Cycling Sisters

As a formerly pregnant cyclist, I'd like to share my thoughts on this topic.

I rode up until one day before the birth of my third child. I rode most days, typically about 8 miles, in my commute to and from Montessori school as well as running errands. I towed two kids in a trailer during the ride (a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old).

Lest you think I was some sort of wonder woman, I am not. I am fat, middle-aged, and "Suburban."

What I found:

Join us for the Shaping America’s Youth Local Town Meetings. Bring your ideas and experiences with you as we discuss nutrition and physical activity in youth.
http://meetings.shapingamericasyouth.org/
Why Should I Attend?

* Because overweight and inactivity in our children and youth is a challenge that is best addressed by the entire community
* Because your input will be used to create a national strategy that will result in better health for all Americans
* Because your ideas will help local groups carry out health programs & projects in your area

I thought it was great to see my neighbor choose to have her boys ride their bikes to the park--even in the snowy wintertime--rather than drive.

I ride my bike year round, almost always with my 3 kids. The only thing that stops us is a lot of snow or ice on the streets. You can't get enough traction when you tow kids if this is the case (you'll end up spinning your wheels and maybe even doing a wheelie!). Once the streets are plowed and salted, you can easily get out and about again.

Note: bike maintenance is super important if you ride in the winter. Be sure to check out the information on the bike maintenance page for specifics!

For winter riding, I *strongly* recommend using a trailer versus a bike seat for small children. Since your balance is not compromised with a trailer, it's much safer than when you have a bike seat with a heavy child on the back throwing things out of whack. This is especially true if you hit a patch of ice or ride in snow. Children are also more comfortable in a trailer since they don't have to deal with wind chill. If you use a bike seat, be sure to cover exposed skin on the face and ears and do frequent visual checks on your child to assess how they are holding up. Be extra careful when negotiating turns or turning around to check on them.

Plan on more time when traveling in the winter. Wind is the biggest factor that slows you down, but consider other weather conditions as well.

This is a picture of my daughter's best friend (and our neighbor) Jamilax. She rode her bike to school every day up until about the end of October (rain or shine).

The sand toys are hanging from a bungee cord. They are by far the most awkward thing I carry. I used to use a small metal pail that I would pack with sand shovels, etc. and then hang from a carabiner. This is lighter and doesn't swing back and forth (which ultimately cracked my daughter in the head a few times--eep, Bad mommy!).

The back of the trailer seat is angled to make it more comfortable for kids. This creates tons of space in the rear triangle area of the trailer. You would be amazed at how much you can stash back there. Despite the back looking crammed in this photo, there is more space in the bottom that could be used if necessary.

This is mostly packed (save for the sand toys). Note the carabiners used for hanging items. The silver "carabiner" is actually a small flashlight that I use as a trunk light for scrounging around the back of the trailer in the dark. The strange beige triangle to the left is sold in car stores as a way to carry dry cleaning--and that's exactly what I use it for! The grooves are perfect for keeping hangers separate. Long items get looped over the stroller handlebar to keep them clear of the rear wheels.

Here is everything stashed into bags (the way I actually carry it) prior to being put back into the trailer. It's amazing how compact it all becomes.

Genevieve and all the stuff that I typically schlep around in the summertime. Mind you, this keeps three kids pretty well occupied no matter where we go--beach, park, pool.

I ride my bike year round, almost always with my 3 kids in tow. This is what I typically carry in my trailer during the summer months: