What type of bike do I need with front child seat?

[Randommoose]

Hi,
I currently have a Gazelle Citygo with a front child seat. I am struggling with cycling and wondering how to make it work better. Uphill, even very slightly, is the big problem, I am fine on the flat. With my child (17kg) on the front I have to keep stopping when doing even slight inclines, this is only getting worse as she gets heavier. When it is just me on the bike I average about 3mph up anything but very slight inclines, it is faster and much easier to walk. I also get exhausted after a cycle - 20 minutes to take my child to preschool and I am exhausted/shaky for the next 2 hours. I am generally fit with walking, pilates, and can do an aerobics class fine so I think it is specifically cycling strength.

My bike is 18.5kg, hub gears (changed to a lower gearset to make it easier), disc brakes, very upright style. I find myself constantly pushing myself rearwards on my saddle and perching on the back of it (even though I have it as far back on the rails as I can) as it feels my pelvis has to be further backwards from the pedals. The steering is very twitchy and I don't like that, I would want something more stable.

I have previous had Schwinn Adventurer GS hybrid (this was the bike most suited for me, I had to add butterfly bars to get more distance), Dawes Galaxy (I wasn't keen on riding in drops, I found this felt quite stiff and bumpy), Boardman Hybrid Pro (the carbon fork snapped and I was scared that might happen again with the new fork so I stopped riding).

What type of bike should I be looking for for something easy to ride, good at carrying weight, not twitchy or doing anything weird as I have low confidence now, ideally easier up hills, I think lower handlebars than these (but not drops)?

I have considered electric and if I still can't manage on a different ordinary bike then I will have to go for that but I want to try a different non-electric bike first.

Thanks,
Moose

 

[alicat]

That saddle seems to be tilted backwards so I'd fix that first and see if it makes a difference.

If you keep wanting to shift backwards, is the bike big enough for you?

 

[Randommoose]

That saddle seems to be tilted backwards so I'd fix that first and see if it makes a difference.

If you keep wanting to shift backwards, is the bike big enough for you?

I had to put it like that so I stopped sliding forwards. It feels flat when I am on it now rather than sloping forwards. I have experimented with it in various different angles and until a few days ago it was in a tilted more forward stage. This tilted more backwards is more comfortable and stops the sliding forwards.

I think the bike is big enough (it is a 21.5" size, Medium). The seat post is pretty low, my leg is very nearly straight if I put my heel on the pedal and I can only touch the ground with one tiptoe. I don't think I could manage a bigger frame. I have never had this wanting to shift back issue with other bikes so I wonder if it is partly as the bike is so upright it brings my pelvis forward compared to a bike with lower handlebars. I have no weight whatsoever through these handlebars.