[Closed] New baby and riding - how did you do it?!

Thanks for that mrblobby!

wrecker - glad to see I am not the only one to get 'supervised'. Not sure how I managed to live this long without the helpful advice and 'supervision' of mrs solarider! However well intentioned, it is the only real cause of friction.

The comments already made are so true. Time is something that becomes very precious. My way around this, was as many people have said, was to commute on the bike which meant I did get some miles in. When the wee man got a bit older (he's now 2 1/2) I was able to pop to Ashton Court straight from work for a quick blast there and in Leigh Woods and be able to make it back for bath time, which is one of my parenting roles.

Also, if you want to do a bigger ride, then plan it in the diary early so baby sitters (grandparents as they are commonly known!) can be recruited!

Welcome to the club, it is great, even if it sometimes feels like it isn't - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Thanks for that mrblobby!

No problem 🙂

It really is the most amazing thing... but the tiredness is indescribable. Even now our kids are sleeping well we still have trouble sleeping properly as our sleep patterns are so messed up.

My experience bike/riding wise is less positive, no matter how much we tried to make time to do things like cycling it was almost impossible for the first year.
I used to commute when the little chimp was first born(different job) which was great until it begun to really take it's toll and combined with very little sleep I just became very ill.
In fact I have been knocked back on 5 or 6 occasions since the boy was born 1 and a half years ago.
He just doesn't sleep, really, I mean he does sleep but it's sometimes rather than regularly. And he never stops, apart from to watch postman pat or to pounce on my partners boobs! He is a full on baby.
Since he's got a bit older the turbo and a bit of running have got me through the week and save the MTB for the weekend. Every couple of weeks we try and go somewhere were he can run around/play and I can cycle then swap and my partner goes for a run while the dog and I look bored in the play park!
Some people get "lucky" and get the laid back baby that will in time allow you more room to get out on the bike others like me you will work it out in the end but it takes time.
Not to take this on a different tack but a booby baby is generally harder work than a bottle baby, but worth it but it is hard on both mum and dad, which is often over looked.

First thing congratulations and get ready for the best of times and the worst of times..

Echo the comments above about using the commute to work to get a good ride in either a longer route in the morning or a longer ride home is how I did it but be prepared to be absolutely knackered from looking after a small child & sleepless nights & biking into work but it does work as I did it for a couple of years from birth…

However it does get better mine are now 4 years and 13 months and I get out 4 times a week now but all the riding is done after 7pm during the week or I’m out for about 7am on sat & sun, all my riding is now local to cut down on wasted time and I limit the rides to 3 hours on the MTB/Road bike which still gives a good home life balance…

Just remember it won’t last forever and enjoy your time with the young one as it goes so quick…

PS Turbo & Sufferfest & Trainer Road can also be your best friend

wrecker - glad to see I am not the only one to get 'supervised'. Not sure how I managed to live this long without the helpful advice and 'supervision' of mrs solarider! However well intentioned, it is the only real cause of friction.

I definitely allow my kids to get away with playing more dangerously when Mrs Wilko isn't around. I bought our 14 mth old son a balance bike as he was very tall for his age, had been walking (and running) for months and was very interested in his big sister's. Mrs Wilko was not at all keen on the idea but he's bombing about on it now, aged 18 mths (with only a few cuts on his face to show for it 😳 )

+1 on 2 being way harder than 1.

That being said now that my eldest is 7 he comes riding with me occasionally, which is ace!

I've got a 10 week old (plus a 5 & 10 year old). Wife had a lot of pelvic pain during pregnancy so basically I've hardly riden in the last 6 months and certainly not gone anywhere since december.

I would try and get an hour or two during the day (I work early hours/part time) and maybe in evening after dinner. I broke my collar bone 3 weeks ago so thats sorted my cycling for the next 3 months. It really depends on how good/bad the baby is and how well the mum copes alone. Hopefully once I've healed and sophie is on solids she will be mroe settled. realistically I resolved to not getting much done this year.

Get the missus to look after young un, then repay the favour when she wants to go out. simple

Pretty much all my riding is commuting now, plus occasional weekend rides planned weeks in advance. Contrary to other people, I now ride the week night club ride less in bad weather now, as I'd prefer to stay in and save the pass for when it is dry.

