Mums' Corner

Cycling with Little Ones

All you need to know about how to cycle with your little one, from 'The Girls' Bicycle Handbook' by Caz Nicklin.

Age range: 9 months to 6 years (maximum weight: 22kg).

How do they attach? These seats either attach to the rear rack or have a mounting bracket that clamps on to your seat tube. The seat then has poles that slot into the bracket and hold it firmly in place. I would suggest a strong and stable utility bike or city hybrid with a rear rack, especially if the child is 10 kilograms or more. These seats tend to be quite bulky as they have to support the child and ensure they can’t fall out. You can get rear seats for children of five years or over that are of a simpler, lighter construction.

Pros:

• Higher maximum weight and more space than a front seat, so your child can use it for longer.

• Easy to get hold of and reasonably priced.

• Adjustable feet holders to cater for your growing child.

Cons:

• Sometimes you can’t use with panniers on the back of your bike, as these seats may cover the rack completely.

• It’s difficult to chat or check your child is OK, as you have to twist around to do so.

• Cycling with an empty child seat can be annoying as it may bounce and rattle.
On the plus side, as long as you tighten the straps securely, you can carry a whole load of shopping in them when your child is elsewhere.

The test ride: Florence and I have used a rear seat since she was two and a half, and we still use it now at four and a half years old. It’s very convenient for regular trips as it gets us to our destination much quicker than walking or taking the buggy (two to four being the age when most kids outgrow the buggy but get tired easily when walking). The problem I have with it is when dismounting – you have to shift the bike and get it leaning against something stable to get your child off safely and this is quite a strain with a growing girl and a heavy bike. My daughter has never liked it as much as the front-mounted seat. This may be to do with that fact she is staring at my back – not an ideal position for a very chatty, attention-seeking four-year-old, but I am confident it will last her until she is ready for her own bike.