Mom / Dad-mobiles, Kid-transporters

I think you’ve just got to be careful if you’ve got a bike with a paper thin seat tube. I wouldn’t have any problem sticking it on my mtb because it’s just straight gauge alloy; I wouldn’t risk it on my GT though as the alloy is just too thin.

Yeh you see some dreadful tag alongs that were probably never level. I highly recommend the follow me tandem https://www.followmetandem.co.uk/ as it attaches at dropout so you can still use your rear rack and it’s mega stable

The follow me tandem does look good. I had one on my radar till I picked up a Big Dummy. I can now stick their bike on that if there's a problem

Does anyone know of any good trailers that attach to a seat post or pannier, rather than an axle. When my 6 week old gets bigger I'd like to stick her in a trailer. I had a double trailer for my kids and it was ace but it's long gone now. Only need a single trailer. But I'd like to tow the trailer with the Big Dummy and it's not possible to use an axle mount due to the U Tubes on the side. There's a chance I'll tow the trailer on my other bikes as well, like on holidays, so mounting to those too would be good, but for local stuff it's likely to be the BD. Have some time before it's needed but means I can keep an eye out for a bargain

Damn. That does look good. But I have ordered the other already (off to Devon on 02nd August, so was in a bit of a hurry to get it sorted and tested beforehand).

I'm going to be adding an upfront Thule seat soon to my bike along with the already fantastic Thule rear one. Has anyone advice or ridden with two yet?

The bike is an old Ritchey tubed Rockhopper with super wide and upright bars

Ridden with a Yepp maxi (these are Thule now, I think) and a WeeRide up front. It's a bit top-heavy and wobbles when they move. But it's very doable for short-ish rides. I'd say the main problem is your knees bashing on the front seat and/or remembering not to kick either child getting off!

What age do you think a child can go in a child seat on a bike? Also any advice on what styles are best?

Cheers.

12m is standard advice but depends partly on neck strength - however, what I read suggested that the vibrations were a concern younger than that. I first carried ours at 11 mo for short trips only with big tyres for cushioning

Hamax say from 9 months for many of their rear seats. I think the front seats it's supposed to be about a year.

I prefer a front mounted seat (currently using a weeride) as I like having my kid in front of me where I can easily chat to them and we can stop and point at things and it feels like more of a shared experience, however I know that people do have issues with the slightly knees-out pedalling style that a front-mounted seat requires.

Cheers.

I always preferred the idea of the front mount and was looking at the Bobike One Mini.

Do you know what the purpose of the massive pedestal thing in front of the seat is? It isn't obvious from their website:

Good point on the vibrations. I hadn't really considered that. Hugo7 jnr is pretty solid but probably still a bit young.

We've found a nursery that's a bit of a ball ache to get to, so cycling seems like a viable option which would be lovely as I really miss it. Initially I wondered about a cargo bike from a safety pov as we're outside London. But actually a seat would be easier and cheaper to try out.

We had a weeride and much like @Eejit we really enjoyed the up front aspect of it. We started at about 4 months until he outgrew it at about 18 months or so. The knees out thing does depend on your frame style (sit up and begs are better apparently) but on a normal road style frame after about 2 miles it becomes a proper pain in the knees. And hips.

Thanks. The likely bike would be an old cx bike:

(set up differently though)

The pedestal bit is for them to hold on to, or - if your kid is that way inclined - to rest their head out when they conk out. My kid is a giant sleep resister so has never used it for the latter purpose.

What's people's thoughts on trailers? I was going to get one of the Hamax rear seats, but with number two on the way, I'm thinking further ahead to when I'd take both.

Anything to worry about with using a trailer on an aluminium bike?

Nope. Used my trailer on ally and steel bikes, makes absolutely no difference

Just what I wanted to hear.

what's the thoughts on this?

Halfords double child bike trailer

Is it worth to spend a little more?

bobike one mini: been using it since she was 7 months (I’m from Belgium) and still using it now she’s 2,5. Absolutely love it. Attaches to the stem so it turns so it can be further to the front so no cycling with your knees out.

I use a Thule Yepp Mini (front). I have used this from he was 7 months.

I think the official recommendation in Denmark is that when the child can sit unsupported, it is old enough for a bike seat.

Thanks. They're a bit cheaper, so that appeals.

Got to be honest, though I do worry about the safety of all of this - from the vibrations and head lolling, to general road safety.

I used a different double trailer, can't remember which one now, but similarish

It's definitely not as good, build quality wise, as the more expensive ones but it'll let you ride just as much as the more expensive ones

I modified my one slightly to make it comfier, I put more support under the seat using blankets and polystyrene and I put a piece of thick carpet on the floor. This made it much warmer than the original design and the kids would turn the trailer into a furnace. In the winter they'd go in there with their drinks and snacks and chill out then fall asleep. I'd ride around with the dog towing them along. They'd sleep comfortably for about an hour. When I got home I'd open the flap and the heat coming out of it was incredible

Many fond memories of towing the kids along. Now have a cargo bike to put the kids on, my commuter with a rack that I can take someone on, and a Brompton with the IT chair to carry someone.

There are few greater joys than cycling around with your kids!

My main concern with the front mounted child seat is that no bastard who is driving up behind you can see you have a child on board (for some weird reason, I believe that car drivers will be less likely to close pass you if they can see a kid, but maybe I've got too much faith in people). After one too many close passes (which I found very upsetting and caused me to become extremely angry and quite confrontational which is really not what you need when you have a child on the bike) I fitted a dorky 'child on board' flag to the seat stay, which can be popped out when on the roads. This seems to have done the trick. But is very dorky.

I don't think anyone ever notices my rear child seat, and it pisses me off no end.

I think that pretty much sums it up. I have a normal Hamax mounted up front on my cargo bike facing backwards and it's amazing how many drivers start a close pass, clearly make eye contact with my child and think twice and back out. I think it helps that I am a huge vehicle as well, and drivers tend to feel more threatened by that.

I'd wondered what effect a 'child on board' flag would have. In the driving fraternity, there's a general hatred towards people with them in the back window and there are plenty of drivers who carry out punishment passes on them out of principle. My main worry would be that by displaying any kind of vulnerability like that on a bike encourages the kind of driver who feels like if they teach enough lessons to weak looking cyclists they might eventually stop them cycling. I know my logic sounds a bit twisted there but, seriously, that is how a lot of people think.

But I should clarify that 99.9% of the time I have a great time on the road with my little-un onboard.

When the kids sit on the back of my Big Dummy I make whoever is at the back wear a hi vis jacket, it should be fairly obvious they're a child from the sheer size difference but still doesn't provide any guarantees. So far have had relatively reasonable passes but I make a point of going on quiet roads where possible

For a short while I thought about writing 'child on board' on the back of the hi vis but have so far refrained as it might look a little silly

A big flag sticking out the back might help a bit...

Yeh I had a flag that flopped out to the side a little and that seems to help.

Does anyone have any recommendations on who makes good cycling/ outdoors kit for kids? My eldest is nearly 5 but rides a lot in all weathers and usually just in his normal school coat that catches on his seat and must be sweaty as hell!