cycling to school how far is feasible

[Kafka]

We are about to move to the country and school will be about 4 miles from home. I want to continue to cycle with my 2 year old and my 5 year old ds, because I so enjoy it and I love being free from the tyranny of car/public transport. Ds currently scoots a mile each way to school. Views please on whether he could cycle this distance, does anyone have a receptioner that does this?

Incidentally he is a sporty boy and most of the journey will be on cycle track. So far this term we have done our current journey in all weathers.

On a cycle track not too bad I suppose, on country roads with big trucks and 4x4 drivers not so good. Also depends on inclines and type of bike, what would 2 yr old be on, a back seat?

You may just have to do a few trail runs and see, also consider if you will need changes of clothes or all weather gear etc, so he doesn't have an uncomfortable day with a damp bum.

Yes dd will be on the back of my bike.

Subject to the safety being ok do you think this is too far for the five year old? We would do it three days a week, two days a week cm will take him to school so he would be able to have day off.

It sort of affects the school decision, if too far we could opt for closer school which is about 1 to 1.5 miles closer.

My kids are older now and its hard for me to visulise 4 miles on a bike, I would do a test run and see if it is manageable really.

If he is happy scooting just now and positive when cycling all sounds possible. If he hangs back and needs coxing all the way to school or bribed with a trail of haribos then it will turn into a ral pain .

well done you.

is flattish terrain a fit healthy 5 year old would only benefit from this .
Wish more people had your attitude

I wisj my DS could cycle to school but it is 10 miles on a country road which is very skinny with race cars (and cows) and then onto a major A road with a very high death and accident record, lots of hills and bad bends. School bus for him.

Its not saintliness its more a sanity saver for me, I just love it. I was brought up sailing and unfortunately I cannot give my children that sort of lifestyle as we will never be able to afford it. Cycling and camping, in the summer months, is the nearest i can get to being with the elements.

Sometimes he does the wailing thing, and it is pure misery all the way, but mostly we do it quite happily.

I was thinking I might invest in an xtra cycle which I believe is a sort of bench that can go on the back of a bike and one can trail around with two largish children sitting on!. I could do this on days when it is v bad weather or tired. Anyone heard of these or seen them in action.

I think terrain is sort of flattish I think I will go and do a practice run this weekend before making the final decision re the school choice.

Its not saintliness its more a sanity saver for me, I just love it. I was brought up sailing and unfortunately I cannot give my children that sort of lifestyle as we will never be able to afford it. Cycling and camping, in the summer months, is the nearest i can get to being with the elements.

Sometimes he does the wailing thing, and it is pure misery all the way, but mostly we do it quite happily.

I was thinking I might invest in an xtra cycle which I believe is a sort of bench that can go on the back of a bike and one can trail around with two largish children sitting on!. I could do this on days when it is v bad weather or tired. Anyone heard of these or seen them in action.

I think terrain is sort of flattish I think I will go and do a practice run this weekend before making the final decision re the school choice.

Its not saintliness its more a sanity saver for me, I just love it. I was brought up sailing and unfortunately I cannot give my children that sort of lifestyle as we will never be able to afford it. Cycling and camping, in the summer months, is the nearest i can get to being with the elements.

Sometimes he does the wailing thing, and it is pure misery all the way, but mostly we do it quite happily.

I was thinking I might invest in an xtra cycle which I believe is a sort of bench that can go on the back of a bike and one can trail around with two largish children sitting on!. I could do this on days when it is v bad weather or tired. Anyone heard of these or seen them in action.

I think terrain is sort of flattish I think I will go and do a practice run this weekend before making the final decision re the school choice.

oh dear, sorry about the multiple posts

What about those add on bikes

I like the roland but see the xtracycle peapod, scroll down, I am quite tempted as they are so versatile, I could even toe granny on short bike rides while the children are riding their bikes, www.xtracycle.com/home/hitchless-trailer/accessories/ sorry I cannot do links

dh is complaining now, got to log off

Think granny must be very dinky if she would fit in a pead pod seat , make sure you get your bike blender, vital part of kit I recon

We do 2 miles but on a very steep hill (120m climb from school to home). DD is 6 and rides her own bike in good weather and is on a tagalong bike in cold weather or if she is feeling a bit under the weather, we're running late etc.

I wouldn't do 4 miles in this terrain, but if we were still in Cambridgeshire I think that 4 miles there might be easier than our 2 miles here

I think that 4 miles each way and a day at school might be a bit much for a f year old, to be honest. And have you thought about going back for after school activities and so on?

It sounds quite a lot, but possible if your child is willing. We used to do 1.5 (flat) miles with 6 and 4 year olds cycling, and toddler on bike seat. That was OK.

But we then moved schools because we'd moved house and the bike journey was unfeasible, due to the traffic/roundabouts. and it was a huge relief, quite honestly, not to be cycling those sorts of distances twice a day with several young children.

If you really are keen on cycling as a priority (which I would be) I would go for the closer school if you have a choice.