In both cases, however, we were able to get the Caress centered by moving the bike’s saddle forward on its rails or by moving the saddle higher. But upon doing so, the Caress became too close to the saddle to allow the seat to recline fully. While simple in concept, with two of the bikes we tested the Caress with, we had challenges getting within 10 cm of the rear axle. With both bikes (Specialized Ariel hybrid and Priority Bicycles Large frame) the saddles of the bikes got in the way, preventing the Hamax Caress from moving forward enough on the mounting rails. Our two-year old daughter currently has an opinion on everything, and where she used to demand “orange seat,” meaning a ride in the Thule Yepp Maxi, she began requesting the “white seat” after just a few test rides around our neighborhood. According to Hamax, their seats are TUV & ASTM safety certified, and phthalate-free. Fairly Comfortable….Even When Napping

Hamax Siesta review | Mumsnet Hamax Siesta review | Mumsnet

Similar to every other rear child seat we’ve tested, the Hamax Caress definitely affects the handling of the bike. Some of this is dependent on the size of the child, as the rider won’t feel the affects of a smaller child as much as a bigger one, but physics being what it is, one way or another, you’ll know you have some weight behind you.A five-point harness helps keep them more secure if their shoulders slip out of the straps. WeeRide Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. For the very youngest children (say 6-12 months old), a trailer is often the way to go for comfort and safety. Once a child can hold their head up and handle some gentle jostling (the type experienced on a smooth, paved trail), they can move to a front-mounted seat like the Hamax Observer, which will accommodate children up to 33 lbs. When they’ve outgrown that style seat, it’s time to move to a shotgun seat, or a rear mounted seat like the Hamax Caress. Bike seats for children can put a lot of extra stress on a bike’s frame. The seats are not light themselves and adding a 20kg child to the load, which is held somewhere that a bike frame isn’t designed for, could cause a problem for a performance bike – we wouldn’t recommend bolting a child seat to your best road bike.

Accessories for Hamax bike trailers and child bike seats

Hamax lists the Caress as suitable for children up to 48.5 lbs., although they don’t give an age associated with that size. We would feel very comfortable putting a 12-month old in this seat, and our two-year old fit like a glove. What disadvantages does a rear seat present? They affect the handling of the bike in a way that having the child in front of the rider doesn’t, they make it more difficult to talk to your child, and they aren’t compatible with every bike on the market. Final Thoughts Many child seat designs can’t be used with a carbon frame. A step-through frame may not have the rigidity to handle the extra weight and you may not be able to use a front-mounted seat with it. At first, this feature had us concerned that we had installed the seat improperly, as there’s a fair amount of movement (up to several inches over a good bump). We soon discovered, however, that the seat was installed correctly, and never once came close to hitting the bike’s rear tire. The suspension feature would prove to be our daughter’s favorite part of riding in the Caress! Safety Features Like anything else, rear mounted seats offer advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include the ability to fit bigger kids (up to 48.5 lbs. for the Caress), a more comfortable riding position for the parent (because the child isn’t impeding your legs or your view), and usually an easier install process.If you’re in the market for a rear mounted bike seat, the Hamax Caress is a great option. In fact, it offers features we don’t see on most bike seats. The padding is removable and can be hand washed, and is also bacteria and weather resistant. That said, we’re not sure how the felt-like material would hold up to the sweat, grime, and exposure to the elements in a daily-use situation. This is one area where we feel the Thule Yepp Maxi bests the Caress, as the Maxi’s rubber seating material can be easily hosed off without issue. Mudguards are a handy addition to stop your child from being sprayed with water from the wheels. Side protection from the wheels may be necessary to prevent your child from accidentally getting a hand or foot in them when riding, although most kids’ bike seats are designed to help prevent this from happening. The ability to operate the adjustable 5-point harness and adjustable foot straps with just one hand is really nice, as it allows the parent to strap the child in with one hand while holding the bike up with another, something our Thule Yepp Maxi doesn’t offer. An aluminium road bike might work, but a hybrid bike is likely to be a better option. A hardtail mountain bike is also a possibility, although the sprung rear triangle of a full-suspension mountain bike is likely to make a rear seat awkward to fit.