I have a really nice road bike in the garage. I got it as a high school graduation present. My friends and I, along with a Government teacher as our chaperone, planned to ride from Santa Cruz back home to Los Angeles over a 5-day camping trip. We trained for months.
We made the 6-hour drive to Santa Cruz on Day One, hit the grocery store for supplies, and headed for our first night of outdoor sleeping. Guess who fell off her bike, broke her elbow, and flew home the next day? Oh yes I did.
In 2000, I completed the California AIDS Ride, covering pretty much that same route, so don’t you worry, I got my victory tour.
Since giving birth, I’ve barely gotten on that fancy bike. It requires special shoes and all, which seems like a huge pain. Whenever we go on a trip away from kids, Ryan and I rent cruiser-style bicycles. I love how freeing they are. And now I have one.
Huffy sent me and Heather each a $99 set of wheels to help promote casual riding around town. And that we did.
I requested a girl’s bike as I am five feet tall, and it fits me swell. See how mine is an inch or so shorter than Heather’s?
What do you think of Le Pregnant Heather on her bike? Is she Euro-awesome or what? Stay tuned for part deux of Moms on Bikes when I share pics of our friend in Denmark riding home from the hospital with her baby.
Do you ride a bike? For exercise, transportation, or just for fun? How do you fit it in with your parenting duties?
Disclosure: Huffy simply sent us the bikes and did not suggest any content for this post. When people on the street commented, “Cute bike”, I thought you might like to see my new wheels. Or maybe those people were just teasing me.
Lady, I love it! And I love you all cute and preggie on the bike. Very inspiring.
I live in Alameda, which is pancake flat, so I should do more of that.
Just invested in a Radish (from Extracycle) with the Magic Carpet and everything. I can ride with both kids (3 & 6), plus their school bags, or whatever junk we have with us in the “saddle bags”. It wasn’t cheap, but it works as a second car for us since almost everything we do (school, library, groceries, park, etc) is within a mile and a half of our house. Plus, you can seriously fit a ton of stuff in the bags – I borrowed a crock pot from a friend once and strapped that sucker into the bag, then plopped my kids on top. Tons of fun. And although the kids do argue in back, I don’t have to struggle with getting them in and out of the car, so I’m much happier.
I have a 5 month old and an 18 month old and I ride my road bike 14 miles round trip to work as much as I can. When I was pregnant with each of them, I used my road bike until my belly got in the way, then I switched to a more upright bike. My midwife told me I could be on the bike as long as I felt comfortable. It was great!
Hooray for bikes! Love, love, love them! I ride as much as I can, but stopped when I was around 20 weeks pregnant (my center of balance just seemed a little off for the road bike and I was getting dizzy going up hills). I didn’t get back on the bike until my little one was 7 months old. She’s 17 months today, and loves riding in the trailer behind daddy, or in her trike (pushed by mommy).
And Whitney, congrats on completing California AIDS Ride! I just got back from AIDS/LifeCycle 10 (same route, different name). It was my third time doing the Ride, and so much fun to share with my little one (she came along and had a great time!).
Jenifer, I love that you took your daughter on the AIDS ride. Virtual high five to you!
Whitney, you and I have the same height-bike issues. I’ve been riding around on my dad’s old bike for the past few months and it’s been a PAIN in the butt. Literally.
My dad is not all that much taller than me, but still… It’s a MAN bike. I can’t wait to get a girls’ Huffy. Thanks for the great reco, ladies! You are simply adorable, on and off your bikes!
cuties!
Thanks so much for this rec! I have been hunting for an easy ride-around-town bike and an also (just under) 5 ‘ so it’s tricky. I was so inspired by this post that I ordered one today. Can’t wait for it to arrive!
LOVE the bikes! If anyone was teasing you I’m fairly confident that they were high or intoxicated in some form or fashion.
I was a biking fool in college. It was functional and I felt very fit.
I would love to ride a bike again but can’t figure out how to do that with a one year old, five year old and three year old and all come home alive and not filled with rage. I have big dreams of family rides through the parks….but maybe in a few years?
You both need to keep rockin’ the bikes.
Sidenote: I must know more about this friend in Denmark. She road home from the hospital? Can that even happen? What about all the recently ravaged areas that would be not so delicately treated on a bike seat? Do babies exit elsewhere in Denmark? Is your friend a robot…because that would explain everything.
@TheMommyTherapy, you are going to love the pictures of Denmark. The bike is their family car. Can’t wait to share them.
love this! during my last pregnancy I was huge and walking more than a half a block was equally exhausting and painful so I didn’t get much exercise until I realized I could cruise around the neighborhood on my ‘granny’ bike. I put my 1.5 year old in the seat behind me and my 3 year old rode his bike and we were able to get out of the house! It was glorious!! I went on a bike ride almost every day until I gave birth!