Also, contrary to others, my road riding has decreased to almost zero. If I can get half a day out I'd rather take the MTB somewhere nice than ride around dodging cars.

The lack of sleep plays a part too, we haven't had a full nights sleep in over a year now, and doing the Dyfi after 3 very bad nights in a row left me ill for the next week!

You don't want to hear this but when they are really young it's a lot easier than when they get older, like 2-6yrs.
+1

Sorry. It gets worse before it gets better.

+1 ...sorry!

When our boy was really little we used to take it in turns to head out for a ride / run while he was napping. My riding really dropped off between 2 and 4 but am starting to get out more now, and the best bit is he is now riding with me!

You will have to make some compromises but FWIW, my top tips are:

1. Your riding time is precious so don't faff. Have everything ready to go at a moments notice. Low maintenance bike is a good idea (I was converted to the way of the singlespeed partly for this reason).

2. Embrace the local loop. Quick rides from the front door are the ticket. You don't want to be wasting time driving anywhere if you can help it. Also if you can fit in some riding around the commute then all to the good.

3. Invest in a really good bike seat so they can ride with you at the earliest opportunity. Mine was out from about 7 months on a front mounted seat and absolutely loved it. Your local climbs will take on a new perspective with a giggling, wriggling cargo.

4. Holidays - look at places where you can fit in some riding around family stuff. We took ours on a camping tour through Wales at about 8 months and it was great. We were able to go on the steam trains, took him up a few hills in a backpack and he even did the family trail at Coed Y Brenin in his seat.

5. As above try and agree a rough schedule with your partner of when you get some time to do sports and get some personal time etc. You may not stick with it every week but it's good to have a plan.

Seriously, if anybody could accurately put in words how bad the lack of sleep is, the human race would die due to lack of procreation!

It's a charming piece of evolution that parenting the young only gets better at the point [b]just[/b] before that where you would otherwise die from exhaustion.

Enjoy it!

Solarider jnr arrived 8 weeks ago and I have looked at the bike twice and ridden it once.

You're a new parent, and I bet you've been into cycling for aeons. Is there anything wrong with letting cycling take a back seat for a while?

Anyway, you will have opportunities if you make them: I'm just back from a long weekend of cycle touring with my wife and two daughters (age 1&3). It was absolute magic.

You don't want to hear this but when they are really young it's a lot easier than when they get older, like 2-6yrs. Sorry. It gets worse before it gets better.

Not for us! Our first year was horrible, pure graft and we often wondered what we'd done. He was a bad sleeper and never really napped either so we were exhausted. Very jealous of those with local family.
People kept saying "It gets better", but 'better' then awful was still bad, we wanted to hear "It gets great, awesome, hilarious".

At 2 2/3, he is now all of those, sleeps amazingly (still doesn't nap) is funny, enjoyable and easy to look after. I love time with him when the Mrs is out and vice versa, so life is very different from 3 years ago, but balance if far, far better than it was 2 years ago!

Nip out when she visits the in-laws..early commutes to work so you can go the long way...night time rides after little one has settled down for the night.. the odd weekend jaunt booked months in advance so she can meet up with her friends..that about sums me up..6yr old and a crazy 18 month old

Very jealous of those with local family.

Nip out when she visits the in-laws.

See what I mean 😉 Not an option for many though, for whatever reason.

Someone said running is more time efficient for exercise than riding, which is true.

But if you are moving somewhere where the riding is close consider a CX style bike - an hours sprint around the local woods is good for fitness and better/more fun than a weary run, and the narrow tyres of the CX turn boring woodland into decent singletrack.

Someone said running is more time efficient for exercise than riding, which is true.

I ride my road bike much more than the mtb: less cleaning, less maintenance, and you ride straight from your front door.

It's nice to see how everyone else has battled their way through this!

First year was actually quite good for riding for me - I was into 24hr solos and managed to keep my training going pretty well by doing the "stupid o'clock riding" and the "nightriding no matter how shitty the weather" things. The thing that saved me after that was getting a trailer - once he was 6-8 months I could get some quality miles in (trailers are hard work) and do child care at the same time! I also had a reserved evening for night riding with mates - this is important for the riding and the social side - it's so easy to get wrapped up in the bubble and go a bit stir-crazy.

