[tboroson]

Any bicycle enthusiasts out there? I am, though I've ridden sporadically the last few years due to pregnancies and brand new babies and so on. I'm back on my bike now, though, with a 3yo in a front mounted seat and a 10mo in a Burley. DH and I are planning a bike trip in Maine with the girls in September, so we're training. This was an impulse decision about two weeks ago, so we're kind of early in the training process; but it's going well. First ride out with both girls (approximating me pulling one girl and a load of gear), I did thirteen miles... in brutal sun. I suffered for that one :LOL but it kicked my butt into gear. We did a short ride tonight - 8 miles, but some rough hills, I had only Talia and DH was puling Anika. I felt so good afterward, even though some of the hills were tough I don't feel week or tired for it now. So, I think I'm getting my legs back quickly

 

[KarenEMT]

Hi! Another cycling mama here! I just took up cycling 2 years ago and am loving it. Your trip sounds really neat. I would love a cycling family vacation, but DH would not go for that unfortunately.

DS#1 and I did a 40-mile charity ride this past Saturday - our longest distance yet. I would like to train for a century, although I'm not sure if I will make it this year - but definitely next year.

I pulled DS#2 in the Burley 15-20 miles, 3 x a week to get ready for Saturday's ride.

My DS Anthony is also a budding racer. He is doing track racing this year and just starting training 3 x a week with a coach and other kids his age.

 

[JenLove]

I have just recently began cycling because I want to do a team triathlon in August. I will be biking (20 miles) and running (5 miles) in that race. My husband has been cycling for a few years, so he goes along with me to make the time go by faster. I only go about once a week and I'm working my mileage up. I'm at 15 miles a ride now.

You ladies riding with your children (in a seat or burley) are awesome. I bet your legs look great.

 

[tboroson]

I don't have great legs yet :LOL but I will soon!

Karen, you're in eastern PA, right? Just north of LV? Maybe we could get together sometime for a ride

With both girls, I'm sloooooow as molassas, but it's definately a good way to enjoy the scenery

Depending on how our training these next two months goes, I'm considering entering the City-to-Shore ride in late September. I think I'll know by the beginning of September whether or not I'm in shape for that - 75 miles per day for two days. Ouch... but I won't be hauling kids or gear for it. If I succeed in that, maybe I'll try a century for October! This is all highly theoretical, of course...

 

[Taosmama]

Just wanted to chime in here, another cycling mom! I've been riding every other day, alternating between road and mt bike, max 12-18 miles. I'm hoping to do 35 miles in an MS ride July 3. There's a 75 mile ride but the hills are WICKED!!!

I bought my first real road bike, used from a friend, last November and have been loving it.

Oh, and I'm a sloth - I make dh take the Burley! But the kiddos haven't been into riding lately, so mostly I just go on my own.

Tara, I'd love to know how your bike trip goes in September. I'd love to take ds and dd on a trip someday (they're 2 and 4 now).

 

[KarenEMT]

Tara, Yes, I'm here in Wind Gap and would love to ride with you sometime. Gosh, these hills around here stink bigtime with the trailer - I don't know how you do it with the 2 little ones!

If you get ambitious and want a century, the Lehigh Wheelmen have the Gap Gallop scheduled for early October. There is a 100 mile option that crosses the Blue Mountain into Monroe County, and a 50 mile option that stays on the Northampton County side (obviously less climbing). I really want to try one of them!

 

[tboroson]

Hills are easier with just the trailer than with just the front mounted seat. With Talia in the seat, I can't rise off my seat and lean forward to get more power. That is my only real frustration with her seat on my bike. I love riding with the girls, but I'm not kidding when I say I'm slow as molasses riding with them

 

[choleblack]

another biking mama here. sticking my nose in because I have to ask, how much weight are you pulling? I'd love to be riding the distances you all are talking about.

I've been riding every spring/summer/fall for the past 3 years and for some reason this year is killing me. I make it the 2 miles to the library and that wipes me out. Is it the new River valley hills that I'm not used to, is it the 45lbs of dead weight pulling me backwards in the trailer when I try to climb, is it this nasty 100 degree heat? I wanna just get on and go & can't

Chole

 

[kpinny]

chiming in too...I used to be a cycling woman, now I'm a cycling mama that only gets out on a 'real ride' several times a year. Around town, I have a mtn bike with dd (30lbs) in a rear seat. It is very hilly here, so we stick to the flats for errands. I can still get her up the hill to campus to visit daddy, but I'm 13 weeks pregnant now, so I've got to keep my heart rate down. As far as standing up while climbing with her back there, I was sure this was a no no, but one day I just decided to try it (no Burley, that might be the difference) and it was ok, now I do it whenever I need the break.

