What to use for a 14wk baby and 2 yr old in a bike trailer? Helmets too big and car seat won't fit!?

best toddler bike carrier image

Aimee

I have a bike trailer for my two babies but I don't know how is best to keep my 14week old safest. A helmet won't fit until at least 18 months and her car seat won't fit in with my 2 year old as well :0( Don't want to be stuck in a stuffy, hot car all summer so would really like to keep fit and take them out on the bike! Help!! Thanks in advance :0)

Answer
The infant in the car seat cannot ride with the toddler -- so just get a bicycle child seat http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Classic-Bicycle-Child-Carrier/dp/B000ISXSSA for the toddler -- kid will be much happier being up there behind you and watching around the road. Also should be available at Target, locally.

Where can I get a helmet for my 8 month old baby?

Jenna S

A friend just got me the child carrier seat for my bicycle and I need to know where to get a helmet. Thanks!
I have looked at Target, walmart, sports authority and none of them have helmets small enough for her.
I know it is not recommended to take them until they are one year of age however my daughter is walking on her own and I have spoke with her doctor and he thinks she is strong enough for me to take her.

Answer
It is not recommended that you take a child on a bike with you until they are 1 year or older . . . they are still developing good neck / back control and the weight of the helmet is not good for them.

http://www.bhsi.org/little1s.htm

Amazon has some helmets that you might be able to use when she is a bit bigger:

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Boomerang-Infant-Toddler-Helmet/dp/B000FA973Q

http://www.amazon.com/Giro-Me2-Infant-Bike-Helmet/dp/B000FABD0G

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What do 6 and 10 year olds like for activities?

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$m@rty P@n

The 10 year old is a boy, the 6 year old is a girl.

Answer
My kids are 6 and 11. They are both boys. They love swimming, playing basketball, going to the zoo, slip and slide, water balloon/water gun fights, riding bikes, playing on the playground at the school near our house

How do I teach my toddler to ride a tricycle?

llenahS

At what age do children generally learn to pedal? I have a 6 year old that never grasped the concept when he was younger, so now I really want to start early training the other two to ride a bike. My 2 year old has a tricycle and can reach the pedals, but has not been successful in making herself move. So she either wants to be pushed or uses her feet on the floor to get around.

Answer
let her use her feet to walk but keep showing her by putting her feet on the pedals and push bike. Get her around other kids riding trikes and she will figure it out. Highly recommend helmets on 2 year olds learning to ride.

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What cheap brand of bike is better...?

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Virginia R

I'll be giving a new bike as a Christmas present to my 14 years old nephew, and I've narrowed my options to a Mongoose MTB at Wal-Mart, made in China for $115.00, or a Benotto MTB at the Bike Shop, made in Mexico, for $122.00... Both are aluminium frame, with front suspension, and while the Mongoose has a more 'modern' style, the Benotto looks more classical... Obviously the kid is not a pro racer and just want to have some fun in the streets...
I guess that you can find the specs in their pages:
mongoose.com
benotto.com

Answer
Without taking the time to compare the specs, I would strongly suggest the model from your local bike shop. My reason? Would you want some teenager making minimum wage to assemble your car, or would you choose to have it done by someone who is properly trained and does it all day every day? I can't tell you how many times I've walked past the bikes in WalMart and wondered how long before we hear about major lawsuits...

Deterrent for thieves.?

mal

There are some 13-14 years old kids that live down my road that have been trying to break into my garage to steal my motorbike. They have tried 3 times now. Friday pulled some of the aluminium away from the window then left â scared off ?. Saturday turned up and we were home so pretended they were lost. Not very good actors. Saturday night they broke the window. Didnât seem to know what to do once they had got glass every so must have just left. Didnât go into the garage. Police know who it is as they have stolen other motorbikes in the area but canât do anything as no finger prints. Now am Keeping the bike a friends. Have a security light that turns on when something moves. The house has an alarm. Garage doesnât. Am moving in 2 weeks ( sick of the area), donât want to have to pay to fix anther window , any idea for a short term cheap way to keep the little %#$@âs! Away ?. (Other than sitting in the dark like a crazy person, in wait - with a bat)?

