1. Takes up space/adds bulk/length to your bike

Adding a Kids Bike Seat or Trailer plus your child is going to take up space on your bike. Removing some of the space that you are used to having when riding solo.  It can also add bulk or length to your bike, making you bigger and/or longer.

• Some bike skills that you most likely do, without even thinking about them, you may need to alter as the space you need to do these skills has been reduced or removed and replaced with a seat/trailer and your child. You will need to learn how to adjust these skills to ride with a kids seat or trailer.

2. Adds weight to your bike

Adding a Kids Bike Seat or Trailer plus your child is going to add weight to your bike. This increased weight will alter the riding experience.

• It will require a higher level of strength and fitness to ride and get to a destination compared to riding solo
• Leaning the bike to get on and off the bike will feel a little different
• Pushing the bike when walking with it will require you to balance the extra load and can change the feel when you manoeuvre the bike
• When you are riding you will need to balance the extra load when steering and going around corners. The bike will also feel different when you go over bumps etc
• As your child grows their weight increases so you will notice the effects of this increased load and have to adjust again

Where the added weight, bulk or length is positioned, the front for a front/mid kids bike seat, the rear for a rear kids bike seat or behind the bike for a kids bike trailer will make a difference to how it changes the riding experience. So let’s get some understanding of how it will feel to ride with a front seat, rear seat or a kids bike trailer. Compare them all or just read about the seat or trailer that you are interested in.

Taking up Space/Bulk 

• Both a front & mid seat sits in the space that you (the adult) would usually use to get on and off your bike and when starting and stopping. The more space that is left between your chest and the kids bike seat the easier it is to manage these skills. Upright riders and/or those on larger bikes will have more space and are therefore best suited to riding with a front or mid kids bike seat. Alternatively 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.
• With a front/mid seat positioned in front it may effect your reach to your handlebars – you have to reach around the seat to grip your handlebars.  If you ride in an upright body position and/or have big sweep back handlebars this will be easy.  If you ride in a forward lean body position it may be hard to reach your handlebars without coming into contact with the back of the seat at your chest and/or neck. For smaller bike frames this contact will definitely happen, medium and above it will be manageable.

Added Weight 

• a front seat is fairly close to the mid point of your bike and a mid seat is right over the mid point 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 and your child grows and develops Steering will feel slightly different, slow right down for corners and never attempt to turn sharply.

The more riding you do the quicker you will adjust to the new feeling your bike has with a Front or Mid Seat and child on it.  It will initially feel a little different but you will quickly adjust.

Taking up space/bulk

• With your seat and child positioned behind your saddle it may interfere with how you would normally get on and off the bike. You will adjust quickly to finding a different way to mount and dismount your bike. Lowering your bike seat may help with this.

 Added Weight

• a rear seat is high at the back of your bike so you will notice a difference to the feel and balance of your bike.  When riding this will change the feel of steering and corners. You will just need to ride slower and be more considered and with a little practise you will adjust
• being at the rear makes the back of your bike heavier so you need to be aware of this weight when leaning your bike. It is best to keep the bike as upright as possible, don’t lean it too much when getting on and off the bike
• with the added weight on your bike it is a good idea to choose an easier gear to set off in and you will need to brake earlier to come to a stop
• you have to manage the balance of the bike so the front wheel does not lift when riding or manoeuvring your bike. This is just a small adjustment making sure you keep your weight forward over the handlebars

The more riding you do the quicker you will adjust to the new feeling your bike has with a Rear Seat and child on it.  It will initially feel a little different but you will quickly adjust.

Taking up space/bulk/length

• With your trailer positioned away from the bike (towed behind the bike) it does not change your riding due to taking up space around you. However a trailer is wider than your bike so you will need to be aware of this when steering, going around corners and keeping to a path (is the path wide enough?). You will just need to ride slower and be more considered and with a little practise you will adjust.
• Adding a trailer makes your bike significantly longer as well, so again you need to consider this when passing things, crossing traffic or going around corners.  You will need more distance or time to safely complete these tasks than you would with just the length of your own bike.

 Added Weight

• With towing your child the weight is behind you and you will most likely feel a drag from the trailer. It may be more difficult to ride some terrain. The weight is going to be more noticeable when going up inclines/hills. That weight can also give a feel of being slightly pushed or shunted on a decline/downhill.  It is a good idea to choose an easier gear to set off in and you will need to brake earlier to come to a stop or use your brakes more for any downhill riding.

The more riding you do the quicker you will adjust to the new feel of biking with a Kids Bike Trailer.  It will initially feel a little different but you will quickly adjust.

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