Convert Tricross or hybrid?

Laura2507
Laura2507 Posts: 12
edited February 2019 in Family & kids cycling forum
Hello

I want to get a bike set up with a child seat for my 18 month old to do leisurely rides, local forest paths etc.

I already have a specialised tricross which currently has slicks and also used on the turbo.

Is there a potential to convert this to straight bar and more comfortable set up or should I look at a separate hybrid bike?

I was looking at something like this for a hybrid...
https://www.evanscycles.com/dawes-disco ... e-EV331647

Any suggestions welcome, I’m going round in circles, many thanks!

Comments

  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    https://www.merlincycles.com/bianchi-al ... source=PHG

    https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vit ... prod159757

    ^Theese lok nice & good spec but alot more expensive than the dawes

    I'd say get another bike rather than flat bar the tri cross as personally i'd miss not having the option of a bike with drops but depends on how much riding you do etc if you want two bikes....

    Im not sure for the dawes bugdet what else is best value for money at around that price.

    Step though might be an advantage with weight of child seat whilst dismounting?

    Also there are often good discounts but only in certain frame sizes so you neeed to be lucky to spot one thats is your size...
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Step through is a huge advantage when you've got a childseat on the back - you can't tip the bike much before it falls over ... and if they fall asleep in the back you can't rock'n'roll the bike either....

    Flat bar is certainly handier for when they lean one side then the other - you'll be surprised how much they steer the bike through their weight.... a wider bar helps keep it under a bit of control!

    We specifically chose hydro disk brakes with the step through frame - braking power is far more reliable..

    We got a step-through flat bar for my wife when Little Slowbike was small - just selling it on now (just got to post it up) - even have a childseat that fit it.
  • Laura2507
    Laura2507 Posts: 12
    Thanks for the replies. I’m definitely not going to bother converting the tricross. It’s too much hassle and I will still want to use it when I get chance to go out my own or the turbo.

    Moonrider I agree those bikes look good but don’t think I can justify spending that amount of money for a poodle about with a toddler. We only managed 20 minutes at centre parcs (hoping with time he gets more used to it!)

    I’ve been to a bike shop today and seen the men’s Dawes discovery 201 and really liked it apart from not having step through. I don’t think I would (ahem) get my leg over with the child seat on the back!

    Will have a look at the classifieds here, I’m not opposed to second hand but nothing decent coming up locally on Facebook / eBay.
  • Laura2507
    Laura2507 Posts: 12
    Only just clicked the tricross is not a step through anyway so was a waste of time even considering converting it haha.
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,514
    I don't think step through needs to be a deal breaker, more of a "nice to have".
    I managed front and rear kids seats on my mountain bike and I don't recall ever kicking either of them in the teeth.

    Definitely not worth the hassle of converting a drop bar bike anyway.
    Maybe one of Decathlon's city bikes - they're very cheap, and come with full mud guards, chain guards etc. No doubt they weigh a tonne but that probably isn't such a concern if you're carting kids around anyway.
    https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376961-ci ... ct_8487234
  • Laura2507
    Laura2507 Posts: 12
    I tried it on the men’s bike in the shop and I just could not get my leg over the cross bar! Maybe I need to work on my flexibility :lol: I actually preferred the colour of the men’s bike too...
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    Be careful with your bike choice. I used a hamax siesta on a spesh crosstrail hybrid and it read great. When it got nicked I got a drop barred PX London road and it could not take the child seat. The bike would become so unstable setting off that I could not ride further than a few metres.

    Seriously, it would shake me off. But I was able to put a lot of weight on it for cycle touring with full camping kit. Even tow a single wheel trailer loaded up to its limit. It was possibly about where the weight was added and the natural bounce from the hamax support bars but it made a solid enough bike unrideable. I suspect the tricross is a similar bike to my px lr bike.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Tangled Metal wrote:
    Be careful with your bike choice. I used a hamax siesta on a spesh crosstrail hybrid and it read great. When it got nicked I got a drop barred PX London road and it could not take the child seat. The bike would become so unstable setting off that I could not ride further than a few metres.

    Seriously, it would shake me off. But I was able to put a lot of weight on it for cycle touring with full camping kit. Even tow a single wheel trailer loaded up to its limit. It was possibly about where the weight was added and the natural bounce from the hamax support bars but it made a solid enough bike unrideable. I suspect the tricross is a similar bike to my px lr bike.

    I did ride with a child seat on the TriCross - it was doable - but I noticed the narrower bars - and the high top tube certainly
    made life harder getting on and off ... did quite a few miles on it - once you were going it was fine - it was the start/stops that were harder - that and going up a 10% when he's asleep on the back - ran out of gears/power seated and had to stop and wait for Mrs Slowbike to come and support my bike whilst I got off and walked the hill ...
    Much easier now he's on a follow-me tandem - although it means he can't sleep :)
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Link to the Merida Crossway Urban 40 I'm selling (or rather Mrs Slowbike is selling)
    viewtopic.php?f=40090&t=13103628
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    I think my bike was on its way to what motorcyclists call a tank slapper. In cycling terms it was a shimmy that felt like a shake. If I had carried on I'd have been off. It was only getting worse as I increased speed.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Tangled Metal wrote:
    I think my bike was on its way to what motorcyclists call a tank slapper. In cycling terms it was a shimmy that felt like a shake. If I had carried on I'd have been off. It was only getting worse as I increased speed.
    I wonder what caused that then ...
    my Tricross has done over 5000 miles - the only thing I don't like about it really is the lack of braking power - I would do something about it, but I've got other bikes that I tend to use more ...

    Trailer then Child seat on my 29er with hydro disk brakes was good - in terms of control, but not speed - I still use it sometimes with the follow-me (quick to change over the QR attachment on the towbike) - it's just the braking that I prefer... which is why new bikes we're getting will have the hydro disks (like the Merida) - I just need to persuade Mrs Slowbike that I need a new bike ;)

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