Child carrying advice please

[David Reuteler]

In rec.bicycles.misc S o r n i <[email protected]> wrote:
> Jeez, between you and Monique, EVERYBODY'S PICKING ON ME!

i've been consciously holding back, fwiw. i'll be back when there's a
lull.
--
david reuteler
[email protected]

 

[pas]

JohnB wrote:
> pas wrote:
>>
>> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/misc/babyseat.jpg
>>
>> here's how they do it in some countries. We built one like this
>> ourselves for around town, it's actually much more stable than over
>> the back wheel as the CG doesn't change a whole lot and the kid is
>> inside your arms.
>
> I've never liked this kind of arrangement as it places the child at
> some risk in the case of an emergency or sudden stop. At least the
> example you show has a rigid back that should help prevent the adult
> crushing into the child. the worst are those clamp on saddles that go
> on the top tube with two foot supports attached to the down tube.
> However I don't like the idea of the child being flung forward onto
> the handlebar clutter or worse, which even with strapping is possible
> with some arrangements. At least if they are on the back they have a
> soft back to knock into.
>
> John B

trust me, it's much more stable than the baby on the back of the bike.
After all, three million third world cyclists building them at home can't be
wrong!! The one we built had a little seat on the top tube, foot rest and
no back the kid just held onto the handlebars. I don't know about trails but
it was great for the bike path

The rear tyre thing is just - bad. You have to remember to compensate for
the weight of the kid everytime you stop. The kids' weight, and you could be
riding with an extra 30# back there, will really throw you off even if you
have to swerve. If you are really worried about "risk of emergency stop"
or a kid being flung around, perhaps you should not take your baby out at
all... there's going to be risk no matter what.

penny

 

[JohnB]

doctormick wrote:
>
> You've probably seen similar messages before but I can't find the
> advice I'm after in any archive.
>
> My wife wants to buy a bike to go cycling with my ten and seven year
> old daughters but also want to be able to take my 21 month old
> daughter with her. However we can't decide whether she should go for a
> seat on the back or a trailer.
> Can anyone tell me from experience which is the best/safest way to
> carry my 21 month old daughter. She weichs approx 28 - 30 lbs

We went through almost exactly the same scenario with the result that I
would fully recommend you take the trailer option.
We took three of ours from six weeks onwards in a trailer then onto the
backs of tandems/tandem trike.
Our first daughter went into a kiddie seat from which we learned their
drawbacks. The centre of gravity is so high that it had a big effect on
handling, making the bike top heavy. Wheeling the bike became difficult
and great care had to be taken when parking.
Parking the trailer was a doddle.

My wife also rode a tandem with one child on the rear using kiddiecranks
and pulling the trailer behind with our youngest.
Another big advantage is that they can take other luggage - shopping,
teddy bears, camping equipment.
At 21 months you may need a light car seat strapped into the trailer,
depending which model is used (we had a Burley).

When able to pedal, say about 3 1/2 to 4yrs old I would also recommend
moving on to a tandem rather than using the pull along trailerbikes.
This will develop pedalling techniques whereas a trailerbike can have
the child just sitting there freewheeling.

> We live in a rural location between Brighton and London, therefore
> busy main roads and narrow country lanes. It's also pretty hilly
> immediately around us. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

As much as it sounds odd, trailers are very safe and other vehicles give
*much* more room than they do to solo bikes and trailerbikes. Just make
sure you have low enough gears to be able to grind slowly up the hills.

John B
http://www.hampshirecycletraining.org.uk/

 

[JohnB]

pas wrote:
>
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/misc/babyseat.jpg
>
> here's how they do it in some countries. We built one like this ourselves
> for around town, it's actually much more stable than over the back wheel as
> the CG doesn't change a whole lot and the kid is inside your arms.