Answer
As a former police officer and crime prevention officer the best deterrent for ANY burglar is a dog.
The dog does not need to be attack, and best not to have an attack animal.
If you can find a medium to large dog that has a good bark, very few burglars will attempt entry, naturally for fear of being bitten.
Best, if you can raise the dog as a family member, from a pup. Most dogs of medium size learn who belongs where and are naturally protective of family and their space.
Shepards, Chows, Heelers...all exceptional and very smart.
They key is to raise them as family,,,Good luck, any other questions..hit me up.

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Anyone have a Kidarooz Bike Trailer/Stroller? Should I buy one?

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~*Nicole*~

I dont know much about bike trailers, but I came across this one used on craigslist. She paid $170 for it and has hardly used it - she wants $100 or offer. I googled it and found that in some user-reviews, people say it doesnt maneuver very well. I like that it turns into a stroller because our stroller just broke. I am concerned that it wont connect to my bike though - I have a really old schwinn, but know I need to upgrade. Anyways, I want it to pull my 2 year old in. Does anyone have one? Should I buy it? I was thinking about offering her $80 for it.

Answer
We got a Quick 'n' Easy bike trailer at Target on sale for $69 brand new. I think it is made by Schwinn, but not exactly sure. It fits two kids and we use it for our 18MO and 3YO. We love it and also turns into a stroller. But it is a BIG stroller, mind you. The whole concept of it turning into a stroller is so you can ride your bike somewhere, then park your bike and switch the trailer to stroller if you're going to walking when you get there. We actually have never used it as the stroller. I think the brand you are referring to is the same. Would not be convenient for a stroller to take to the mall, say. For us, another advantage of buying new was that my husband made sure it could be returned if it did not fit his bike (he was worried about that, too) Turns out, it fit just fine. I have seen other brands occasionally on sale at Target for $89. We wanted one for a while, and also looked on craig's list, but decided to wait it our until found a new one on sale cheap, and we did!

Moms that bike ride with your babies?

Caleb kiss

What do you use? My hubby and I both have bikes and we want to be able to take our 10 month old with us on cool summer evenings. When I was a kid my Dad always took us along with him in the little trailors.. but I don't know if that is okay for an infant. Thoughts??

Answer
This is a helmet you can get in infant size. http://www.amazon.com/Giro-Me2-Infant-Bike-Helmet/dp/B000FABD0G/ref=pd_sim_sg_2#moreAboutThisProduct Gyro is a good brand to buy. That's what I use. On the link, if you scroll down to the section where it says "customers that bought this were also interested in..." (or something like that) it shows a bunch of options for the newer type infant seats that attach to the front of the bike instead of the rear. I have been looking into this too and it seems to me the bike will have a much better center of gravity if you attach the baby seat to the front, between you and the handlebars than the rear, which might cause the bike to fishtail. I think I may get this one. http://www.amazon.com/iBert-Safe-T-Front-Mounted-Bicycle/dp/B000H4E7EO/ref=pd_sim_sg_1 It gets very good reviews and ratings. The design would fit much better on my Cannondale than the Wee-ride too. The wee-ride looks nice but I think this one could be used longer and will fit more bikes.

I agree with everyone else about the trailer. I don't think a trailer is the way to go at that age. They have no shock absorbers and the baby will feel every little bump. Unless you are doing only straight road riding on a very smooth surface, I'd say go with the bike mounted setup. Even then, always get the child a helmet. (Babies look so adorable in the little helmet anyway!)


***EDIT*** OK, I'm not going to go back and rewrite what I just wrote but I just found a phenomenal article on this subject! http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm It has made me realize one important fact; the law! Depending on where you live, apparently bringing your baby along for the bikeride a under one year of age (whether on the bike or in a trailer) can be illegal. This is illegal in NY state and some others so be sure to check your state or location's laws before doing so. The article touches on a lot of points I never would have considered. It's worth the read!

