iBert Child Bicycle Safe-T-Seat

We have a toddler who loves to "go" and also loves to be outside. We had gotten one of those bike trailers for him to ride in but he seemed scared about being so low to the ground and unable to see us when we rode with him, and I was also worried about having him in something that we didn't have much control over when we were on the road. I also realized that his main view from the trailer was of my husband's butt and legs pedaling the bike and while I happen to like that view :) I thought that it probably wasn't the most exciting or educational for our kiddo.I got this over my husband's skepticism that it would actually work. Within 10 minutes we were both believers. The seat installs in no time and with minimal tools - unlike some ladies here I had my husband do the installing because I am a big chicken :) but I easily could have done it myself, with no trouble. 15 minutes after pulling the seat out of the box it was on the bike and we were on the road. My son LOVED being able to sit close to me and see everything as we pedaled down the road, he was pointing things out left and right (literally!). He got upset when we had to go back home and for the rest of the evening kept asking for "more ride bike? More ride bike?" So this product gets thumbs up from both the adults and the kid in our household!I didn't think that the seat made the bike any more difficult to maneuver and my son (who is quite tall for his age, already over 36 inches at 21 months old) didn't impede my steering or braking at all, even with his bulky bike helmet on. He doesn't have much room to grow in the seat, and we do have to take his shoes off to get him in it, but once he's in, he fits fine and feels very secure and stable in the seat. It's more of a workout for me to have him on the bike but that's not a bad thing, I could use the exercise :) and it's well worth it to have so much interaction with him when we're riding. We were able to talk about everything we saw as we whizzed down the street.I think this is a winner of a product and much better than those back-of-the-bike seats (we tried one and I think those DO make the bike feel more unstable) and the trailers. I love this and feel it was well worth the money. It's a simple idea but this product executes it well. If you're considering this item, don't hesitate, buy it! It makes getting out on the bike with your child a lot more fun. After using this I have come to the conclusion that those bike trailers are much better used for gear than they are for kids!

This is a fantastic product. Easy to attach and remove. We bought this after buying a trailer and a back fitting bike seat.Pros1) Better than trailer/rear seat because its actually fun! I did a 3 hour bike ride with my daughter over Bay Bridget all the way to Tiberon (long for me). When we finished she wanted more! Oh, by the way, I stuff a peanut butter sandwich in her hoodie and some wipes. She can eat her lunch without me stopping!2) You can actually talk with your child as you ride. Great for multitasking... bonding + exercise. Also, I'm afraid my kids will beat each other up if they are in the trailer since they are so close in age.3) Ease of use. Easy on and off. Seat can come off the "bracket" that is attached. Easy to get her in and out too. No knee banging. Also works for bikes like our mountain bikes that couldn't fit the rear seat.4) Flexible. works for my 10 month old and my 2.5 year old. She is only 25-30 pounds and about 3 feet tall. Height wise she fits. I need to get another one so we can all go together.5) Cool :-) EVERYONE stops us and asks where we got it. I really feel sorry for the kids in the trailers... or worse in the rear seat pressed up against Daddy's butt with a view of daddy's sweaty back.Cons (not really)1) If my daughter moves her head too much sometimes she knocks me in the face. I need to snuggle by one side of her face. I guess if I was taller (I'm only 5'2" my arms would be longer and I'd have more clearance). My husband at 6'0" has no problems.2) Seatbelt not great... sometimes it rides down her shoulder. Worry about her flying off but I'd worry more if she was in the back. At least I can see her. There is a lap bar though... make sure it snaps in place.

The iBert is lots of fun and by far the best front-mounted seat that I have found. It took just minutes to install and my daughter loves it. I've even used it together with a bike-along on the back without stability problems (though that configuration does make you feel like you're flying a 747!)As a 6'1" guy, I was concerned that my knees might hit the seat. But as others have noted, the iBert is narrow enough and mounted high enough that this really doesn't happen. I might be spreading my legs a tiny bit outwards, but not enough to be noticeable.There IS a bit of a clearance issue getting on and off the bike. I weigh about 185 lbs, and the iBert (even in its most forward position) does impact my belly if I hop off the seat and straddle the bike. Jumping down in an emergency could be tricky. My wife weighs about 235, and unfortunately, it looks like there just won't be adequate clearance to use the iBert comfortably on her bike.There really isn't much to this seat, so I'll bet the manufacturer is enjoying a pretty sweet margin. If they had spent a little more on build quality, this product would be perfect. As an engineer, I have these concerns:1. The plastic seat shell is held to the metal bracket beneath it using four compression fittings (threadless bolts with metal rings pressure-fitted to the ends) instead of real, threaded bolts. While the seat seems secure enough, I'm considering drilling these out and installing real bolts for peace-of-mind.2. The "stinger" (mounting bracket which attaches to the handlebar stem) does allow the seat to be quickly removed. But I think it would be unsafe to ride with just the stinger in place, unless you relish the idea of a 10" metal bar impaling your gut or groin in the event of a front-end collision!3. The sheath on the seat that slides over the stinger fits more loosely than I expected, making the iBert wobble from side to side a bit. It's not a major problem, but I reduced it by putting two heavy-duty cable ties around the sheath (longwise) to make the stinger fit more snugly.4. The seatbelt assembly is thin and rather cheap, and the waist bar is so cheaply made that its latch is molded out of the plastic itself; it will probably flex and break eventually. This should really be improved in the next revision.I hope the iBert folks consider improving their design, but don't let my comments stop you from buying the iBert today. It truly is a lot of fun!UPDATED 4/2010:Our third and final year with the iBert has begun. My daughter just turned 3, and at 29 lbs, is still well within the weight limit for the seat. But her feet now hit the bottoms of the leg chutes, causing her to have to bend her legs a bit while seated, making for a less comfortable ride. At 36.5" tall, she's only at 40th percentile for her height, so I suggest the iBert people make the leg chutes another 2-3 inches longer the next time the design is revised. The seat would still fit fine on most bikes, and the extra length would buy parents a little time. We will probably have to switch to a trailer soon.Other than that, after riding for two years, the only real problem I've had with the iBert has been the lack of support if your child falls asleep... you'll see their little head get wobbly, then *wump*... supporting your child's head with one arm while steering, shifting and braking with the other gets old pretty quick. Riding at the right time of day and providing snacks can help.