Training & Nutrition - Kids & training

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lin_kieu
05-09-02, 08:01 PM
Hi evryone. I'd like some feedback on my situation. I work in the mornings and my wife in the evenings. I try to get out in the mornings for my rides, but sometimes (most) I can't get up early enough. So, I usually go out when I get home. We got a trailer recently so I can take my 3 and 1 year old out when we go cycling. The combined weight of the trailer and the two kids is over 50 lbs. Today when I got back from an hour ride mostly in headwind, I almost collapsed!
So, does anyone out there share my sitaution of riding with their kids? What kind of program do you follow? I love riding with my kids, but all that weight slows me way down. Thanks for your help!

nathank
05-10-02, 12:33 AM
well, i don't (yet) have kids... but i've ridden with my trailer loaded quite a few times on tour or on weekend camping trips (50-60 lbs) or whatever... (i did an Alp camping trip last fall with a fully loaded trailer of 50lbs and ONLY 600m vertical (2000ft -- usually ride 1000-2000m)- i was able to ride the whole way, but some rec riders passed me and i felt like a sloth...)

and yes, wow, what a difference the weight makes! even a tiny hill is a leg-burner!

i would say, you just have to accept riding slower and shorter disatances... from your post i gather that you are riding for enjoyment, not to commute somewhere, so it should just be a mental adjustment to ride, say 8mph, instead of 15mph and 20 miles instead of 50... shift down in a low gear and spin (if you have a double geared for racing you should consider changing the rear cassette to something bigger to give you more gears (more touring gearing)- i use my trailer with a mountain bike with low low gears)

if, on the other hand, you're commuting and can't reduce the distance, then go slower and just accpet it will take longer and you should get stronger as you do it more...