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What is the best thing to see/do on the Hawaiian island of Oahu with my family on vacation this summer?

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Matt Dillo

I'm looking for things that two adults and two high school age kids would like to do together.

We're also going to Maui. The same question applies for that island.

Answer
I am a native Hawaiian and my favorite place on Oahu is Sandy Beach! It is a huge sandy beach with a killer shore break ...great for body surfing, boogie boarding and breaking bones...so be careful if it's big. The thing that's so fun about it is watching people there!! It's an absolute scream! That entire coastline is glorious Hanauma Bay for snorkeling...fun for the entire family, don't miss the toilet bowl, just ask, it's so fun, it's a local only secret, tourists don't usually get to experience it, unless a local tells them about it . It is at Hanauma Bay. Sea Life Park is right there, granted Sea World is bigger, better but NOT more beuatiful! Keep travelling northward on the windward coast and you will find one of the most beautiful (and quickly eroding beaches) in the world: Lanikai (Hawaiian for Beautiful Ocean). Don't miss the little town of Kailua and Lanikai Beack. Kitesurfing, kayaking to the Mokalua Islands off Kailua Beach Park is a local favroite, very safe and a wonderful day trip. Don't arrange it through your hotel, do it yourself: local style! Get a map, or pick up an independent newspaper at Ward Center (in town ) on AlaMoana Blvd. and join a hike...in Kailua/Kaneohe there's the "stairway to Heaven" guided hike straight up the Pali (hawaiian for cliffs) and you will have been where most Hawaiians have never been before! This hike is accessible through either the Sierra Club (contact them now for info) or the Honolulu Parks and Recreation Dept.the stairway could be maintained through the Coast Guard...Park and Rec should be able to tell you ask for info re: "Haiku Gardens and the Satirway to Heaven"
Visitors think that Honolulu is just another busy city on the beach and that is not true...we have all the beautiful amenities of all the outer islands but with the convenience of a big city close by! It's a perfect world! Take a trail ride on the beach in Waimanalo, the stable is atthe old Polo Grounds just past Sea Life Park and across from Bellows Beach, where there's a beach called "Sherwood Forest". "Sherwoods to locals, you can camp there if you make reservations early! It's an amazing place-old Hawaiiana. As you travel along this road, you will have dramatic mountains to yor left and breathtaking azure blue Pacific Ocean to your right...it always takes my breath away! If you stay this course, you will eventually end up on the famed North Shore of Oahu: Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay and the Bonzai Pipeline. The surf breaks are active in winter months...south swell ( Waikiki-side)is alive in summer but doesn't get big. So take a swim at Waimea Bay and jump of the rock...it's good fun for the whole family! good snorkeling there too! Grab some grinds in Haleiwa town...the town that time forgot...make your way to the H3...the prettiest freeway in Hawaii (we only have 3-jeez)..it's a beautiful drive. and now you have seen half of the island. Go sportfishing on the Sea Verse with Captain Lee Severs and catch a blue marlin! It's worth the money and he is the most successful captain in the fleet at the harbor on Ala Moana!

As for Maui! DO NOT, under any circumstances miss: CRUISER BOB'S DOWNHILL BIKE RIDE. Cruiser Bob's boys drive you and your bikes to the top of an extinct volcano Haleakala (House of the Rising Sun) to watch the most incredible sight you will witness in your life: sunrise over the volcano, then you will bike down the face of this volcano 30 plus miles to the ocean. I have been up there when it was like 35 degrees and get to the bottem and it 80 degrees. This is truly an adventure NOT to miss! Have fun!

What should i look for in a mountain bike?

spridder

Im in the market for a mountain bike. I havent bought a bike since i was a kid many years ago. What should i be looking for in a bike these days? I would primarily use the bike on paths and mostly trails. also, what are some decent manufactures?

