July 3, 2024
Parents are a tough bunch. They function on limited sleep, can survive on lower-than-normal “me-time,” and are highly adaptable when it comes to the constantly changing, but urgent, whims of small humans. Throw an adventure into the mix and you realize that even a “short, easy run” requires additional grit. A few weeks ago I asked some of the parents at komoot to share their “parenting fails” out on the trail. I was expecting stories about forgetting snacks or dressing the kids inappropriately, but it seems the memories that stick relate to routes that weren’t the best fit for the adventure… luckily there’s a fix for that!
Below are their stories…you might recognize your own experiences in their adventures. Or maybe you can learn from their mishaps.
We took our one year old on a "short" 30 kilometer bike touring holiday to a small island not far from Copenhagen. The total system weight of the cargo bike with her, a stroller, two 25 liter pannier bags filled with diapers and toys, a big saddle bag, and a small frame pack was like 65 kilograms. The 30 kilometers of rolling hills that I had planned to do in about 1.5 hours turned into a 2.5 hour feat of strength. Our daughter slept most of the way – even my screaming quads couldn't wake her. ~ Tue, Senior Backend Engineer
The komoot fix: If you’re not used to carrying loads of weight on your ride (or hike), adjust your fitness settings in komoot at the planning stage. This won’t affect the route komoot finds for you, but it will give you a more accurate estimate of how long the route will take to complete. Read more about komoot’s fitness settings on the Adventure Hub here.
I remember pushing a pram over rooty hills only to discover later there was also an asphalt path to the top. ~ Willem, Senior Quality Assurance
The komoot fix: At the route planning stage, cross-check the komoot route to ensure there are no surprises. You can hide the route line to check the map itself, plus check the route details, like elevation profile, to ensure it’s the best route for short legs (or a stroller). More insider route planning tips for hikers (and runners) here and cyclists here.
I went for an easy hike with my three year old, and the one year old was in a stroller. I hadn't considered the heavy rain the day before though, so the path was extremely muddy. My three year old’s shoes sank down in the mud and the stroller got stuck… so it took quite a while. In the end I managed to pull the stroller along instead of pushing it. My three year old loved it and made up stories about crocodiles hiding in the mud. ~ Trine, Senior Data Analyst
The komoot fix: Komoot can’t control the weather but it can give you extra information about the type of trail you’re using. Trail View will give you better insight into what the route actually looks like, so you can judge for yourself how the trail might change in different weather or seasons. Read more about komoot map layers here.
Other articles you might find useful as a busy parent: