Child Bike Seat

[Rhysito]

Hi all,
I want to cycle with my 14 month baby girl. I use a gravel bike for getting around london and I am wandering if anyone has experience of using a child seat on a bike with drop down handle-bars. I am currently using a Cannondale Topstone 105 and ideally would be able to mount a seat on pannier rack.
Please let me know if you have any advise or recommendations,
Thanks!
Peace and love,
Steve

 

[straas]

I use one of the hamax branded seats - I had originally wanted a rack mounted seat, but since using the hamax seat I've noticed there's a fair bit of bounce in the bracket which takes some of the worst out of the road.

I think a rack mounted seat would be a bit of a harsher ride for the child.

 

[JohnHughes307]

It is many years now since I used to ride with my son in a seat on the back - ye gods, it is about thirty years😱

The best way to do it imho is on a mixte step-through frame - it makes mounting, dismounting and stopping in traffic so much easier - especially as the child gets heavier.

Go on - an excuse for n+1, possibly a project what's not to like? There are plenty on eBay 😀

 

[BrumJim]

I did, but the problem isn't the dropped handlebars, it is the skinny tyres associated with it.

My bike was a touring bike, so had 700 x 32 (or 35, can't be too sure), but with 23s or even 25s, stability as well as wheel strength is a problem.

In terms of mounting, the rear rack is very fixed, and therefore any bumps from the rear tyre go straight into the rack with very little damping. Most seats suspend off the seat tube, and therefore (due to long stays) have a certain amount of springiness which makes the ride bearable. My first effort had the seat mounted off the tube, but resting on the rear rack, and that was unbearable for my son.

 

[MichaelW2]

I need one for my 10.5Kg 2 year old on a Trek mixte frame.
Hamax seem like the most popular brand. Any recommendations.
Is it OK to get them used?

 

[Tom B]

I've ridden many thousands of miles (about 6000 according to Strava) with my two (from the age of 9 months to 4 years in a hamax caress seat. I have the poncho cover too. Firstborn hated the poncho, second born loves it.

We go to nursery twice a week, both love it, but first born now has his own bike.

Most I've done is 65 miles in a single ride - Barton upon Humber to Hornsea, Camel Trail, peak district trails and so on. A regular ride with second born (now 3 is the Preston Guild Wheel loop)

I much prefer it to the front seat or trailers.


Top tips is to mount it as low as possible to keep the CG. It'll feel weird at first but you soon get used to it

Dont swing your leg over the back - the child wont thank you! - Ive sort of perfected a giant goose step over the bike.

Cobbles/sets are as rough as you want to go (I run 28c marathon tyres at about 100psi)

With the seat on I rune extra psi in the back

I have two mounts so Mrs B has one on her bike too.
The downside is that the seat and mount rail is an unwieldly pig to pack up in the car.