Training and shift work - it ain't working!!
cyclistbruce
Posts: 88
I know that there's probably been similar questions and threads containing the answers already but I'm starting to get desperate!
I've been doing Sportive riding for the past couple of years after returning to cycling in my 30's. The problem is, my wife and I are both nurses and work opposite shifts, when we're not working we're looking after the kids. The shifts are 12hrs long, so not really up for training after work, and the bike commute is only 1.5miles! That gives us 1 day together as a family, so I can't really take the pi** and go out for a 6 hour ride.
I was hoping to try my hand at racing next year, but can't see how I'm going to get enough training in!
Is anyone in a similar situation, or have any ideas about how I can fit quality training into very short periods! Either that, or I become one of those people who just talks about riding and buys stuff!
I've been doing Sportive riding for the past couple of years after returning to cycling in my 30's. The problem is, my wife and I are both nurses and work opposite shifts, when we're not working we're looking after the kids. The shifts are 12hrs long, so not really up for training after work, and the bike commute is only 1.5miles! That gives us 1 day together as a family, so I can't really take the pi** and go out for a 6 hour ride.
I was hoping to try my hand at racing next year, but can't see how I'm going to get enough training in!
Is anyone in a similar situation, or have any ideas about how I can fit quality training into very short periods! Either that, or I become one of those people who just talks about riding and buys stuff!
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How old are the kids?
When they go to school will things get easier?0 -
Got a while to go before school, ones 2 and the other 7 months!0
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Turbo
High quality 90-min to 2 hour ride on weekends. Don't need to do 6 hour rides.
Take the long way to/from work and make it a long commute.
Can do a lot of fitness good with 5-6 hours of focussed effort per week. Even for a Sportive.0 -
Particularly at this time of year, a turbo trainer will allow you good quality training session in a short period of time.
However if you have next to no time for training, how are you going to ride any events?
Dunedin0 -
If you are new to racing then the 4th Cat races are quite short. Probably a couple of hours.
Plus as Alex Simmons says good turbo/interval sessions at the right intensity will give you more than a 6 hour club run.
I've been there, not quite out of it actually. I trained for the etape with 3 weekly sessions on the turbo, all about 60-90 minutes at a time apart from a few 3 hours sessions for confidence more than anything and the Dragon ride sportive.
I focused on two aspects consistency and progession.
Talk to your wife about what you want to do, and be honest (it can get heated) but try and have some guaranteed time. With a turbo you can have the family time then train when everyone was in bed. My sessions were between 10 and 11pm.
The real problem is that the races and sportives all happen at the weekends.
Is there a gym at the hospital? I once kept my turbo at work, commuted in and turboed in the car park at lunch time. Any chance the children sleep at the same time (risky I know).
Child minder? family friend? It may sound rediculous to ask someone or even pay them to look after your children while you cycle for a few hours but why not. My wife pays some one so she can write her novel!0 -
Work together with your wife to find a good solution for you all. She would probably appreciate some 'own time' for her passion too - even if its lying in the bath for 2 hours undisturbed! As many have indicated you need to find equivalent to an hour a day, focus on training regularly and progressivley towardds your goal
Think creativley....don't know anything about your situation but here are soem ideas
The 2 year old could go with you on a bike seat - warmly drressed and not too long or mad tho' - as could the younger one around first birthday.
Turbo in back yard or at work.
nearby gym - as a Christmas prezzy? Some gyms have a place to park teh kids and you could both train ?
skip the TV and the newspapers.
grandparents - mates with kids in same age with similar problems /dreams?
Cant think of anymore just now good luck!0 -
nah doesnt work.
my advice pack in the job, get rid of the family
train all the time and turn pro
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Thanks guys, some good tips, I'm sure I can get it to work, just need a bit of organisation! For a 60min turbo session do you tend to keep the warm up/down to about 5 mins each to give 50mins of training time? The turbo is something I need to master, seem to just end up doing 30min tempo rides before losing the will to live!
As for the actual events, I can manipulate our rotas enough so that our day off coincides with the events, a trip to Dartmoor is a great family day out!?
I've sussed the child seat as a bit of a training aid, that coupled with the younger one in the trailer creates some good resistance training, particularly uphill!
Other than that, anyone want some kids, will swap for a Bianchi? Or a couple of energy bars....0 -
Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:Turbo
High quality 90-min to 2 hour ride on weekends. Don't need to do 6 hour rides.
Take the long way to/from work and make it a long commute.
Can do a lot of fitness good with 5-6 hours of focussed effort per week. Even for a Sportive.
Sounds interesting Alex. What sort of workout would that be? 90 minutes at a particular tempo or some sort of interval?0 -
cyclistbruce wrote:Thanks guys, some good tips, I'm sure I can get it to work, just need a bit of organisation! For a 60min turbo session do you tend to keep the warm up/down to about 5 mins each to give 50mins of training time? The turbo is something I need to master, seem to just end up doing 30min tempo rides before losing the will to live!
As for the actual events, I can manipulate our rotas enough so that our day off coincides with the events, a trip to Dartmoor is a great family day out!?
I've sussed the child seat as a bit of a training aid, that coupled with the younger one in the trailer creates some good resistance training, particularly uphill!
Other than that, anyone want some kids, will swap for a Bianchi? Or a couple of energy bars....
Dude I'm a nurse to and doing shift work really messes up any form of training regime you try to formulate. I work 3 long days a week 7.30 - 9. for 4 weeks then 6 weeks of nights shifts 8.30 - 8.45. I have kids to but luckily they go to school. However you'll find that nights will really bugger you up. I have to have at least 2 full days off before trying a long ride out and even that is a huge drain on the body. If I'm going to get any riding done then its on the commute home after nights but then its through rush hour traffic so repeats are a non starter.
If your really wanting to do racing then I suggest you either go to out patients or theatre where you will have some kind of normality otherwise I'd put the whole idea on the back burner untill the kids go to nursery / school.Bianchi. There are no alternatives only compromises!
I RIDE A KONA CADABRA -would you like to come and have a play with my magic link?0 -
Bruce have a look at
http://www.velonews.com/article/99624/c ... cyclocross
There's a new form of training with a silly name that advocates really, really hard sessions for 20 secs 'til you puke, then rest then go an repeat til you die, or something. The link above is for cross racing but have a read (I haven't, but will at some point!)
Basically you have to do make sure your rides have a purpose and do intense, quality rides. Leave the fun and looking at the view for the sportives. These don't need to be long efforts, find a long hill and do intervals. Climb for 8 minutes then roll back down, climb again. When your times are over 30 sec slower, go home.
That's my thoughts, of course I never actually do this, I just bimble around with the odd effort once in a while better a has been, than a never was!0 -
tri-sexual wrote:nah doesnt work.
my advice pack in the job, get rid of the family
train all the time and turn pro
No, being a nurse he probably has access to some decent drugs so I'd keep the job but definitely loose the family and train all the time.
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