We decided to purchase a bicycle seat for Ella Mae just before Thomas started to go to primary school and Ella Mae starting Kindergarten. These two places are about 2km away from each other and the plan was to continue to walk or ride to school rather than drive. Kindergarten starts at 8:30am and 8:50am for school. Also, pick at school is 3:30pm and kindergarten at 4pm.
At first, the thought of a front fixed child seat would be preferable as we could stay in conversation with her while we are out and about instead of her looking at our backs the whole time. We reviewed products such as Thule Yepp Mini child seat - front mount and the Weeride Classic child bike seat.
After pondering for a while, there was a sense of revelation. I am quite petite. Thus, the distance between the handlebars and my saddle is quite short. It would be almost impossible to fit a bicycle seat between that space and me getting on and off the bicycle safely - let alone having a child on the bicycle seat as well! Also, if the seat does fit, the way I pedal my bicycle will be quite uncomfortable - I have an image of a birthing position and pedaling. At times, I get off my saddle in order to conquer the hills. How would I do so with a child seat in the way?
But after much consideration, we came up with a checklist for a bicycle child seat:
- fixed on the back rack
- easily installed and uninstalled to enable easy transition between Kim's or my bicycle
- easy to keep clean
- grab bar
- centre crotch post- just in case she falls asleep and slide out
- adjustable as she grows
- suitable for up to 5 years old (we are hoping she could ride on her own by then)
- reasonably priced
Beto Bicycle Child Seat Deluxe Review
The rack that came with the bicycle seat fitted quite well on my Mongoose Hybrid Dx3.1. However, after a few months I found that the front of the bicycle felt as it was lifting off. It felt worse when I am riding uphill. We deduced that it was because the centre of gravity was at the back of my bicycle.
One time, I stopped the bicycle in order to cross the street. But because I had turned the bicycle slightly and my left foot landed on a loose manhole cover, I lost my balance. Thus, lost hold of the bicycle. I knew the bicycle was falling with my child in it, but there was nothing I could do. I softened her fall by sacrificing my body under the bicycle. It all happened in slow motion. Luckily, there was no harm done. Immediately, I taught her the brace position. If she ever falls while in her child seat, she was to wrapped her hands around her head and not protrude any arms out to break her fall. This instruction was repeated quite often.
When we bought my bicycle, Vivente Anatolia (even though, the frame is Deccan), we had to purchase a different rack due to the 26 inch wheels. The new rack is a little wide and when installing and removing the bicycle child seat, we are to pull the legs of the seat apart. This is a plus though as the seat therefore fits snugly on the frame. The seat's existing frame was put on Kim's Ridgeback Comet.
I found that the harness straps too short. These could also be better finished. It is tricky when you are trying to hold the bicycle up with the child in it and clicking the straps and puling the centre slide up towards the middle of her sternum so she does not fall out. She has put one of her arms through the middle once. We had a long chat after to ensure she didn't do that again. I also have clipped my hands a few times on the clips when I am not paying full attention as I am clicking her in.
We had to return this once to the shop as the safety lock kept on getting unlocked. One time, the split washer disappeared due to the lock coming unlock while we were on a ride. There is a trick to locking the mechanism. You cannot over twist it as it deforms the split washer. But at the same time, if you do not twist the locking mechanism enough, it has a tendency to become unlocked. One thing I would like to improve on this design is the ability to lock the bicycle seat to the bicycle.
I used the under seat storage compartments prior to my purchase of the pannier bags. But my keys rattled quite a bit along the way in the plastic structure (but at least I knew they have not fallen out!).
We have not washed the removable Tricoat seat pad as Ella Mae has kept it quite clean even when she ate on it. So, we do not know how well it washes. The quality of the velcro that keeps the seat pad to the plastic seat is not good as this has pulled off on the frame side. I think Ella Mae would have preferred better cushioning on the seat pad. Every time we go over slight bumps on the pavement, it hurt her bottom. Another thing is she does bounce up a little when we hit bumps and sometimes her thighs hit the padded grab bar.
