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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
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    MI
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    2,543

    Best way to take baby on bike ride . . .

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    I'd really like to take the new kid on a bike ride. He's just about one month old. Not on a mileage ride or anything like that, just for a leisurely ride around the neighborhood on a smooth bike path.

    I am planning to either secure his car seat into the burley solo.

    Or put him in his bjorn carrier.

    I am planning on riding a Giant Suede--so I would be sitting completely upright and both my feet are able to lay flat on the ground while I'm still seated--it's a very stable bike.

    Which do you guys think is the better option? Anyone else take their babies on bike rides before they were 1-year? I may also just wait another two months before we try this. Although, it seems to me, if he is safe in his car seat going down dirt roads and over potholes, he would be just as safe riding in his car seat that is secured into the burley going down a bike path.

    Thanks!
    2005 Giant TCR2
    2012 Trek Superfly Elite AL
    2nd Sport, Pando Fall Challenge 2011 and 3rd Expert Peak2Peak 2011
    2001 Trek 8000 SLR
    Iceman 2010-6th Place AG State Games, 2010-1st Sport, Cry Baby Classic 2010-7th Expert, Blackhawk XTerra Tri 2007-3rd AG

    Occasionally Updated Blog

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
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    i was told to not transport babies less than 1 year.
    Especially 1 month old, they are not strong enough to hold their heads up very well.

    i don't know what the Bjorn thing is; but i guess in a car type carrier it would be ok. what's your rush?
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

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    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    MI
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    2,543
    I'm home alone with baby and preschooler 6.5 days a week--getting really bored. I just thought since I take him in the baby jogger with his car seat for running and roller-blading--what's the difference if it's secured in the burley?

    But I know there are people who are adament about not taking babies on bike rides until they are 1 years old. I was curious as to the specific reason. I don't want to harm baby. But as far as I can see, he would be safe in the car seat.
    2005 Giant TCR2
    2012 Trek Superfly Elite AL
    2nd Sport, Pando Fall Challenge 2011 and 3rd Expert Peak2Peak 2011
    2001 Trek 8000 SLR
    Iceman 2010-6th Place AG State Games, 2010-1st Sport, Cry Baby Classic 2010-7th Expert, Blackhawk XTerra Tri 2007-3rd AG

    Occasionally Updated Blog

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    682
    If you can secure the car seat in the Burley, I'd go with that. The Bjorn might make it difficult for you to move around (turning around to see things passing you, etc., although maybe not an issue on a bike path) and might overbalance you while riding, plus if you DO tip over for whatever reason, the Burley stays safe and upright while a baby attached to you is vulnerable. I agree that the car seat in the Burley is no more dangerous than the car seat in a baby jogger.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    2,841

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bristol, TN
    Posts
    360
    Oh well, 30 years ago, when DH was in the Army in Italy, I had no car so we both had bicycles. The car was really for emergencies and travel or commissary visits. I rode with the Snugli baby carrier on my back with my 3 month old. Neither of us wore helmets. Heck, nobody did at that time. Sure wouldn't do that now. Later, as soon as he could sit on his own, about 4-5 months, I got one of those bicycle seats of molded plastic with a seat belt and that was what we used for the next 2+ years. I only fell off once and caught him before the bike hit the ground. It was flat cycling, going to market, errands, and visiting. He and I loved it and went everywhere that way.

    I shudder to think about it now, but we turned alot of heads as Americans were well known for driving everywhere and babies rarely went out at a young age! They would NEVER be seen on a bike. I don't know how it is now.

    ...one month old? I am not sure about that. A few more months might be good for a trailer but the helmet part might be tough for such a youngster.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Oslo, Norway
    Posts
    4,066
    We put our sons car seat in the Burley Solo and rode with him on the sidewalk and bike paths* when he was a baby. In fact it was easier the smaller he was, he had a really small car seat up to 9 months that reclined very well, he slept, well, like a baby Great way to get around, get groceries etc. We didn't have a car back then so that was basically how we got around and sure beat manhauling the huge stroller on and off the bus.

