AIBU to cycle 7 miles with my kids for the school run?

[Yestoday]

I have DC 9, 6 and 2. We have just lost our second car and it might be a while until we get it back (3/4 weeks maybe?). DH can take the 2 year old to nursery on his way to work but he’ll need to leave at 7:15.

I was thinking I can cycle the older two to school and back each day. It’s 3.5 miles each way. We practiced today and it’s about 40 minutes one way. It’s mostly on field paths and farm tracks so safe enough.

Do you think it’s doable? I’d take drinks and snacks and change of shoes etc. I’m thinking they’ll be knackered the first few days but will get used to it. DH thinks I’ll end up begging friends to give us a lift after a few days!

OP, you know you kids and they’ve done the route so thankfully you’ll be fine. Yes they’ll get tired but it’s not going to kill them. Ignore all this handwringing from the society that wants us all to drive kids everywhere and then wonders why they’re tired, overweight etc.

The child who cycles 40 mins to school is FAR better set up for the day than the one who watches 30 mins tv and 10 min car ride.

On MN there are 6 year olds in nappies who can’t even ride a bike. Those people are living in a different world to you so don’t let them bring you down

The only useful advice I’d give that hasn’t been mentioned is GLOVES. Even on mild days you may find the bumpy tracks etc makes their hands sore and protect from the wind

3.5 miles is ok.
my dc (albeit older now) cycle this to school
they will get fitter and not need stopping to rest very soon.
I havd read somewhere that children who walk/cycle to school have better concentration during the school day.

high viz
waterproof trousers (decathlon has lightweight, reflective ones)
usb lights
pannier (for you to take dc bags)
a small tub of fruit for energy when they arrive

good luck!

This! Or he could get a taxi. Mum and kids need the car more.

on gloves front - we find skiing gloves great. warm, grippy and waterproof (again decathlon). and they tend to have clips so you can clip them together or onto the school bag so they don't get lost as easily

Totally doable in dry weather. In rainy weather dirt tracks can be slippery and much harder going (not to mention mud on bottom of trousers and shoes). It would have to be quite wet though for this to happen so imagine it won’t be often. Make sure bikes have mudguards. In dry or even damp weather, no problem. My DS has cycled every day to school since he was 3.5, not as far, but they get used to it quickly as it’s a great way to start the day. He’s never once used the waterproof trousers I bought him, too sweaty. And the amount of times he has actually got soaked through are rare. Definitely need a good coat though and gloves in winter. Hands get very cold on a bike and on rough tracks it can be quite fatiguing so would probably get cycling gloves as makes a surprising difference

Should be fine if they have good bikes and waterproofs for rainy days! Bring snacks - they will probably arrive at school hungry and need a snack/second breakfast, and an after school snack to fuel them for the journey home would also be a good idea. Make it feel like an adventure too - stop off for a treat somewhere on the way home on Fridays maybe! Sounds like you'll save a fair bit on petrol 😊

Brilliant plan with some excellent advice here. I do find it interesting that some posters are horrified that a child might cycle 3.5 miles to school. Personally I think it’s very positive and assuming the weather isn’t awful (and you get a lift if it is) I hope the kids enjoy it.

Good luck OP!

Same. My 8 year old will bike to school, play football every single break, bike home, bike to football and play football for an hour, then bike top speed to wrestling and do that for just over an hour, then bike home all in one day and still want to kick the football about before bed!

One the gloves front, even in good weather gloves will be a good idea doing those kind of distances, partly as protection for hands if they fall off and put hands out to protect themselves.

Could you and dh alternate sometimes with the car, as in you cycle a few mornings but other mornings drop him to work and take the car for you and the kids? We managed for years in one car doing this although now he’s so far it’s not doable so it may not be for ye

Newuser75
I’m actually really surprised about how many people are saying don’t do it as they will be too tired.
I have a seven year old, he does a lot of exercise including sport clubs he is very fit and active. He would easily manage around one hour of exercise a day, I’d honestly be concerned if he couldn’t.

