What is a Mid Mount Seat?

A Mid Mount Seat is an unharnessed seat suitable for riding with your child, from 2-3yrs depending on their balance.  It is positioned in front of you – between you and your handlebars. Mid seats attach to the top tube of your bike and requires a down tube for a second point of attachment. With the exception of the Shotgun Pro that comes as a rail and seat …with the rail creating a top tube on your bike.

Why choose a Mid Mount Seat?

Mid mount seats are great for exploring and having fun with your child.  It is a great seat for kids who already ride on a balance bike. These seats achieve the ultimate in interaction with your child seated between your arms sharing the view and experience with you.

The position of the mid mount seat with your child between you and the handlebars (in front of your chest) can make some of the skills of riding a little more challenging.  Like mounting, starting/stopping, balance and the reach to the handlebars. As the adult rider you need to feel capable and confident that you can ride safely with a mid mount seat.

What riding ability does the Adult Rider need to have?

The position of the front bike seat with your child between you and the handlebars (in front of your chest) can make some of the skills of riding a little more challenging…like. mounting, stopping, balance and your reach around to the handlebars

The more space you have between you and the handlebar the easier these bike skills will be. This can be achieved If you ride in an upright position or if you are tall and ride a medium or large frame

If you do not have a lot of space between you and the handlebars… that is you ride in a forward lean position or you have a small bike frame, then a mid mount child bike seat may not be the right solution for you.

What age can you start riding with a child?

This seat is recommended from the age of 2-3 yrs and up to 22-30kg in weight, approximately 5-7yrs.  To use a Mid Mount Seat your child needs to be able to wear a Bike Helmet, we recommend the The Kids Recreation Helmet and be well balanced with a bit of an adventurous spirit.

What riding environments is the Mid Mount Seat best suited to?

When riding with a young child that is unharnessed you are best to choose off road trails with smooth surfaces e.g bike paths, cycleways, groomed tracks. You need to feel comfortable about your safety and your child’s safety wherever you choose to ride.  As you and your child get used to the riding experience you can ride on more challenging tracks or in light traffic situations.

Where does it attach? Is my bike compatible?

Mid Mount seats – Do Little, Do Little Biggie and Shotgun are positioned onto your top tube about 20cm back from your handlebars.  To be correctly secured your bike needs to have both a top tube and a down tube.

The Mid Mount Seat the Shotgun Pro comes as a rail and kids seat this clamps on to your head seat and bike seat tube. ( The rail becomes effectively an additional top tube). 

In NZ we have two companies that make Mid Mount seats – both are fantastic.

LEARN MORE AT:  Will a Mid Mount Seat (DoLittle) Fit my Bike?

LEARN MORE AT:  Will a Mid Mount Seat for Mountain Biking (Shotgun) Fit my Bike?

LEARN MORE AT:  Will a Mid Mount Seat for an Electric Mountain Bike (Shotgun-Pro) Fit my Bike?

LEARN MORE AT:  Will a Mid Mount Seat (DoLittle Biggie) Fit my Bike?

These seats can be used with carbon frames.  It can be very difficult to ride with a mid seat on small bike frames if the bike does not put you in a very upright body position. XL frames also don’t work, the distance between the top and bottom tube is too far for the frame of a mid mount seat to attach too.

Will there be a anything permanently attached to my bike?

Yes for the DoLittle (both options)… the mounting bracket/adaptor and seat usually remain on your bike. It can be removed if you choose to do so, tools are required.

No for both of the Shotgun seats … these seats fully detach from your bike leaving nothing behind.  This is one of the features that makes this seat such a good match to mountain bikes.

Can different family members or bikes use one Mid Mount Seat?

It can be great to have the flexibility to quickly change your seat from one bike to another.  This allows different members of the family to use the seat on their own bike. This is a simple process with the mid mount seat for mountain bikes – the Shotgun as the whole seat

With the DoLittle you can purchase additional mounting brackets/ adaptors so the seat can be attached to more than one bike. You just need to ensure that any additional bikes are compatible.  The DoLittle is sold with the choice of two different mounting brackets/adaptors – a tall mount or a standard mount.  This may work well for your family if you have different styles of bikes to choose from.

LEARN MORE AT:  Will a Mid Mount Seat (DoLittle) Fit my Bike?

What about using with an E-Bike?

It can be a great option to use an E-Bike for riding with a child. The DoLittle Biggie has been specifically designed for use with the wider frames E-Bikes often have.  The Shotgun Pro is fully adjustable and designed for use with Electric Mountain Bikes.

As always be aware of your safety. E-Bikes give you the ability to travel at a much faster speed than you would achieve under your own power.  What does this mean when riding with a young child?  E-Bikes are generally heavier than standard bikes so please consider how this may effect the riding skills you need when riding with a Mid Mount Seat.

How much storage space do I need at home?

Mid mount seats are fairly compact so are easy to store if you choose to detach it from your bike. There are rigid so will not fold up.

Can I install the Mid Mount Seat?

Setting up, attaching/detaching and using these seats is easy. We successfully set up the seat and attached them so we are confident you can too.

Can I use it to ride with multiple children?

Having the ability to ride with two children can offer more riding opportunities for your family. There are two main things to consider when riding with more than one child…

Can the adult rider ride safely with the added challenge of the weight of two children.  How will this effect your balance and bike handling skills?  Having two children with you can be challenging.  Think about your fitness & strength and the places you want to ride.  You should be a skilled rider to consider doing this.  An E-Bike will help enormously with your enjoyment of riding with two children.

How does the placement of a mid seat restrict the attachment of any additional bike seat? If you are wanting to ride with multiple children… the mid bike seat offers a good solution as you can have an older child on a rear bike seat (rear seats are not compatible with full suspension MTBs) or choose a towing option.

Multiple Children Options: You can attach a rear kids bike seat or choose towing options: Bike to Bike Towing or Bike Trailers

What do I need to know to ride safely with my child the first time and then for regular riding?

There are some simple things to do and check to keep both you and your child safe when riding with a Mid Mount Seat, for the first time, and as it becomes a regular activity for you and your family. Use our resources to help support your enjoyment of riding with this type of seat.

Want to understand more about options for riding with kids attached to your bike?  Please see our stories, support & solutions below…