Hello! I'm new (as I'm sure is about to become very apparent!).
You lot seem to be a knowledgable bunch. I've got a lovely 18 month-old son who I would love to take cycling (I've got a pretty cheap mountain bike with smooth road tyres - but it makes me happy!). However, I'm not sure if a trailer would be better than a rear mounted seat or vise-versa! I've done a bit of a search about previous posts and people seem keen on trailers, but there doesn't seem to be anything on "compare and contrast"? Any advice would be gratefully received!
Child seat Vs Trailer
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keepontriking
- Posts: 472
- Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 9:40pm
- Location: Hampshire
- Contact:
We have used both, having brought up four youngsters, and the trailer wins hands down, for safety, practicality, handling and fun.
The biggest drawback of the childseat was the adverse effect it has on bike handling. With the centre of gravity being raised so high, the seat can make the back of the cycle sway - honking up hills becomes quite difficult.
But it is wheeling the bike that causes most problems. If the bike accidentally leans slightly the whole back can swing around and fall sideways. Parking is not easy either - never lean a bike with a childseat up against a wall - those little hands will push against the wall and the bike will fall.
And even worse, when cycle camping where do you store those wine bottles.
A trailer (with an axle hitch) affects towing cycle much less. It is very visible and drivers take much more care giving wide berths. They can be parked easily, although more space is required, and littl'uns will love them. When halting for picnics the youngsters can be left inside seated if they wish - and if they have fallen asleep just let them continue their kip. A drawback is that they are so flexible for luggage that you may end taking far more toys than you would have otherwise. Beware, there always seems a space to be able to fit something else in.
Low gears are recommended.
We used a Burley and pulled it behind solos and tandems throughout Europe and the UK, including mountain areas.
It was a sad day when we sold it.
Childseat or trailer? Its a nobrainer.
The biggest drawback of the childseat was the adverse effect it has on bike handling. With the centre of gravity being raised so high, the seat can make the back of the cycle sway - honking up hills becomes quite difficult.
But it is wheeling the bike that causes most problems. If the bike accidentally leans slightly the whole back can swing around and fall sideways. Parking is not easy either - never lean a bike with a childseat up against a wall - those little hands will push against the wall and the bike will fall.
And even worse, when cycle camping where do you store those wine bottles.
A trailer (with an axle hitch) affects towing cycle much less. It is very visible and drivers take much more care giving wide berths. They can be parked easily, although more space is required, and littl'uns will love them. When halting for picnics the youngsters can be left inside seated if they wish - and if they have fallen asleep just let them continue their kip. A drawback is that they are so flexible for luggage that you may end taking far more toys than you would have otherwise. Beware, there always seems a space to be able to fit something else in.
Low gears are recommended.
We used a Burley and pulled it behind solos and tandems throughout Europe and the UK, including mountain areas.
It was a sad day when we sold it.
Childseat or trailer? Its a nobrainer.
i'm with keepontriking - he's just about said it all. The only things i would add are
1. a trailer is much harder work than a kiddieseat. We've got a cheapie raleigh branded one. Great for the money and durable, but bl##dy hard work. Ok for pub trips/nature trails etc, but wouldn't want to venture out with it more than 10 miles. Have had to put gears back onto the single speed MTB to cope. With the kiddie seat, I could manage shorter clubruns, although, you must stay in the saddle on climbs.
2. a trailer can be a hassle on some trails where they have installed the anti motorbike barriers and the trailer is too wide.
there's a thread on this subject on the bikeradar forum, where there are more views if you're interested.
1. a trailer is much harder work than a kiddieseat. We've got a cheapie raleigh branded one. Great for the money and durable, but bl##dy hard work. Ok for pub trips/nature trails etc, but wouldn't want to venture out with it more than 10 miles. Have had to put gears back onto the single speed MTB to cope. With the kiddie seat, I could manage shorter clubruns, although, you must stay in the saddle on climbs.
2. a trailer can be a hassle on some trails where they have installed the anti motorbike barriers and the trailer is too wide.
there's a thread on this subject on the bikeradar forum, where there are more views if you're interested.
I've also got a cheapie Raleigh trailer and would agree that it is hard work. (I sometimes wonder whether the more expensive ones would be less hard work) But it is fun and it gets us out. We have twins so a bike seat was out of the question but I've never fancied them too much because of the high centre of gravity. On the down side a whole load of routes would be out of the question because of the obstacles that councils put in our way.
