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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

cycling while pregnant

38 replies

hildathebuilder · 27/01/2010 14:04

I am currently 23+5 and so far have carried on cycling while pregnant - not anything serious a mile or so into work, into town etc and then of course back again later.

After a brief period when I stopped on medical advice I was given the all clear by both my midwife and the consultant obstetrician to carry on.

My question is I currently ride a mens hybrid and have never really thought about the cross bar. Obviously as I slowly get a bump this is becoming slightly more of an issue and my husband thinks I should get a city shopping bike or even a sit up and beg so I can carry on cycling more easily. I just wonder if this is realistic or whether I will have to give up cycling soon anyway, (which I'd rather not do if I can as its so convenient as a method of getting around) and if so whether this is just not worth thinking about.

Has anyone else carried on cycling and if so for how long. Are there any cycles (or cycle styles) you would or would not recommend?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ShowOfHands · 27/01/2010 14:07

I cycled to work every day until 37 weeks, 8 miles there, 8 miles back. I rode a road bike with cross bar. Had no problems.

I miss my roadbike. Have a hybrid now so that I can have dd on it too.

heliotrope · 27/01/2010 14:28

I cycled last time (5 mile commute into London each way) until about 30 weeks, when I gave up as it was hard getting up the hill on the way home. Also balance started to feel a bit iffy. I stick to quiet roads and probably slowed down a bit during pg.
Don't remember an issue with the crossbar at that stage (that bike got nicked and now on a ladies hybrid with slightly lower bar).

Currently 20 weeks and still feel fine. Was thinking that I feel a bit hunched over the bump and maybe that I need to raise handlebars to make a more sit up position - don't want to put seat down as obviously that makes it harder to ride.

Interested in any other tips / experiences.
Only other problem is the cold - my decent windproof is only just doing up now!

mrsseed · 27/01/2010 14:30

I'm planning on keeping cycling - discussed with doctor/midwife who said it shouldnt be a problem as long as it wasnt a new form of exercise - basically for as long as it felt comfortable and not to go racing (large excertion). Some research suggested that raising up the handle bars would make it more comfortable when you get bigger- oh and not to get dehydrated.
The only concession I have really made is that my husband now tows our 4 year old when we all go out - whereas we used to share.

boodleboot · 27/01/2010 15:55

i haven't cycled since the summer but was going to get my bike out then discovered i was pg....do you think it would be too much to start now? i am 7wks...

jennylindinha · 27/01/2010 16:13

I cycled throughout my pregnancy (7 mile each way commute) and right up until the end, apart from the odd day when I was feeling far too knackered! I really loved being in control of my travel and also getting the exercise.

I rode a hybrid and it was fine, but when I got bigger I did raise the handlebars to give my bump a bit more room. Now that I'm back at work and taking DD to nursery on the bike, I've got one of these hybrids instead Giant Expression N3 and it is fab! So comfy and the gears are really easy to use and don't need much maintenance. It doesn't have to be as sitty-uppy as it looks though, you can lean forward a bit, but it's far from road bike. Still - I love it.

boodle - I reckon it would be ok to start cycling now as long as you start off slowly and don't overdo it. It's really easy to build up your pace/distance gradually, once you've been doing it for a while and if you get morning sickness you can stop at the side of the road if you need to! Better than sitting on the bus/tube and carrying a plastic bag...

boodleboot · 27/01/2010 16:22

girls, you are an inspiration and i am going to dust and oil my bike and start a very gentle cycle to work....only a couple of miles there....and yes much better than the bus, i heaved on that just this morning.....xxx

sarah293 · 27/01/2010 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SummerLightning · 27/01/2010 16:28

Didn't have any problems with cross bars here, and I cycled right up to 40 weeks, however, I did get a higher rise stem and riser handlebars.

If you do get a bike with a lower crossbar, it is handy when you get a bike seat with the baby on the back as it's easier to get on with the bike upright and the baby on the back.

Anyway I have a hybrid bike (among others!) with a low crossbar for ferrying around DS, it is a Ridgeback women's one of some description. I like it (but not as much as my mountain bikes and road bike!)

jennylindinha · 27/01/2010 16:36

Riven, I'm sure they do that one in 21"! I'm 5 ft 7 and thought I would need to get a 19" (Medium) but I ended up getting one second hand and it's a 17" small frame, but it's fine for me, so you might find the medium one is ok.

They also do it with 7 gears, but about £100 more expensive...

sarah293 · 27/01/2010 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SpeedyGonzalez · 27/01/2010 17:04

Preg 1: cycled on man's mountain bike until 38 weeks.

Preg 2: cycling on women's hybrid and still going strong into 3rd trimester! Just see how you feel as you go along, don't spend any money until you have to. You might manage without changing bikes, as did I.

Also I recommend doing really good stretching after each ride - your changing centre of gravity, etc, will mean that the repetitive motion of cycling will possibly train your muscles into the 'wrong' position, if that makes sense. I saw a brilliant osteopath after birth, who helped me sort out all my skewiff body bits.

upahill · 27/01/2010 17:10

Part of my job is to take kids out mountain biking on trails. While I was heavily pregnant I took groups of teenagers cycling in Shewsbury and North Wales and did trail side repairs no problem. I started cycling again 3 weeks after the baby.

