Pregnant cyclists
 

Looking for advice from any women out there who have continued riding while pregnant. Have you been able to continue to ride your road bike all 9 months? At 5 months, I'm no longer finding it that comfortable, plus I feel a bit off balance. I can't raise my stem anymore, though I suppose I could buy a new stem. For any of you that continued riding, did you change your riding position? Switch to a different bike for the last few months? I went to look at "comfort" bikes with an upright riding position, but the downgrade from my titanium racing frame with dura-ace components to a $300 clunker with big padded seat was too dramatic to cope with and I left the bike store in a gloomy mood.

A friend of mine rode until the last week of her pregnancy. She was using a beach cruiser with an enormous saddle, and had the bars up high, so she could sit straight up. She found slow rides around the block to be a relaxing way to get some fresh air, after walking had ceased to be enjoyable.

Gosh, I wish I could help ya, but haven't made it that far in life yet. Whatever you find out please share. Also there is a women's forum too, you may get more answers.

I actually rode a bike when I was pregnant once, about 24 years ago. I didn't know it at the time but I was pregnant with twins and had my two-year-old in a child backpack. Not very smart, actually :o but I only went a few blocks to the library.

I'm sure you're much more fit than I was but I would be concerned about balance. As you get bigger, it's hard enough to stay balanced on your feet, let alone on a bike, mainly because you get big faster than your body can sometimes adjust, especially in the third trimester. So I do think it would be a good idea to ride a bike on which you feel very stable. Exercising while you're pregnant is a good thing but you do have to be careful and listen to your body.

Congratulations! :)

I understand from pregnant cyclists that the issue is not physical exertion or position (as running and swimming are fine) but the possibility of a crash that would normally be painful (road rash, minor cracked bone) could otherwise be more serious - hence their dr.'s have said no cycling after a certain point (not sure what that is)

Al