My main means of transporting my daughter around for the past five years has been the back of my bike – from nursery to ballet to swimming during her toddler years, and now, as a big girl just turned six year old, school. No matter the destination, we have always arrived together by bike. We both love our bicycle adventures and I hope I can eke out another year or so before she gets too big or decides it not ‘cool’ anymore.
Transporting your children by bike can be hugely practical not to mention heaps of fun for all involved. It can tick many boxes for a busy parent: getting them out in the fresh air, seeing their bonny little faces light up and hearing their squeals of delight as they discover the joys of traveling by bike or (with the rose-tinted glasses removed) getting them from home to nursery and back without any bawling, dawdling or buggy battles on the bus.
And as well as being a practical, fun way to get your kids out and about cycling is also really good for YOU. Here’s 3 ways that cycling can help benefit you – the busy Parent:
- Healthy Body: Cycling is a great way to get exercise into your daily routine. Cycling will help you stay trim and is also very good for your heart.
- Health Brain: A combination of the endorphins released by the exercise and the sheer fun of riding your bike can be a great boost to your mood.
- Healthy Wallet: Once you’ve invested in the bike and gear, the actual riding bit is completely free; no petrol, parking tickets or train fares, yay!
If you haven’t cycled for a while and feel a little nervous about getting back on the bike, don’t panic. This is very common, especially when getting your little ones on board too but the key is to ease your way back in gently…
Here are my top 3 tips for getting back in the saddle:
- Have a lesson – Adult cycling lessons have been increasing in popularity over the past 10 years and in some boroughs of London they are free or heavily subsidised. I have had three one-to- one sessions and all have been invaluable. The most recent lesson I did with my daughter in her seat on the back. It was a great way for us both to get used to cycling together and boosted my confidence and my skills. I would highly recommend a lesson for anyone who is new to or has had a break from urban cycling.
- Find routes off road – Many of the routes I cycle with my daughter are either off road or on quieter roads. I spend a lot of time seeking out these routes and it makes for a much more chilled out experience. Have a look at the cycle lanes and networks in your area and always be on the look-out for parks or alley-ways you can use to get to your destination.
- Get off and push – I am a firm believer in hopping off your bike and pushing on the pavement if the road feels too busy and chaotic, especially with a child on the bike. As long as you stop and dismount safely, there is no harm in pushing your bike, if it makes you feel safer.
If you want some more safety advice before you start, take a look at my book, The Girl’s Bicycle Handbook in which I have a whole chapter dedicated to safety and rules of the road and a chapter on cycling with kids.
And for those mums who, pre-baby, cycled wherever they went, don’t despair; it won’t be long until you can get back in the saddle. As soon as your nipper can sit up straight, you can get them on a seat on the front or back of your bike (usually around 1 year old). Here is the lowdown on the best bits of kit to securely pedal them from A to B.
Getting them on and starting off.
Getting baby on – you need to make sure your bike is againist a stable wall or the like as you will need both hands to lift your child on, and you need to ensure the bike will stay put. Also ensure you are not on any kind of a slant as the bike might roll.
Mounting and setting off can take some adjustment as you have extra weight on the back (or front) Practice outside your house or in the park before you do it on the road.
Dismounting and getting baby off – again you may need to practice the dismount to cater for the extra weight. And it is very important you rest the bike securley against a wall or strong gate/fence as again you will need both hands to unstrap your child and lift them out. As you child gets bigger the lifting in and out of the seat can become a strain. We now have a system where Florence can climb down herself as long as I am holding the bike which works well and saves my back the strain.
Front-mounted child seats
These seats attach to the handlebar stem and the child sits in front of you with their legs under the handlebars. These seats are best for under 3’s as position can be a bit of a squeeze when they get bigger.
Pros:
- The child is in a secure position and in full view between your arms – good for both parent and child, as you don’t have to twist round to talk to them or check on them and they feel more secure.
- Great view for the child – being up front they can see what’s going on – and a great introduction to the joys of cycling.
- Easy to attach to most bikes.
- Your rear rack is free for panniers
Cyclechic Suggestion: The BoBike Mini Front seat, £59.99 (comes in green & yellow) This is first bike seat I had for Florence and I would highly recommend it if you are starting with a baby around 10-18 months.
Rear-mounted child seats
This is the most common type of child seat and attaches to either the rear rack or has a mounting bracket that clamps on to your seat tube and the seat clicks into the bracket.
Pros:
- Higher maximum weight and more space than a front seat, so your child can use it for longer.
- Easy to get hold of and reasonably priced.
- Adjustable feet holders to cater for your growing child.
Cyclechic’s suggestion: The BoBike Maxi Child Rear Seat £79.99 (comes in green, yellow and red) Take a look at the full Bobike range
And what about a helmet? It’s often hard to find a bike helmet small enough to fit securely on a babies head. This is why we love the The Bob Birds baby/toddler helmet. as it has a comfort 3 fitting system. See the little video on the product page for more details.
I can honestly say cycling with my daughter on my bike has been a wonderful and super-useful experience and urge any parent thinking about it to give is a go. Hopefully you will love it as much as we do!
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