Riven I know what you mean about funny looks! Can you imagine I turn up to take a session I meet a group who I've never seen before and they are 10 male young offenders on a course for mountain biking and me with a huge belly!!

Boodleboot do some easy shortish trails, take it easy and build up from there. Don't push yourself just enjoy it!

lljkk · 27/01/2010 17:27

I think it must depend on your build. Some people will struggle with cross bar, especially if you're short to start with, but many won't.

I cycled right up to the end in 4 pregnancies -- no problems with cross bar.

valbona · 27/01/2010 18:05

cycling saved me! so much better than crowded buses. am still going at 40+2 and I'm not a superfit athlete or anything. part of me is doing it just to wind up my MIL
I did have to play around with my seat height and handle bars once I got past about 7 months to stop kneeing myself in the bump though.

Bumperlicious · 27/01/2010 18:14

I stopped once I started to retch throughout my whole journey . I am a reluctant cyclist though, but might try and do better this time around.

upahill · 27/01/2010 22:27

Good Grief Bumper, that sounds awful... was you having a lot of sickness anyway?

LizzieHart · 27/01/2010 22:35

I usually cycle to work 2 miles there and back, but stopped when I started with my bad morning sickness, that was 15 weeks ago, and although the sickness has eased, it has not gone away. I found that the neck strap made me wretch, even though it was very loose.

I am now afraid of starting again. I go back to work on Monday for the first time in 2 months, and was planning on going by bus just for the first week, then give it a go, but my other worry is my bike is huge and heavy! I am worried about not being able to lift it up let alone ride it!

Should I be starting again after such a long break and will its weight be an issue?

I am currently 19 weeks.

booboomonster · 28/01/2010 11:58

What an inspiring thread! I am cycling to work 6 miles and back at 23 weeks and having to wear an enormous mac over the top to keep warm/ dry. I am finding it a bit tiring having had a break over Xmas with the snow/ ice (though did go out once and fell off - luckily very slowly and no damage to bump). I am hoping to get back into it now and this thread has inspired me. Only downside for me is carpal tunnel syndrome - had to stop last pregnancy after 20 weeks as my hands went completely numb and I was worried about braking. This time it doesn't seem so bad - just pins and needles so far so fingers crossed.

Lizzie - I would say try a couple of short cycles and see how you get on. Re: heavy bike - it depends on whether you have to lift your bike (as opposed to just pushing it into a garage or whatever) as if it is heavy and awkward it's tricky with a bump and you don't want to pull a muscle. If you can get away with pushing it and riding it you should be ok - good luck!

thanks for the inspiration guys, am planning to carry on now for a while!

BlueChampagne · 28/01/2010 12:13

I cycled till 38 weeks when pg with DS1 (8.5 miles each way) though I did start cutting down the number of days I did it about 30 weeks.

Cycled same distance with DS1 on the back when pg with DS2 but cut down days earlier and stopped at 35 weeks when the clocks changed (part of the route is unlit).

Cycled till due date with both for short local trips. If you are confident in yourself and your route, you should be fine.

Farnie · 29/07/2010 20:52

I am 30 weeks and do the school run with a tag-along everyday plus the odd ride into town (about 5 miles)

I am so glad to hear of everyone carrying on later

I have just got an extension to raise my handle bars to stop me kneeing the bump

mummytosquidgies · 29/07/2010 21:17

I cycled daily all the way up to 41+ with DS, my bike had a crossbar too. It honestly didn't occur to me to stop! Also found it was the only way I could get around with SPD, walking was horrendous but cycling was pain free. Remember kneeing myself in the bump all the time though, we always thought it was hilarious

This time I haven't biked at all, main reason was I got pregnant in winter, and the winter before I had a nasty fall in the snow/ice with DS on the back of the bike, so refuse to ride in snow now. Once the snow cleared in March time I just never got going again. SPD has been so much better this time though, and we have a car, which we didn't have when pregnant with DS.

I would say as long as you're confident and don't push yourself too hard, it's perfectly safe.

japhrimel · 29/07/2010 23:05

If you get SPD, the cross bar will be an issue, but then so will the cycle seat. I'm 20 weeks and can't cycle anymore.

parkj83 · 30/07/2010 10:39

I was going to ask about the SPD side of things.

I've avoided my Barracuda as it's a large men's bike and I don't think I could sit comfortably with the SPD I have.

Thing is, DS keeps begging to go out, as he got a bike for xmas, but hasn't had much opportunity to ride it. poor tyke

PickleSarnie · 30/07/2010 10:44

Wow! I'm in awe of all of those that continued cycling. I stopped my 7 mile each way commute pretty much as soon as I found out - pretty much because it was January and freezing and had got into a lazy rut and then morning sickness kicked in and getting out of bed without puking was an issue. So I'm afraid I used the pollution/traffic excuse after that. The one time I cycled I was ridiculously scared of being knocked off bike which was silly because I'd cycled for years without incident.

I've now moved and live 80 miles away from work so pregnant or not it's probably a bit far to cycle!

misdee · 30/07/2010 20:45

love this thread.

i recently started cycling again as we are now car-free. have been using a child seat for dd4.

but today, at 18 weeks pregnant, i used the bike trailer, loaded it up with picnic stuff and dd4 and headed to the local lakes with dd's for the day. was fab and i am feeling so much fitter lately

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