As an aside you might have less time with the bike seat/trailer than you would think. My eldest daughter was on a tag-along from 2 3/4 and the bike shop wouldn't see us a seat as she was too heavy.
So probably I'd say get a bike trailer but don't spend too much on one as it might not get used for long.
As an aside you might have less time with the bike seat/trailer than you would think. My eldest daughter was on a tag-along from 2 3/4 and the bike shop wouldn't see us a seat as she was too heavy.
So probably I'd say get a bike trailer but don't spend too much on one as it might not get used for long.
"Marriage is a wonderful invention; but then again so is the bicycle puncture repair kit." - Billy Connolly
I've got a seat for our lad (2 1/2 now), which we've been using for a couple of years. I get on really well with it. The main advantages for me are that he gets a much more interesting view (cf recumbent vs. 'standard' bike debates) and I can chat to him, point out stuff etc. (although you need to be careful not to give others the wrong impression when pointing!). We're off on two week tour tomorrow with him on the seat, and I'll be pulling a trailer with our tent etc. Another plus point is that the bike is shorter, which makes it easier to pull out, e.g., at roundabouts.
On the down side, as others have pointed out, handling can be tricky - not so much when riding normally (my lad quickly learnt to sit reasonably still, and I only notice particularly jerky movements), but when pushing or getting out of the saddle. The former is difficult, but the latter is almost impossible, unless you have excellent bike handlling skills and a strong upper body! Having said that, with mountain bike gears it shouldn't be necessary. Leaning the bike against a wall is fine for getting them in and out of the seat - just don't leave them there! You might also notice the steering becoming a little lighter, and although I no longer conciously notice this, a bar bag is useful, both for keeping stuff in and putting a bit more weight back over the front wheel.
On the down side, as others have pointed out, handling can be tricky - not so much when riding normally (my lad quickly learnt to sit reasonably still, and I only notice particularly jerky movements), but when pushing or getting out of the saddle. The former is difficult, but the latter is almost impossible, unless you have excellent bike handlling skills and a strong upper body! Having said that, with mountain bike gears it shouldn't be necessary. Leaning the bike against a wall is fine for getting them in and out of the seat - just don't leave them there! You might also notice the steering becoming a little lighter, and although I no longer conciously notice this, a bar bag is useful, both for keeping stuff in and putting a bit more weight back over the front wheel.
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Paul Power
- Posts: 217
- Joined: 2 Feb 2007, 12:52pm
Doc,
Your post concerns me when you say you've got a cheap mountain bike and you're considering either carrying a child, or towing a trailer.
You should attempt neither until you get yourself a quality bicycle. The reason bicycles are cheap, is that they the components used in their manufacturer are cheap. So you've got cheap rims, and a cheap frame, which generally adds up to a rather poor combination when taking extra loads.
In my experience, (as a cycle retailer, cycle instructor and cyclist) the majority of cheap mountain bikes on the market these days are not suitable for carrying/towing children.
So your first priority should be to get your bike right. Buy a quality new, or if you're budget doesn't reach it, used bicycle and start from there.
Trailerwise - Croozer and Charriot trailers are the market leaders. If you're budget can go to a Charriot then you're buying real quality that's not easy to tow, but children love.
Again look for used if you're budget doesnt go to new.
Regarding trailers v carriers - there big advantage of towing your children in a trailer is that in the event that you fall off your bike, your child won't fall with you.
I think the advice given by the previous posters sums it all up - however do get your bike sorted out.
When it comes to cycling, cheap ain't cheerful, it's downright dangerous and I really do hope we see a day coming soon when cycle manufacturers stop treating bicycles like toys and built them for the demanding and robust conditions that we face out there.
Best wishes in any event!
Paul
Your post concerns me when you say you've got a cheap mountain bike and you're considering either carrying a child, or towing a trailer.
You should attempt neither until you get yourself a quality bicycle. The reason bicycles are cheap, is that they the components used in their manufacturer are cheap. So you've got cheap rims, and a cheap frame, which generally adds up to a rather poor combination when taking extra loads.
In my experience, (as a cycle retailer, cycle instructor and cyclist) the majority of cheap mountain bikes on the market these days are not suitable for carrying/towing children.
So your first priority should be to get your bike right. Buy a quality new, or if you're budget doesn't reach it, used bicycle and start from there.
