FLCC> Child carriers

[Felix Naschold]

Hi Kelda

In principle I am with Bobby on this: Front mounted seats have the 
advantage of much more interaction with the child; and its more exciting 
for them to look around from a higher vantage point than a trailer and 
having a better view than just the parent's rear. All that said, we have 
a trailer, which I think is the way to go if you want to start them 
early. With good support in the trailer (e.g. the Chariot's infant back 
support) I feel that kids can start going with you much earlier than in 
a front or back mounted seat. Plus, with the trailer you are relatively 
independent of the weather and temperature, if that's a concern to you.

I tried one of the seats from Bobby's link, the I-bert. It seems to have 
better leg/knee clearance than other front mounted seats, but even with 
the I-bert on my 19 inch hardtail with a relatively high handlebar there 
was not enough room for my knees (I am 5'10''). This meant that I had to 
pedal with my knees facing outwards a bit. Perhaps that is ok cruising 
around the flats of downtown, but it was a deal breaker for me, who is 
regularly going up East Hill. I sent mine back, but perhaps it fits you 
and your bike.

I won't talk about safety issues of the different modes of child 
carrying on a bike, as I think that is entirely up to one's own beliefs 
and biking skills and experiences, though you will find rabid 
discussions arguing the pros and cons of each just anywhere you care to 
look (e.g. www.bikeforums.net).

Anyway, I am about to go out for the Sunday family ride at 10am at 
French Lavender (where the East Hill Rec Path crosses Mitchell St) with 
our three year old on the tandem and the eight month old in the trailer.

Good luck working a solution that works for you

Felix

Bob Nunnink wrote:
> HI Kelda,
>
> I rode with my daughter when she was 10 months old. This was ten years
> ago.  I never liked the idea of a trailer. I felt it made me too wide
> and on busy streets I  felt I might be rear ended. I looked at the
> rear mounted baby carriers and felt it made the bike off balanced and
> the child would be stuck looking at my back .  I ended up with a front
> mounted carrier.  The model I bought seems to be out of business but
> if you search on the net you will find many examples.  Here are two
>
> http://www.nextag.com/front-mounted-bike-seat/search-html
>
> This system is very popular in Europe.  I found it when I saw pictures
> of Dutch commuters with their kids.  One strong Dutch women had a
> child in front and one behind. My daughter loved it and we did many
> miles together on my hybrid. My son was born 2 1/2 years later  and my
> daughter moved to the tagalong behind at 3 1/2  with my son in the
> forward baby seat.  This worked great!  When he was too large for the
> baby seat I got a tandem that fit my five year old daughter and he
> moved to the tagalong at three.   Bicycle built for three! At ten my
> daughter is on her bike and my son at eight is my stoker.  This summer
> will be the first year when we will all ride our own bikes.  My kids
> are great cyclists and I credit the tagalong and tandem experience to
> being able to teach both them to ride their own bikes in five minutes.
>  I kid you not.  I remember my own nightmares of my father pushing me
> endlessly up and down the street.  My kids could balance becuase of
> all the riding we had done together. I gave them a push down a gentle
> hill and we have never looked back.
>
> Good luck
>
> Bobby
>
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 9:34 PM, Kelda McGurk <satyagra at hotmail.com> wrote:
>   
>>  Hello everyone.
>>
>>  I am interested in trying to cycle with my young daughter. She is just
>> turning seven months, and though her head support is very good I will be
>> waiting until she is a little older. However, I am trying to investigate the
>> safest possible means by which to carry her.
>>
>>  I am an experienced cyclist, and we would be riding primarily country (and
>> hilly) roads. I have heard a few different opinions, and so would like to to
>> open up a discussion here to learn a little about your experiences. I also
>> am open to the opinion that children should not participate in cycling
>> because of the risk, so please share in that case as well.
>>
>>  One option that interests me is the Sidecarrier made by Chariot. Has anyone
>> used or known someone who has used this system?
>>
>>  Thank you for your input.
>>
>>  Kelda
>>
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-- 


Felix Naschold
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell University
313a Warren Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853, USA