The best part about cycling is that you need very little to get going. There are a number of must-have pieces of equipment such as a helmet, high visibility clothing and lights, but apart from this small group, you don’t need anything extra. Tag along style– Bike seat post clamp connected to a rear wheel only childrens sized bike complete with handlebars etc. As part of the WEEE regulations, all electrical and electronic goods produced after August 2005 that fall under WEEE regulations should be clearly marked with a crossed-out bin symbol which means they should not be included with household waste so that they can be recycled

We then wanted to get a bit more specific and only look at Oxford products that are listed in the Child Seats category. It’s a pity, as this used to be a very cheap way for parents to try out commuting to nursery / school. However, at less than the cost of a full tank of petrol, the Little Explorer is still, to my mind, excellent value for money. A couple of things to note about the Oxford Little Explorer Top Tube Bike Seat So the first aspect of price that we’re going to look at is the price of Oxford Little Explorer Cross Bar Seat. 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.As we say above, price is the most common top consideration for people buying cycling gear…the same goes for buying Child Seats. With 40 products available we worked out that 21 cost more than Oxford Little Explorer Cross Bar Seat and 17 were cheaper. Cost of Oxford products 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?

Stripped pedal threads - a comprehensive guide on the correct installation of pedals is sent out with every bike 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. It’s a seat for older kids who, if they weren’t on this seat would be riding their own bikes or a taglong where they’re not strapped in . It’s a big step in the history of the seat however, as some Cycle Sprog readers will remember the old cotton harness of their childhood! You might also want to get a bike cover if your bike will be open to the elements whilst at work, school or elsewhere. A cover will protect your bike’s surface from wear and tear, helping to keep it in the best condition possible.Of course, this doesn’t mean buy the most expensive items, but it does mean to think about if the price tag has more to do with the bragging rights than the actual quality of the product. 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. 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 You might be a cycling newbie or a relative De-France competitor, but anyone can fall victim to the common buying mistakes when it comes to cycling gear. Unfortunately, while the internet makes shopping easier than ever before, it has also increased the difficulty for newcomers to discern the good from the bad.

The Oxford Little Explorer can be fitted to steel and aluminium framed bikes with a top tube (maximum width 50mm), so is not suitable if you’re riding a carbon framed bike or a step through frame city bike. It has a weight limit of 22kg, and your child must be able to sit up unaided and still whilst you’re riding.This makes it ideal for ages about 3 years through to 6 years. You need enough space on your bike frame to fit the seat and get your arms round your child to still control your handlebars. This means that if you are very short and have short arms and a very small framed bike it may be less successful. I’m 5′ 9″ and it suited me perfectly. Our advice is to take your time studying factors like the reputation of the brand, the materials used to manufacture the product and also comparing it to other products of a similar price in the Child Seats category.