****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've been using this seat for my 3yo daughter (just over 30lbs) for about three months now, and it's been absolutely great. I bought the frame-mounted model, which I installed on my 56cm Surly Cross Check. I'm not an advanced bike mechanic (can change tires and break shoes, but most other stuff I have done at a shop), and I found the installation to be super easy. It took only about 20min all told.Importantly, I have had no trouble at all with my heels hitting the foothold parts of the kid seat. There is ample clearance there. And there's also plenty of space between my saddle and the seat itself. I generally carry a big backpack when I'm bike commuting with my daughter in the seat, and she has plenty of room between her and the backpack. In addition to commuting, I've done some longer sightseeing rides and my daughter had been super comfy throughout (even falling asleep once or twice).Bottom line, highly recommend this!Fits my 3 y/o 31lb son perfectly, It's easy to install uninstall. It also has plenty of space for the helmet so that it doesn't push his head forward. I like that it's secured with a key. The attachment also allows for just the right flex to smooth the ride out. I went with this model due to the fact that it as some arm rest and protection on the sides unlike the others. It also inclines. Very happy with it.We debated several different seats (front or rear) and ultimately went with this one for several reasons: 1) the adapter makes it easy to switch the seat between my bike and my husband's bike (or not have a seat at all) 2) the recline function is nice because my daughter often ends up napping on the ride 3) we were afraid of our knees hitting a front seat 4) the seat will last a long time for height/weight 5) it's super easy to adjust the recline and foot rests. The seat pops in and out of the adapter in seconds so we take the seat off while transporting our bikes on the hitch mounted bike rack and put it on when we reach our destination. A rear mounted seat does make balancing slightly more challenging, but you get used to it after awhile. The recline is only a slight recline (think airline seat) so we do sometimes have problems with our daughter's head slumping forward, but so far it's been okay (she usually corrects it herself). It's really easy to get her in and out with the 3-point harness, even with her bike helmet on.Be careful about what kind of bike you use this with.I used to be really into biking before having a kid, but being pregnant and then breastfeeding was not conducive to the long bike rides I like. My road bike and mountain bike are both carbon fiber and I knew that I could not put a child seat on those bikes. So, I decided to get a used steel women's mountain bike to use with this child seat. I don't usually ride women's specific bikes, but I purposely got one for using with a child seat because you do have to be careful when you are getting on and off the bike, keep the bike balanced and not kick your child when getting on and off the bike. Doing all of these things is easier to accomplish with a sloping top tube.A critical part was broken when I got the seat in the mail - there is a blue plastic piece that allows the seat to move forward and back on the rails and that was broken. A part like that should have been made of something stronger, maybe aluminum. I ordered several of these parts from Thule and I thought I was finally ready to go for a bike ride with my two year old.It turns out that there is not enough space on the seat tube to get the quick release bracket high enough so that the seat doesn't hit the rear tire. I also had to position the seat farther back on the two railings than I would have preferred, so that my legs didn't hit the foot rests while pedaling. My daughter spent a couple hours with me getting it all set up and we were both excited to go for a ride. After I got everything adjusted and had her in the seat and ready to ride - it turns out the rear wheel won't turn because her weight causes the seat to sag and hit the wheel. Try explaining this to a two year old who has been wanting to go for a bike ride - not fun : (Thule really ought to have a prominent warning about the seat tube issue on women's bikes. This information should be prominently included in online product descriptions. The people who are most likely to be putting a child seat on their bikes are women. It seems really ironic that a child seat design would not be made to work with women's bikes frames.On another note, the clamping part of the quick release bracket is pretty strong - I would not want to use an aluminum frame (or carbon fiber). The instructions clearly say that the seat can't be used with carbon fiber. I would stick with a strong steel or titanium frame only.This is the best bike seat.This is actually the 2nd one I've purchased because a friend wanted that exact child seat for their 1yr old. So it was the perfect gift for them. We used ours to ride on greenway paths through the woods and around the neighborhood. The seat is adjustable and grew with our first child. Now that he's outgrown it, we can't wait to use it with our new baby. Hopefully, he get the same enjoyment as his brother did.This is great bike seat that is a fun way to take your kiddo along for a ride. It is comfortable for our little guy to ride in and he loves being in the front so he can see what's coming. Our son loves riding in it!Once the mount is installed on the bike, it is very quick and easy to place the seat on the mount and to take it off. The straps are easy to adjust and provide a snug fit. I also like that you can lock it to the bike for extra security if you leave your bike unattended.Now, having said all that, I will caution: we have full suspension mountain bikes, and while the seat does fit on my husbands bike (Medium frame, Giant Trance), my bikes (Specialized Rhyme) geometry and small frame size will not allow the seat to fit. This seat would definitely work best with a bike that has a more upright geometry and less aggressive than what our bikes are.All that being said, we are overall pleased with this purchase and enjoy being able to take our son on rides with us.Super disappointed. Took my son out for the first time and riding along a flat surface nice and slow, go over a small bump and heard a crack sound, the inside blue plastic grip that holds the seat upright had cracked in half, and my son was horizontal not upright. DO NOT BUY! If we had been going downhill or at any speed I don’t want to think of the damage it would have done to my son.Installation instructions are just images. No wording so took a while to fit.This really is one of the better carrier's you can buy. It's ultra stable on my hard tail MTB and my 17month old son loves being in it. The harness,foot restraints and the encompassing seat really do offer to he best level of protection for your little passenger so you can relax and enjoy the ride. This was £29 cheaper than Halfords plus it arrived next day rather than the 7 days Halfords quoted tooWell, this brand knows what they are doing, so is a very good alternative if you're looking for child bike seats. Easy to install, light.The big flaw is security, though it has a lock with a key you have free access to the screws, so if someone wants to steal it, it will be an easy jobBrilliant bike seat. My 2 year old loves it and the only downside was that the installation instructions didn’t perfectly match the seat however it’s easily overcome with a bit of thinking and common sense.It’s really sturdy when fitted and the level of adjustments makes for a perfectly comfortable ride for the little one.This has been an excellent purchase for us. Our 3 year old absolutely loves it and says it's really comfy! Have been on bike rides well over 2 hours and she never complains! So easy to use and install.
