vfrjo

I have a 6 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. Ride every once in a while when they're shopping with mom or something, but hit the trainer a good bit while hanging out with them. They grow up too fast to miss the early days/weeks/months riding. I almost went to work out of town, staying the week (6 days) and coming back to parent on Sunday, then back to work 'till next Sunday. So glad I didn't make that move. I can ride more after they grow up and move out/ spend time other places. Don't think all the thoughts here, all the people telling you "they grow up too fast" is just what people say, it's the truth. Don't miss it, can't get it back once it's gone.

"What was it like when I walked the first time daddy?"
"Uh, dunno, I was out doing intervals."
or
"It was the most awesome thing I've ever seen, and I'm so proud of you, you did great!"

Not to say having some "me time" is not important. You just don't get as much now that you're a parent. Mine went from 2 hours, 4 or 5 days a week to an hour every two weeks (if that much). Sometimes my wife and I drop the kids off at gparents house for a bit, and go for a ride together, which is also nice and relaxing.

surgeonstone

Sweet!

popeye

This thread reminds me of the time I was riding on a twisting nature trail and I get passed by a triguy towing a kiddie trailer + kid that was sliding 45 degrees around every blind turn. All I could think of was Darwin.

Psimet2001 

YMMV - Personally my response to that is usually along the lines of, "You don't remember? Why do you expect me to remember? I already knew how to walk. You're the one that had to learn. Geez..."

IMHO - I'm there to make sure they live and that they learn. Otherwise all I'm teaching them is that they better get their living in quick because as soon as they have kids their life is over and they are not allowed to be themselves after that. When really I just want to make sure they live, keep the others they like alive, Wipe my butt when I can't or hire someone else to do it and help physically put me in the ground so I don't stink up the place when I'm gone.

I get that we are all different and all of us will feel differently about it - that's what makes us strong as a species but I just get kind of tired with the overbearing cliche that one must completely give themselves over to the Borg/children when they are born because every time they poop it's somehow magical. So yeah - I don't care about their first steps. I worry more about now having to move everything so they don't kill themselves.

I had a post on Facebook once that did a really good job of summing it up - having a child is like hanging out with an intensely suicidal meth head. So OP if you are OK with the idea of doing an interval uninterrupted while the child is trying to stick their fingers into the spokes on the back wheel while in the trainer you'll be just fine. ...wait...what?

Gatorfreak

I have twins. There was only feeding, changing diapers, and hoping to sleep for a while. It gets easier and goes by fast. I've been able to ride plenty since they were about 2.

Now they are 7 and they can ride with me for short rides just exploring. These are my favorite rides.

silversx80

Just read through this thread again and had a eureka moment. What happens when you combine cycling advice with parenting advice on a road cycling forum? The most intense condescension one can comprehend... that is unless it was contained in a vegan-based cross-fit sub-forum. I should contribute some more, but in a more "superior" tone to match that of this thread.

My daughter turned 2 this past Friday. I've missed a lot of moments because I work. I missed her first steps because I was at work. I missed her first words because I was at work. I will miss a lot more because I spend nearly 1/3 of my life on the job so that I can pay the bills to keep her fed, clothed, and sheltered. I'm okay with that because supporting my family requires me to miss important life events.

When she was about 17 months old I taught her how to say, "up" and hold out her arms when she wanted me to pick her up. This was on Father's day. The very next day I was hit by a 1/4-ton pickup when out for a morning ride before the rest of the house was even awake. Among other injuries, I sustained a broken clavicle and was not able to even hold her for 2 months. Before that day, our time together during the week was horsing around after dinner, me giving her a bath before bed, and holding her until she fell asleep (and usually me too). Every night it was like this, and I loved it. During those 2 months I cried nearly every night, and still get a lump in my throat thinking about it. We're back to our routine now, but my time with her had been stripped from us for those months.

I considered giving up cycling for good, because of the impact (pun intended) it had on my family. Less than a week after the doctors released me to full activity I fell down my basement stairs on my way to let the dog out. No broken bones, but again another few days where I could not spend time with my daughter the way I wanted. Again, it was stripped, but this time from a seemingly safe activity. Cycling wasn't the culprit, but just one of the many vehicles that abrupt change chose to show itself.


The takeaway I get from all this is that change is inevitable, whether or not you're ready. With my tongue firmly against my cheek, what makes me a better parent is that I understand that fact of life. Embrace the changes, and live for them. Stop trying to live in the past and let go of who you (and other people) were. Cherish those moments, no doubt, but allow yourself the freedom to adapt and live in the present. I get 8-10 hours a week on my bike. I get 37.5 hrs/wk, plus commute time for work. And, I don't count the time with my family in hours, but in the quality of those hours. Without putting in my time at work, and my time in the saddle, I would not be 100% there for my family during the time we have.

Yes, kids grow up quickly. Blink and you'll miss it... and all the other things people say to make you feel bad, while they try to make themselves feel better and more important. Instead, you are raising a person to be an adult. Are you showing a good example? My goal is to show my daughter that taking care of her family does not mean she has to forsake taking care of herself.

momo15

I train extra hard since my second one got here. Every workout is about 20% harder, because I gained about 20% extra of my bodyweight because having two little children has led me to drink a lot more. Once things settle down enough to actually care what I eat (and mayyyyybe drink), and I drop these extra lbs, Ima be super-fit.

Enjoy it. Were you about to go pro? No? Then you have your whole life of age-group podiums to still look forward to.

JohnJ80

You're toast if two little children drive you to drink. Just wait until they are in college. Not only are they much more inventive and the trouble has more serious consequences, they are crushingly expensive. College tuition is like buying a new car every year and driving it off a cliff.

Oh, and nothing settles down until they are out of the house. It just goes faster, has greater consequences and costs more. So you'll be looking at your eating habits in about 20 years.

You might want to rethink this.

J.

momo15

Nah, I just have a much better excuse to drink now! I am kidding. I am probably up 15lbs after the birth of the second, but the same thing happened after the first. Once it is easier to leave them with either me or my wife, it gets easier to get out and ride. That weight will probably come off, but even if all of it doesn't, I'm still showing my kids that I am healthy, spending time with them, and maybe not crushing the Strava KOM's I used to.

jmX

I ended up taking my riding indoors when it made sense - and when I found that sucked I wrote some 3d cycling software to ride to to make it less sucky.

I'd feel real guilty working 50-60 hour weeks only to come home to wife and kids and tell them im going out for a 3 hour ride on saturday morning. Being at home on the trainer I can get away with as much riding as I want and I just hop off the bike to take care of things when the need arises.

robncircus

My nugget was born in August. Prior to that I was lucky to get maybe 3 days/week. Now I'm at 1 if I'm lucky. I thought about getting a jumper for the garage so I could just use the trainer when I'm on duty, but she gets restless so it's likely a moot point. I've taken to doing squats and lunges with the baby when I can, and if she's on the floor playing it's a good time for pushups and sit ups. Being a new parent is tough, but man it's so worth it to give up some riding for baby time. Walking is good too, so be sure to do that when you can. Hopefully with her little thunder thighs she'll take a liking to cycling



Cheers

Rob