Front seat, rear seat or trailer? With so many options it can be difficult to choose what is best for you and your little one. This site will give you a better idea and understanding of the pros and cons of buying & choosing a child or baby cycle seat.
So what is best for carrying your child on bike? This is a question that has been asked so many times on the internet. In the end, it’s your own judgement that chooses what you believe will be the best for you and your child. Most say when it comes to safety, which we all agree is high priority when it comes to our children, the trailer is the best option, less effect on the cyclist, better protection for child in the event of an accident, and more. But wait a minute, don’t exclude the cycle seat yet, trailers are expensive compared to cycle seats, they take time to setup, require more space in your garage, they also take up more room on roads which can be daunting in busy traffic. Before buying any seat or trailer, make sure its CE approved.
Front Seats (Forward Facing)
Front cycle seats have great advantages over rear seats and trailers. For one you can interact with your child while on the move, your child can see everything unlike in a trailer or on a rear seat, your arms are wrapped around your child giving them a sense of protection. Front seats attach to the bike in a number of ways, some attach to the frame just behind the stem and some attach to the headset area just below the stem. The Kangaroo Weeride has very good reviews and write ups. They attach to the bike by a beam that attaches from the seat post to the front of the frame just below the headset, Because the child seat is located just above the top tube, the bike feels very well balanced. There is a couple of issue’s that might affect the taller person, you might find lack of space between the bike seat and the back of the child seat as well as having to ride with your legs bowing out. The other option is the Ibert safe-t-seat. This attaches to the headset just below the stem, allowing the seat to be further forward and gives more clearance between bike seat and the back of the child seat. The child seat rotates with the steering, some have complained due to the weight being on the headset, when cornering, the bike can feel like it wants to dip into the corner, but like any child seat, this is something you will get used to with in time.
Pros
- Child has excellent visibility
- Easier to get child in and out
- Rider can see and interact with child
- Child arms and legs can not catch wheels
- Better ride for infant when fitted to a front suspension bike
- Feel's safer due to rider’s arms being wrapped around the child
Cons
- High center of gravity
- Spread legs to clear back of seat
- Heavier steering when cornering
- Risk of crushing child in a front end crash
- If no suspension fork on bike, ride can be harsh for baby
- Vehicles merging from behind can not see the child, and give less room
Rear Seats
Rear seats sit behind the bike saddle, usually attached to the frame seat tube (not seat post) or to a rear rack. The Hamax bike seats use a steel hanging carrier that provides an excellent & comfortable ride for the child as well as having a very simple and easy quick release system to remove the seat. A downside to rear seats, is the the child can only see to the sides and not in front due to the cyclist.
Pros
- Head supported unlike front seats
- Can be used from age 9 months up
- Traffic merging from the rear gives more room
- Lower center of gravity compared to front seats
Cons
- High center of gravity
- Interacting not possible
- Child's view restricted
- Some models have a no flex so give a harsh ride for child
Trailers
If you can afford them, buy one, to me they are the safest way to transport your little one, no balance issues for the cyclist, trailers usually have high colour schemes so can be seen by other road users, great comfort and safety for the child, some models can be used from birth and they can carry 2 at a time, plenty of room for toys, food, etc. Be warned, there are very cheap trailers available to buy, they can be very poorly built and use cheap metal, so in the event of an accident will not give adequate protection for your child.
Pros
- Can be used form birth
- Better protection For child
- Rider balance not effected
- Highly visible to motorists
- Excellent comfort & safety
- Some models can carry 2 children
- More stable then using cycle seats
- Plenty of space for food, drink, toys etc
- Child remains dry and cozy during wet weather
- Babies & children can sleep very comfortably
- More distance can be covered compared to cycle seats
Cons
- Expensive to buy
- Interacting not possible
- Risk of roll over when cornering
- Being wide can cause issues on narrow back roads
- Water, dirt, dust & stones can flick up from rear wheel
- More road space required which can irritate some road users