Answer
It really depends on how much you want to spend and what you want to do. if you want to do cross country mountain biking, look for weight (the lighter the better), the derailleurs, (I like Sram XTRs), the travel( this is basically how far the shocks can move, for cross country you want 4.5 inches or less), and the shocks. Fox shocks are usually the way to go in my book but Rock Shox Recons are awesome. if you are looking for a full suspension bike, Fox Floats are good rear shocks for the money. just know that climbing with a full suspension bike can be a bitch because they are usually heavier and a lot of the power from your pedal goes into the shocks instead of the chain. for Downhill bikes, I'm not really sure, but I know that you want durability and a lot more travel (7-10 inches)

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What brand used mtn/comfort/hybrid bicycle to get for $100?

best kids bikes brands image

fourmechau

When looking on ebay or craigslist, I have come across: Roadmaster, Huffy, Magna, Trek, Pacifica, Mongoose as the usual brands that pop up for $100 or less. Should these all be avoided? I am a mom who wants to ride with her kids when we go camping, on some trails, around town. So, I am not an avid cyclist and do not need a wonderful bike/brand but also do not want junk. Thanks.

Answer
Well, for $100 used a Trek could be the best. Every brand you mentioned is very low end, except Trek. Trek makes good to very high end bikes. It'd be the 1st choice, but a BEAT UP Trek may be the worst choice. All companies make many models. It's like saying which car should I buy a $500 Chevy or Ford, hard to say.

I will say this, get one that fits you. Look for a bike that has v-brakes instead of side-pull. Stay away from thumb shifters, grip shift or rapid fire types work much better. Of couse test ride, if it works well, wheels are strait and it's in good shape you are set. If it's for camp riding etc. almost anything that work's well when you buy it should be OK. With infrequent use, a used < $100 bike could last forever.

How do I pick a freestyle BMX bike?

argh.pirat

What brands are respected freestyle BMX bikes? I thought Mongoose where cheap kids bikes but they're everywhere. From what I can tell I should be looking for one that's 20". I'd like to ride street and vert for now and am looking for something under $150.

Answer
20" has a lot of possibilities... it would take a while to find one under 150, i would expect to find one under 200. go on danscomp.com , they have a lot of bikes. heres 2 under 200
(red looks better even though they dont have full pic for #1) http://www.danscomp.com/101140.php?cat=BIKES http://www.danscomp.com/101466.php?cat=BIKES

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Where can I find a bicycle trailer for three or more children?

best kids bicycle trailer image

Alasdair

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried to get more than two children aged between 1 and 6 years old in a bicycle trailer. I currently have a Schwinn trailer that is great for two at a time, but the two older kids have to be jammed in pretty tightly.

Answer
A standard carrier type child seat plus the trailer will let you carry three. (assuming the trailer attaches to chain stay)

I've seen a trailer attached to a tag a long. A bit dodgy though. With a good strong mount for the tag a long it might be O.K.. (preferably not a standard seat post mount.)
Your 6 year old will probably be too small for a Tag a long. (unless you can find a 16" version). Be very careful there is a lot of weight to pull up.

You should be able to get your 6 year old on a tandem with a set of kidback cranks. Pictured on this link (Late Great Sheldon Brown)

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tandkids.html

This would be the best option as it should give a few more years service as the kids grow.

Edit ******as an after thought. Custom fitting one of these trailers with seats could do the job also, but it will be a bit of a fiddle getting it balanced.

http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/

Throw on a 2 into 1 brake lever and fit brakes to both trailer wheels. Use instead of your normal rear brake then you will be able to pull up the extra weight.
http://www.trimuter.com/BL2-1-P13C4.aspx

I just bought one of those bicycle trailers ?

EVOC Instr

I just bought a bicycle trailer to pull my son around in. Is he required to wear a helmet? He is two. I see kids wearing helmets in them but I don't know if they have to or not.

Answer
You'll have to check your local laws. Your city or county should have a website with this information on it.

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How can I be the most hip hipster?

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The All Sp

The gear, the music, or is it just a fixed gear bike with tight jeans? I am a male looking to be the coolest kid in art school.

Answer
Don't try to be a hipster cuz you'll just make yourself look like a tard.