I've never liked this kind of arrangement as it places the child at some
risk in the case of an emergency or sudden stop. At least the example
you show has a rigid back that should help prevent the adult crushing
into the child. the worst are those clamp on saddles that go on the top
tube with two foot supports attached to the down tube.
However I don't like the idea of the child being flung forward onto the
handlebar clutter or worse, which even with strapping is possible with
some arrangements. At least if they are on the back they have a soft
back to knock into.

John B

 

[[email protected]]

Child trailer.

I MTB 2004

 

[[email protected]]

Trailer for child or shopping.

I MTB 2004

 

[[email protected]]

Trailer for child or shopping.

I MTB 2004

 

[Sunastar]

Monique sez:

>> Un urm ill orl!
>
>wtf does that mean?

In the movie 'Dreamcatcher', the character Duddits says "Un urm ill orl"
which his friend understands to mean, "One work can kill the world". In
the gag reel there's a bit where Duddits breaks from character (barely
able to move or speak clearly) in a normal voice says something like,
"Dude! I said, 'Un urm ill orl! What don't you get?'". It was funny, but
only after you sat through an otherwise crappy movie.

With that said, I'm not sure why that line has continued to stick in my
head. I wish that and the Oompa Loompa song would just stop for a minute!

--
T o m Dillon
Lakewood, CO
Z to S to email

 

[Sunastar]

Monique sez:

>> Un urm ill orl!
>
>wtf does that mean?

In the movie 'Dreamcatcher', the character Duddits says "Un urm ill orl"
which his friend understands to mean, "One work can kill the world". In
the gag reel there's a bit where Duddits breaks from character (barely
able to move or speak clearly) in a normal voice says something like,
"Dude! I said, 'Un urm ill orl! What don't you get?'". It was funny, but
only after you sat through an otherwise crappy movie.

With that said, I'm not sure why that line has continued to stick in my
head. I wish that and the Oompa Loompa song would just stop for a minute!

--
T o m Dillon
Lakewood, CO
Z to S to email

 

[Peter Cole]

"JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote

> When able to pedal, say about 3 1/2 to 4yrs old I would also recommend
> moving on to a tandem rather than using the pull along trailerbikes.
> This will develop pedalling techniques whereas a trailerbike can have
> the child just sitting there freewheeling.

I have to disagree. I pulled my daughter for over 5 years with a trailer-bike
in every conceivable type of situation, from urban to very rough off-road. The
t-b's have many advantages over tandems, not the least of which is cost. My
daughter did some solo riding during that time, but not much. When she outgrew
the t-b last year she went solo full-time, and her stamina and bike handling
skills are superb.

As for the rear seat vs. trailer question, I think Frank K. got it right, the
seats can work well if the rider is reasonably skilled and there isn't too
large a weight difference. Trailers require a little less skill and don't
extract quite the handling penalty. One thing that bothered me about using the
seat with my son was that he would fall asleep and flop around. I don't expect
it's harmful, but it bothered me to see a toddler's head doing that.

 

[S o r n i]

[email protected] wrote:

> Child trailer.

What the pedophiles watch before the movie starts!

Bill "Crazy Word Association" S.

 

[Hotshot]

> Can anyone tell me from experience which is the best/safest way to
> carry my 21 month old daughter.

Just put her on the handle bars, no need for a helment or any of that safety
stuff ;-)

 

[the black rose]

S o r n i wrote:
> scurry wrote:
>
>>S o r n i wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Abdominal internally. Hands and arms externally.
>>>
>>>Bill "HTH" S.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Bill are you getting tutored in posting style by Crazy?
>
>
> Jeez, between you and Monique, EVERYBODY'S PICKING ON ME!

BUT MO-OM! HE STARTED IT!

;-)

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

 

[scurry]

Sunastar wrote:
> S o r n i sez:
>
>
>>Jeez, between you and Monique, EVERYBODY'S PICKING ON ME!
>
>
> If you can't stand the fire, don't light your own farts! Or, at least,
> do it with your pants on.
>
> Un urm ill orl!
>
Or as Crazy would say "If you can't stand in the kitchen, don't fart."