We had a big enough gap between one and two (4.5 years) that by the time number two came along the eldest could go on a tag along and we could do family rides. It's actually hardest for me to get decent riding in now as the eldest can ride a decent distance, but the 5 years old tops out at about 15km and no amount of Haribos will get him much further than that.

I'm running a lot now as I can fit it in at lunchtimes and riding when I get the chance, but it's usually with the kids - I'm philosophical enough about it now to simply enjoy them enjoying their riding and not get too hung up about how much (or little) riding I'm getting. It's all about the quality rather than the quantity - playing on skills stuff with the kids and coaching them.

I know that if I really wanted to I could get the miles in - I managed to train quite a bit for a big road ride (250 miles in 24hrs) a couple of years ago, but was acutely aware of how much my long rides impacted on the rest of the family. It seemed pretty self indulgent to be honest. As long as I'm fit enough to enjoy a decent ride every week or so, and fast enough to keep ahead of the eldest (might have to start working on that) then I'm happy.

My boys are now 2 and 4, both love our bike trailer and have been in it since 9 months old. Adds a new dimension to biking and helps trainingtraining greatly. When you unhitch the trailer your bike feels like its made from some super lightweight moon metal!

I go riding at 7pm when the kids are asleep. Any days except Monday and Wednesday when the wife goes to gym etc.
Usually get 3 or 4 full weekend days per year to go on mega pedal.

Life will never be the same as it was before but you'll still have time for your kids and to do things you like.

got 3 kids. youngest will be 1 tomorrow....as the kids get older and it does become easier but the more you have the harder it gets!!
when the first arrived i kind of stopped riding altogether for about 3 years and then the following 2 years were hampered by injuries.
then i started to ride again but once every blue moon. when the second one arrived again i took time off but the missus was on mat leave and needed the car for school runs so i started to commute by bike. when she went back to work it got a bit tricky but every couple of months i'd get the time to go out for a ride.
now with the 3rd one here i'm still commuting every day on the bike and once every couple of weeks i may be allowed to go for a ride...but it usually comes at a price.
last ride i did was to llandegla 2 weeks ago. set off on the saturday at 2pm and didnt get home until 2am due to my friends car conking out. she was not happy at all. the only reason she even allowed me to go was on condition that i redecorated the bedroom and painted the front of the house!!
if i'm a good boy and play my cards right i may get to go out next weekend

When Binnerette number one was born, (number 2 wasn't far behind) I bought my first set of lights. That ended up as probably the best purchase I ever made. Because heading out at ungodly hours is the only opportunity you're really going to get.

What you soon discover though, is that riding at ungodly hours in the dark is absolutely bloody brilliant!!! 😀

I also found that I started taking advantage of any kind of family gathering. Say you've a wedding on, a christening or a weekend away, where you're going to have lots of family around (particularly grandparents), then I'd shove my bike in, and take the opportunity to nip out for a few hours.

Basically, when you've a new born, everyone is so busy fussing over them, and the new mum, that as a father you could be stood there, levitating, while dressed as father christmas and no-one would even notice your existence. Make the most of this, and disappear for a while

Our first son (now 3) was very sick when he was wee so riding was off the cards 90% of the time.

We now have an 8 month old. I usually get a ride in with friends once a week. I also ride to work although it's only 15 minutes each way.

As you'll realise (or have already), your life will never be the same again. In 99.9% of the ways, it will be much better.

You'll need to actively make time to ride and plan ahead. Time with your friends or on your own, away from wife and child(ren) is an important part of staying sane and being a good husband / father when you're at home. Of course, the same goes for your wife.

Treating yourself to a good set of lights is very worth while. Get the kids to sleep, run the wife a bath, bugger off for a short blast.

Congratulations by the way.

Seriously, if anybody could accurately put in words how bad the lack of sleep is, the human race would die due to lack of procreation!

depends on the child, our middle one was a little shit but sophie has been fine. our eldest was ok but was a pain during the day.

breast fed babies tend to wake more as they need fed more often.

