Biking With Baby

About

Riding is one of the first things new parents quietly give up, and one of the easiest to get back. A chariot or a child bike seat brings your child along for the ride, which turns a Saturday morning loop into something the whole family does rather than something you take turns at. Chariots and Trailers A chariot tows behind the bike in an enclosed cabin, and it's the option that does the most. Your child sits low and protected from wind and sun, there's room for a bag and a jumper, and the ride is smoother than anything mounted on the frame. The good ones convert, so the same unit becomes a jogging pram or a walking stroller when you swap the wheel kit over, which is what justifies the outlay for a lot of families. A bicycle chariot suits longer rides, two children, and anyone who wants to keep going through weather that would end a bike seat outing. Front Mount and Rear Mount Bike Seats Seats are lighter, cheaper and quicker to fit, and they suit shorter trips. A front mount seat puts your child between your arms where you can talk to them and they get the view, which younger toddlers love, though it limits how much you can lean into a turn. Rear mount seats carry more weight and suit a bigger child, and they come in two fittings. Rack mount sits on a luggage rack, frame mount clamps to the seat tube, and which you need depends on your bike, so check before ordering. Either way you're carrying the load high, which changes the handling noticeably. Take the first ride somewhere quiet. Starting Safely Every manufacturer sets a minimum age, and it comes down to the same thing: your child needs to sit unsupported and hold their head steady while wearing a helmet, which is heavier than it looks on a small neck. Check the figure for the specific model rather than assuming, since it differs between seats and trailers. Trailers can take a younger passenger when fitted with an infant sling, which supports a baby who can't yet sit up on their own, and the sling has its own ag