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!

My DH has cycled most of his life: At one time 7 miles each way and a manual job. He is very fit even now (81) and looks a lot younger. I am unable to cycle now and really miss it (can't use the brake lever). DH has done John O'Groats to Lands End, camping along the way (7 years ago).

Mmm Specialized do a back pedal brake on their small kids bikes, with the theory its more intuitive for kids than a brake lever.

I wonder if a bike mechanic could fit something similar to an adult bike for you.

Could also buy a bike from Holland (or several other countries in Europe, common here in Finland at least) as they have back pedal brakes on bikes quite commonly. Always preferred them, so much easier to use and you can do some fab skids on gravel with them.

3.5 miles on levellish ,hardstanding is nothing, but that isnt what you are talking about.Field paths will be way too muddy to cycle on over winter-have you ever tried cycling through deep mud?The wheels will get stuck!Is it even a bridleway that you are allowed to cycle on? you will churn the path up horribly!
I dont know what part of the country you are in, but in December it is dark by 4 o clock and you will be on totally unlit pathways potentially dealing with chains coming off and punctures.

My top tip is use a basket or panniers if you can because cycling with a rucksack on is uncomfortable and makes your back sweaty, let the bike carry the load. @givemushypeasachance

I cycle to work and wouldn't be without a basket. It's the first priority whenever I get a bike. They fit in so much (good for shopping trips as well). Rucksacks also make my back horribly sweaty which is not a good look arriving to work!

Could you tell us what gloves you have? I have Raynaud's but have yet to find the perfect gloves for cycling. When it gets really cold, I wear 2 pairs of gloves which isn't ideal! @MrsAvocet

Oh God, what a faff! Just get a courtesy car or a small cheap rental!

skiing gloves
warm
grippy
waterproof

Well done. I’m interested if they can keep it up and also how it goes in the rain and wind.

That honestly sounds like much more of a faff to me to sort out than just stepping outside the house with bikes and bags they already own. It's only 4 weeks.

my sister has Raynaud's, she finds mittens are warmer than finger gloves

I’m surprised at all these negative comments - what a sedentary bunch. Nothing preventing a 6yo cycling this distance and attending school, unless there are other needs.

I can't believe how dramatic people are being about cycling a relatively short distance for a few weeks! My 6 year old can do a 20 km cycle and still be bouncing off the walls later in the day - we need to be encouraging kids to do more activity, not less.

And yes it's a good idea to have a puncture repair kit and some disposable gloves for hooking chains back on but I cycle commuted daily for 11 years and only had to deal with 2 punctures in all that time, so I'd hardly expect it to be a weekly occurrence.

I sympathise. I have quite a wardrobe of gloves and none of them is perfect! I had a pair of cheap, Planet X winter cycling gloves for years and they were fantastic, but I lost one and sadly they don't make them any more. I've never found any as quite as good, even much more expensive ones. My current preference is a pair of Castelli Espresso women's winter gloves and on really cold days I wear them with a silk or merino glove liner. I do also have several pairs of Sealskinz, including a heated pair, which certainly tick the box when it comes to warmth but I find them too bulky for cycling. I have really small hands and like a lot of gloves they have fingers that are too long for me which makes changing gear awkward. They are great on winter hikes etc through, and if your hands are bigger than mine they might work for you. Have you tried "lobster claw" style gloves - kind of in between mitts and gloves? I didn't get on with them myself but there are a few people on our club who swear by them in the winter.

@OvernightBloats handle bar mitts have been a revelation for me - I’ve got a few years agos a version of these and they’re brilliant.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/warm-waterproof-removable-city-bike-cuffs-940-grey/345299/c383m8797364

I wear two pairs of woollen mittens in the coldest weather. I don't find it interferes at all with braking or changing gear, mittens are much warmer than gloves and wool is the best. Obviously it's not waterproof but I've never actually had both layers soak through even in a downpour. Those sheep are on to something.

Phone wanted to correct mittens to kittens, and two pairs of kittens would be a lot cuter. But they might fall off so I can't recommend.

no it’s not. It’s perfectly reasonable amount of exercise for kids! God no wonder there’s so many overweight kids if parents think this is unreasonable! How pathetic.

It’s 7 miles in total, 3.5 miles cycle each way. They should be able to manage that if they have no health issues (and OP would have said if they did I’m sure). And after a week or two they will be much fitter and faster too!

I know MN is very England centric but the OP could be posting from anywhere in the world. Why do posters always assume they are in the same place? Primary provision could be very different in every area/country.

Thank you. I will have a look into all these suggestions. I do have a silk pair but the outer pair to wear over them is the most important. On a bike, my hands really do get icy very quickly!

Thanks also to everyone else who has made some fantastic recommendations.

Mitts are warmer than gloves thats what i use for skiing.

Well done @Yestoday ! This is brilliant for your kids and hopefully the weather will be ok until the car is sorted. A bit shocked by some of the sedentary posts, please ignore them. What you are trying to achieve is a practical solution to a problem and hopefully a fun adventure along the way! I liked the post where a mum cycles with her kids on Fridays and they have jam toast en route. I appreciate you're probably focussing on getting through the next few weeks right now but if you and your kids enjoy it, maybe you could cycle some of the time next spring and summer even when the car is ok?

Rain gear. Id leave a change of clothes and trainers in school just incase.

This is all true — but it’s also weather dependent to some extent. I cycle regularly but my bike’s a hybrid and couldn’t cope with a very muddy track, for example. If it’s just a few weeks, I’m sure it’ll all be fine, but I wouldn’t want to be doing it in snow or ice or when it’s pitch black and hard to see where you’re going! (I say this as someone who rarely drives anywhere — we do have a car but it can sit on the drive for weeks at a time as we generally walk, cycle or use public transport.)

Because they’re 9 and 6? 🙄