To make my DC cycle to school at this time of year?

[MrsFlannel]

It's two miles there and two back along a beautiful country lane. As it is, they are complaining that it is still too cold. We cycle all through summer and autumn until the rain comes and then we get buses. I HATE buses. I hate relying on them....they're late and cost a bomb.

DC are 10 and 7....both are good cyclists...it's a safe journey with one small road at the end to deal with.

Can I wrap them well up and tell them to get on with it? Or is it mean? Next week's weather looks cloudy.....but I see no rain as of yet.

Yanbu. Two miles here and we cycle all year round just with weather appropriate clothing!

Meant I was doing 12 miles a day when youngest was at pre school.

Mine are 10, almost 7 and 4 and it's,bikes everyday!

2 miles each way like you I mean.

Do you 5? Even in winter? I was so fit last summer....now I'm all squashy again. how do you manage when it's icy/snowy? Id be too scared!

Yep even in winter, there are no buses. We made sure we all had good tyres! Ds4 fell off a few times, we just go slow! When it's icy and get off and,walk if necessary.

I got mine cotton stretchy hats that are then enough to go under bike hats to help keep them warm, proper cycling gloves and waterproofs etc.

Coats,need to be windproof as well as waterproof. :)

Yanbu, I make mine walk 1.5/2 miles each way (different schools) hills are too steep to cycle to school and I can't carry toddler and wheelchair so big ones all walk and I walk with y6 one and carry the bairn.

They just need waterproof jackets, trousers and lights on their bikes.

Oh and ski gloves.

Yes lights and high vis jacket/vest are a,must. You want to be visible.

If they complain they are cold, tell them it's because they're not cycling fast enough ! Cycling should keep them warm - sounds like they're just reluctant to leave the house and would be fine once actually out on the bikes.

No reason to stop for rain either as long as you're on paths that don't get completely waterlogged. Ice and wind are the only things I find really unpleasant/dangerous to cycle in, and that's on roads with traffic.

Good pair of gloves essential, try skiing gloves for kids, plus obviously a waterproof coat, and a scarf can be helpful on a bike as it stops the cold air rushing down the front of your jacket. Maybe ear muffs? Honestly their circulation should do the rest after two minutes proper cycling - or do you have a long downhill bit just as you leave the house?

we have hi vis jackets and lights...I can't really shell out on ski gloves...ear muffs won't work with their helmets.

I cycle 2.5 each way to and from work (in a school). It's along cycle paths which is quite fortunate given my poor eyesight.

I cycled all through the winter apart from one day of snow.

Decent gloves, winter tights and a windproof (reflective) are a must, but its do-able.

Arya I wouldn't mind cycling in Winter but so many people kept telling me it was too dangerous that I went with them.

A buff (or cheapy version thereof) under your helmet and pulled over your ears keeps them lovely and toasty.

DS(8) is a hot soul, so rarely needs thermal gloves, but his were £2.99 or so from Decathlon.

We were out cycling on christmas day, and have been doing good distances at the weekend all over the winter - 25 miles for ds last Sunday

I've cycled to work every single day, whole year round for the last few years apart from once when I had a chest infection. No such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.

It's not too dangerous. It's actually lovely when the winter sun is out and it's nice and fresh.

My mountain bike has great tyres. Wehn it did snow it was really amusing to see that I was going faster than the cars on the road that runs alongside the cycle route.

I love riding to work. I get a free bus pass (on account of the poor eyesight and not being able to get a driving license on medical grounds) but I'd rather cycle than go on the bus.

Oh, and I'm the sort of person who usually has the central heating set to 'sahara desert in the midday sun'.

Chainreaction.com is a very good place to buy cycle gear - including stuff for kids.

Any gloves are better than no gloves. Its miserable ( and not all that safe) cycling when your hands are too cold to brake effectively. Wind proof waterproof gloves are best, but even a wooly pair will be better than nowt.

DS and I cycle or walk to school as the fancy takes us, no buses and its not worth driving as parking is all but impossible closer than 500yrds from school, so the last bit has to be walked anyway.

Suggested ski gloves (rather than waterproof cycling gloves) because there are loads of cheap versions which have enough padding to stop the wind - there is a lot of wind chill on hands when cycling and fingers need to be warm enough to be able to safely work the brakes. Things like this can be got cheap second hand on ebay, or try a market stall if you have one near you. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kids-boys-or-girls-ski-gloves-size-5-/271804145142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f48ca1df6

Ear warmer band for under a helmet www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sheep-motif-ear-warmer-/141602477861?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f82a5725 or make your own, again it's to stop wind chill really as this can get genuinely cold on a bike even when your circulation gets going with the effort, so anything is better than nothing.

Primark and poundland may well do similar things which would do the job.