Simply Bike ? cycling while pregnant: sandy lynn of san francisco

Today?s profile comes from Sandy Lynn Davis, author of the beautiful San Francisco-based lifestyle blog, Treatzone. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on cycling while pregnant with us! (More profiles from this series here.)

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Name: Sandy Lynn Davis

Location: San Francisco

Cycling for how many years: I?ve been cycling since I was a kid, but it didn?t become a regular mode of transportation for me until 2010.

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Favorite part about cycling: Riding a bike makes the city seem so much smaller and makes me feel much more connected to the community I live in.

Bike(s) you ride: I?m a vintage Bianchi girl?the Superleggera I rode while pregnant was stolen a few months ago, but I was lucky enough to replace it with a very similar bike not long after. However, I?m hoping to get more of a cruiser soon so I can start riding with my son.

What three words sum up your cycling experience while being pregnant: Exciting, empowering, and exhausting! (Though too be fair, everything was more exhausting while pregnant.)

How did being pregnant affect your approach to cycling or your daily commute: I?ve always been a pretty cautious cyclist, but being pregnant made me even more so. (I may have over-used my bell just a little!) I also cycled less frequently, riding my bike to work about three days a week instead of five.

What (if anything) surprised you about cycling while pregnant? It actually felt like one of the safest modes of transportation available to me. I remember one day when I took a white-knuckle cab ride, followed by a rush-hour trip on a crowded bus where I had to stand and could barely hold on, and thinking how much more secure I felt on my bike.

How did your family and friends react to you cycling while pregnant? I feel lucky, everyone was really positive and supportive. Some were a little nervous for me, but no one gave me a hard time about my decision to keep cycling.

What (if any) special accommodations did you require to continue cycling throughout your pregnancy? I stopped cycling around six months because my commute home was all uphill at the time, and it got to be too much for me. I was hoping to keep cycling on the weekends for errands and such, but I started to feel a little unstable on my super-light bike so reluctantly decided to call it quits for the rest of my pregnancy. If I had lived in a flatter neighborhood and/or had a bike with a sturdier frame, I think I would have kept cycling longer. However, my plan was always just to cycle for as long as I felt comfortable, and I?m proud I was able to keep it up for six months!

What would you say to another woman interested in cycling while pregnant? What have you taken away from the experience? If you?re interested in cycling while pregnant, I say go for it, but be sure listen to your instincts (and your doctor!) as to how hard to push yourself. I?m grateful I had the chance to share my love of cycling with my son even before he was born.

In addition to cycling, what other activities helped you stay fit and active during your pregnancy? I also went to yoga class a couple times a week, and walked a lot. (We don?t have a car, so driving isn?t optional!)

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Source: http://simplybikeblog.com/?p=7717&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cycling-while-pregnant-sandy-lynn-of-san-francisco

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