No way
MTB with a toddler
Saw a guy on my local trails today that impressed me. Rocking the full suspension, climbing the big hills, rock gardens, tree gates, etc with a toddler strapped to his back. The little dude was maybe 1 or 2 years old (i'm no expert), had a helmet on, and seemed to be enjoying it. My local trails aren't terrifying by any means, but damn that guy must have some confidence in his riding skills. Or maybe he just couldn't find a babysitter but really really wanted some saddle time.
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I've been riding with a Shotgun seat on the top tube of my Fat bike. Works really well. I tried the backpack, but disliked it due to how forward I tend to lean on my long reach bikes. It wasn't comfortable for me or my kid + the weight was all over the place when he shifted around. The top tube seat options are the way to go if you want to trail ride with your toddler.
I have seen the top tube seat and that seems legit if you are not acting the fool. However I wouldn’t try as my better half would have some questions. Not a hill I am willing to die on.
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You know pretty quick what you can and can't ride with them. The extra weight over the front tire helps climbing traction though! Everyone's risk tolerance is different, but IMO its perfectly safe, and the best way to transport your kid around on a bike. Heck, I mostly just use mine to putz around town to different playgrounds after work. My fatbike even has fork cargo mounts where I keep a drybag with a change of clothes, diaper and snacks on me.I have seen the top tube seat and that seems legit if you are not acting the fool. However I wouldn’t try as my better half would have some questions. Not a hill I am willing to die on.
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The only downside is longer rides where the young ones can tend to get sleepy. Trailers are better for those longer distance road rides, but for a quick ride around town, or some simple single track, it's easily the most fun way to get around on a bike with a kid.
Mac Ride is an awesome product, great support. Highly recommended
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Id take them on trails in the trailer behind my RM Element. Nothing bigger than root sections but I'd be at a nice clip. I flipped them on their side a couple times but they had helmets on.
Hauled my boy around in a trailer on "smoother" trails before he was a year old. He got a Strider when he was 2. I would strap the Strider to the trailer, ride into the woods a little ways get him out and he would ride until he got tired. Then I would haul him back, we would get home and he would ride the Strider in the driveway forever. Some then and now pics about 10 years apart. He has taken to the MTB life.
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That just sounds downright dangerous and incredibly irresponsible, same as the time I saw a woman skinning up my local ski mountain, on a busy Saturday, with a kid in a carrier on her back, got to the top and then skied back down. One out of control learner and that would make for a very serious accident.Saw a guy on my local trails today that impressed me. Rocking the full suspension, climbing the big hills, rock gardens, tree gates, etc with a toddler strapped to his back.
Even in the full trailers like the Bob/Thule/Chariot etc... you're not supposed to tow a kid in those under 1 year old, their neck muscles just aren't strong enough to take the extra weight of the helmet as they jiggle around... People forget how disproportionately heavy a small kid's head is relative to the rest of their body. That's why rear facing car seats are so much safer, because the seat supports the head and neck.
Mine is 2 years and 8 months...no way I'm taking him on a real trail and strapped to my back or the bike. That is basically child abuse and endangerment. If he crashes, the kid will have serious injuries and probably head/neck injury. I have friends who have taught their little ones to ride on trails but they started around 6-7 on their own bikes.
What do you consider a "real trail"? I'm curious what your thoughts are on products such as the Shotgun seat or MacRide, designed and marketed towards off-road riding with toddlers. Should they be outlawed?Mine is 2 years and 8 months...no way I'm taking him on a real trail and strapped to my back or the bike. That is basically child abuse and endangerment. If he crashes, the kid will have serious injuries and probably head/neck injury. I have friends who have taught their little ones to ride on trails but they started around 6-7 on their own bikes.
My 4 and 6 year olds will hit a level 2 out of 4 trail with me in Montgomery county md. They call it a blue trail. They have so much fun doing it and frankly there are no cars. That’s not to say they don’t make me nervous but they have progressed pretty quickly and are really positive when we are there. I just took my 4 year old for a trail ride this afternoon. 
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Any toddler strapped to someones back is just stupid and reckless. I think after 4 or so, dirt trails and smoother single track is better any crash is going to mess up the kid. However, dumb is dumb and Darwinism prevails. Toddlers should be taught and have their own bike on appropriate trails. The seats are not for single track but for bike paths.
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I just looked at the sites for both products. Shotgun gives warnings about the seat negatively effecting bike handling and that you shouldn't do any jumps/drops/tricks etc... MacRide just say "ride well within your limits", but then has a picture of someone riding down a set of stairs with their kid on a MacRide and and another of someone else popping a wheelie...What do you consider a "real trail"? I'm curious what your thoughts are on products such as the Shotgun seat or MacRide, designed and marketed towards off-road riding with toddlers. Should they be outlawed?
Ultimately the parent has to decide on the level of risk they are prepared to subject their kid to, but we all know that no matter how good a rider you are mistakes can happen, and I'd hate to think of the injuries from a 170lbs+ adult landing on top of their 2 year old kid in a crash, possibly smashing the kids face into rocks and roots, or the kid getting trapped between the parent and the handlebars etc...
In the Scandinavian countries kids sit in rear facing car seats until they are 5 years old because it is so much safer than front facing. Here in the US people have their kids out of any kind of car set as quickly as they can. I know people who let their 9 year old ride in the passenger seat with the seat belt around their neck, and when we were looking at cars and stopped at a VW dealer to look at the Atlas I mentioned about getting three seats across the second row and the salesman suggested the my kids were too old to be in car seats so don't let that stop me buying the car!!!!
My friend has a Shotgun Seat on his Surly Ogre that he uses to take his 1ish-yr old for short rides around the neighborhood. I borrowed the bike once and found that the empty seat REALLY limited my ability to make slow tight turns because it blocked the handlebars at a certain point.
Now that the kid is learning to walk she's hitting her head on everything. So maybe the occassionaly bike ride is the least of concerns.
Now that the kid is learning to walk she's hitting her head on everything. So maybe the occassionaly bike ride is the least of concerns.
Yeah, if that kid gets hurt, that guy better be ready to potentially have his child taken away and hit with charges of child abuse/neglect for "creating a substantial risk of serious injury" by his reckless behavior. Accidents happen and a fully grown man falling on a child can cause serious harm. It's great the kid had a helmet on, but that doesn't protect all their squishy bits that are easily damaged on a young child. Carrying them on your back is probably the most dangerous option out of any to bring a kid riding.Saw a guy on my local trails today that impressed me. Rocking the full suspension, climbing the big hills, rock gardens, tree gates, etc with a toddler strapped to his back. The little dude was maybe 1 or 2 years old (i'm no expert), had a helmet on, and seemed to be enjoying it. My local trails aren't terrifying by any means, but damn that guy must have some confidence in his riding skills. Or maybe he just couldn't find a babysitter but really really wanted some saddle time.
And yes, I understand that accidents can happen anywhere but the incident rate is much higher mountain biking on singletrack.
I certainly didn't have the kids on me or my bike when they were small enough for any of these types of options because I didn't have the confidence or skills at that point to be sure that I wouldn't hurt myself let alone them.
I've been riding 30yrs and wouldn't do it. I accept risks for myself only. There is such a narrow window of say 3-4years from birth to actually having your kids riding with you on basic trails. Trying not to judge anyone here, I just don't see the value in trail riding with a toddler on an adult bike.I certainly didn't have the kids on me or my bike when they were small enough for any of these types of options because I didn't have the confidence or skills at that point to be sure that I wouldn't hurt myself let alone them.
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