The iBert makes sense if you're taking a weekend pleasure-ride through quiet suburban streets or slowly cruising the well-maintained paths of a country park. It also makes sense if you're riding a cruiser-style or hybrid bike, where you sit relatively upright and your back is fairly straight, instead of leaning over the handle bars, as is common with road bikes. But if you're riding a road bike in a heavily urban environment, the iBert could be hazardous to your child - so, seriously consider your riding environment and individual needs before buying the iBert. You may find a traditional rear-mounted seat is the safer option.
Most bike accidents are front-end collisions -- typically, you hit an obstacle, such as a rock or pothole, or a car cuts you off. With a rear-mounted seat, both you and the bike frame help shield you child, but with the iBert seat, your child will take any impact first and foremost. Think of it this way: you would never put a child's carseat in the front of a car, so why would you feel safe putting a child in a front-mounted bike seat? The same obvious dangers hold true for both a car and a bike. In addition, unlike traditional back-mounted seats, the iBert lacks upper back and head support. In back-mounted seats, this layer of protective plastic not only increases comfort, but cocoons your child against possible impacts, much like an infant car seat does. (The back support also lets the child rest if he/she falls asleep.) Finally, sometimes in an urban setting you must break quickly, which can cause your bike to lurch forward. The extra weight of a child on the handle bars increases the chance of flipping over entirely - in fact, among bike accidents, flipping over the handlebars is not uncommon.
With a ten-speed or road bike, you typically ride leaning over the handle bars and you lean into curves when you turn. When riding this way in an urban setting, the added weight and bulk of a child on the handlebars makes it hard to effectively navigate and can destabilize the bike as you take turns. Most bikes are designed to take the weight on the rear of the bike, while the iBert places more weight near the front handlebars. Additionally, the iBert leaves little space when you need to hop down at stop signs.
A number of reviewers say it's nice to have the child upfront so you can easily talk to him/her as you ride. But if you're riding through trafficked streets, you probably shouldn't be distracted by carrying on lengthy conversations with your child - it would be much like talking on a cell phone while driving a car. When need be, it's very easy to talk to your child when they're in a rear-mounted seat - after all, they're four inches behind your back.
The advertisement for the iBert states: "No dirt, dust, rocks, or water thrown in child's face." Actually, if a child is sitting up front, they're going to be at an added risk for getting debris in the face - any rider can tell that a face full of bugs on a hot muggy day is a common occurrence. Similar seats that I saw in the Netherlands at least had a bug shield!
All that said, the iBert seems like a great seat for casual weekend excursions. And in such an environment, where you're not likely to suddenly stop and maneuver quickly, the iBert would probably work with any style of bike. But if you use your bike as transportation in an urban environment, for safety's sake, I would opt for a traditional rear-mounted seat. I suspect a few years down the road, people will find that the iBert seat does increase the chance of injury in particular settings. I could picture buying both the iBert and a rear-mounted seat, and using each one in different settings -- but in a urban setting, I can't recommend the iBert.
(426 customers reviews)
Customers Rating=4.5 / 5.0
More Detail For iBert Safe T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat
- Front-mounted child bicycle seat for added safety and comfort
- Puts your child directly in front of you for easy and safe interaction
- Fully adjustable 3-point safety harness; pivoting lap bar that locks into place
- Patented tool-free Stinger mount attaches to handlebar stem in minutes
- Solid leg wells provide 180 degrees of protection; 38-pound weight capacity
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