Dear Heather ... Need Some Creative Ideas

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

22 Feb 2007 11:48 AM

Dear Heather,

We are looking for ways to be creative with our family fitness. We MUST do something low impact like bicycling or swimming because of previous injuries. So I am looking for creative swimming products and bicycling products that will allow all 7 of us to do something together. Swimming is a little easier because they have floaty things and swim suits that float and all that. Bicycling is more of a challenge. We are considering a tandem bike or some creative configuration that would allow us to pull the younger children along. Any brilliant ideas?

Valorie

Valorie,

You're right; this was a bit of a challenge. I needed to spend some time digging for a few ideas and I have a couple of creative bicycling products that might appeal to you. The first is a cycle known as a quadribent. It's a recumbent style bicycle that is paired in parallel with another recumbent. They sit side by side and allow two people to ride together.

The different quadribents include platforms where you can carry equipment or even places to attach baby carriages behind. This lets you and your partner have plenty of chatting time and still bring along the babies. The great thing about the recumbent is they can also be separated so you can use them for a solo, so you might want to check those out at Blackbird Bikes.

The second kind of biking I might recommend would be the more traditional tandem. You and your husband could get tandems that are set up ideally for the younger children, pairing each of you with a younger child and I've seen some tandems that allow for pulling a baby carrier as well. You might elect for one standard bike for the baby carrier, a tandem for one adult and younger child and put the older children on bikes of their own.

Tandems are perfect for pairing up a strong cyclist with a weaker one - or in this case an adult with a very young child. The slower peddler will not slow down a faster pedaling adult and they are both going to get a good amount of exercise.

Since I know you home school, you might also consider biking field trips to local historical sites and more - on the East Coast I know there is a tremendous movement for rails to trails, turning old railroad lines into bike trails and this can be a great history lesson. I recall once taking a bike ride on a trail that was once part of the Underground Railroad system - for slaves making it across the Mason-Dixon line because there was one particular train that made several stops and was ideal. Still, these are only my suggestions.

Like the quadribent, the tandem encourages socialization and it can also be a really good rush for your kids. I know my daughter is enthused about the idea of getting a tandem, but I told her I wanted a standard bike first, but that's still up for debate. Check back tomorrow and I'll get into answering your questions about some creative swimming products and ideas! I hope these help.

For more questions and answers, check out previous Dear Heathers.

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 22 Feb 2007 11:35 AM

I am totally going to check out the quadribents! That sounds like a ton of fun and actually doable. We've contemplating each getting a tandem BUT we only have one child that can ride well enough to keep up on a bike. (Ironically, it's not the oldest!) So. . .two tandems would mean one of us pulling a younger child and twins (the double chariots are cheaper than buying two separate) and UGH--it's almost not low impact anymore! Of course we could just get a huge shopping cart and throw them all in there and attach it with a bungy! Thanks so much Heather! Can't wait to hear about the swimming.

Valorie Delp (49340) 22 Feb 2007 11:38 AM

Just checked out the site. Awesome, awesome, awesome! Thanks!