Unharnessed Riding

• Your child can move so this seat may take more time for your child to ride safely on than other seat choices.  The great thing is they are positioned right in front of you so it is very easy to communicate and teach them.  Encourage them to stay seated and move with the bike, not against it.  As they gain skills and confidence they will learn and really begin to enjoy the ‘feel’ of riding
• Mid mount kids seats, have no back or sides and therefore offer very little structural support.  In an incident this means you become their protection.  Your acceptance of this situation and the responsibility that you have will influence where you are happy to ride.  If you choose to ride in traffic then we recommend light traffic flow and only if you feel confident.
• When riding over bumps, drops or uneven surfaces think about how your child will be moved or shifted off their seat.  They are much lighter than you so any upward energy will unbalance them.  Your job is to predict this, slow down where possible and keep the riding within everyones skill level.  As you become more experienced riding together you can teach them to stand when you would to absorb bumps.

Added Weight 

• A mid seat is right over the mid point of your bike frame so you should be able to get used to the added weight and how it effects your balance quite quickly. If you are riding with a young child they are still quite small and light and so the change won’t be significant and you will adapt becoming fitter and stronger as you ride together.  As your child gets older and weighs more it is important that they stay seated and go with the movement of the bike
• Each seat that is sold has the option of adding kids handlebars.  This can be a good way to add stability to your riding experience.  If your child has a special place for their hands this will make them feel a bit more secure so they are more likely to relax and go with the movement of your bike, rather than being a bit scared and fighting against it

Taking up Space

• A mid seat sits in the space that you (the adult) would usually use to get on and off your bike when starting and stopping.  Depending on where you are choosing to ride and how dynamic your riding will be this can be a big adjustment.  If choosing to ride on mountain bike tracks you must be aware that stopping will be quite different.  Practicing this in a safe place is recommended.  Adjust your speed and choose manageable tracks.
• You can lower your bike seat so your feet can touch the ground. This allows you to start and stop without coming off your seat and therefore these skills no longer need the space in front of you  The down side to this is your riding is less efficient with your seat low. If you are riding a mountain bike with a dropper seat post this will make these changes easy to manage. Just use the dropper to lower your seat when stopping and starting and return it to the right height when riding.
• It may be harder to reach your handlebars around your child and as they grow this will become more challenging until you reach a point where they are simply too big and heavy to be in between your arms.

The more riding you do the quicker you will adjust to the new feeling your bike has with a Mid Seat and child on it.  It will initially feel a little different but you will quickly adjust and this is a really fun way to ride with your child.

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