Mum's Guide to fitting in Mountain Biking

Finding time to do anything for yourself as a parent isn’t always easy, as a mum of 2 young boys, I know all to well how hard it is to prioritise yourself and your hobbies.  Getting out on your bike can sometimes be the last priority when you have so much to think about, decision fatigue anyone?? So here’s a few tips on how to get more TITS, Time In The Saddle (not actually more boobs!) for mums of younger kids.

Book it in:

We all know how quickly the calendar gets filled up when you have little children, especially when they start school and the parties begin. Before you know it, you’re juggling football practice, gymnastics, swimming lessons and playdates with chores and spending time as a family.  Get a regular time / day on the calendar for you to ride.  Whether it’s just a quick hour one evening, or half a day, book it in.  My husband and I both have a set evening a week for us to ride with our friends, out time to enjoy our hobby and time with friends.

Get the whole family involved:

Riding as a family was a non-negotiable for us, we encouraged our children to ride from a young age.  I must admit, it was quite easy for us, they saw us ride and wanted to do what we were doing.  Don’t get me wrong, there has been many ups and downs along the way, you feel like you start again whenever they fall off or tantrum, but you overcome it.

Make life easier with the right tools for kids:

Before our kids could ride their own bikes, we used back mounted bike seats for them but as soon as our youngest was able, we upgraded to a ShotGun front seat, which was a game changer.  The balance is much better than a back mounted one, so the blue trails were no problem adding to the fun for our older child who wanted a challenge.  This made riding much more fun for everyone! We have recently bought a bungie tow rope for our youngest son (5 years old) and wish we had bought one sooner, no longer are we pushing him up the hills and breaking our backs.  He gets a little tow and ends up racing us to the top – great tool and fantastic way to encourage him. 

Lead by example:

The reason our boys love to ride is because we love it, they are used to seeing us both go out together (leaving them with a babysitter) or individually, and see how much we enjoy it.  This encouraged them to want to join us on our rides from an early age, both mastering the peddles before they were 4, making our jobs a bit easier!

Find your girl gang:

Riding with like-minded, encouraging women can really elevate your ride but also your want for it.  There’s nothing better than a great ride with ladies who just get it.  There's also more likely to be cake at the end if you ride with friends!  If you haven’t got one already, join a group or social ride.  If there’s one thing that can be said about MTB women, it’s they are so welcoming, it's a comminity afterall.  I always come away from a ladies event having made a new friend.

Solo sesh for the win:

Enjoy some peace and quiet and go for a solo ride.  I have to admit, the thought of a solo ride can sometimes put me off.  I always worry about injury (I am relatively new to red trails and still working on my skills) but find when I get out I just take it easy, not going full send on tricky sections.  But one thing’s for sure, once I am out on my bike, I don’t regret it!

Get the right gear:

You need kit that fits, feels great and washes well.  Wearing something you can be comfortable in, that performs well will make choosing to get out on a bad weather day an easy choice.  From coats to shoes, to saddles, there’s loads on offer that are women specific.  And the more that becomes available, the more that will be available pre-loved, so no need to break the bank.  View our collection here.

Be kind to yourself:

Life doesn’t always go to plan, and sometimes you can’t find time to ride the trails, don’t beat yourself up.  Get out when you can, as much as you can or want to, and enjoy the ride.  That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day. Strive for progress, not perfection, and celebrate even the tiniest victories along the way.

So awesome Mum’s of the trails, I hope the above has helped or encouraged you to get out more, when you can, and not to feel guilty when you do. After all, we are showing our children that riding bikes is fun and the norm, encouraging them to be fit and healthy, physically and mentally.