A Child Seat for a Brompton Folding Bike (Review)
I first saw this strange device back in March 2010 when I got my Brompton S3L-X.
I was searching for accessories and on a Spanish website I spotted this strange looking add-on cross-bar.
I contacted them but they were halting production and it was impossible to get this nifty looking child seat anywhere. Until now that is. It looks like it has gone back into production and they have listed a UK supplier as http://BikeFix.co.uk
The strangely named ‘IT Chair’ is steel in construction with one clamp and two folding rubberised footrests. The clamp fastens to the seat post and the other end slots in just behind the crossbar hinge. Once fastened it feels pretty solid and the addition of a small passenger makes it even more so. The seat clamp wasn’t rubberized so as a temporary fix I added a strip of rubber cut from an inner tube.
With the ‘IT Chair’ attached and no passenger I have to ride with knees slightly apart as I have a large comfy seat attached to it. It’s not uncomfortable to do so and I feel a larger seat is safer. With a little passenger your knees are a little wider but I got used to it quickly and as my lad is probably a little young to be doing any major miles on this, it felt safer having him cradled between my legs and arms.
Folding the bike up with the ‘IT Chair’ attached takes a few more seconds than normal but it’s easy enough and works well. Folded size is a little larger but only a tiny amount and not enough to affect practicality.
Costing £210, (without the seat) the ‘IT Chair is not cheap but at the moment it’s unique.
I really enjoy using it and the lad totally loves it. Even though it’s certainly more precarious than the larger bolt -on bike seats that cocoon a child and strap them in. Bear this in mind should you want to buy one. It goes without saying that any child riding on one of these needs to wear a helmet, be capable at holding on to the handlebars and have a good sense of balance.
That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for short trips with the lad, especially as it means we have the freedom of stashing the Brompton in the car to get to new and interesting places to explore.
Thanks to http://BikeFix.co.uk for the loan of the IT Chair
August 20th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
As a Brompton fan I must say this looks very nifty, especially as it doesn’t compromise the essential features of the bike itself.
My only reservation is that I think it would be good to have some sort of harness to protect the young passenger from being pitched over the handlebars if the bike stops suddenly. Even a small child has an awful lot of momentum at 10 mph
August 20th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Hi Christine, Yes, we weren’t going particularly fast but i was surprised how well he prepared for the stops.
Initially I thought about clipping the lads belt to mine with a tiny bungey but i think i would forget and drag him off when I got off.
So instead i’d be tempted to fasten a strap to the back of the child seat to his belt or round his waist.
August 20th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
The other thing to keep in mind is the reverse possibility of the adult rider crashing into the child’s back.
Last autumn the driver of a parked car opened their door at point blank range just as I was cycling past. The bike’s brakes worked fine but I kept going and thumped into the inside of the door. Had a child been sitting in front of me then they would have been squashed between the two.
I don’t want to pour cold water on the idea of this seat because I think it’s a really cute idea. However, I think it would be wise for the designers to take these thoughts on board and have some answers.
It’s easy to forget that even at the relatively sedate speed of 10 mph (I can’t peddle much faster) these things can happen. The force of my own collision left me with extensive bruising across my chest for about six weeks afterwards.
Best wishes, Christine
August 20th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Christine, There are a million and one dangers out on the public roads. A child with their own bike would be facing more of them on their own let alone when under the supervision of a responsible adult. That’s why the cycling proficiency was invented.
If you are really that concerned, this kind of device could be reserved for the cycle paths, parks and other such areas.
There are risks everywhere. The last hospital visit my little boy had was after he was attacked by a table and needed stitches (well glue actually). It doesn’t mean I will be asking him to wear a helmet indoors.
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:16 pm
This is great I’ve been looking for an ITChair for a year! I knew they had stopped producing them and that Steve Parry had started doing a similar model made to order, but I really fancied an ITChair, if you still in doubt after this article, check out all the older comments available on web when the ITChair was in production, the orginal Spanish web page shows the fold,cartoon style. love this blog, and many thanks for finding the new ITChair…….
October 11th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Hello
Do you know what the maximum weight (for the child!) would be?
Great review.
October 11th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
As the bar rests on the frame I am pretty sure it will take all the way up to ‘Porker’. I don’t remember seeing anything in the paperwork.