FAQS & TIPS

• What child can sit in the seat, from what age?
  The determining condition is the child's abilities. He/she must be able to sit safely and hold onto the handlebars for your entire planned ride. Most children manage this for short rides (up to 1/2 hour) from 18 months.  For comfortable sitting, it should be at least 70 cm high.
  
  
• As the child grows, how does the seat adjustment change according to the child's height?
  The seat is not adjustable; it does not grow with the child. The position of the seat and the placement of the stirrups for the legs are in the middle position (for an approx. 2.5-year-old child - approx. 90 cm high). For smaller and larger children, only the inclination of the body to the handlebars and the position of the knees change - both in the child's comfort zone. To make it more comfortable for the smallest children, it is advisable to use additional handlebars. 
  
  
• How big children can sit in the seat?
  The main factor is the child's height, i.e. max. 110 cm (approx. 4 years). The point is that the sitting child (his/her knees) does not dangerously influence the angle of rotation of the handlebars. Another factor is the weight, max. 22kg. 
  
  
• And what about the child's safety?
  The seat is built with the “off-road seat” concept without a passive protective shell. It ensures the maximum possible safety in terms of ergonomics and fastening of the child to the bike. The risk of injury in the event of a fall is minimized by its design:
  1. Three-point fastening of the child to the seat and ankle attachment.
  2. Non-crackable foam material.
  3. By reliably attaching the seat to the bike.
  But the main responsibility lies with the rider who will be carrying the child, his/her responsible approach to choosing the route and the way of driving are the most important. Also the protective equipment provided to the child - helmet, glasses, gloves and clothing are relevant.
  If you are riding on trails where compression may occur on the waves, it is advisable to equip the bike with a safety stem cover. 
  
  
• Why doesn't the seat have a solid shell and backrest?
  The already mentioned off-road seat concept uses the “cyclist's position” for the child as well. The child holds the handlebars and sits astride the frame. This position does not require a backrest or a protective shell; on the contrary, it excludes them.
  
  
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the “cyclist’s” position for the child?
  The position of the cyclist for the child has been a trend for the last 5 years. It is especially popular in off-road cycling. It perfectly fulfils the idea of sharing cycling experiences with children. The possibility of constant control over the child with the possibility of direct communication is the real deal for cycling parents. Another advantage is the riding habits that children can learn from toddler age and apply them later when riding their own bikes. And last but not least, the distribution of vibrations transmitted from the bike to the child is also an advantage. They are distributed between the hands on the handlebars and the torso on the seat. One of the few disadvantages is the impossibility of sleeping in the seat.
  
  
• How and where can I ride with the seat?
  It is not possible to sleep in the seat, so it is intended for shorter trips (up to 2 hours). It is necessary to plan the trip in such a way that it is in line with the child's biorhythm. When the child falls asleep, I recommend supporting him/her with your left hand and driving him/her to the nearest possible resting place.  Of course, the place and route is of your choice. I recommend cycling routes and roads with a low density of cars. Regarding the technical difficulty of the trip, it depends on the rider's experience and skills. I know from my own experience that with a seat on a suitable bike you can also go on smooth flow trails or blue single tracks. The aim is the joy of biking for both the rider and the child; it is definitely not desirable to look for limits. Drive responsibly and safely. But when a dangerous situation occurs, do not forget that the child is fastened to the bike in your arms; you are hugging him/her. Try to keep it that way and he/she is protected by you all the time.
  
  
• Can I ride with the child?
  Anyone can ride a bicycle with the seat. :-) But if you want to ride safely and responsibly, it's good to follow a few rules. The rider should be independently responsible (over 18 years of age). His/her awareness and abilities must not be reduced or affected in any way. He/she should have experience and skills on a bike at such a level that he/she can plan the route and ride it with a riding advantage. He/she should be able to predict the behaviour of the bike with the seat and be able to react quickly in unexpected situations. The height of the rider is recommended to be above 160 cm. With a lower height, comfort decreases when getting on and riding.
  
