Here's a ride motivator for you...

You love to sit under a nice shady tree and read a good book you said?

1) take one with you and make an adventure finding different new trees to read the book under... after biking there.

Get to the new tree, rest-- eat a healthy snack and read a few pages, stretch a bit--back on the bike for the ride home.

Btw, I have a Delta cargo net I use to strap behind my road bike saddle bag when I want to store extra cold gear (jacket etc.). It would hold your book quite nicely.

2) map out some local library branches etc. and make it a mission to ride a "book bike tour" to each one. Same deal... rest, browse some books, restroom break / H2O refill etc., and pedal on home.

For the kiddies some peeps use a tag-along. It would not be a speedy ride alone for you. But still a chance to pedal and perhaps more resistence work too.

Our local bike club has a "lesiure ride" w/kids on the schedule.

My new ride partner took her DD whose 8 on her tiny Felt roadie last week. They go 10mi or less at a lesiure pace the club calls it.

PLUS, the benefit of you is that you get to socialize with other bike peeps and maybe find yourself some new ride buddies etc. Always a motivator to not give up when someone else is counting on you. Makes a lot of miles pass quick too!

You and DH sharing bike /gear etc... my ride partner has this situation too. I'm not exactly sure what all she does. But, my thought would be to keep your stuff packed in maybe a large zip lock baggie ready to go etc. Then all you have to do is dump it into the Camelback when you take off. Dump it back into the bag when you return.

It helps I think if you take care of your bike gear right when you get home from the ride etc. I know this can be hard if your kids are wanting your attention right in the door. Which I know mine do as a mom. So, we do this...

They are my "helpers". DS has the ever so important job of being my bike door holder to get me in the house. The first thing DS asks is "how far did you ride today mommy?". It's like a private cheer-leading squad lol. Then he helps me go through the check list of laying the gear back out for the next ride.

If there was a way $... I think you should get yourself a reasonably priced bike you love. Just make sure it fits. I just got a new ride cuz my old one was way too big. If you hate your bike, it can kill your will to ride quick. I love my new ride. I have the problem of over-training just cuz I don't want to stay off of her.

Good Luck!