Cycling while pregnant

My partner went to a talk on women's specific bikes when we were at our local bike show. (And we ended up getting her a great WS road bike).
Anyway, if my memory serves me correctly, she was set to pop and had only just decided to stop cycling. So I think, at about 8 months.
From another thread - what do you think about women cycling while they are pregnant? This is likely to be a passionate topic, so state your case and don't attack people personally.
Anyway, if my memory serves me correctly, she was set to pop and had only just decided to stop cycling. So I think, at about 8 months.
From another thread - what do you think about women cycling while they are pregnant? This is likely to be a passionate topic, so state your case and don't attack people personally.
Commute - MASI Souville3 | Road/CX - MASI Speciale CX | Family - 80s ugly | Utility - Cargobike
How comfortable are you with pregnant women cycling? 0 votes
It's fine, they know what's too much for them
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I feel a bit weird, but as long as they're taking it easy...
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It's irresponsible
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Other
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0 votes
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Posts
"Carpe Aptenodytes"
JediMoose.org
I have a friend who was preggo, didn't stop doing the shop by bike til she was practically crowning. Apart from some super-graceless dismounts, no worries.
Advice for kilted riders: top-tubes are cold.
But I think a line should be drawn on risk grounds when the baby starts to become pretty well developed. If a fall from standing is cause for concern, what about a fall at 10-15mph which involves a hard strike and then a roll or two?
I dunno, I guess its very difficult to say really. When are pregnant women supposed to stop going on rollercoasters? Maybe they should consider stopping cycling at that point (or some other highly scientific measure like that
Erwin Rommel
Advice for kilted riders: top-tubes are cold.
For the record last night brought it to 5 bicycle related crashes this year.
1) Bad handling skills
2) Bizzare stationary fall whilst clinging onto fainted pedestrian
3) Utterly random wipeout whilst riding on a flat road in a straight line
4) Slipping on a patch of GT-85 in my garage after cleaning the bike, and braining myself on my motorbike
5) Incident at the traffic lights last night
Erwin Rommel
Do they sell maternity lycra?
"Carpe Aptenodytes"
JediMoose.org
MY personal opinion is that the individual should make an informed decision for themselves, and not be persuaded by "old wives tales " and hysterical anecdotes.
Exercise is important, and if this method suits you - then do it!
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)
Best advice I ever got was "better get a bike then"
Cycle commuting since 1994. Blog with cycle bits.
Also with the old C+ crowd at Cycle Chat.
My partner loves her exercise, and cycling is a big part of that. We discovered we were expecting while we were on a trip (in London actually!) Once we got back to Australia, we tried to go for a ride. She'd been training for Melbourne's Around the bay in a Day 210km. She did not feel confident, so we called it a day and she didn't get back on until a few months after the birth. Our obstetrician is a cyclist - he was fine with her riding, provided she didn't get above 140 BPM. That means she'd taken about 3 days for the 210km anyway
The key thing, I reckon, is if the individual is comfortable doing it, and they're not going to overdo it (high BPM, high temp or dehydration aren't good) then all is cool. My partner was actually annoyed she didn't feel confident any more, but with this, and a few other things, she was naturally erring on the side of caution.
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/51/18.cfm is one of many articles which google will find you.
she didnt have a bulge at the time tho, her husband is a GP so i've few worries.
she's still biking despite being about 6 months, but just on a road hybrid bike.
i guess it depends on the bike, you'd not want to be on a racing bike if you were pregnant, the possition cant be that good...
that will be all
trying to get GT James banned since tuesday
agree that another fall could have had the same effect.
IMO cycling around London increases your risk of a fall relative to walking or taking public transport ... though some of the buses can be pretty hairy due to the lousy driving.
Erwin Rommel
We felt that the risk of falling over was minimal as we’re experienced and had decided to only ski well within out abilities and stick to greens and blues.
Everything was fine for the first few days but then some idiot on a snowboard hit her whilst she was queuing for a lift. Roll on doctor appointment and loads of worry, and I doubt we’d do it again.
Anyway whilst I think the risk is minimal when you’re a parent you have a duty to protect your children whether they’ve been born or not.
I suppose you could argue against kid’s seats on bikes, but I think your allot more “sensitive” when pregnant.
* 46 = Happiness
Or on second thoughts - just say it!
Pregnancy is not the time when women's minds are at their most rational, or equally - nor are expectant fathers.
That is why I stated at the start - make a personal informed decision.
If you are happy cycling then do so as the exercise will outweigh the possible disbenefits.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)
as for the morality of it... i'm not sure i would cycle on the road with a bump.. too many nutty drivers around. fine to risk my own life, but if i had a bump i would feel a tad more responsible (the same reason why i hate to see people riding down the road with a child strapped in). if i was to do it i would wear a big sign on my back "baby on board".
have to admit tho, it would kill me not to do it.
To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia
The "Baby on Board" is the most misused safety system on the roads today - so much so that it has totally devalued and undermined it' s usefulness!!
The story goes that a US Police Officer attended a vehicle accident where the occupants were unconscious or dead. He was traumatised by missing a baby at the site, with fatal consequences.
He then designed a sign that would be placed in the window so that the emergency services would know there was a baby to be accounted for, but only WHEN THE CHILD IS IN THE CAR
Now that they are permanently on display their purpose is destroyed and they are meaningless.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)
To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia
"on your bike" Norman Tebbit.
Actually - some women do. There is a particular way to wear the seatbelt when pregnant, in order to minimise any trauma to the baby in the event of an accident. And they recommend not driving at all after a certain point, IIRC. One of my friends is pregnant, and a diabetic, and she almost had a bad accident due to a combination of the 2 causing her to partially black-out while driving, so she has stopped, even though she's only in her 2nd trimester.
As I've said before - the huge number of changes happening to a woman while pregnant _can_ make it unsafe to cycle (or drive, FWIW), but it's very much a personal thing, based on the way a particular woman is being effected.
"Carpe Aptenodytes"
JediMoose.org
She has said she will return to her bike in due course and hopefully we will soon be cycling as a family
Bakewell
Derbyshire
www.welovetoys.co.uk
my sister had far more grace dancing when she had a large bump then I ever will be
<font size="1"><font color="green">Only the truth hurts, but thats more than enough.</font id="green"> </font id="size1">
<font size="2"> Andy</font id="size2">
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the problem with your view cunobelin is that an informed decision is presumably one based on the facts (which are limited and unreliable), but secondly based on reason (at least to some extent!), and you've just said that when they're pregnant women's minds are not at their most rational!!
If you believe that last point, then presumably their capacity for taking an informed decision (whatever that is) is limited?