I would like to take my little boy with me for some occasional short easy gravel rides. I bought a seat and was planning on using it on my old Jake the Snake, but after a couple initial tests that isn't going to work. I need something that will handle wider tires for stability with the extra weight. It will also need to have disc brakes, because the seat interferes with my cantys
I was thinking a adventure or touring bike that will handle big tires would be my best bet, but don't know where to start. I would prefer to find something used and cost effective <$1000 the more the better. I already have a carbon warbird for serious rides.
Let me know some models that you guys think would work for this so i can get the little man on some starter adventures.
I used to ride with my kid in the back, but never on gravel. That was on a flat-bar hybrid with 700c x 35 mm tires. I really can't imagine doing any kind of off-road riding with a kid on my Vaya, which happens to have 40 mm tires and discs and could easily accommodate a child seat. This is one scenario where I think the wider, flat bars of a hybrid or MTB would lend greater control and more confident braking on rougher terrain, given the added instability and higher center of gravity caused by a kid in a child seat.
Have you considered using a trailer with your kid? I've found that trailers actually increase stability, and you might be able to attach one to the rear axle of your Jake the Snake or Warbird. More economical for you, more room for the kid, and also gives you a place to stash stuff off the bike.
Thanks for the advice. I considered a trailer briefly, but decided on to go that way for two reasons: on gravel/ dirt around here it would get filled with dust, and we live in serious hill and pulling a trailer up them is no joke.
The more i think about it i think a rigid Mtn bike, or Flat bar touring bike with big tires might be the best way to go.
Just for clarification, i live in NE kansas and have 100s of miles of dirt and gravel outside my front door. I don't plan on riding on any rough terrian with him, just well maintained dirt and gravel roads.
My $.02: Sorry to be negative, but IMHO, rear mounted child seats are unsafe. Most bikes are simply not designed to handle this kind of high rear mounted load. I used to help out at local bike shop in Nyack NY. The owner, and good friend, shared my opinion. He actually refused to sell this kind of seat. Sadly, some of his customers thought that he was trying to sell them an expensive child trailer. I'm afraid that trailers, or if your child is old enough to pedal, a linked pedal tandem, may be your best choice.