I think as a bicycle child seat, the colour of the plastic could be a brighter colour rather than grey. From a visibility point of view, it it not great. We had to purchase a special mount for our lights to fit to the back of the seat. There is not much space to fit the mount on either. Even with my small hands, I find it difficult to mount and dismount the light. Also, we wrapped a high viz jacket over the seat for better visibility. We also loop the high viz jacket over the harness so that it doesn't fall off.
We didn't use these features that were offered:
- adjustable reclining 3 position seat back as she never fell asleep while out riding as she was constantly looking where she was going and is interested and excited in where we were going.
- adjustable foot rests with straps. We found these orange plastic foot rests fell off easily. It really freaked me out once when it fell out one day onto the road. It actually bounced off the pavement onto the road. I had to disembark and take Ella Mae off so that I could retrieve it. Immediately, I took them off permanently.
I strapped her feet in at first but it was a very cumbersome task as I had to hold on to her and the bicycle while doing this. It felt as the bicycle will topple with the weight of her. So, I stopped strapping her legs in. She kept her feet within the leg holds most of the time. I found her with her legs spread-eagled over the sides once. I stopped the bicycle and gave her a lecture about safely and leg injuries and her walking to school instead. She never did that again and sat happily in the seat.
At first, I thought the rain suit would be sufficient for her when it rained while she was on the bicycle seat. Unfortunately not. I remembered that she was saying that she was getting rain on her. I acknowledged that but I said that she should be dry underneath the rain suit. She emphasised that her bottom was getting wet! Only then, I realised that the rain suit was not suitable for sitting a puddle in but ok to run around the rain in.
Therefore a solution needed to be found. I re-purposed a pram rain cover to put over her seat. As Melbourne is known for having four seasons in one day, I found this invaluable. This meant that we could cycle rain, hail or shine. It offered much freedom for us to ride when we need to and not worry about the weather. It offered her refuge from the rain as well as the wind. It kept her warm when we are out in the morning cold. When she became too warm, she opened the front window of the cover and protrudes her head and shoulder out and pretended to be a turtle.
At first, the thought of a front fixed child seat would be preferable as we could stay in conversation with her while we are out and about instead of her looking at our backs the whole time. We reviewed products such as Thule Yepp Mini child seat - front mount and the Weeride Classic child bike seat.
After pondering for a while, there was a sense of revelation. I am quite petite. Thus, the distance between the handlebars and my saddle is quite short. It would be almost impossible to fit a bicycle seat between that space and me getting on and off the bicycle safely - let alone having a child on the bicycle seat as well! Also, if the seat does fit, the way I pedal my bicycle will be quite uncomfortable - I have an image of a birthing position and pedaling. At times, I get off my saddle in order to conquer the hills. How would I do so with a child seat in the way?
But after much consideration, we came up with a checklist for a bicycle child seat:
- fixed on the back rack
- easily installed and uninstalled to enable easy transition between Kim's or my bicycle
- easy to keep clean
- grab bar
- centre crotch post- just in case she falls asleep and slide out
- adjustable as she grows
- suitable for up to 5 years old (we are hoping she could ride on her own by then)
- reasonably priced
Beto Bicycle Child Seat Deluxe Review
The rack that came with the bicycle seat fitted quite well on my Mongoose Hybrid Dx3.1. However, after a few months I found that the front of the bicycle felt as it was lifting off. It felt worse when I am riding uphill. We deduced that it was because the centre of gravity was at the back of my bicycle.
One time, I stopped the bicycle in order to cross the street. But because I had turned the bicycle slightly and my left foot landed on a loose manhole cover, I lost my balance. Thus, lost hold of the bicycle. I knew the bicycle was falling with my child in it, but there was nothing I could do. I softened her fall by sacrificing my body under the bicycle. It all happened in slow motion. Luckily, there was no harm done. Immediately, I taught her the brace position. If she ever falls while in her child seat, she was to wrapped her hands around her head and not protrude any arms out to break her fall. This instruction was repeated quite often.
