Riding as a new(ish) mum...

**Lissa** · 3rd December 2007, 09:28

Not sure why being a mum would stop you from riding. I have three kids, but I didn't start riding until my youngest was two, but thats cause I never had the time to learn. Sometimes you get bogged down with the responsibilities of looking after everyone else, and stop looking after yourself. Thats the reason I started riding, anyone can do it, you just need a little self confidence to start it, I remember my first time on a bike was so nerve racking, but that soon goes as you build yourself up. Although I have been riding for over a year now, I am still go on relatively 'nanny rides' (rides for coffees, not too far, and not out of my comfort zone).

On the other hand if I was pregnant though I probably wouldn't ride, but thats just a personal thing.

Oh and Congrats Kathwyn and Riff Raff!!!

**Number One** · 8th December 2007, 18:18

Originally Posted by Lissa

Not sure why being a mum would stop you from riding.

Stopped me cos I couldn't afford to keep the bike while on the single income (didn't yet own it outright)...that led to an extended period of not getting on one and then as I didn't have one in the garage that I KNEW I could ride that time went on and on and on...leading to much self doubt and consternation about whether I would even know what to do if I got back on.

THOUGH - with my newly strengthened self confidence (thanks OB) I have once again been feeling the fever and with that renewed enthusiasm bubbling over hubby has promised to sell our redundant van and buy me another two fiddy with the proceeds

Just need to encourage him to pull finger, fix the thing, reg/wof and then sell...then I can go shopping for something

**Number One** · 1st June 2008, 21:52

Was funny to come back and read this after so long...it really does seem like an age ago!

SO why not let the thread die it's natural and somewhat gracious death?

...because I've been thinking and fark it! This forum and my posts to it are as much about preserving my memories as they are about maybe giving someone the chance to feel superior and have a laugh at my expense..go on get ya jollies

SO - Why the step away from riding when I became a pregnant mum?

Financial reasons: Servicing the loan for a luxury item on a single wage wouldn't have been a smart move.

Emotional (and at times somewhat paranoid) reasons: - my baby relies on me, he needs me, I can't get hurt I have to take care of him, what if I am killed while riding?

Practical reasons: Are you kidding? Pregnant while riding...sorry I get that many chicks do it and don't have an issue with it but me...I'm from the school of Murphy...as in Murphys law. Felt too much like tempting fate to me.

SO - I felt good about this series of decisions and didn't even miss the riding, I really mean it...didn't even feel jealous of others out on nice days. Not sure about you or your men but some people I know

are blardy horrible to be around if they haven't had a two wheeled fix in a while....and that could be like one day and they have the shakes

So years went by, no bike for me and the only very occasional trip on the back too. Started to think that I wasn't a real biker as I wasn't missing it and due to all the original reasons I never really seriously entertained the notion that I would be back on two wheels before we sent the boy off to Uni!

I really believed that I wouldn't be able to do it again after the long break. Felt that the whole being a mummy thing would make me more tentative than is practical or safe on a bike. Had a sneaking suspicion that pregnancy had ruined my balance, co-ordination and everything else to go with the dropped boobline and stretch marks!

Anyway Hubby got into KB, then I decided I needed to compete for PC time so I joined up too, met some awesome people who further egged me on and THEN.....

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...2&postcount=55

That's right homies! I got me a bike. Been on it most days have learnt some new lessons and re-learnt some old ones too.

ANYWAY - WHAT'S MY POINT AND WHY AM I DREDGING THIS THREAD UP FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT IT WERE IN?!

My aha is that the brain is really blardy powerful. I clearly weighed up a whole lot of data and flicked a switch in my head that I wasn't going to ride, and that was ok on all levels at the time.

What amazes me is how much I love being back on a bike when I was able to last so long without any regret. I get that itch you get when you just want to be on the bike all the time. You look at a nice day outside and wonder if it's been long enough since you pulled your last sickie to go for a ride and other irresponsible thoughts! I'm constantly concocting ideas for how I can convince daddy that the young man really wants and needs some dedicated father son time....

I love being back on a bike. Cheesey I know, but I do feel I have reconnected with the old me that one I used to feel like before I became all sensible and shit, credible in my career, a married woman and the biggie A MUM.

And FTR I am definitely a better mum because I do what I love to do and the wee boy loves seeing mum on a bike...the big boy loves it even more too

Bow chicka wow wow

So my advice is mums absolutely should ride if they want! Go MUMS!!!

**Chickadee** · 2nd June 2008, 10:49

Congrats to the Mums to be Kathwyn & Riff Raff, may you have no morning sickness/stretchmarks and easy births.

I've only been riding since becoming a Mum, my youngest was probably not quite a year old. I did a RRRS course and really got the bug after that. I must say these days I don't ride very frequently but still have the bug and totally enjoy myself. I do feel my mortality a bit more these days, especially after a couple of minor incidents, you start to think about the what if's.

Currently my sprogs are 4yrs and 2+halfyrs, they're great wee guys, very demanding timewise etc. I think once you've been riding bikes it's hard to give up riding, I've thought about it - but still enjoy the snippets I get.

I'm sure you'll enjoy being back in the saddle, and I'm sure most of us Mums enjoy riding while being a bit more sensible with regards to judgements when riding and speed.

Go biker Angels!