Is a kids bike chain spaced differently?

ilikesta

I bought a standard chain at the store for my friends kids barbie bike. It seems to fit fine on the rear sprocket but the fron sprocket won't accept the spacing of the chain. Is there a different spacing for chains?

Answer
Yes, there are different chains available. There are generally speaking 2 pitches:
3/32 for dérailleur equipped bikes
1/8 for single speed and internal geared bikes like old 3 speeds
So unfortunately, there is no single common chain with bikes. Check out the links below for more.

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What's the best kind of shock collar to use on my 125lb black lab?

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Josh

I have a 125lb black lab who is almost 2 1/2 yrs old. We live out in the county on a private dirt road where they can run free most of the time, but the problem is he has gotten into the habit of chasing cars. He also doesn't seem to like things on wheels, mostly bicycles and bit a kid on the heel who the kid and his friend were throwing rocks at him for no reason. Then today one of our neighbors was jogging by and he bit him on the back of the leg as well and wouldn't let him go past and continue on the road. This is not his normal behavior and there was about a year between the two incidents. He is normally a very friendly non-aggressive dog, and I don't know what else to do besides get a shock collar to train him that he is not allowed up by the road and to avoid having to keep him in the house all day or chain him up 24/7.

Any advice?
We have tried an electric fence, it did not phase him, he didn't like it very much and knew where the boundaries where but didn't care and ran straight through the fence.

He does get a lot of exercise, we are outside playing with him and the kids daily and usually take them (we have 3 dogs, him, a chocolate lab and a miniature schnauzer) on a hike to a pond that is about at least a 3 mile hike.
I also wanted to add that we would "shock" at the collar when we was going to the top of the driveway at anytime, if we were to choose the route to use the shock collar. He doesn't always chase the cars it is very far and few between so I don't know where the behavior is coming from to do such things. And when he is running loose he is not leaving our property, he is on our property at all times.

Answer
Your dog doesn't need a Shock Collar, he needs to be trained and kept under control. Your dog should not be running loose at all no matter where you live. You have No Control over your dog and one of these days, he's going to get hit by a car. You should always have your dog on a leash when he's outside, not running around loose. You say your dog is very friendly and non aggressive. Wrong! Your dog has already bitten 2 people. You are lucky these kids parents have not pressed charges and sued you. If you can't properly control and care for your dog, then you need to re-home him to someone who is more responsible that can control him. If you allow your dog to continue running loose and he bites someone else and they report it, your dog will be taken away from you and Euthanized because he's aggressive and has already bitten two kids.

I am older and disabled & would like to add extra wheel(s) to a bicycle for easier balance.?

sandyfirew

I've looked around but can't find anything on this. I was thinking about something like the training wheels that kids use when first learning to ride but for an adult bike and to be a permanent part to make balance and riding less difficult.
I should add that I'm on a fixed income so cost is a factor unfortunately :)

Answer
adult tricycle:
http://www.google.com/products?q=adult+tricycle&hl=en&aq=f

adult training wheels:
http://www.google.com/products?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1680&bih=865&q=adult+training+wheels&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=if

crazy that the stabilizer wheels cost as much as a whole bike

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How long will it take for me to lose the weight?

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Maria Rose

hey everyone who answers this question.
How long will it take me to los e about 50- 60 lbs, if i excercise 7 days a week for about 35 min. to an hour a day. I walk Around a whole block which is about 4 street lights( about 2-3 miles ) i wear a plastic sweat suit, 2.5 lb. weights on my ankles, sweat shorts, a sweat waist band, a hooded sweater. or i sometimes bike ride from my house to a street named lampson - dale-chapman-katella-beach blvd and back to my house. about 3-6 miles. and i sweat about half a gallon.

Answer
The following healthy living recommendations will help you if youâre trying to lose weight, tone up your muscles, have aspirations of building lean muscle mass, are attempting to get a wash board stomach, or just want to feel better:

*1) Burn more calories then you're consuming everyday and measure your results using the following formula: Calories Consumed minus Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) minus Physical Activity minus the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). A website that explains this formula in more detail and will help you determine how many calories you need to reach or maintain a certain weight is at http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm

Get a diet and fitness calculator that you can put on your computer or cell phone. This will allow you to easily calculate the above formula, set goals, log your daily calorie consumption, and register your physical activities.

