Please advise a decent bike and a child seat to cycle a 4 year old child to school

[cyberknight]

decathlon let you ride the bike up and down the aisle last time i went in so you get a better feel for a bike .

 

[novice2023]

Why not go with the Decathlon bike straight off if it fits?

Because Carrera seems to be of better quality? Or my impression is wrong? Also Halfords bike is available nearer to our home. Riverside is available in Surrey Quays only.

 

[vickster]

decathlon let you ride the bike up and down the aisle last time i went in so you get a better feel for a bike .

They may still but Wandsworth is a smallish well packed store, Croydon much bigger, easier with a car but not insurmountable from Parsons Green, tube to Wimbledon, then tram to whatever stop it is behind Decathlon
Edit, or Surrey Quays by tube/dlr.
on balance, I’d rather buy a bike from Decathlon than Halfords with their hit and miss ‘experts’

 

[Cycleops]

We visited one Halfords store and their "expert" suggested Pendleton Blossomby Pendleton Blossomby which is kids bike for 9-12 year old. I know nothing about bikes but it felt wrong to me to have a child seat on a kids bike. So, no I am not stuck on Halfords.

That's the problem with Halfords, well known on here. You might get an knowledge assistant but might not, like Dirty Harry said: : Do you feel lucky?'
But the Crossfire 2 isnt a step through is it?

 

[vickster]

That's the problem with Halfords, well known on here. You might get an knowledge assistant but might not, like Dirty Harry said: : Do you feel lucky?'
But the Crossfire 2 isnt a step through is it?

Low crossbar in the ladies I think. A small men’s would be too big for a petite rider

 

[novice2023]

Low crossbar in the ladies I think. A small men’s would be too big for a petite rider

Yes, low crossbar. Step through is to avoid temptation to swing the leg backwards and cause a brain injury to the child.

 

[novice2023]

That's the problem with Halfords, well known on here. You might get an knowledge assistant but might not, like Dirty Harry said: : Do you feel lucky?'
But the Crossfire 2 isnt a step through is it?

I assumed if the bike is badly built it is possible to fix it, isn't it? Though my partner is planning to cycle from shop to home so may not survive the travel if the bike is not properly built.

 

[DRM]

I think Decathlon is the better bet, the two stores I've been in (Leeds & Team Valley at Gateshead) have mechanics that know what they're doing/talking about, and a good selection of bikes, Halfrauds have a very bad rep on here

 

[All uphill]

At the risk of adding confusion is there a bicycle recycling project near you?

If you could get a guaranteed and serviced bike along with some local support and maybe pointers to cycle confidence training that might be an attractive option for you?

Edit, this is in Camberwell
https://thebikeproject.co.uk/about-us/

 

[Cycleops]

I assumed if the bike is badly built it is possible to fix it, isn't it? Though my partner is planning to cycle from shop to home so may not survive the travel if the bike is not properly built.

The problem with Halfords is it's a cycle shop and car parts specialist and being a large organisation they move staff from department to department as needed, plus there don't seem to be many long term employees so people come and go.
So you might get something like : Oh sorry they've sent Kevin to car parts and he's out cycle expert'.
We get reports of stuff like a front fork being put on back to front, badly adjusted brakes and gears. Nothing that can't be fixed but doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[Cycleops]

Yes, low crossbar. Step through is to avoid temptation to swing the leg backwards and cause a brain injury to the child.

A better sequence might be to mount the bike first by tipping it slightly, straddle, then lift the child onto the seat.

 

[Jenkins]

A better sequence might be to mount the bike first by tipping it slightly then lift the child onto the seat.

Unless using a front mounted child's seat, there does seem to be an obvious problem with this.

 

[novice2023]

At the risk of adding confusion is there a bicycle recycling project near you?

If you could get a guaranteed and serviced bike along with some local support and maybe pointers to cycle confidence training that might be an attractive option for you?

Edit, this is in Camberwell
https://thebikeproject.co.uk/about-us/

I actually own a folding bike but it is not suitable to fit a child seat.

 

[novice2023]

I think Decathlon is the better bet, the two stores I've been in (Leeds & Team Valley at Gateshead) have mechanics that know what they're doing/talking about, and a good selection of bikes, Halfrauds have a very bad rep on here

Agree, Decathlon feels better. I messaged to Decathlon support today and felt they know what they are doing. They sent me the links to pannier rack required and suitable child seats. Halfords (Halfrauds ) support could not answer my questions, told me to go to the nearest shop.

 

[novice2023]

What about Liv Flourish 3 Flourish 3? And Moorecycles in Twickenham? Can a child seat be fitted on this bike? Is this bike better than Carrera?