New rider advice, plus child seat recommendation

[GaryC]

Hello folks. First post

I have a Ridgeback Adventure K4 which I've just resurrected from the garage after a 2.5 year lay up. Didn't even use it that much before that. Given it a oil and had a nice shakedown run on Sunday. Everything still seems to work just right.

Anyway, as we now have a boisterous 2yo, wondering how's the best way to take him out on a ride. My wife has a K4 as well and we used to go out together, but not since the baby was on the way.

I've looked at a carriage style thing in Halfords, that looks handy with the cover over but I'm not the most experienced rider, how do they handle? How do they compare with a fixed child seat on the bike frame?

Looking for recommendations to take the little one out really, and anything else.

I'm really looking forward to taking him out. We have some nice safe cycle paths around here so there'd be very little riding on the road, just a little bit through our village before we get to the cycle tracks, then nice few miles around to a country park and back. Sweet

 

[arallsopp]

Just rolled into work, so will have to be brief.

Childseat:
Plus points:

• Easy to fit.
• Reasonably cheap.
• Doesn't change the footprint of the bike.

Negative points:

• 2yo on a conventional childseat puts the center of balance pretty high up. The bike will be more unstable, harder to manoeuvre.
• You can't de-weight the rear end at all for bumps, etc.
• Head is not very well supported if they go to sleep (depends on the 2yo though).
• One of you still needs pannier space for baby gumph. (depends on the 2yo / parent)

Trailer:
Plus points:

• You're not trying to lift the weight of the child when you lean / restore the bike.
• Centre of balance is much lower
• Additional stowage space available.
• Brilliant for shopping.

Negative points:

• Not great if your local cycle paths have pram/moped/trailer stoppers.
• More expensive
• Annoying to store (some fold though).

Those are probably your choices.

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

Teach him to ride? I learned at 3 ! hehe

 

[GaryC]

Teach him to ride? I learned at 3 ! hehe

2 is a little young. He has a trike that he likes

Still won't make for rapid progress for a few years yet, though I expect he'll outpace me all too quickly.

I remember when I was bombing around on my Grifter 25 years ago. Flipping heavy thing that, and with an unreliable slipping twist shift for its three gears.