Thanks all.

Like the sound of a bike trailer for him. Any recommendations?

I don't have any rack fittings on the bikes, so would need to be something that attaches to the stays or seatpost.

Chariot/Thule are the best imo but pricey. They attach to a hitch that you put on the rear wheel skewer so no damage to your frame. The best model is the CX which has suspension and disc brakes when you use it as a pram/jogger.

We got a benelli cheap from halfords. It's great tbh and for £150, a steal.
Would have loved a thule or croozer but moneys.

We had a Chariot CX1 - expensive at the time, but easily the best £750 I've ever spent on bike stuff.

I need to sell it actually, was aiming to put it on ebay this week!

Action shot from the Singlespeed World in Aviemore... 2007?
[img] [/img]

breast fed babies tend to wake more as they need fed more often.

Our second was breast fed for a lot longer than our first, but slept a lot better. Though put that down to her being our second. Top bit of advice I read was that they need to learn how to settle themselves and sleep well, you just need to let them get on with it. Our second is a much more reliable sleeper than our first because we did that.

We've got a Croozer and use it a bit, but not that much. Mrs Blobby doesn't really like us using it on the roads and bike paths round our way are a bit rubbish (all a bit stop start with stupid narrow barriers that you can't get a trailer though.) The Hamax seat gets a lot of use though with our oldest, bit tricker now with two though. Now tempted by something like this...

[img] [/img]

Chariot.

Bike seats ok but harder to ride with than a Chariot that's a lump heavier but doesn't have anywhere near the impact on the handling. Handier for going to shops though or when you have to pull both of them ;0)

Plus you can sling a balance bike to the back for when they are a bit older.

FWIW, I have a fairly cheap Halfords trailer - for me and by my reckoning, most people, it does the job perfectly. My kids have certainly really enjoyed it. Attaches to the dropout. It's not for serious offroading though as it doesn't have any suspension but it's been fine for bridleway/cyclepath type rides.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/child-bike-seats-trailers/halfords-single-buggy-child-bike-trailer
[img] http://i1.adis.ws/i/washford/155401?$pd_enlarge$ [/img]

The child seat (Rhode Gear) was good too when they were younger but makes the bike's handling horrible and you do have to be careful as the weight is right over the rear axle so if you lift the front wheel up while you're not on the bike it wheelies and I have seen people drop the bike (and child)

Burley, Chariot & Croozer are generally regarded as the best brands, but they're pricey.

We use our Burley d'lite all the time, and I recommend it highly. Adjustable suspension, plenty of boot space (important for all the rubbish you have to transport) and rock-solid stability. The Croozer trailer we had previously was also a good bit of kit, though no suspension.

I bought one of the Bellelli trailers from Halfords and thought it looked fine. Then I went into another shop and saw a Croozer. Amazing difference. The Halfords trailer went back for a refund and I got a Croozer off eBay.

Another tip that worked great for me was to get a camper van/motorhome. We managed to get away for a good few events like the Scott Marathon series and Bristol Bikefest etc, and they turned into a family weekend away where I got to disappear for a few hours on the bike.

I've got two boys, five and two: no matter what they sleep, I can't remember the last time I didn't feel knackered...

Local loops the answer for me as above. I treat myself to a Kickr last year too and honestly it's the best thing I ever bought. I wouldn't call it enjoyable, but coupled with TrainerRoad I at least get a decent ride in when I can't get out (which is often)...

The five year old will happily cycle now for 6-8 miles (although I really need to get him a bike with gears now, as he's pushing too big a gear a lot of the time) and those rides through the woods with him and up to the pond to feed the ducks are some of best rides ever 🙂

Congrats.
I bought a cross bike and stopped driving anywhere to ride.
I abused any grandparent visit.
Li'l J ,3 in August,wtf, has been a rubbish sleeper for 2.5 years .
I used to think he had paranormal abilities,any time I planned a long ride he would be up all bloody night, the git!
Getting a little better now,but whatever you do,don't move house and start a renovation whilst living in it.
That killed my riding for 6month 🙁
Tonight, he asked me if we could go for a ride (child seat) at the weekend.how cool is that?:-)