Child seat vs. trailer

[t.roy]

I'm planning to put some street tires on my neglected hardtail, and use it to ride Kid1 & eventually Kid2 around town. I've heard that the kiddie trailers are much safer than the child seats. The traffic where I live isn't vicious (mt airy), but I'm still skeptical of riding on the street with kiddie in tow (as opposed to sidewalks if no peds walking), or I should say skeptical of getting hit by a car, and a trailer would probably necessitate riding in the street. I don't wan't to be limited to riding in circles around the neighborhood, but I want the kiddies to be safe. Also, Kid1 is quit the escape artist, and can open any belt or gate or whatever we try to contain him with.

Anyway, any advice on child seat vs. trailer is much appreciated.

Thanks

[sswandal]

I've had the Chariot Cougar 2 for a year and a half...it has been the best purchase I've made for my two children (1 and 2). They love riding in it. Our 1 year old has ridden in is since he left the hospital...with an in fact carrier attachment.

I use it to ride on paved and unpaved roads and it is a great ride. They don't bounce around at all...in fact they usually end up sleeping most of the ride. I pulls effortlessly and unless I'm climbing a serious incline it isn't to bad on hills. I even use it to take them to daycare on days that I commute to work.

The cover is great because it keeps all the tire spray out...and the best feature is that you can use it as a stroller for those days you can't ride.

It has a lap belt and shoulder harness to keep them strapped in...I haven't hand them escape yet. The frame goes all the way around the seating compartment, so I'm not to worried if they were to tip over. The wide wheal base makes it very stable. It also has an add on for carrying baby bags or groceries.

I've seen them on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods.

http://www.bicycletrailers.com/Chariot-Cougar-2-2006.pro

I don't like going in traffic with it either, but when I do I feel about as safe as any other day. Mine came with a flag for the trailer. It does have reflective tape and reflectors all around. It does make you appear a lot larger, but I don't know if it helps the drivers see you any better.

[Brizn]

Hey tRoy, if you're referring to those child seats that mount above the rear tire, I'd advise against it-- that's an awful height from which a child could fall. The trailers (be they the type just previously mentioned or those half-bike thingies that link to your seat tube for the older tots) are much better in this specific regard.

PS: I grew up in Mt. Airy!

[drewdane]

Child seats are tragedies waiting to happen. 'nuff said.

[t.roy]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it, as will Kid1 & Kid2. I checked the Rio Dick's...nada, so I ended up picking up a Burly D'Lite at the MB Performance.

http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/defaultfe30.html?p=d'Lite&i=0

Also, given my occasional inability to get my feet outta the clips, I picked up some platform pedals. ;)

PS: I grew up in Mt. Airy!
We've lived there for 3 years. We like it, and its carnival week!

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyid=50956

[Cowboy]

You could have saved a bunch of money by simply puttin a rear fender on (and a supply of bandaids; for when their feet get in the spokes). One kid on the fender, one kid on the handle bars. It was good enough for us when we were kids. Why should our kids be denied great memories, like we had, of thier childhood?

Let's not bubble wrap the playground to protect the lil ones from learning lessons...:rolleyes:

Just kiddin', looks like a nice trailer, hope your kids enjoy riding with you.

We need to have fun with our kids, while they're young, and still think we're cool!!! :D

[heidi]

I know you've already made your purchase, but I just wanted to say that we have all 3: bike seat, kid trailer, and trail-a-bike.

I like the trailer because you can put lots of stuff in it for those extended day trips. The kids can have water bottles while riding (ours has a mesh pocket on each side for each kid, and has a rear 'trunk' area. They close up nice in case of poor weather or bugs. But they are hot inside. Kids are able to move around while strapped in. Ours doesn't have the helmet shelf...a sort of depression in the back wall to accommodate helmets. Without it, the back wall kind of forces the kid's heads down because of the helmet. Trailers can be used from 18 months up until the max weight the trailer can hold. Our 4 year old is probably just too big to fit anymore.

The carrier seat was a freebie. There's no drag, the kid can see more. But, falls can be way more dangerous. It takes some practice to balance the bike, especially if the child wiggles any. It makes the bike rear heavy, and the front pops up very easily. Child has very limited movement. I think 3 years is about the max on this. When the legs get too long, they have to sit with their knees all bent up.

The Trail-a-bike is only for kids able to stay on a bike. The child can help pedal, and starts getting the feel for bike riding without the worry of having to balance, steer or stop. There is some drag, and you cannot make sharp turns. Can't be used until about 4 years old, and once the child can ride a two-wheeler, they'll probably not want to use this.

I personally don't like the seat, but my husband prefers it, because he doesn't like drag. I usually pulled the trailer, and to me the drag was yet another aspect of parenting...pulling my weight and that of my kids!!