Set realistic goals for your ideal body weight. Here are two websites that will calculate a suggested body weight:
Adults: http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm
Teens/Children: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/weight/bmi.html

It is difficult and unhealthy to lose more than one or two pounds per week. There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If you eat 500 fewer calories per day for a week you will lose one pound. If you burn through exercise 500 more calories per day for a week you will lose one pound.

*2) Eat natural and organic foods found on earth versus something created by a corporation to make money. Eat meals in small portions throughout the day and take a good multi-vitamin supplement.

Avoid âHigh Glycemic Load Carbsâ (sugar, pastries, desserts, refined starches such as breads, pasta, refined grains like white rice; high starch vegetables such as potatoes) and drink lots of water. Read this article for more information on high GL Carbs:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates.html

Do not try fad diets or diet pills. Here is an excellent food pyramid that anyone can follow: http://www.rayandterry.com/html/images/PyramidLRG.gif?osCsid=26a424be471d1337e7c2f105d5c64d9d

*3) Exercise on most days by doing cardiovascular training and/or resistance training activities.

Read a book or find a certified trainer to make sure your doing all resistance training exercises correctly. A great book to buy that teaches you the resistance training basics is âWeight Training for Dummiesâ. A superb magazine to buy with resistance training routines that will not get you bored is "Muscle and Fitness". Signup for the free newsletter. An excellent free online resource is at http://www.exrx.net/

A good book to buy that teaches you the cardiovascular training basics is âFitness for Dummiesâ.

*4) Get plenty of sleep. Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety.

*5) Educate yourself continually on health issues and make a life long commitment to good health. A great free publication is âDietary Guidelines for Americans 2005â. A superb book to read is âYou The Ownerâs Manualâ. An excellent periodic publication is the âNutrition Action Health Letterâ. A reputable test you can take to measure your biological age is at http://realage.com

Look at all areas where you can enhance your health. For example, make improvements in the quality of the air you breathe. Review outdoor air quality forecasts where you live and get an indoor air purifier. Send me an email or yahoo instant message to "gainbetterhealth" if you want an indoor air purifier recommendation and if you have any questions.

*Click on all the source links below to get the full benefit of the recommendations. The answers presented to your health questions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Can you please name me some safe, luxurious places my wife and kids can live?

Ryan K

I live in Albany New York right now working as a stock broker. I made the money, now I want to move out of my small apartment and move to somewhere safe and nice.
Thank you for your time and effort.
Ryan Kung
I am not spending over $5mill.
For all I know, I could get foreclosed and be sent on the streets.

Answer
Ryan,

Congrats on being in the current position you're in, getting ready to enjoy the fruits of years of your hard-earned labor. Being a combat veteran, I realize more than most that happiness is paramount, and a few years ago, I was blessed with enjoying the same opportunity you now face. The world was my "oystah", and I could live wherever in the world that I chose. For me, there was no other choice than the mountains of western North Carolina.

I now live in a town with a population of less than 24K, and can honestly say that, having travelled extensively and having lived in FL, CA, GA, and in the Raleigh area (Cary), I can't imagine ever living anywhere else permanently. If I can offer you any advice, I would say that your choice of where to live really depends upon what you guys are "into", the type of environment you envision being best for your children to grow up in, and what (if any) kind of employment you would be seeking once living there. Discuss with your wife the family activities you feel would make you feel happiest, then target the "best" locations worldwide supporting those activities.

If you enjoy outdoor recreation - hiking, biking, snowboarding/skiing, whitewater, or simply camping while visiting national parks & forests - look to the mountains. If beaches are your thing, obviously look to coastal communities. Although you do not want to live in the city proper, you will eventually have to visit one nearby, as smaller towns in rural areas don't have all of the amenities you'll find yourself needing. Whatever part of the world you decide you would prefer to live in, figure out what you feel is a reasonable drive time to "the big city" and base your search radius from it's midpoint.

