Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More - View Single Post

06-29-2004, 08:10 AM

Kyler Laird wrote:

> "GS" <xLuckyStrike21@Yahoo.com> writes:
>
>
>>As a new father I'm excited to start biking with my daughter in a child
>>trailer. How young can children be to safely ride in a trailer?
>
>
> http://www.joggingstroller.com/acces...chariotacc.htm
>
> Chariot Baby Supporter
> The fleece Baby Supporter helps children between from about 3-4
> months to about 18 months of age sit upright and nap
> comfortably. The head support is removable, for when your child
> is old enough for a helmet (usually around 1 year old). Works
> with 5-point harnesses. Compatible with all Chariot products
> except the SideCarrier. (Note that cycling is not recommended
> for children under 1 year of age; this accessory is for using
> your Chariot for walking or jogging.)
>
> That's a manufacturer's recommendation/CYA move. I certainly don't know
> how it relates to "safely" riding.

Nor do I.

>
> I think I recall seeing something about helmets not being available for
> children under about one year of age for similar reasons.

.... yet try to find ANY evidence that a kid less than one year old has
ever been seriously hurt on a bicycle, or in a bike trailer! If it's
out there, I certainly haven't seen it. And if it's happened, it's
certainly very, very rare. But that won't stop the handwringers' warnings.

It's interesting to me that a jogger can (apparently) push that trialer
as fast as they can run, and it remains "safe." But if a bicycle is
towing it, it will be "dangerous."

Regarding the original question: towing an infant in a bike trailer
needn't be any more dangerous than transporting the kid in a car. It
depends on the riding environment. Obviously, high-speed twisty
descents, gnarly off-road trails, etc. would be bad. Quiet neighborhood
streets or rides in the park can be fine.

Trailers can tip, but it's not easy to do. Hitting a curb on the inside
of a sharp turn can do it, if you're going fast enough. So don't do that.

My daughter (now grown) was going for short bike rides at about 4
months, IIRC, in a sort of sling-backpack. I'm very stable on a bike,
and had no trouble at all. Obviously, her head was well-supported, just
as it would be if we were carrying her while walking. Eventually she
moved into a kid seat on the bike, then onto a tandem with a kid-back setup.

(Of course, this was all before bicycling became officially "Dangerous!!!")

All in all, I'd say if the kid is well strapped in and well supported
(especially her head and neck), and if you're appropriately careful, you
can start in just a couple months. But keep in mind, your daughter
isn't going to get much out of the experience until she can sit up and
look around!

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-29-2004, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
Frank Krygowski Posts: n/a	Re: age for child trailers Kyler Laird wrote: > "GS" <xLuckyStrike21@Yahoo.com> writes: > > >>As a new father I'm excited to start biking with my daughter in a child >>trailer. How young can children be to safely ride in a trailer? > > > http://www.joggingstroller.com/acces...chariotacc.htm > > Chariot Baby Supporter > The fleece Baby Supporter helps children between from about 3-4 > months to about 18 months of age sit upright and nap > comfortably. The head support is removable, for when your child > is old enough for a helmet (usually around 1 year old). Works > with 5-point harnesses. Compatible with all Chariot products > except the SideCarrier. (Note that cycling is not recommended > for children under 1 year of age; this accessory is for using > your Chariot for walking or jogging.) > > That's a manufacturer's recommendation/CYA move. I certainly don't know > how it relates to "safely" riding. Nor do I. > > I think I recall seeing something about helmets not being available for > children under about one year of age for similar reasons. .... yet try to find ANY evidence that a kid less than one year old has ever been seriously hurt on a bicycle, or in a bike trailer! If it's out there, I certainly haven't seen it. And if it's happened, it's certainly very, very rare. But that won't stop the handwringers' warnings. It's interesting to me that a jogger can (apparently) push that trialer as fast as they can run, and it remains "safe." But if a bicycle is towing it, it will be "dangerous." Regarding the original question: towing an infant in a bike trailer needn't be any more dangerous than transporting the kid in a car. It depends on the riding environment. Obviously, high-speed twisty descents, gnarly off-road trails, etc. would be bad. Quiet neighborhood streets or rides in the park can be fine. Trailers can tip, but it's not easy to do. Hitting a curb on the inside of a sharp turn can do it, if you're going fast enough. So don't do that. My daughter (now grown) was going for short bike rides at about 4 months, IIRC, in a sort of sling-backpack. I'm very stable on a bike, and had no trouble at all. Obviously, her head was well-supported, just as it would be if we were carrying her while walking. Eventually she moved into a kid seat on the bike, then onto a tandem with a kid-back setup. (Of course, this was all before bicycling became officially "Dangerous!!!") All in all, I'd say if the kid is well strapped in and well supported (especially her head and neck), and if you're appropriately careful, you can start in just a couple months. But keep in mind, your daughter isn't going to get much out of the experience until she can sit up and look around! -- --------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]