Is this front mount seat the right child bike seat for you?
This is a cost effective way of getting small children out cycling with adults, but is it any good? How easy is it to fit and do I recommend it?
I have recently been thinking about the best way to get my littlest out on the bike. She is 3 and keen to tag along with her dad and big brother (9) on bike rides. There are 4 main options for riding with toddlers as far as I can see based on attachements to normal bikes. All with different pros and cons.
- Trailer – A great option for multiple kids and carrying extra kit. The most expensive though, and fitting through narrow gaps can be difficult as well as being unable to communicate effectively with the child during transit.
- Tag along style – Bike seat post clamp connected to a rear wheel only childrens sized bike complete with handlebars etc.
- Rear seat – Typically plastic rack mount seats which position the child behind the main seat with clamps to rack and or seat post.
- Crossbar mount seats – Seats which do exactly as they say, sit on the adult bike crossbar to position the child in fron of the adult.
In my opinion you can summarise the pros and cons of each style as follows:
| Child Seat Style | Pro’s | Cons | Best For: |
| Trailer | – Ability to carry additional luggage – Stability – Easy to mount/ remove – Works with broad range of child sizes or even multiple children | – Most expensive – Width rules out narrow paths – Disconnect with child | Longer distances, multiple children and or load carrying. |
| Tag along | – Sense of comfort and freedom for child – Practice for real childs bike, balance and feel. – Minimal impact on stability – Easy to mounth/ remove | – Mid priced – Length is awkward for negotiating some obstacles (e.g. I have a local kissing gate that would be impossible) – Disconnect with child | Developing child cycling skills/ road awareness and sense of involvement |
| Rear seat mount/ rack mount | – No interference with peddling – You can talk to the child – Biggers seats possible for maximum child comfort | – Harder to mount/ remove – High and rear position not great for stability | Maintaining broad dimensions of bike whilst maximising child comfort. |
| Front/ Crossbar mount | – Cheapest – Best for communication – Central position doesn’t upset balance | – Harder to mount/ remove – Interference with peddling action – Limited child size range | Tighter trails/ paths and direct communication with child. |
As my use case is mainly short journeys, school run of appox. 1 mile I have opted for the simplest crossbar mount option. This is perhaps the lowest cost approach but matches my use case of narrow, bumpy paths. The simplest design of the crossbar mount systems and probably the cheapest being the Oxford Little Explorer. Available from as little as £35.
Click here to check latest pricing* : https://amzn.to/433nXtJ
Manufacturer Specifications (with my notes):
- Max tube width – 50mm
- Suitable for ages 3 to 6 years (i think beyond 4 it would be a bit of a struggle)
- Weight limit – 22kgs
- Foot pegs and straps for extra security
- Fits most bikes with a cross bar
- Suitable for steel and alloy frames (with inside or below cable routing)
- Not suitable for carbon fibre frames
- Ergonomic padded seat
The Oxford Little Explorer in use
The Little Explorer is a very simple design. Rather than an encased plastic type seat it is basically a saddle, foot pegs with some pressed steel to clamp it all to the frame. It’s worth checking your cable routing. Cables routed on top of the top tube (crossbar) will rub although may still work fine.
It’s easy to fit but not an instant fit, requiring some basic spannering, so would be a pain to fit/ remove frequently. In my case on an old mountain bike/ hybrid, used mainly for the short school/ pre school commute, or local leisure rides it therefore stays on the bike. With no child on board it doesn’t really impact ease of riding but if you have a shorter crossbar it will likely interfere slightly with knees so you do have to adapt riding style slightly.
I find it pretty easy to cycle with. Whilst there is a bit of knee interference so i have to splay my legs slightly wider, it’s not uncomfortably so. I also like the ease at which we can chat and I can keep track of what she is doing.
The passenger will naturally grip the handlebar which is one thing to consider. However in my case rather then fiddling with the brakes I have designated my daughter as bell ringer so she has a useful job in warning others of our presence.
Balance of the bike is good as the considerable extra weight of a 2-4 yr old is placed lower and central. The further from centre of gravity and higher postioned any extra weight is, the bigger the negative effect on balance which is a definite plus for this system versus a rear mount seat.
The footpegs work well although it is clear the the size range for use is quite limited. After a few months of toddler growth my daughter has gone from fitting the seat perfectly to being a bit more scrunched up in position. However she still feels comfortable. The straps on the foot pegs could also benefit from being adjustable rather than fixed. It is a bit easy for a foot to slip out or be poked towards the front wheel, although we haven’t had any disasters.
Summary: Would I recommend it
It’s a low cost product, under £40 from many retailers, and a very simple concept. However for riding narrower footpaths, such as overgrown bridleways and trails (even light mountain biking), it has proved easy to use and effective. My daughter finds it comfortable for our short rides and definitely enjoys riding on it. The slight compromise required in riding style and basic nature make it only really suitable for shorter rides. i.e. the child definitely can’t sleep in it like some of the more enclosed chairs with shoulder straps.
Overall if the above compromises suit your use case it definitely can do the job on a tight budget so gets a “somewhat recommended” thumbs up from me.
Click here to check latest pricing* : https://amzn.to/433nXtJ
Note: * This is an affiliate link so I may get a small commission if you choose to purchase through this link but this has not impacted my review in any way.