 

[Pete]

"doctormick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> You've probably seen similar messages before but I can't find the
> advice I'm after in any archive.
>
> My wife wants to buy a bike to go cycling with my ten and seven year
> old daughters but also want to be able to take my 21 month old
> daughter with her. However we can't decide whether she should go for a
> seat on the back or a trailer.
>
> Can anyone tell me from experience which is the best/safest way to
> carry my 21 month old daughter. She weichs approx 28 - 30 lbs
>
> We live in a rural location between Brighton and London, therefore
> busy main roads and narrow country lanes. It's also pretty hilly
> immediately around us. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

I've tried both, and I like trailers better.
More carrying capacity, easier to switch between bikes, more stable.
Trailers are heavier and wider, though.

Which is 'safer' is really a non-issue. Each is only as safe as YOU are, and
you change your riding style with the kid on the back.

Pete

 

[J G]

>we can't decide whether she should go for a seat on the back or a trailer.
>
> Can anyone tell me from experience which is the best/safest way to
> carry my 21 month old daughter. She weichs approx 28 - 30 lbs

With a seat, if rider goes down so does baby,
With a trailer, if rider goes down baby laughs at rider



> We live in a rural location between Brighton and London, therefore
> busy main roads and narrow country lanes.

A trailer with an orange flag and drivers will give you w WIDE berth

 

[Stephen Baker]

Monique says:

>We pick because we love.

<gag>

>Much like scabs. *g*
>

That's better... ;-)

Steve

 

[BB]

On Wed, 4 Aug 2004 11:56:16 -0600, Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
> On 2004-08-04, S o r n i penned:

>> Jeez, between you and Monique, EVERYBODY'S PICKING ON ME!
>
> We pick because we love. Much like scabs. *g*

Oh, now she's calling him a SCAB! What next?!?!?!

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

 

[JohnB]

Peter Cole wrote:
>
> "JohnB" <[email protected]> wrote
>
> > When able to pedal, say about 3 1/2 to 4yrs old I would also recommend
> > moving on to a tandem rather than using the pull along trailerbikes.
> > This will develop pedalling techniques whereas a trailerbike can have
> > the child just sitting there freewheeling.
>
> I have to disagree. I pulled my daughter for over 5 years with a trailer-bike
> in every conceivable type of situation, from urban to very rough off-road. The
> t-b's have many advantages over tandems, not the least of which is cost.

Well we will disagree then. I've taken four children the tandem route
(after trailers and seats) with occasional forays onto our Hannington trailerbike.
The latter has had them freewheeling at times.
However, I do agree about the cost and it can be expensive, but luckily
with four we were able to make teh most of the outlay.
My
> daughter did some solo riding during that time, but not much. When she outgrew
> the t-b last year she went solo full-time, and her stamina and bike handling
> skills are superb.

As are ours.
All could easily ride 40+ mpd solo at 10 years old, although they still
occasionally ride tandem/tandem trike. KJ's stamina is something to be
seen, never giving up and can now cover 80mpd (she did LEJOG at 14yrs).

> As for the rear seat vs. trailer question, I think Frank K. got it right, the
> seats can work well if the rider is reasonably skilled and there isn't too
> large a weight difference. Trailers require a little less skill and don't
> extract quite the handling penalty. One thing that bothered me about using the
> seat with my son was that he would fall asleep and flop around. I don't expect
> it's harmful, but it bothered me to see a toddler's head doing that.

Fully agree. I used to wake ours up from time to time.
I did use a tandem trike with kiddiecranks and a child seat, so handling
when wheeling or parking was not a problem.

John B

John B

 

[tcmedara]

S o r n i <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> Child trailer.
>
> What the pedophiles watch before the movie starts!
>
> Bill "Crazy Word Association" S.

Pervert Jeopardy!