Riding with a Child, 2-4yrs – What are the options?

Mid Mount Kids Bike Seats

The Facts – Your child is positioned in front of you, between your chest and the handlebars in an unharnessed unsupported seat  These seats are mounted to your top tube and secured around your bottom tube of your bike frame. Mid seats range in age suitability depending on the brand from 2 to 5-6yrs with a maximum weight range up to 22-30kg, brand dependent. Your child needs to have good balance, be good at following instructions and be able to fit a bike helmet to safely use this seat.

Bike Compatibility – Between the two different NZ brands, Do Little and Shotgun, there is a solution that will fit your bike.  This is the only seat that can be used with a carbon bike. See the links below.

Riding with a Mid Mount Kids Bike Seat – With your child (the load) being close to the middle of the bike there is less disruption to balance compared to other attached seats. However there will be changes to your riding balance, and with the seat positioned in front of you, you may need to adjust your starting & stopping .. learn more at Riding Safely with a Mid Mount Seat

Enjoy the experience – With your young child positioned in front of you, feeling protected and safe between your arms this seat can be really fun.  It is ideal for off road riding.  Because they are unharnessed they will feel more like they are riding a bike themselves. Learn more at How Does it Feel to Ride with a Child on a Mid Mount Seat?

Mid Mount Kids Bike Seat Buying Guide

Ride Safely with a Mid Mount Kids Bike Seat

Will a Mid Mount Kids Bike Seat Fit my Bike?

• SHOTGUN for MOUNTAIN BIKES 
• DO LITTLE ORIGINAL 
• DO LITTLE for ELECTRIC BIKES
• SHOTGUN for E-MOUNTAIN BIKES

Rear Mount Kids Bike Seats

The Facts – Your child is positioned behind you. There are carrier mount and frame mount solutions, suitable for children from 1-6 years.  Rear bike seats have a weight range of 9-22kg and are a suitable first bike seat. Your child needs to be able to sit independently and fit a bike helmet to safely use this seat.

Bike Compatibility – You have options of either attaching your rear bike seat directly to the frame of your bike (frame mount) or onto a rear bike carrier (carrier mount).  So there is a solution for most bikes. The exception is full suspension mountain bikes, rear attaching seats are not compatible with this type of bike.  See below for the will if fit options.

Riding with a Rear Kids Bike Seat – Riding with additional load on the rear of your bike seat does change the way your bike will handle or feel. Bike skills such as mounting and dismounting the bike, stopping & starting and balance alter when a rear seat is attached.  With a little practise the adult rider will adapt and feel capable and confident when riding with a Rear Kids Bike Seat… learn more at Riding Safely with a Rear Kids Bike Seat.

Enjoy the experience – With your child tucked in behind you, protected from the weather they will love the ride. This seat offers a solution for a wide age range providing your family with lots of time to create many family riding opportunities and memories. Though you do have to adjust your riding to get used to carrying a load at the rear this is easily learnt by riders and it is often quick for everyone to feel safe and comfortable riding in a range of environments suited to your capabilities.  How Does it Feel to Ride with a Toddler?

Will a Rear Kids Bike Seat Fit my Bike?

CARRIER MOUNT – THULE 

FRAME MOUNT – YEPP 

Kids Bike Trailers

The Facts – Your child is towed behind you in an enclosed trailer. They are available as either a:

• Single Trailer suitable for transporting one child up to 36kg
• Double Trailers suitable for transporting one or two children up to 45kg

Some Bike Trailers are Multi-Use Trailers meaning they are more than just a bike trailer and are suitable to use for a variety of recreational activities. Conversion Kits are available to convert a trailer into a stroller, jogger and some are also suitable for the snow Check out what conversion kits come with the different trailers and what kits can be purchased separately. Comparing Thule Bike Trailers

Bike Trailers can be a reasonably large investment but being able to use them over a wide age range and for the multi-use trailers for multiple activities can definitely make the investment worthwhile. They offer you to have one piece of equipment to use for walking/jogging and biking. Using your kids bike trailer as a stoller and jogger

Bike Compatibility – Bike Trailers connect to the hub of the towing bikes rear wheel. They are easily attached to rear wheels that have quick release skewers, alternative axel adaptors are available. Learn more: Will a Bike Trailer Fit my Bike?