For most people, it's a scary proposition to pack it all up & leave their

How old should a kid be before using a treadmill or other cardio equipment?

best kids bikes age 6 image

SoCal Dude

I have a friend who lives in a small town in the Upper Midwest. He and his wife have two kids, ages 8 and 6.

He told me that his kids were starting to get a little pudgy. The kids have PE class only once a week for 45 minutes.

Recess is indoors for at least 5 out of 9 months of the school year because of the weather. Their school has one gym, so the kids can't go the gym for recess because of PE classes. So they end up doing puzzles and board games instead.

The school doesn't have any after school sports for kids their age. The nearest YMCA is more than 20 minutes away in good weather, and very difficult to get to during the winter months.

He and his wife have a treadmill, but they think the kids are still too young to use a treadmill.

Any ideas on how his kids can get some regular physical activity during the cold weather months? Would a different cardio exercise machine (like a stationary bike) be okay for the kids to use?

Answer
Has everyone forgotten about playing OUTSIDE? Even in Minnesota, its reasonable to shag them out in the snow for an hour or so if they're dressed properly.

Jebus, we're raising a generation of hot house plants!!!

How do you deal with mom burnout? What has helped/worked for you?

.

How often to you need to hit that reset button.

I have two children (ages 6 and 8) and another 36 year old child I married. The signs are there that I've reached a breaking point because I'm just ignoring everyone and being selfish. I NEVER do that, but for the past week or so I've been running on empty.

What are some things you do when you've reached this point?

Thanks all.

Answer
You need to tell your husband that you need some time to yourself too and that if he can watch the kids while you go out to the gym or what ever you like doing, that it will be for just a few hours. There is nothing wrong with pampering yourself even if you just want to take a nice warm bath listening to some music with no distractions. Or, do what I do sometimes, go for a long walk and enjoy the outdoors. Plus, it will help the kids with spending some quality time with their dad. Or, tell your husband to take the kids out for a walk while you take a nap. If you have a bike, take a bike ride alone and then during the week or weekend, go for a bike ride, or a walk with the family.

You and your husband do need some time alone too. If you can get someone to watch your kids for a few hours, you and your husband can go out on a date. You should at least do that twice or maybe once a week. When was the last time you two did that?

You just need something to do that interests you. Find a hobby that you enjoy. I enjoy gardening and photography. What are you interests?

What also helps me is a good neck and shoulder massage by my husband. You never know where that may lead. Get the hint?

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How old were your kids when they learned to swim?

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Danielle

My son is almost 2, and he knows how to swim with arm floats. He almost has swimming down in general. My husband and all his brothers, learned at one. I taught myself at like 10. When did our kids and you, learn to swim?

Answer
I started trying to teach my daughter when she was 8, a few months after she learned to ride her bike. But we had two insanely hot summers, so we didn't get very far.

This summer was milder, but a lot of family drama. We almost lost her dad multiple times due to complications of an injury. She finally officially became a swimmer at age 10, a few weeks before her 11th birthday. Next summer we will improve her skill level.

I personally learned how to swim when I was 21. I saw how much my daughter loved playing in the water and decided that while she plays splashing games with Daddy, I would go out shoulder-deep and teach myself to swim. I am still not really good enough to save anybody, but at least if there was an emergency, I can keep my head above water while someone else saves the non-swimmers.

How do I figure out what size my daughter's bike is?

arliesmom

She needs a bigger bike, but I have no clue what size her current bike is. Someone once told me it has something to do with the tires but I have no idea where to look, there are several numbers on her tire. I see no numbers anywhere on her bike.
The only numbers on the tire that I see besides how much to inflate them is a 56-4013. Does this mean it's 56 inches?? My daughter is 10 years old.

Answer
While frame size is used for adults, tire size is the method used for sizing children. Age indicates size needed but height is better.

My daughters are 9 and 11.5. My 9 year old has almost outgrown a 20" wheeled bike. And my 11.5 year old now rides a 24" mountain bike and has for 2 years. She is 56" tall now, a little short for her age.

