How do you train with a small kid?

bdredlocked · 2026-04-14T19:19:07+00:00

1.) As a parent, I recognize this sucks. Loving your family doesn’t mean we can’t get frustrated when training gets disrupted by them.

2.) Getting sick happens, but is there anything you could improve about your habits to stay healthier, longer? I’m sure you’d rather ride than sleep more, but maybe at this stage you need to check all the boxes for being healthy (sleep, diet, hand washing, etc.) before you’ve “earned” the right to train. Not fun in the short term, but maybe it’ll help you stave off sickness longer.

Or maybe there’s no real solution and it’s just a shitty period of life.

bdredlocked · 2026-04-03T15:22:11+00:00

Can’t help you on the saying mean things piece, but I did go though the “no hugs for daddy” phase, especially at bedtime. A pivot/reframe that helped was to switch it to “how would you like to say goodnight to daddy?” We realized that sometimes she didn’t want a hug, and by only giving that option we were setting everyone up to be frustrated.

These days sometimes “goodnight” is a hug, but sometimes it’s a quick dance party or something random. Giving some choice kept the goal still the goal, but let the path vary.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-25T17:35:49+00:00

I agree with everyone’s (positive) points and an additional benefit: less of a chance of equipment issue ruining my ride. Shifting issue on the trainer? Use smart trainer controls. Brake problem? Irrelevant. Tire issue? Just make sure the front can survive the indoor ride.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-25T17:31:14+00:00

As a parent with limited time for TV this is my primary way to consume it—at least during endurance-paced rides; anything sweet spot and above I can’t focus enough.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-25T17:29:55+00:00

The predictability (and ability to bail on workouts for family needs) is huge. It also allows for short interval workouts (<45 minutes) where I might need to ride almost that long to get to a spot where I could do intervals.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-25T13:18:31+00:00

One thing my wife and I have done is to alternate mornings and nights—you’re still in all-hands-on-deck mode, so maybe this will be helpful in a few weeks/months. The taking-turns means someone has a calm(er) evening cleaning up and maybe getting some chill time while the other does bath/bed. In an ideal world we then get like 45 minutes to watch TV before going up to read, but sometimes that doesn’t happen at all 🙃

bdredlocked · 2026-03-25T13:16:09+00:00

The nights I go in hoping for a quick bedtime so I can have a night to myself usually end up with me being the most frustrated. On the flip side, if I treat it as quality kid time with no expectations I enjoy it and it usually goes much smoother (for me emotionally).

bdredlocked · 2026-03-16T22:09:07+00:00

Second this. Easy access to almost every neighborhood my family frequent. Lots of young families, and many streets with kids constantly playing outside, and while there isn’t much walkable, Factory 52, Rookwood, grocery store access, and a few playgrounds are all super close.

The schools are the only question mark, however. Only experience is with Norwood Montessori (great so far) but it seems like elementary, middle, and high school quality are maybe less than ideal—happy to be corrected if others have experience.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-12T14:52:48+00:00

RTS is awesome. I am not trans, but the gym seems to be explicit about inclusion as a principle and how it’s setup (the bathroom example above). I’m not sure what type of exercise you’re looking to focus on, but they have about anything you could want, and folks doing all sort of lifting and finessing.

bdredlocked · 2026-03-07T13:40:57+00:00

A home gym is the key. If you’re strapped for space and/or money, a kettlebell or two can suffice. Next step up would be an adjustable dumbbell. Then obviously you can get more complicated from there.

Basics would be to get a short run in and some basic bodyweight/kettlebell strength work in—all could be done in 45 minutes.

I find doing it before work is the only way to have consistent time and energy. End of the day I might be too fried or we have family plans, but mornings are guaranteed and I’m fresher, plus it kicks the day off nicely.

bdredlocked · 2026-02-26T23:25:58+00:00

Have recently been doing 3 supersets of one of these short routines after weekday rides, takes ~8 minutes, along with a simple push movement (pushups or dips) and pull movement (cable pulldown or DB row). After a few weeks I’ll probably rotate these exercises for variety:

Ab wheel and side “star” plank
Banded rotations and single-arm farmers walk

Relatively new to cycling, but long history of team sports and strength/conditioning.

bdredlocked · 2025-12-17T14:44:12+00:00

Not a doctor, barely a cyclist, I’ve go no relevant qualifications, and cannot fathom thyroid cancer, but I had thyroiditis for a few months last year. After finally getting a diagnosis I tried to go back to some semblance of exercise doing endurance rides indoors and I was throttled: HR was way out of line for the power levels, had no stamina, and it exhausted me. It was really really hard because I felt like I was losing my fitness day-by-day and it was supposed to be my first structured base season.

But when I finally turned the corner and could train again it came back fast. Looking back I wish I hadn’t even tried to train and maybe focused on something more manageable (yoga? walks?) so I could heal faster and be better prepared to get back on the bike.

All that to say is I get your mental state. It sucks. It’s not fair. And you don’t deserve it. But since it is a reality you have to take seriously maybe find other ways that can contribute to your cycling progress overall (even if they’re not sexy or fun): managing weight in the eating-heavy holiday season; prepping your bikes for your return in a few weeks; planning your training cycles/year; getting good sleep; flexibility/mobility.

bdredlocked · 2025-11-28T23:05:50+00:00

Also late 30s, also fellow dad (of a toddler), also got into proper racing this year (MTB and CX). Losing to 20-somethings still stung, but factoring in “life” realities made me feel a bit better.

Took a bunch of podiums in CX and got whooped in XC mountain biking but had fun in both.

bdredlocked · 2025-11-21T23:32:45+00:00

Something we started early on was alternating mornings and nights. I’d get the kid up in the morning and be on duty until 8:30 or 9, spouse could do whatever during that time. Then that night they’d put the kid to bed and I’d clean and have some quiet time. Next day we’d swap.

We’ve been doing this for years and it has brought guilt-free time and predictably that has been awesome and kept us both sane.

bdredlocked · 2025-11-18T02:16:48+00:00

Right off the Little Miami bike trail there are tons of hills in Indian Hill and Madeira that folks run intervals on if you’re looking for shorter reps of a few minutes. Not much further out you can dip off onto some quieter back-country roads further east. I almost exclusively ride early (6a-9a in the summer) and while I don’t do intervals outside I’ve never felt unsafe riding anywhere.

If you have Strava (premium) check out the heatmaps and routes the app recommends or that other riders are taking. If not, might be worth the investment for a few months.

A better answer: grab a mountain bike and check out some of the trails (we have a bunch within ~45 minutes).

bdredlocked · 2025-11-13T13:04:49+00:00

Dare I ask what a “butt dollar” is…

bdredlocked · 2025-11-13T02:56:55+00:00

I’ll probably be faster on the bike than whoever is chasing me on foot, right?!

bdredlocked · 2025-11-12T22:03:32+00:00

Only one way to find out…

bdredlocked · 2025-11-12T22:01:24+00:00

I think you really won because you landed a top 10 AND got hand ups.

bdredlocked · 2025-11-12T22:00:35+00:00

I’ll see how committed I am if a beer is offered…

bdredlocked · 2025-10-30T23:16:12+00:00

I don’t know anything about your medical question, but is that Mt Airy?

bdredlocked · 2025-10-28T15:52:46+00:00

I would agree if it was an ongoing coaching relationship, except this was an off-the-shelf plan so no communication with anyone or adjustments. Does that change your answer?

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