Riding with a Bike Trailer – Different bike trailers are suited to different riding environments. Recreation for urban areas (bikepath and road/traffic). Off-road add on gravel trails and a Sports Trailer is suitable for all environments. You need to feel safe and confident towing a trailer in the environments you are riding in. Protecting kids from the weather and providing them with a comfortable space makes Bike Trailers a great choice for longer and regular rides. A fantastic option for commuting and multi-day.

Remember the towing bike rider must have the fitness and strength to tow a trailer. E-Bikes can offer a great solution if this is a concern. Learn more at Riding Safely with a Kids Bike Trailer

Enjoy the Experience – Your child/children are enclosed in their own cosy space, feeling safe and protected from the surrounding environment and weather. With Trailers it can be a little more difficult to monitor the comfort and mood of your young child however regular stops can resolve this. Trailers that are multi-use offer a solution for a wide range of activities over a wide age with options for 1 or 2 children. This gives your family great flexibility and time to create many family riding and outdoor activity opportunities and memories.  How Does it Feel Riding with a Toddler?

Bike Tow Frame

The Facts – The Bike Tow Frame connects the rear wheel hub of the lead bike to the front wheel hub of the trailing bike making a very low stable bike to bike connection.. This stability makes this towing option suitable for long periods of towing, towing  younger kids and our choice for towing in traffic. You can use the tow frame from 3yrs to 9yrs and up to a maximum combined weight of 45kg for the trailing bike and rider.

Bike Compatibility – Compatible with most adult bikes and can attach to kids bike wheel that is 20″ or smaller  Learn more… Will a Tow Frame Fit my Bike?

Riding with a Tow Frame – When in use the front wheel of the trailing (child’s) bike is lifted off the ground. The design prevents the handlebars on the child’s bike from turning, leaving the lead bike (adult) in control of steering. Your child can choose to pedal or not while being towed, making the ride easier for them.  As the rider of the lead bike you need to be capable of taking on the extra work and load that towing a child requires.  Do you have the fitness/strength required? Electric bikes remove these barriers and allow most adults to tow any child/rider.  Learn more… Riding Safely with a Tow Frame

Enjoy the Experience – Using a tow frame is a great way to confidently move around with your young rider especially through traffic.  This is such a stable, secure connection that you don’t have to worry about what is happening behind you.  For the child being towed it is also a good feeling.  They will be very rigid so it is easier for them to balance and relax.  This can be a great option for any kids who are reluctant to ride a bike whether that is confidence or just distance.  Learn more… How Does it Feel to Tow a Child on a Bike?

Front Kids Bike Seats

The Facts – Your child is positioned in front of you, between your chest and the handlebars in a harnessed fully supported seat  These seats are mounted to the handlebar stem on your bike. Front seats are suitable for children from 1-3 years with a weight range of up to 17kg. These seats are a first bike seat and great for early riding, they are not a great investment for kids who are 2+yrs. See the section on Age in our Front Kids Seat Buying Guide

Bike Compatibility – Front Kids Bike Seats attach onto your handlebar stem.  This type of seat does not suit all bikes.  Learn more… Will a Front Seat fit your bike? 

Riding with a Front Kids Bike Seat – best suited to riding on bike paths and easy trail. Can be used in traffic if you are comfortable in the riding environment. There can be some challenges with mounting /dismounting/ stopping and reach to the handlebars with a child positioned in front of you… learn more at Riding Safely with a Front Kids Bike Seat

Enjoy the experience – With your young child positioned in front of you, feeling protected and safe between your arms this seats offers great interaction and connection with your baby/toddler. You can see and understand their comfort and mood and enjoy the view and environment together. The front position of the seat does offer some riding challenges. making this seat best suited to riders that are either in an upright position on their bike, are reasonably tall or those with a dropper seat.  Learn more at… How Does it Feel to Ride with a Toddler?

Will a Front Kids Bike Seat Fit my Bike?