Thule RideAlong Bike Seat Review
B Loves: The highest safety specs, comfort for all riders combined with curved Swedish design and five recline options.
One of the most desirable Swedish designs on the market, it provides a safe, practical and fun experience – whilst making my gorgeous bike look even more appealing!
For this product test we attached the Thule RideAlong to a Dawes Duchess (in Plum), using a mum and a three year old child weighing 2.5 stones.
Attachment to the bike: It should have been simple to assemble and once we worked out that you have to pass the entire Length Adjuster through the seat and hook it right through, it was – but the instructions on this bit were a little sketchy. For this reason, assembly took an hour but should probably take about 20 minutes if we had got that bit correct from the start!
Before the Experience: My mum didn’t drive, so I recall sitting on the back of my mum’s bike as a child. It was wobbly, bumpy and shaky. The roads are much busier now, so I was nervous but had no need to be as Thule has superbly engineered the best quality modern child bike seat.
In use: The three year old was easy to pop on (it’s easier with a wall or second person for balance the first time but easy to get the hang of single-handed). Due to my experience in the 80s I was nervous – but this had gone within five minutes of our being on the bike together. The additional weight felt minimal, the seat didn’t ‘wiggle’ my ride much at all and the balance was spot on.
The three year old’s experience: She LOVED it; she was quiet t first and then singing very happily. She did find it quite exhausting but is now very excited about the mention of a cycle ride. I preferred her singing, so I actually knew that she was still there!
Conclusion: I wish I had invested in the baby seat and then seat this one when my son was little (for this I would have bought the RideAlong Mini frontward mounted for children, which has been designed and tested for children from nine months to three years old, or 33 lbs/15 kg). The seat provides the opportunity for the whole family to go out cycling together, for amazing days out, with picnics, ice creams and fresh air. Well worth the investment, as even just five family bike rides means it has paid for itself in avoiding other ‘entertainment passes’. It is high quality family time – Thank you Thule.
Features:
Adjustable padded harness to provide maximum child comfort and a safe, custom fit.
DualBeam suspension system absorbs road shock to ensure a smooth, comfortable ride for the child.
One-hand tilt function of up to 20 degrees, allows for five different reclining options.
Single-hand adjustable foot straps and foot rests allow for convenience and flexibility as a child grows.
Universal quick release bracket allows seat to mount/dismount from bike in seconds and is compatible with most bike frames (27.2-40mm diameter round frames and maximum 40x55mm oval frames).
Childproof safety buckle with large buttons quickly secures child
Detachable, water-repellent padding is machine washable and reversible, offering two color options.
Built-in reflector and safety light attachment point provides added visibility.
Lockable with Thule One-Key System (lock included).
Designed and tested for children from 9 months* to 6 years old, up to 48.5 lbs/22 kg.*Consult a pediatrician for children under 1 year old.
Meets international safety standards.
The Small Print:
Weight capacity 22kg
Weight 5kg