When should I stop cycling?

[didsomeonesaybunny]

I’m 5.5 months pregnant and am a keen cyclist. I have recently moved to London and am part of a cycle club. I’ve made them aware I’m pregnant and they are happy for me to continue cycling. The club rides are in group formations so I’ll never be alone and I cycle in a slower group to account for my pregnancy. Any thoughts on when to stop? Keen to continue for as long as possible.

I'm hazarding it's a road bike? Personally I was too massive to have been able to do that, on my Dutch/Brompton bikes I was ok as I was pretty upright and could drop the saddle. On a "normal" road bike I just wouldn't have fitted.

I cycled up to my due date with both my pregnancies, but that's cycling as a main form of transport rather than recreationally, and I was very slow by the end.

Hi @savage - yes a road bike. I’m carrying very small at the moment so I’m managing at the moment but imagine it’ll get harder as the weeks go on. I’m also going to start commuting to work again but may opt for a Boris bike rather than my own road bike.

I’m still managing to go to spin class but my tummy is starting to get in the way a little.

@didsomeonesaybunny until your stomach gets in the way. When that happens depends on you If possible raise the stem on your bike(s) so you are more upright.

I started showing early so can't use my own bikes and can't be bothered to raise the stem. Spinning classes I will continue until my stomach gets in the way but I've already adjusted the handle bar height to the maximum.

I'm only 16 weeks but planning to cycle as long as I can. I've stopped group riding because although I 100% trust my own bike handling I'm not comfortable sat on the wheel of people I'd don't know that well with dubious skills!

I've changed my stem height on my road bike which is working for now and will switch to an mtb next for a more upright position. Final phase might be to just ride on the turbo as you can sit totally upright and not use the bars at all!

Sally Bigham (pro mtb rider) wrote a nice series of blogs during her pregnancy here:topeak-ergon.blogspot.fr

Good to hear from other Mums to be still cycling!

When you don’t fit padded leggings anymore!

Seriously, when bump gets in the way and it just becomes too uncomfortable. I cycled to 20 weeks on MTB in first pregnancy, now 11.5 weeks with 2nd and cycling still. Will switch to my Dutch upright cargo when I feel off balance in my road bike, but as long as I have my balance and I’m happy, I’ll keep riding. Last time I just knew it was time to stop. Hoping I last longer this time!

Just listen to your body! With DD I had to stop at about 6 weeks as turns out morning sickness and cycling 6 miles through rush hour traffic don’t go well together. Once that passed I was still too knackered and didn’t trust my sense of balance so gave up completely. My mum on the other hand was still on her bike until a few days before she gave birth to me!

Likewise, you'll know when you've had enough, until then enjoy it while you can! I stopped both cycling at 5 months or so and spin at 6 months, but I'm small and I carried very big. At 8 months I rode 2km and back in the early hours for a special occasion when there was no other transport available - on my road bike it was VERY uncomfortable. 1 year later I've just got back on my bike and we did a sportive as a family with lo on a back seat. I'm very proud to think that the last time I cycled I was still carrying him, but inside me 😊

I commuted 6 miles each way every day on my hybrid up until 38 weeks. She was still overdue by two weeks! Cycling was more comfortable than walking and I never felt unstable. I did get pregnancy related anaemia in the second trimester and it made itself obvious because I would get breathless on hills.

Keep going for as long as you're comfortable.

You'll know when to stop.

With my first I cycled up until 1 week past due date.

With my second I stopped at around 35 weeks because it got too tiring.

With my third I stopped using it as transport and just for looking about after 30 weeks because I found it too exhausting in terms of lung capacity and heart rate. Turns out I was anaemic.

You'll know when to stop. It'll be unpleasant.

For getting about I found the bike (A touring bike with drop handlebars) way more comfy than waddling to and from bus stops. I leaned forward and my belly hung gently in front.

I wasn't even the slowest cyclist there. I still overtook plenty of people.

You can keep going pretty much to the end. Things that might stop you are if bump physically gets in the way or if you start to feel dizzy while riding. I live in a cycle commute dominated city and most people I know cycled up to about 35 weeks.

When it feels uncomfortable. I'm still cycling at 30 weeks with twins, but that's on an upright bike for transport. I can barely lean forward properly at tables now, so road bike would definitely be out! I actually found cycling distracted me from morning sickness: I had nausea until about 26 weeks (replaced by acid reflux!) but it was never a problem for cycling.

Commute is only 2 miles each way, but it's 6 miles each way to the hospital (with a big slope over a railway line just before I get there) and I have regular appointments because twins.

No issues with balance for me, but I am a lot slower than I used to be, and sometimes the saddle puts additional pressure on my bladder. Bladder is now probably the main limiter on distance: I wouldn't want to do more than about 10 miles without guaranteed loo stops. But it's much easier than walking!

Not me personally but I know someone who was an avid cyclist and runner, she did road cycling up to about 7months when she switched to indoor spinning but mainly because she said her balance started to go to pot!

She ran up to about 8months and did spinning up to 5days before she gave birth

She was back in spinning class when baby was a week old and was running again with 2weeks.

Fecking superhuman

Thank you for the advice, I’m really pleased at your encouragement. Thanks @rideforthehills I’ll check out that link.

I cycle commuted into work today, it’s only 6k each way and very flat so a very easy ride. I’m part of a cycling club and thinking about doing a longish ride with them on Sunday. Am gong to spin classes in the evenings too to keep up my fitness.

I do have a turbo but I just don’t find it very enjoyable, I think maybe I need to invest in a fan because at the moment it’s pretty hot in London and training indoors is pretty unappealing.