Trailerwise - Croozer and Charriot trailers are the market leaders. If you're budget can go to a Charriot then you're buying real quality that's not easy to tow, but children love.
Again look for used if you're budget doesnt go to new.
Regarding trailers v carriers - there big advantage of towing your children in a trailer is that in the event that you fall off your bike, your child won't fall with you.
I think the advice given by the previous posters sums it all up - however do get your bike sorted out.
When it comes to cycling, cheap ain't cheerful, it's downright dangerous and I really do hope we see a day coming soon when cycle manufacturers stop treating bicycles like toys and built them for the demanding and robust conditions that we face out there.
Best wishes in any event!
Paul
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PrettyBoyTim
- Posts: 39
- Joined: 20 Jun 2007, 1:47pm
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eileithyia
- Posts: 8445
- Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 6:46pm
- Location: Horwich Which is Lancs :-)
Hi, we used both and saw going from trailer to seat as a progression for our son. As a baby he was in the trailer and into a seat as soon as the weather improved and he was able to sit up properly ie around 7 months. It was a damp spring so he was in and out of trailer/seat anyway. Come the winter it was back to trailer for the extra protection from the weather and cold air.
To be honest I cannot say I found the handling of the seat a problem and Andrew was in it until he was 31/2. The trailer, however was like a dead weight on hills and quite slow. It also turned ex into a very grumpy person as he could not go as far as he wanted and he felt it slowed him up considerably, turned cycling trips into a bit of a nightmare, even though we shared the towing of it.
There is also the draw back that it does not easily go through gates etc on cycle paths, requiring unhitching and manhandling, not something I could have done by myself if out and about, so meant I was restricted to using roads only.
No doubt you will find as many opinions as there are people on here and you will have to sift all the facts and make up your own mind.
To be honest I cannot say I found the handling of the seat a problem and Andrew was in it until he was 31/2. The trailer, however was like a dead weight on hills and quite slow. It also turned ex into a very grumpy person as he could not go as far as he wanted and he felt it slowed him up considerably, turned cycling trips into a bit of a nightmare, even though we shared the towing of it.
There is also the draw back that it does not easily go through gates etc on cycle paths, requiring unhitching and manhandling, not something I could have done by myself if out and about, so meant I was restricted to using roads only.
No doubt you will find as many opinions as there are people on here and you will have to sift all the facts and make up your own mind.
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melw1
I've had two trailers now, the first was a cheapy from Halfords. I wasn't that impressed with the quality or strength of it, though it was fine for trips through the woods or something - just that I didn't trust it on the roads. My current trailer is a Chariot - and absolutely fab. Very sturdy yet light. Also very comfy for the children. Very versatile too as it converts into a "proper" stroller. I have a 3 and also a 1 1/2 yr old in it. I have also had a child seat but just did not feel stable with it. Feel much happier with the trailer. Plus the advent of the baby meant I couldn't take two kids easily on my bike without a trailer.
Although it is a bind taking it on some cycle trails due to the width, I find manoevering it not too bad as parts of it come apart easily (due to chariot's good design) so can quicly take it off the bike, take off the towing arm if necessary. Have been known to take off one wheel to make it just that bit narrower and manhandle it that way through the obstacles. On the flat you really don't know you have it behind you. Downhills are just that little bit faster it seems
Uphills - well it's just good exercise!
On the road everyone seems to keep clear - they are still an unusual sight around this part of the country. In fact i feel safer when towing than when not towing!
Many of the other benefits have already been pointed out - also they can take their toys and they can't get thrown out of the trailer due to the mesh screen. Definite bonus! My two little ones absolutely love their trailer. They go in it most days and greet it with glee. Wish I could say the same for the car journeys...
Just to add - the chariot trailers seem big enough to about 6 yrs old so you can get plenty of use out it. Whilst I'm sure my kids will love a trailer bike etc later, there are many times when they just want to have a snooze and relax.
Sorry to ramble on - in case you haven't guessed - I rather like my trailer!
Although it is a bind taking it on some cycle trails due to the width, I find manoevering it not too bad as parts of it come apart easily (due to chariot's good design) so can quicly take it off the bike, take off the towing arm if necessary. Have been known to take off one wheel to make it just that bit narrower and manhandle it that way through the obstacles. On the flat you really don't know you have it behind you. Downhills are just that little bit faster it seems
Uphills - well it's just good exercise!