  
• Can I put the seat on my bike/e-bike?
  The concept of the seat is more or less universal. Thanks to the additional wedges, it can be mounted on almost all bikes and e-bikes with an inclination of the upper frame tube of 0°-35°. It can also be mounted on carbon frames. Bikes with a telescopic seat post have a big advantage; they make it very easy to get on the bike with the seat. And mainly for smaller bikers. Modern frames with a flat upper frame tube are the most suitable ones and the wedge fits well on them. The rounder the top tube, the easier it is for the wedge to slide off the tube (during “rougher” rides). It is not a dangerous defect and can be easily corrected by hand while riding.
  Unfortunately, the seat cannot be safely attached to women's frames of old bikes, without the upper frame tube. Also, the seat cannot be used on frames where the control cables are guided along the side of the tubes. In these cases, the seat would compress the cables and make their functionality impossible. The use on bikes with cables running on the upper side of the frame tube is subject to the use of an adapter. If the cable only interferes with the straps, it is necessary to guide the straps under the cables. If the fenders or other added non-load-bearing elements interfere with the assembly, the straps cannot be guided over them. The seat can also be put on electric bikes. Unfortunately, it cannot be used on those where the seat would cover the control elements. 
  I recommend platform pedals rather than step-on ones (applicable to less experienced riders). A big advantage is the telescopic seat post which provides comfortable getting on and riding. With frames of road bikes, gravel bikes, etc., where the rider is “laid” against the handlebars, the space for the child is very small. Driving with a child on the front seat is not very comfortable. The space for the small passenger can be improved by raising the handlebars with an extender.
  
  
• Can I install the seat myself, how long will it take?
  Attaching it to the bike frame is as simple as it can be. There are only 2 independent straps with strength buckles. Anyone can do it. For the first assembly, it is necessary to follow the attached instructions. It is necessary to correctly choose the support wedge, correctly wrap the head tube 2 times with the front strap, choose the correct holes for the main strap and correctly position the buckle of the main strap. That's why the first installation can take about 5 minutes. You can handle every other assembly within a minute. You can find the instructions here.
  
  
• Is the seat certified?
  The legislation of the Czech Republic in the field of bicycle seats is harmonized with the EU standard ČSN EN 14344 from 2005. Unfortunately, it does not include the concept of off-road seats. During the construction and development of the Flixflox seat, all applicable paragraphs of the standard were taken into account. The testing was also modified due to deviations. The seat was verified at the certified Engineering Testing Institute (SZU) in Jablonec nad Nisou. Deviations from the standard and their justification can be found in the attached declaration of conformity.
  
  
• Should I pay attention to something when using it?
  Using the seat does not only bring shared moments of joy. It also brings several obligations, but they are based on the already mentioned responsible approach to riding with a child, and they are logical. There are the most important ones:
  - Constant control of the child while riding.
  - Check the seat, buckles and straps before the ride.
  - Before the ride, check the fastening of the seat on the bike and the fastening of the child.
  - Protect the child - use a helmet, glasses, gloves, suitable clothing.
  - Pay attention to the good technical condition of the bike.
  You can find a complete list of terms of use and warnings here
  
  
• What is the seat made of, are the materials harmful to the child?
  All parts and materials are from Czech suppliers with verified health safety. The support structure of the seat consists of 5 parts (including the wedge) made of high-density polyethylene foam with a closed cell structure. This ensures its unique combination of properties. Stiffness for load-bearing capacity, softness for comfort, lightness (the entire seat weighs only 595 g), structure for dampening vibrations and water resistance. The parts of the seat are joined together without the use of glue, they can be disassembled and reassembled as desired. The unique line of straps for fastening the child binds the seat into a solid unit.  The buckles and clips are made of polyamide; where needed, they are strong enough. The straps are made of polypropylene.
  
  
• What about ecology? 
  All the above-mentioned materials are common plastic materials intended for full recycling. When the seat is used up, just take it apart and throw it in the container for plastic.