when used with a child helmet. Most of us aren't commuting in heavy traffic with kids, more likely just going on slow rides in the neighborhood. Not much danger of a serious component failure or catastrophic accident here. I don't see how it is much less safe than a jogging stroller. If you have children you will understand. You are exponentially more careful when you have kids in the back.

merlinextraligh

We rode for years with a Burley trailer. Worst thing that ever happened was making a U-Turn at the beach on the Tandem we washed out in the sand and fell over at about 2mph. Our daughter looked up from her book in the upright trailer, and asked what are you doing?

Even the in best child seat with her head falling from 5 feet to the pavement, while she might not have suffered significnat injury, it would not have been as good an outcome.

Buy a trailer.

DrPete 

Trailers FTW.

PlatyPius

I agree. Trailers are the best option.

Plus, there's even room in the trailer to put groceries. Take your kid to the store. Let them make friends with the stalk of celery on the ride back.

jdott

Get the Madone and ask the shop to give you a good deal on something like a Soho S (single speed) or one of the FX series bikes (sort of urban/bike path bikes). Hook the trailer up to that - go have fun on the Madone when you get a chance. I did thousands of miles with my son that way - some of the best times ever. Nothing beats 7 or 8 parks in one day without ever getting in a car.