When we bought my bicycle, Vivente Anatolia (even though, the frame is Deccan), we had to purchase a different rack due to the 26 inch wheels. The new rack is a little wide and when installing and removing the bicycle child seat, we are to pull the legs of the seat apart. This is a plus though as the seat therefore fits snugly on the frame. The seat's existing frame was put on Kim's Ridgeback Comet.
I found that the harness straps too short. These could also be better finished. It is tricky when you are trying to hold the bicycle up with the child in it and clicking the straps and puling the centre slide up towards the middle of her sternum so she does not fall out. She has put one of her arms through the middle once. We had a long chat after to ensure she didn't do that again. I also have clipped my hands a few times on the clips when I am not paying full attention as I am clicking her in.
We had to return this once to the shop as the safety lock kept on getting unlocked. One time, the split washer disappeared due to the lock coming unlock while we were on a ride. There is a trick to locking the mechanism. You cannot over twist it as it deforms the split washer. But at the same time, if you do not twist the locking mechanism enough, it has a tendency to become unlocked. One thing I would like to improve on this design is the ability to lock the bicycle seat to the bicycle.
I used the under seat storage compartments prior to my purchase of the pannier bags. But my keys rattled quite a bit along the way in the plastic structure (but at least I knew they have not fallen out!).
We have not washed the removable Tricoat seat pad as Ella Mae has kept it quite clean even when she ate on it. So, we do not know how well it washes. The quality of the velcro that keeps the seat pad to the plastic seat is not good as this has pulled off on the frame side. I think Ella Mae would have preferred better cushioning on the seat pad. Every time we go over slight bumps on the pavement, it hurt her bottom. Another thing is she does bounce up a little when we hit bumps and sometimes her thighs hit the padded grab bar.
I think as a bicycle child seat, the colour of the plastic could be a brighter colour rather than grey. From a visibility point of view, it it not great. We had to purchase a special mount for our lights to fit to the back of the seat. There is not much space to fit the mount on either. Even with my small hands, I find it difficult to mount and dismount the light. Also, we wrapped a high viz jacket over the seat for better visibility. We also loop the high viz jacket over the harness so that it doesn't fall off.
We didn't use these features that were offered:
- adjustable reclining 3 position seat back as she never fell asleep while out riding as she was constantly looking where she was going and is interested and excited in where we were going.
- adjustable foot rests with straps. We found these orange plastic foot rests fell off easily. It really freaked me out once when it fell out one day onto the road. It actually bounced off the pavement onto the road. I had to disembark and take Ella Mae off so that I could retrieve it. Immediately, I took them off permanently.
I strapped her feet in at first but it was a very cumbersome task as I had to hold on to her and the bicycle while doing this. It felt as the bicycle will topple with the weight of her. So, I stopped strapping her legs in. She kept her feet within the leg holds most of the time. I found her with her legs spread-eagled over the sides once. I stopped the bicycle and gave her a lecture about safely and leg injuries and her walking to school instead. She never did that again and sat happily in the seat.
At first, I thought the rain suit would be sufficient for her when it rained while she was on the bicycle seat. Unfortunately not. I remembered that she was saying that she was getting rain on her. I acknowledged that but I said that she should be dry underneath the rain suit. She emphasised that her bottom was getting wet! Only then, I realised that the rain suit was not suitable for sitting a puddle in but ok to run around the rain in.
Therefore a solution needed to be found. I re-purposed a pram rain cover to put over her seat. As Melbourne is known for having four seasons in one day, I found this invaluable. This meant that we could cycle rain, hail or shine. It offered much freedom for us to ride when we need to and not worry about the weather. It offered her refuge from the rain as well as the wind. It kept her warm when we are out in the morning cold. When she became too warm, she opened the front window of the cover and protrudes her head and shoulder out and pretended to be a turtle.
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