Life In The Saddle

As the father of one, it looks a bit extra to be riding my Kona Dr Dew with both a front and rear mounted child bike seat. I bought the Thule Yepp 2 Maxi rear mounted rack seat when my son turned one year old, then was gifted the Yepp 2 Mini front mounted child seat from a friend. It looks a bit extra, but it has enabled me to test both simultaneously, and answer a question I pondered when looking a children's bike seats: which is better - front or rear?  The Thule Yepp 2 Mini (front-mounted on the fork steerer tube) and Thule Yepp 2 Maxi (rack mounted) are two of the most popular options on the market. Both seats are known for their durability, comfort, and safety; but they offer very different riding experiences, both for the baby/child and the bike rider. If you are searching for the best child bike seat , or comparing front vs rear child bike seats , this guide should break down everything you need to know: advantages, disadvantages, and which seat works best for short...

The Isle of Wight is a paradise for cycling with a family. Quiet country lanes, beautiful sea views, great food stops, and plentiful family-friendly accommodation; there are all the components for the perfect family cycling tour. In this blog post, I have put together a route for a three day family cycling tour on the Isle of Wight, with two overnight stops. The route is a point-to-point ride across the Island from west to east, to make the most of the views and opportunities to explore. I have designed the route to be ridden car-free, catching the train to Lymington Pier and the Wightlink Lymington-Yarmouth ferry  over to the Island; then returning on the Wightlink Fast Cat from Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour Station , where you could catch a train home. Day 1: Yarmouth, The Needles and Tapnell Farm Starting out from Yarmouth, you make your way onto the Yarmouth-Freshwater cycle track; a traffic-free path that runs alongside the tidal River Yar estuary. Ease yoursel...

The Isle of Wight is the perfect place to explore by bicycle—with traffic-free cycle routes, quiet country lanes, and wonderful places to visit. For family bike rides and leisurely tours, it is tailor-made. In this blog post, I have picked five of my favourite Isle of Wight cycling routes for families and casual cyclists. Wight Family Leisure Bike Cycling Route #1 — West Wight Wander Difficulty – Easy Distance – 71 kilometres (6.3 miles) Elevation Profile – Flat (50 metres elevation gain) My first route is suitable for even those with young families or for those inexperienced on a bike. It begins in the town of Yarmouth—a great starting point; with a large car park and plenty of cafés and restaurants in the town. From Yarmouth, the route follows the disused railway line alongside the Western Yar River through to Freshwater. This is a traffic-free and shaded route, which is perfect for a summer cycle. Look out for the wildlife and enjoy the views. When you arrive in Freshwat...