The tire size is ALWAYS imprinted on the tire you just missed it. Try looking at the other side. It will say something like 20 x 1.75. 20 being the diameter of the tire and the 1.75 the width. Do not measure the wheel itself as it's not what is used. You also can simply measure the tire height with a yard stick. Standard tire sizes are 12, 16, 20, 24 and 26" for kids. I'd guess she currently has a 20" and needs a 24" now like my daughter

Since your daughter is in between my girls, I'm pretty sure you want to buy a 24" now. However if she is really tall, almost 5 feet tall, you may want a 26" bike.

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What should I do for my triathlon for kids?

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Jake Foste

We go biking one day, running the next, and swimming the third (ages 7 - 11). Any good routines for the swimming portion. We do "workouts" (no extreme) in the water for halt an hour then play games in the water or on the field.

Answer
Light gymnastics by the pool side before going in (stretching exercises and such). Then lengths in the pool from a few per day, to more, progressively.

Need to know more about buying a bike for riding my first triathlon?

jessica ju

I'm doing a short course (10.6 mile) biking in my first triathlon in Sept. What kind of bike should I look at getting? How do you even go about getting "fitted" for a bike? I am not wanting to go all out - just want to get a decent bike that I can also use to ride with my kids - so that it has some flexibility.

Answer
You don't need a TT or "tri" bike for fun competitions on short courses. Any drop bar road bike that fits you well would be more than acceptable. The fact that you mention you "just want to get a decent bike that [you] can also use to ride with [your] kids" is even more reason to stick with a basic road bike.

All of the main brands (including others not as common such as KHS, Jamis, and Marin) offer road bikes from entry level to race-ready. "Not wanting to go all out" can mean different things to different household budgets. But, it stands to reason that you might be interested in something slightly better than entry level...but not pro level.

You'll probably be in the market for a bike with an aluminum frame. They offer great performance without the higher cost of carbon models. I'd definitely get one with a carbon fork for the better ride qualities, and such forks are common to most all models. Some aluminum frames feature some carbon parts, such as carbon seatstays. Opinions vary as to how much these "mixed" carbon/aluminum frames improve the ride over full carbon frames, but the cost difference isn't extreme in either case.

For reliable, long term performance, a bike equipped with Shimano Tiagra shifters would be good. Shimano 105 would be better if you'll be doing numerous events or plan to log lots of miles over time. Lower end road bikes typically come with Shimano 2200 or Sora shifters. These are very basic, and they don't operate as smoothly (or last as long) as higher level shifters. A bike with Tiagra shifters will typically come with a Tiagra front derailleur and 105 rear derailleur with a 9-sp cassette. You'll find that some of the better Tiagra/105 equipped bikes come with a Shimano Hollowtech 2pc crank. These feature sealed external bearing bottom brackets and excellent performance.

So what about brands? It's not that important to shop solely by brand. Most bikes within a general price range will have components of similar grade, and all of the quality mfrs offer comparable warranties. Visit each local shop and see what they offer. Take note of the customer service and personal attention you receive. Test ride some bikes. Tell them about any physical issues you may have, such as flexibility. Make sure they're clear on how you'll be using the bike, and give them the chance to make recommendations for you. While some are certainly better than others, most of the staff in the shops are great guys that enjoy riding. The better staff members will understand fitting issues and help you get dialed in when you're ready to select your ride.

For starters, several models you might take a look at:

Cannondale CAAD9-5
Trek 2.1
Specialized Allez Sport
Jamis Ventura Race
Giant Defy 1
Scott Speedster S40 or S30 (?)

Each of these has carbon forks and are similarly spec'd with Tiagra or 105 components. Each runs about $1300. Maybe that's more than you want to spend, and I understand. But even a very basic road bike will run near $900. Something at the level of any of those I list will actually be worth far, far more than the extra $400 initial outlay. I don't tell anyone how to spend their money, but you need to know that spending a few extra dollars can mean a drastic difference in performance, reliability, and enjoyment.

Good luck, happy shopping and fun riding...to you.

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