    We let out a little air from the Burley tires to give a smoother ride.

    * not on the road in traffic, as my MIL liked to tell her shocked friends.

    PS. I forget if we put a helmet on him, but I suspect we didn't when he was very small. There was basically no way he could get thrown out of the Burley. I seem to remember a folded towel on either side of his head for support when he was sleeping.
    Last edited by lph; 06-12-2009 at 07:55 AM.
    Winter riding is much less about badassery and much more about bundle-uppery. - malkin

    1995 Kona Cinder Cone commuterFrankenbike/Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow
    2008 white Nakamura Summit Custom mtb/Terry Falcon X
    2000 Schwinn Fastback Comp road bike/Specialized Jett

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    3,867
    +1 for the carseat in the Burley. Can you put both the kids in the Burley at the same time? I'd cushion his head, too. Lucky kid.

    Karen
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    insidious ungovernable cardboard

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    1,993
    Don't forget to put a sign on your carrier:

    BEAR ON BOARD!!

  10. #10
    Jolt is offline Dodging the potholes...
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Southern Maine
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    1,668
    I would think the car seat in the trailer is the safer way to go (much less risk to him if, God forbid, you were to crash), although it would be a much bumpier ride than having him in the Bjorn. Maybe the trailers should be made with some sort of suspension to smooth out the bumps. If there's a way to configure the car seat so he's just about lying flat, that should make the fact that he can't yet hold his head up a non-issue (but still cushion his head and place padding around it to keep it securely in place).

    ETA: What do people with babies/small kids do in countries where cycling is a routine form of transport and many people don't have cars? They must have ways of taking the kids along when they do their errands etc.--I don't suppose they just stay home. Seems that those would be the places to look for safe and practical solutions here.
    Last edited by Jolt; 06-12-2009 at 12:45 PM.
    2011 Surly LHT
    1995 Trek 830

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Oregon
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    1,131
    Car seat in the trailer would be preferable IMO. I've seen it done and I don't see the harm in it as long as you're not going too fast or braking too suddenly. I'm guessing DD will be riding by your side? I think the 1 yr. recommendation came about when it hadn't occurred to anyone yet that they could strap their car seats in it for children younger than that who are not able to sit fully upright and whose necks cannot support the additional weight of a helmet. Were anything to go amiss, the trailer acts as a roll cage.
    Everything in moderation, including moderation.

    2007 Rodriguez Adventure/B72
    2009 Masi Soulville Mixte/B18
    1997 Trek 820 Step-thru Xtracycle/B17

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
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    MI
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    We had a successful ride this afternoon. While DS was napping, I played around with the best way to secure the car seat and then took it for a test ride in front of the house to make sure the seat didn't jostle or shift position. Once I had I was confident it was secure, we were ready to go!

    I did have the car seat positioned so that it was laying a little more flat than it rides in the car. I braced his head with the rolled towels. He really seemed to enjoy the ride: looked around alot and cooed. I think he also liked the warm breeze.

    We got about 6 miles on the bike path. It was sooooo nice to be on a bike again.
    2005 Giant TCR2
    2012 Trek Superfly Elite AL
    2nd Sport, Pando Fall Challenge 2011 and 3rd Expert Peak2Peak 2011
    2001 Trek 8000 SLR
    Iceman 2010-6th Place AG State Games, 2010-1st Sport, Cry Baby Classic 2010-7th Expert, Blackhawk XTerra Tri 2007-3rd AG

    Occasionally Updated Blog

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    California
    Posts
    488
    Congratulations on a successful first ride. May you share many happy miles.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    9,324
    It's amazing how many things we use to do and never got hurt that nowadays people act shocked about. Remember seesaws, monkey bars, lawn darts...Okay, maybe lawn darts are a bad idea.

    I'm glad you went for a bike ride.

    Veronica
    Discipline is remembering what you want.


    TandemHearts.com

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bristol, TN
    Posts
    360
    Glad to hear you got in a good ride, Lime. Now you know it works well so won't be worried about it! Keep up the good work and that li'l guy will be riding on his own in no time!!!

 

 

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