How do you get on and off - is there a way that the experts manage it?
At present my technique is:
- Lean bike against a stable wall
- Load kid into seat
now the next bit...
- How do you get yourself on and off without kicking the kid in the face and without tipping the bike over? My present method (on a gents bike) is raise one leg (difficult for a small chap like me) karate-kick-style over the crossbar while holding desparately on the bike trying not to topple bike and kiddie over.
- Is there a less cumbersome way of doing all this?
Yes there is a different way of transporting a child by bike. Couple of times when cycling to work my attention was drawn to sort of like trailer-pram kind of thingy attached to the back of the bike. Few dads were comfortably riding them on the bike paths. I suggest to google for such or pay a visit to nearby bike shop with expert advice.
I ride a man's bike and we have a child seat on the back. The "leg-over" technique works for me but I agree about the difficulties with getting them in and out of the seat.
A couple of times when I have been alone with the little fella I have relied on the stand to support the bike and we nearly came to grief once or twice when the bike dangerously rocked then tipped.
I have found that having an upright wall very close to the bike as you are unloading and offloading offers a bit of safety because if the bike does tip, it either tips towards you or gets held up by the wall, and you can usually react quickly enough to prevent it falling.
Easier said than done sometimes when small-fry is on the brink of a hissy fit and wants to get down of his own accord.
I'd advise against one of those trailers if you're taking your bike on roads with cars, trams, buses, etc. They're a hazard, very low, hard to see, take up far more space than the bike does - and I think they present a danger to your kid.