21 things I learnt from becoming a cycling mum

Seven months on from giving birth, CW’s Michelle Arthurs-Brennan shares her experience of striving to stay as fit and healthy as possible before, during and after pregnancy

Female cyclist riding indoors on her bike whille pregnant
(Image credit: Future)

I’d always wanted to start a family, but having raced bikes for over a decade, the prospect of pregnancy and motherhood felt like a great unknown. I knew I’d want to maintain my active lifestyle, but feared that parenthood would spell the end to my adventuring on two wheels. I also had no idea how pregnancy would affect me physically and how difficult it might be to get my fitness back. If any of that sounds familiar, then this feature is for you. Because now that my daughter is all too rapidly approaching her first birthday, I realise that I had nothing – well, almost nothing – to worry about. I’ve quizzed pro cyclists, hormone experts, doctors, bike-fitters and psychologists, to bring you all the tips and advice I wish I’d known from day one.

Pre-pregnancy

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