Bike for a pregnant woman

[aureliacecilia]

I'm in my first trimester and looking to buy a bike to cycle while pregnant and afterwards. I'm aware that the NHS doesn't advise cycling while pregnant but that seems mostly down to the risk of falling off. I'm just looking to cycle around our local country park with my four year old. No racing, no rushing, just a weekend ride at a child's pace. I don't have a bike at the moment so I need to get one, as I can't keep up by running along now. I think I need a hybrid for the type of cycling I want to do but I wondered if I should get a more upright model, to cope with the changes to my centre of gravity to come. Has anyone cycled (recreationally) in pregnancy who could recommend a bike to me?

I cycled throughout my pregnancy (road bike). The only adjustment I made was raising my saddle slightly (that was from about 7 months) as the bump was getting in the way so my knees were going out to the side (raising saddle resolved it). I also shortened my stem and put an extra spacer under the bars (but I can’t remember why now) that was from about 5 months. Adjustments were made to my normal bikes. I never felt wobbly or unsteady.

A hybrid (or mountain bike) would both work well as they are quite sturdy (if you aren’t already used to a road/ gravel bike). So I guess it’s down to what feels comfy now and then being prepared to adapt the position as your pregnancy progresses. As long as you cycle regularly throughout it is fine as you adapt as your body changes. What I mean is you don’t suddenly develop a huge bump changing your centre of gravity overnight, it happens gradually.

I had no problems getting my leg over on to my bike (Even with the higher saddle). I did do pregnancy yoga 5x a week which may have helped. I remained very flexible throughout.

I found toward the end of my pregnancy cycling was the easiest and comfiest way to get about as walking hurt! My last ride before I gave birth was two days before I gave birth. It was a two hour road ride.

I did struggle after though whilst I Was rebuilding my core strength - I got uncomfortable back aching. It took about 18 months (and lots of yoga and Pilates) to fully resolve. It didn’t stop me cycling, I just had to ease back in and gradually build up the length of time I spent in the saddle. I’m glad I persevered.

I should add... go for what feels comfy now, you can make it more upright as you progress (if you even need to) by raising bar height, swapping to a shorter stem etc. Then you can easily pop it all back after, rather than being stuck with a really upright position which is probably less than ideal for stability/handling when riding off-roady country park type terrain.

I doubt pregnancy is best time to take up cycling, especially when you don't even know what kind of bike you'd like. Your balance is bound to be rubbish initially & it won't get better as bump grows. I'm saying this as someone who cycled to very end in many pregnancies, but it was already huge part of my life. Sorry. Frustrating that swimming is out for most of us at moment, too. If you must, then a cheap & cheerful hybrid you find on Ebay is as good as anything you could try.

I would second what lljk says sorry , I was a really keen cyclist before my first pregnancy and kept going until near end of 2nd trimester. It was icy then (Scotland) and I didn’t feel safe any more. But by 2nd baby I wasn’t a regular cyclist and it felt all wrong, very wobbly and unsafe.
But if u r keen to try do it ASAP as during 1st trimester baby is very well cushioned inside your pelvis it’s just your muscles and joints will be more liable to injury. Then u can see if u like it and assess how you feel as time goes on. Get something cheap or future proofed, a hybrid would be perfect. Make sure that although u don’t want it too small, if u can drop the saddle then you will feel more secure (goes for riding with a child seat too) and get a ladies frame so u don’t have to be mega flexible!
Make sure u have pannier fixing points as widens your choice of child bike seats. Have fun!

I rode my road bike, mountain bike and 'town' / hybrid bike whilst pregnant. I gave up riding at about 30 weeks as it was Winter and I generally started to feel less safe on icy dark commutes, but I think that was my attitude to risk that was changing rather than balance or fitness, as I carried on running albeit slowly. I would buy a bike your comfortable riding now, so that it lasts you well beyond pregnancy, rather than thinking short term.