nob

Guys

I use a trek fx2 biggest size as I’m tall and have a yepp maxi rear child seat installed. Now I have to say the steering and handlebar doesn’t feel the same with child on board. I’d like to add panniers on the rear rack but wondering if that’s a bad idea since it’ll further add more weight to the rear of the bike. Typically shipping at the farmers market would be about 4lb if additional weight on top of my 30lb child. What do you folks think - should I avoid and simply put on a backpack

thx

thx

honcho

It has been awhile since I've used a rack mounted child seat (not a Yepp) and looking at pictures of the Yepp Maxi I'm curious how you plan to fit rear panniers. Additional weight on front or rear will affect the handling but at least your market purchases will unlikely be "live" like your child passenger (unless you buy live animals at your market). My suggestion would be to get a trailer, but that's another level of expense, something else to store and maintain. As for panniers, if you can mount them on the rear, another 5-10 lbs likely won't make a huge difference to how the addition of your child seat with child changed how your bike handles. You could consider adding front panniers but that requires another rack and many bikes can't accommodate a front pannier rack. I will advise against a backpack because it will encroach upon your child when they occupy the seat and the pack is full. A bit of experimentation is in order and good luck.

daoswald

Trailer, all the way.

Tubus intentionally down-rates its Cargo and Cargo Evo racks to avoid the legal snarls of condoning using their racks with child-seat contraptions. Here is what their website says:

I know of no rear bike rack that is actually stronger than this one.

Ok, so you are considering a contraption that would allow the seat to be mounted but not suspended by the rack. Now you are *really* in uncharted territory.

On the other hand, a kid trailer will have seating for one or two, plus room behind the seating for whatever you would have carried in the pannier. It's a lot more stable -- no risk of toppling onto its side as you dismount the bike. And has less impact on the bike's handling. I've towed my kids around in a trailer a lot ... until they got too big to be interested and preferred riding their own bikes. My son started when he was about 20 months old. My daughter was about two years old when she started riding in the trailer. They both really enjoyed it. And I had enough room in back for your typical ride to the park stuff; diaper bag, blanket/table cloth, food, etc. I towed this trailer easily with my Synapse. It would be even easier now that I have a hybrid with a longer wheel base and stiffer frame.

I do understand the problems trailers present, though; they are harder to park in the neighborhood grocery store's rack, and possibly a little heavier.

Rick

I would put panniers on a front rack. Unless you use a cargo bike, you are really going to notice the child seat on a regular bike. I used bicycle carts during those years when my children were small.

indyfabz

+1. Balances things. Put too much weight on the rear (you+ the kid seat + groceries in panniers) and the bike can start acting up.

livedarklions

Agreed. Also, the one thing we can assume about the child is she is going to get heavier so anything you mount back there may be on borrowed time until she's out of the seat.

nob

Guys - I should have clarified - the yepp maxi isn’t mounted on the rear rack. It’s mounted into a pole that’s the mounted directly onto the bike. This site has a good pic
https://www.talbotscyclery.com/produ...rrier-2910.htm

does this change your opinion?

thx

MikeyMK

How it's mounted isn't relevant. It could be clamped to the steerer tube - it's the position of the weight that matters and as long as the child is sat over the rear wheel then that's where the weight is.

I used a trailer, it was great because she could sleep in it! And I got tonnes of shopping in the 'boot/trunk'. Hard work though, and needed a suspension conversion.

Then she was on the back of my full-suspension bike, her seat mounted to the seat post and tube. Once she got heavy, it got tricky to keep the front wheel down..

Now she's 8yo I have her on the back of a full suspension child-back tandem, which is by far the best thing we've used.

Rick

Child + groceries Rider + 200Kilos.

livedarklions

Cargo bike--definitely not a good idea on a FX 2.

livedarklions

Trailers are a lot of fun, but you definitely want a mirror on the handlebar. After the kid outgrows it, it's a useful utility device. We took one camping once. Great for hauling tents and sleeping bags.