The rare occasion I go out on my own, I ride my racing bike. Yesterday I was riding and I noticed 3 different sporty little red cars go by one after the next. I laughed to myself that it must be the day to take out your sporty little red rider. Anyway, the new mama pace doesn't suit the sporty red rider so much, but I do what I can.

I love the idea of a family bike trip...someday. dh and I did a 7 wk pacific coast Victoria BC to Tijuana trip as our first forray into road cycling, very fond memories.

 

[tboroson]

When I pull Talia alone, she's 35 pounds in a front mounted seat. Anika is 25 pounds plus the weight of the Burley, which is about 15. So, if I'm pulling both of them, that's 75 pounds. I have done short spins around the neighborhood with both, and one long ride (13 miles) that about killed me :LOL I need to keep practicing with both girls, though, because when we go to Maine, I'll have Talia plus 20 lbs or so of gear.

 

[KarenEMT]

I try not to climb any wild hills, because I have a heavy Burley (the Cub model with hard plastic bottom - 30 lb) and my DS is now 42-43 pounds. When I do a 15 miler towing him, it feels like a 30+ mile ride with bike alone LOL The temp. today was 95 or so, and I only made it 10 miles with the trailer before I had to quit. Just felt miserable and had already emptied both of my bottles.

I have been trying to ride at least 3 times a week, for at least an hour or two. I'd love to work up to a century this year but have a long way to go. I am also saving up for a good light so I can ride after dark when the boys are sleeping.

We originally had a cheaper, lighter trailer, but DS kicked the canvas on the side and it made contact wtih the spokes - very dangerous. I figured the hard plastic Burley would put an end to that. Plus, I take the Burley without DS for groceries/miscellaneous hauling. I'll be able to use it for cargo once DS has outgrown it.

 

[kpinny]

you gals are talking me into a burley...when dd gets her little sibling.

great night tonight, I rode my little red racer into town for an errand (the one with the pump and fix a flat materials, don't ask why I don't carry that stuff when I'm out with dd!). I rode by a guy walking his bike "need a pump?" "yeah! actually, there's such a big hole it probably won't hold air." "I have a patch" "OK"....in the end, he didn't have a the faintest idea how to change a tire and I did it all for him. my good deed for the day. 20 mins on the bike too, that's good for something these days.
kathy
kathy

 

[delicious]

i just recently got a bike....it is taking me forever to get used to it. my legs hurt almost right away, and that's weird because i do quite a bit of walking....how long does it take to get used to it?

i usually ride about twenty minutes every evening.

 

[choleblack]

alright off to find out the weight of my schwinn trailier. SO says it's 40lbs if it's a day. He also says that being from "the flat lands" I'm just not used ot these hills. Honestly it's just that one big one that happens to be right before getting home that really kills me. I don't feel beat for more than an hour after a ride though. Maybe I'm not pushing myself enough.

Chole

 

[BusyMommy]

Count me in

I do a Moms only ride once or twice/week on the single tracks. And, a Burley ride w/both kids once or twice as well. My kids weigh 80+# together so our max distance is about 20 miles.

I'm trying to find a cool bike ride for a long weekend in British Columbia sometime in August

no kids

 

[JenLove]

Out of curiousity, what kinds of bikes do you all have?

I hope the riding is going well!

 

[choleblack]

So was right my trailer is 30lbs, thats 75 with DD in it. No wonder I'm having trouble clibing it, that's more than 1/2 my weight pulling me the other direction. I measured the hill too (it's the mathmatician in me) it's a 5% grade. Guess I'm just oing to have to really work at it.

I ride a schwinn high planes, had the thing since I was 15 & decided not to drive. Not a light bike though and one of the fancy stuff like shocks.

Chole

 

[KarenEMT]

What bikes do we have LOL I will give you a rundown of our house:

1. My road bike is a 2003 Giant OCR-1.
2. My mountain bike is a 1980s Marin brand (my brother gave that one to me).
3. DH has a Giant Cypress, a comfort bike that is perfectly suited to him.

We also were just given a tandem from a friend who's "downsizing" her house. My older DS has a road bike, a track bike, and a mountain bike. We were just given an Adams Trail a Bike for when DS#2 is a little older.

I am sure that several of the bikes are worth more than my old beater car LOL

 

[BusyMommy]

I have a nice Trek w/combo tires and a nice new Klein w/knobbies.

 

[crunchyconmomma]

hey mamas!
cycling family here....sort of off-topic, but hopefully you fabulous bike-lovers will humor me...

would you do a huge favor and give your input on our business plan? that is, those of you that i see on here that haven't already been to my thread: in talk amongst ourselves, copy and paste - ideas on our business plan...please!! i have NO idea how to link it or i would.
we are starting a bike shop of our own (and promoting car-free living and cycle commuting) here in our town and i want some more feedback. shameless self thread promotion, but you mamas would have some insight from personal experience that would be beneficial.
TIA!