Introduction: Urban Arrow Adaptor for Melia Toddler Seat

By https://ruthgracewong.com
About: engineer and cargo bike mom who loves to sew

I got a great deal on a used Melia toddler seat for my cargo bike, for my 1 year old baby. But -- it is configured for the Bunch Bike when I need to use it on an Urban Arrow Family! I wasn't able to buy the appropriate adaptor shipped to the USA where I am, so I consolidated info from two different adaptor kits online (video 1 and video 2) to make my own adaptor. Follow this instructable at your own risk (and your toddler's!).

This instructable assumes that you have a straight stitch sewing machine that's heavy duty enough to sew through 2 layers of webbing, and that you already know how to use it.

Supplies

You will need a straight stitch sewing machine. i used an industrial machine but a Singer Heavy Duty might also work fine - just go slow! Two layers of webbing is very thick to sew through.

In addition to the sewing machine, I used:

  • 3 yards of 1 inch wide webbing for the straps. Get a more lightweight webbing if you do not have an industrial sewing machine. Mine is as heavyweight as the seat belt on a car, but the webbing on the actual Melia toddler seat is much more lightweight. I got my webbing at my local fabric store.
  • 2 quick release cams. I got mine on Amazon USA (link)
  • 3 plastic buckles. I got these at my local fabric store.
  • a lighter to seal the ends of the webbing when you cut it
  • Scissors to cut the webbing
  • (not pictured) Nylon or other durable thread for the sewing machine
  • (not pictured) Hex key set for unscrewing bolts on the Urban Arrow Family (I have this set and like it)
  • (optional) zipper foot for the sewing machine. I used this to sew the webbing a bit closer to the buckles than I normally would have been able to. If you don't have one you can just overlap the webbing a bit more before sewing it together to have more room to sew with a wider foot.
  • (optional) X-acto knife or just a plain razor blade (example razor blade) to cut bolt-size holes in the webbing. You'll want this if your scissors aren't particularly sharp or well constructed enough for cutting a small hole in thick webbing. I have expensive fancy scissors and skipped this.
  • (optional) ruler unless you're just going to eyeball the measurements. The webbing lengths don't have to be very exact though.

Be sure to click the "Show more images" button on the steps that have lots of images to see how it's done! Instructables only shows the first few images.

Step 1: Make Shoulder Straps - Cut and Seal Webbing

We are making two shoulder straps. For each shoulder strap, one end has a quick release cam and the other end has a buckle. The strap is folded in the middle and bolted to the bike using the same bolt that secures the bike's regular seat belt straps.

First, cut 2 pieces of webbing, 12 inches each. Then, run the lighter along the edge several times to seal it (video). If the edge starts to fray as you are threading the webbing through the hardware later, you can use the lighter on it again.

Step 2: Make Shoulder Straps - Attach Quick Release Cam

Thread one end of the webbing through the quick release buckle about an inch and fold it over. Sew to secure. I sew it the way I normally attach elastic: I sew a rectangle, and then I sew an X through the middle of the rectangle (don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure it). I put a zipper foot on my straight stitch machine to sew closer to the buckle; if you aren't using one you may want to overlap more than an inch to have more room to sew.

Step 3: Make Shoulder Straps - Attach Plastic Buckle

Attach the plastic buckle to the other end of the strap, the same way as in the previous step. Make sure you are attaching the side of the buckle that is NOT adjustable. The adjustable side has multiple holes for webbing, and teeth. Since we are sewing it on, this side of the buckle won't be adjustable.

Step 4: Make Shoulder Straps - Make Holes for Bolt

Fold the webbing for the strap, about 2.5 inches from the quick release cam. Mark the hole (about 8mm diameter) for the bolt on both sides of the webbing, close to the fold. Don't leave too much room between the bolt hole and the fold; webbing here will go below the bolt and squish the top of your foam bucket. You will see in the photos later that I squished more foam on the right side shoulder strap because I left too much space between my bolt holes.

Unfold the webbing and cut the holes (with scissors or X-acto knife or razor blade -- whatever works) and then run your lighter on it until the edges look sealed.

Step 5: Make Shoulder Straps - Bolt Onto Bike

Unscrew the bolt securing the seat belt strap that is already on the bike. On my Urban Arrow Family 2021 I needed a size 3 hex key for this step. Leave the seat belt strap there. (If you accidentally take it out just remember to stuff the end of it back into the hole when you put it back)

On the bolt, make sure you have the washer, then add the folded shoulder strap. The side with the quick release cam attached should be touching the washer. Reinstall the bolt with the shoulder strap onto the bike, with the original seat belt under it.

Repeat steps 1 through 5 with the second shoulder strap

Step 6: Make the Under-chair Strap - Sew Buckle

Cut a 6 inch length of webbing. Seal both ends with the lighter. Sew a buckle on one end. Mark a bolt hole on the other. This hole is an inch away from the edge of the webbing. Cut the hole, and seal the edges with the lighter.

Step 7: Make the Under-Chair Strap - Attach to Bike

Unscrew the bolt on the leg of the bench on the side you are installing the seat. On my 2021 Urban Arrow Family, I used a size 5 hex key for this. Put the washer back on the bolt and then add the under-chair strap. Screw the bolt back into its original spot.

Step 8: Remove Bunch Bike Adaptors

On my seat there are two bolts for the Bunch bike adaptor (circled in blue in the image). Remove these.

Step 9: Add Shoulder Buckles

This step allows the child's seat belt straps to be secured directly to the bike.

Cut a 32 inch length of webbing. Fold it in a V shape.

There are two metal rectangular sliders on the seat. Slide them beside each other towards the top of the seat. We are using the one closer to baby's butt (NOT the top one) for this step.

Pull the ends of the webbing up through the bottom slots of the slider. Once the webbing is all the way through, pull the ends of the webbing back down through the top slots of the slider.

Remove the halves of the shoulder buckles that are not sewn on. Thread the ends of the webbing through these to make adjustable straps.

Step 10: Add Straps for Quick Release Cam

Cut a 28 inch length of webbing. Use the lighter to seal the ends. Thread the webbing through two shoulder holes on the foam seat.

Step 11: Make Under-chair Strap

Cut a piece of webbing 28 inches long. Fold one end over 3 inches. Sew down the end of the webbing.

Step 12: Attach Under-chair Strap

There are two holes in the bottom of the foam seat. Put the sewn loop end of the webbing through one hole. Put the other end of the webbing through the other hole and feed this end of the webbing through the loop. Tighten to secure. Take the buckle half from under the bench and thread the webbing through it, to make an adjustable strap.

Step 13: Install the Seat

Now we will install the seat! (When you want to take the seat out, do this in reverse.)

First, snap together the plastic buckles for the shoulder. Tighten the strap, but it doesn't have to be all-the-way tight here. This is to make sure baby's seat belt is attached directly to the bike, not to secure the seat itself.

Second, thread the straps we added for the quick release cam, down through the quick release mechanism. To do this, you will have to press down on the cam to open it. Thread the end of the strap back up through the other end of the quick release cam. Tighten these straps as much as you can.

Third, snap together the plastic buckle for the under-chair strap. Tighten the strap as much as you can.

Finally, try to move the seat with your hand and tighten any straps where there's give. Here's a video of how much give my seat has after installation - not so much at the shoulders, but a little give at the bottom where there's only one strap.

Step 14: Enjoy!

These are my Before and After photos!

Before, we had the maxicosi baby car seat adaptor. Now with the new Melia seat, baby has a great view which she loves, and the older kids can access the snacks more easily and even feed them to baby!

Happy biking :)