Can I use tricross to carry a child? Need advice with bike.

Denys

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I'm looking get back commuting and looking to find proper bike this time.
I only will be cycling 1mile a day to work (it's only 15 mins walk), on few days I think to carry my 2.5years old to playgroup. And few evening and weekend will be riding in the park with my 5y.o. son (so that's will be off road cycling ).

I done some reading and now even more confused. I will need to fit mudguards, rear rack to a bike to take full advantage of it.
I like:
- Scott Sportster P2 (like it, but think that thieves will like it too)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec001311
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/19524 ... ae.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/19524 ... a1.jpg?v=0

- Specialized Tricross Sport (worry that it will not be able to cope with my parks activity and extra weight if I put child or carry heavy backpack if needed)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/257 ... 5a09e1.jpg

- Scott Aspect 45 Disk 08 (maybe with changing tyres to make it road friendly) - can get it for £299 delivered (bargain)
Review: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 5-08-28917

- Specialized Hardrock Pro Disk (changing tyres)
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... disc-28923

I cycled before 45mins each way to work, using mountain bike and it was hard work. But this time will be doing only 5mins trip each way.

Should I look at trailing bikes? I cannot afford two bikes but will be able to spend about £700 through CycleScheme after we complete sign up forms.

Could you tell me what bike will be best for me to do little bit of everything.

Thank you. :idea:

AndyManc

Specialized Hardrock Pro are good workhorses and the frame has been long praised.

I have the 05 model and will soon be putting 'slicks' on it and will start using for my winter commute.

If you are only doing a 1mile commute the Specialized Tricross Sport will be overkill.

All the bikes you mention will do a good job , pick the one you like the look of most and make sure you test ride them .

I'm sure other forum members will offer further advice.

sc999cs

Bog standard hard tail MTB or a hybrid will probably meet lyour needs re carrying a child on a child seat and gentle off road. Unless you're using the bike for 'serious' fun riding as well as your 1 mile commute then there is little point spending as much as £800. It will be, as AndyManc said, complete overkill.

Decide what type of riding YOU want to do, and then fit your purchase choice around that. You can commute 1 mile on any bike - I recently completed a 70 mile ride on a full suspension MTB - it just may not be the most efficient bike for the job. When you know what type of riding you're going to do, buy the child carrier to fit your bike. Don't base the purchase of the bike around the need to get a carrier.

Shropshire County Council have a useful leaflet
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/cycling.ns ... ildren.pdf
(hyperlink doesn't work under BBCode) all about cycling with children. The trailer idea suggested may be better for a young child.

Denys

Thank you Andy and Steve.

You gave me good advice, must say revealing. I didn’t want to spend more than required.

But will I be able to equip Specialized Hardrock or Scott Aspect 45 with full length mudguards or rear rack? Because I owned full suspension MTB and it was not possible to fit a rack.

Steve, very good leaflet - bookmarked for reference.

Thanks

sc999cs

Denys wrote:

mudguards or rear rack?

Not being funny, but for what reasons do you need full length mud guards and a rear rack?

Denys

allright alright... don't want to be dirty. don't need full length mudguards, but will want to fit rack. I noticed that it's rains a lot when I set to cycle, plus I would like to do some shopping and will use set of double bags for rear rack. As mentioned in first post, I want to take full advantage and use it for everything.

But I know it sounds silly to ask for these fittings for mountain bikes.

Denys

Just googled and fould set for Scott sportster
Scott City Kit Sportster 28" City

But like Hardtail and Aspect, would like to see if possible to get similar solution.

sc999cs

Sounds like you want to get a hybrid then instead of a MTB which comes with these components. Lots of MTBs have no braze ons, although this thread How to fit rear panniers to a frame without eyelets does suggest some ways around this.. If you only wanted a panier rack some of the time you may have got away with a beam rack.

MTBs tend to be stuck with beaver tail style rear mud guards, or the type which stick out - not recommending either because I have no experience of these products. If either of these would fit your criteria then consider a MTB.

I do think though to be honest you are best looking at a hybrid with 700c wheels. This'll be most practical on the road and probably have the biggest range of available pannier racks and mudguards.

Finbar Saunders

I had a similar situation a few months ago. I wanted a bike and child seat to take my 3yo out for short rides, and for occasional commuting. I didn't want to put a child seat on my Ti road bike and I didn't like the idea of riding my conversion project fixie with a child on it. At the same time I received a rewards voucher from work for £150 that could be used at Halfords.

So I looked at what was available at Halfords and chose a Raleigh Spirit MTB (£230 RRP, half price if ordered online for store delivery). I also got a seat tube child seat and few bits. Now, they call it a mountain bike but they could just as well sold it as an anchor. It isn't a great bike, but it is ok for what I need. When I want a nice ride I use one of my other bikes. I have used it for rides in the park, commuting to work (7 miles each way) and trips to the shops. It can take a rear rack but so far I have been lazy and used the child seat to hold my backpack and as a crude mudguard when commuting. I don't worry about it being stolen at the shops or where I keep it locked to a pipe outside my kitchen.

That was my individual solution, and I am sure it wouldn't be what many others would choose. But the point is you can get away with a lot less bike than you think you need. When I first considered another bike to take my son out I started looking as a cycling enthusiast. I wanted a nice bike, relatively light, good looking. But I already had that at home and just had to convince myself to buy what I needed and not what I wanted.

ride_whenever

I'd say go for a tricross single, you're only going one mile so you'll manage without gears plus it'll be so much easier to maintain, it has room for full guards and racks and being a cyclocross bike, is suitable for offroad and carrying heavy loads.

sc999cs wrote:

I recently completed a 70 mile ride on a full suspension MTB - it just may not be the most efficient bike for the job.

like you say, may not be, for a 70mile offroad marathon i'd welcome a FS bike!

sc999cs

ride_whenever wrote:

sc999cs wrote:

I recently completed a 70 mile ride on a full suspension MTB - it just may not be the most efficient bike for the job.

like you say, may not be, for a 70mile offroad marathon i'd welcome a FS bike!

It was on road with slick tyres through the South Shropshire Hills; I wanted the gears - only took 8 hours . Admittedly I can lock out the suspension which helped. Point is, any bike can usually do any job you want, just may not be the best way to do it...