The thing is every single morning before school is tough, they’re already running on a lower battery to all the other kids. I’d say twice or three times a week fine but five days a week and then having them do eg football, or or swimming is a lot!

I thought you meant 7 miles one way. That’s a lot but 3.5 miles definitely doable. You will need to be aware that weather may change n occasion mean it’s too hazardous to cycle. I used to cycle to work but even I bailed and got the bus due to high winds/ice. I would cycle in heavy rain but my commute was 20- 25 mins.

I loved my cycle commute and really miss it. I’d be tired after work and the cycle home would really wake me up and put me in a good mood. It’s great for the psychological transition between being at work/ home too!

I think temporarily it will be ok for the time you need it until you get the car park.

I think getting there will be absolutely fine but that your 6 year old might get exhausted on the way home.

My experience of a cycle commute is the opposite. It’s energizing so you are running on a higher battery to your colleagues.

Some of the comments on this thread is a real testament to how unfit we have become as a nation.

Hope the weather is kind to u all. Would be interested to know how it has gone this evening

brighterlightnow

I used to go to the gym before work but by lunch would be broken! So I think they’d be charged but come pe time in the afternoon I don’t know if they’d be on the floor (and I honestly don’t know!)

Because there are 2 primary aged children.

OP I would wonder about the weather, particularly mud, and from walking home at that age have they got gloves, preferably waterproof.

Short term it sounds doable though I’d def call in on friends to help on rainy days

Brilliant idea, good luck OP! 👏

p.s. I agree with ideas re. carrying repair kits etc.

Go for it! Wear hi-viz clothing of some sort and get pedalling! There's nothing quite like the buzz from doing a bike ride. Don't let the weather put you off, it's part of the fun (even when it is pelting down with rain).

It will be an adventure and it is great for mind and body.

I think it sounds great as a temporary measure and if it largely goes okay it could be something you add in a few days a week going forward even when you’ve got your car back.
Active kids is something we should be looking to encourage rather than focussing on “oh they’ll be too tired, they’ll get wet, it’s a long day for them” etc. because while those things may be true, they also shouldn’t be a barrier towards building fitness/endurance. 3.5 miles each way - they’ll get quicker as you go through the next few weeks and they get more confident with the route. Good luck, I’m quite jealous! We just had a 10 minute walk to school when ours were that age.

Mudguards? Do all the bikes have them?

Is there a chance leaves+Mud will get caught up in a sludge in the mudguards (yes this has happened to me)

Pannier bags? Do not want to have to carry all the school stuff in backpacks.

40 minuts as initial expectation is reasonable with distractable kids, and being lots off road too.

Somewhere safe & dry for kid bikes to stay at school?

How did it go OP? Good on you for doing it. I have cycled my primary aged children to school for many years, and I agree with the others that say as long as the track isn’t too muddy you should be fine for this month. It will also help massively if you don’t put time pressure on yourself - either leave plenty of time or don’t worry about being late. The worst mornings are those where I have a train to catch after dropping them to school. It is also really important to make sure that you pick your battles in the morning - because a child who throws a strop/ is very reluctant to go to school for some reason can very effectively refuse to cycle and then you are in a pickle.
When it goes well it is brilliant - there is something about fast forward movement that makes my kids really chatty and we can have the best talks!

well we made it! The worst part was being ready to leave so much earlier than usual but we did it and we made it on time. The first bit I was definitely thinking what have I done but as we did the last part through the woods the kids were loving it. It also took a bit longer to get things sorted the other end - getting bikes in the yard, sorting out coats etc so that’s something to consider.

There was basically no whining at all. The novelty probably helped that. They were actually very excited to be on the adventure of it. It was dry and bright this morning which definitely helped and the ride was as straightforward as it could have been.

We shall see how they are when we’re home this evening.

I’ll look into pannier bags - everything seemed to fit in my rucksack today though.

I’m ordering waterproof trousers today