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So I'm looking at getting a new commuter and would prefer a drop bar do it all bike, probably a Genesis of some sort.
Would also like to use a child's seat at the front just for family rides by the river or away on hols, not on busy roads.
Anyone got experience of doing it this way rather than on the back- any thoughts/feedback? Not a dealbreaker but thought I'd ask...
Recommendations of particular brands/models also appreciated - for a 1 year old.
A weeride probably wouldn't work, your chest would be pressing on the back of their head.
Dang. Wee ride would be the thing I'm looking for.
Looks like a Planet X Kaffenback would be an ideal bike for this but our Bike to Work scheme is Evans only.
I've mounted my weeride on the cross bike and its pretty comfy, can't do as tight a turn as on the mountain bike but that's never really been a problem when actually riding. I prefer it to the mountain bike and went on some 2 hour rides with a 3 year old last summer in France.
Guess it all depends on you bike set up and body height, reach etc
That's pretty interesting meeeeeeeeeeee.
What cross bike have you got? Will have a look at geometry if I can find it.
I just bought a weeride and tried it out yesterday. Our daughter is 10 months, so still pretty small but she loved it.
I fitted it onto an old town bike - it's a Marin frame set up as a flat bar roadie hybrid thing. It's not a particularly long and low bike but her head was bumping my chest a bit. I'm going to have to get a shorter higher stem and / or swept bars to make it work well. Also I had to ride a bit splay legged even with the seat as far forward as possible. It's not really going to make a good set up for any demanding riding.
I think it places quite a lot of limitations on bike set up. I'm going to have a play around and I'm sure I'll get it better but I think the Weeride will be for short local rides. We have a burley trailer for bigger rides anyway.
I think I'm happy with the Weeride but if I didn't have the trailer I'd probably wish I'd gone for a rear mounted one just because it would be easier to ride and fit. That said it was really cool riding along chatting to her and watching her take the world in. It's possible for the baby to look up and see you which is nice for them.
I can't see it working unless you have a short frame and incredibly long arms. My Weeride is on a 2009 Boardman HT with a 60mm stem. I already had the shorter stem on the bike but I wouldn't want the original 100mm one on there. My daughter is almost 3 though and quite tall - your 1 year old might fit now but I doubt it in 18 months!
It's a Focus mares from wiggle , can't remember the exact size I ordered will, I'm never any good at knowing stuff like that but...
Just did a quick measure for you.
Seat tube - Bb centre to top tube centre = 51cm
Top tube -Seat tube centre to head tube centre = 53.5cm
Stem - centre bolt to bars centre = 9cm
I'm about 173cm tall, and my 3 year old is probably about average height in her class. She was nearly three and a half when I was in France with her.
The cross bike I have is shorter than my normal road bike, don't think it would work on that...and I wouldn't want to mount it on my nice carbon road frame anyway!
One thing to check is if the front clamp will fit on the frame. There's very little height too clamp round on the head tube of some drop bar frames.
That Mares looks like a really nice bike. Thanks for measuring up as well, appreciated.
I've got some spare wide drop bars and could obviously get a short stem for cheap, so might work like that...
Did think that the weeride looked pretty awkward to pedal with, even in their own promotional vid.
Any other front end child seats being used by peeps on here?
heres a really bad photo of it! Blurry as camera had been in my sweaty jersey back pocket and had condensation on the lens!!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22750089@N02/24586133290/in/dateposted-public/
Wee ride here with my cross bike. Pinnacle akrose from Evans. No problems with it medium sized frame.
Sounds a bit more promising then.
Nice photo, looks like a fun trip!
Can probably do it then.
Bigger tyres = more comfort for the kids.
What about a seat that goes in front of the bars? Yepp?
Or behind the saddle?
Seat in front of bars sounds like it'd affect the steering and generally be less protected. Behind saddle is doable but like the idea of her seeing what was going on rather than just banging her head against my back.
Looks like I can borrow one from a mate so will give it a go