On the road everyone seems to keep clear - they are still an unusual sight around this part of the country. In fact i feel safer when towing than when not towing!
Many of the other benefits have already been pointed out - also they can take their toys and they can't get thrown out of the trailer due to the mesh screen. Definite bonus! My two little ones absolutely love their trailer. They go in it most days and greet it with glee. Wish I could say the same for the car journeys...
Just to add - the chariot trailers seem big enough to about 6 yrs old so you can get plenty of use out it. Whilst I'm sure my kids will love a trailer bike etc later, there are many times when they just want to have a snooze and relax.
Sorry to ramble on - in case you haven't guessed - I rather like my trailer!
Cheap mountainbikes are usually quite robust, but very heavy. I don't think the extra weight of a seat and child will make much difference to the durability and performance.
We never had a trailer but managed OK with a seat. One disadvantage of a seat i found, was that my son used to pull my shorts down as we were riding along! - cured by wearing braces or bib shorts. i'd get a seat that you can strap them into well. If they fall asleep, they can hang over the side.
With a seat, handling is OK when they are small, but gets a bit tricky when they get bigger. From the age of 4, both of ours graduated to a trailer bike and the eldest was on a solo at 5, doing rides up to 20 miles.
We never had a trailer but managed OK with a seat. One disadvantage of a seat i found, was that my son used to pull my shorts down as we were riding along! - cured by wearing braces or bib shorts. i'd get a seat that you can strap them into well. If they fall asleep, they can hang over the side.
With a seat, handling is OK when they are small, but gets a bit tricky when they get bigger. From the age of 4, both of ours graduated to a trailer bike and the eldest was on a solo at 5, doing rides up to 20 miles.
Burley D'Lite trailer, second hand off E-bay, with 2yr-old twins. Tows very well behind wifey's dutch bike (a Gazelle) for local trips, and even better behind the tandem - with two people pulling you hardly notice the trailer, except on steep hills.
Downside, if there is one, is that it's a little too easy to take lots of things with you in the back of the trailer. Goes against all my old lightweight cycle touring values!
With twins we didn't even consider child seats, so can't compare, but those people who have used them seem to spend a lot of time being careful not to let their bike fall over...
Downside, if there is one, is that it's a little too easy to take lots of things with you in the back of the trailer. Goes against all my old lightweight cycle touring values!
With twins we didn't even consider child seats, so can't compare, but those people who have used them seem to spend a lot of time being careful not to let their bike fall over...
Anthony Cartmell (also known as "admin" when posting in a more official capacity on this Forum)
Kangaroo trike, Windcheetah recumbent, Batavus dutch bike, Dawes Galaxy Twin tandem, Pashley unicycle
http://www.fonant.com – Quality web sites.
Kangaroo trike, Windcheetah recumbent, Batavus dutch bike, Dawes Galaxy Twin tandem, Pashley unicycle
http://www.fonant.com – Quality web sites.
One comment I have with Bike trailers is it can be hard to hitch the bike up without it falling over. This doesn't hurt your children but can be bad for your bike. I have a stand and the kids wriggling to get in/out can cause it to fold up and tip the bike over.
But I still like the trailer and with twins there was no other option
But I still like the trailer and with twins there was no other option
"Marriage is a wonderful invention; but then again so is the bicycle puncture repair kit." - Billy Connolly
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melw1
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stof
Most of it has been said so I won't repeat other than to add, having used both a co-pilot and a Chariot trailer, we now only have the trailer.
Given your bike, you may find carrying stuff a problem. You're out of the serious nappy stage, but spare clothes, puncture-kit, pump, food and water for even a short trip have to go somewhere. When I had a child-seat on my (£200) MTB I found that I couldn't really use a rucksack without it getting in my son's way. As there were no front rack mounts I moved it to a touring bike and could combine with front panniers. THe bike was also a little more stable.
Still not as good as a trailer tho!
Given your bike, you may find carrying stuff a problem. You're out of the serious nappy stage, but spare clothes, puncture-kit, pump, food and water for even a short trip have to go somewhere. When I had a child-seat on my (£200) MTB I found that I couldn't really use a rucksack without it getting in my son's way. As there were no front rack mounts I moved it to a touring bike and could combine with front panniers. THe bike was also a little more stable.
Still not as good as a trailer tho!