Riding in the evenings
Comments
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At least, let's hope not.Beatmaker wrote:0 -
Same situation here - I have a friend in the same boat too, which helps. We tend to egg each other on. If one of us can find the motivation to go for a ride the other tends to come along too. We also use Strava to see who has ridden most that month to try and motivate each other to get out and ride.
He's going to win in March though - already got 150 miles in the can (to my 15!).FCN 3 / 40 -
Sadly the boat was the first thing to go when my two kids came along.0
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this is what i do if i'm home early enough....i would never get out if i did all that..but saying that i dont have kids,but work crazy hrs so if i came home and did other stuff i'd prob end up flaked out on the sofa.i usually be home an out for half 6 any later and i prob wouldnt bother as its hard to get motivated after a long shift at work.styxd wrote:Go out on your bike as soon as you get home from work. Have your tea after you've ridden your bike.
much easier to just get in,get changed and go!!!!
Lapierre Aircode 300
Merida0 -
I'm in a similar predicament, two young children (1 goes to school), I work 11 hour shifts the early ones start at 6am and I'm 18 miles from work. The late shifts start at 2pm. I work alternate shifts to the Mrs. Is very difficult to manage everything and I can't just say see ya when she comes in from work, as she does 10 hour shifts.handful wrote:I read through all of the posts on page 1 and wondered why nobody suggested riding early and then found the one above! I've been getting up to do an early (5.45am)Trainerroad turbo session a couple of days a week and found it very difficult the first time but then coming home that evening and remembering I didn't have to worry about doing one made it worthwhile. I have no problem now and will try to use the same discipline to go out now the weather has picked up a bit.
Our youngest is 2 and at the moment is waking up during the night, so whoever is not working has to get up and deal with that.
I get out when I can and I also use the turbo when possible. Today and yesterday was bad, as the weather was good and my neighbour went out on his bike and I was stuck at home with the boys.
I don't mind as it was my choice to have children and I love them to bits, I also enjoy spending time with the Mrs. In September our youngest will start pre school..... then I can get more rides in. I've got the London to Reading ride this month and hopefully I've done enough training
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It's a tough one, but the BEST way to get me out after work is to actually organise to ride with a friend. The idea of letting them down at the last minute always gets me out the door!0
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I have invested in some lights and I set myself a realistic target of getting out 2 nights a week for an hour each time. I hope to increase this when the evenings get lighter. I go out normally after the kids have gone to bed so I appreciate your predicament.0
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Like has been said by the OP and many others, they never regret getting out for a ride. Strava has helped me, as it's motivation to see friends/followers milage and want to get yours up too.
I love riding at night, the roads are quieter, and there tends to be less "moments" with drivers.
The ride I'm most looking forward to this year? The Dunwich Dynamo...112 night time miles. Lovely!
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It depends what is really important. Families, especially young ones mean compromise. I chose to put my career on hold as it was more important for me to watch my daughter grow up. Until she started pre school I was there for every breakfast, lunch and evening meal. That was a really special part of my life and one of the happiest. Of course when she started school I had to get my backside in gear and motor but sometimes you have to realise what is actually important.
Having said that my saddle time went awol but i purchased a night riding light and went off on my mtb when no on else was really doing it. Early mornings are a great time and it really is the best part of the day. Get back for a shower and breakfast and you've got your fix and the day ahead together. What it boils down to is balancing different and competing demands. Sometimes you'll get it right and on others you will miss out.“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
Just a quick word about eating - I do most of my weekday rides in the evenings (during the summer at least), but there's no way I would have my main evening meal before going out, I'd just feel weighed down and probably stay on the sofa... But if you haven't eaten since lunch you do need to eat something, so have a small/moderate snack (something with a mix of slow and fast carbs) and then have your main meal when you get back.
As you need to spend time having/making dinner with your family, why not do that, but just eat a small amount of your own dinner and leave the rest to finish off when you get back - works very well with pasta etc, you can just leave it on the plate or in the pan and then stick it in the microwave afterwards (make sure it's properly hot of course...)0 -
I can manage an hour of moderate training without having eaten for 20 hours (nothing more than milk in coffee/tea on fasting days). Ideally you want to eat, but its not essential. A banana/flapjack is fine to fuel you for at least an hour of hard effort. The body will find some fat to burn and it actually increases your endurance. Obviously this is my experience and others "mileage may vary"
Unless you are under weight, I would expect there to be enough left over from lunch to fuel you.0 -
Maybe an hour of recovery or endurance level riding, but for me at least anything longer or harder than that and I'd suffer (and not gain much training benefit) if I hadn't eaten anything for 5 or 6 hours. I don't do fasting days though.. ;-)0
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Just found a good trick to get out on the bike...... spend some money on some cycling gear, when it arrives, the wife goes mental and says "you're bloody well going out on that bike now!"
I've just got back from a 15k ride and even made it to the school pickup...... In my lycra 0 -
I have the same issue - Family comes first. Some great advice in the preceding posts (plus a couple of silly buggers). I tend to get out during my lunch hour for a short loop about 10 miles. Once the evenings lengthen, I'll be able to extend my commute from a quick 2 miles to a decent couple of hours loop with a good bit of climbing once or twice a week. The wife sees the benefits because I'm less grumpy and losing the spare tyre.0
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IC. wrote:
I think that's a daft comment tbh and I hope it is meant in jest.
Comments advising about mileage targets or earlier/later/lighter meals are helpful. You saying it's a plain and simple choice between spending time with my young family or riding a bike are just silly. I'm looking for ways of gaining motivation to ride when the time allows, I'm not looking for answers on which bit of my life you think are dispensable.
No need to talk like a prick. The man was giving you advice. So either take it or leave it. Rude comments are not tolerated here.0 -
IC's comment didn't sound rude to me, it was a retort to a flippant comment..
The irony is very strong in your post!!0 -
cheaterkiller wrote:IC. wrote:
I think that's a daft comment tbh and I hope it is meant in jest.
Comments advising about mileage targets or earlier/later/lighter meals are helpful. You saying it's a plain and simple choice between spending time with my young family or riding a bike are just silly. I'm looking for ways of gaining motivation to ride when the time allows, I'm not looking for answers on which bit of my life you think are dispensable.
No need to talk like a prick. The man was giving you advice. So either take it or leave it. Rude comments are not tolerated here.
You are talking like a prick!
I agree with IC. That doesn't matter though.
He had a point and made it without resorting to abuse. Something you failed to do. And you then accuse him of being rude ..... laughable.0 -
You lot thought about running?
Its much easier to fit in 30 to 60 mins running sessions rather than a minimum 2 hour ride. I know it's not cycling, but in the off season when it's dark and crap weather its the best way of keeping fitness up for when the light comes back.0 -
Overlord2 wrote:You lot thought about running?
Its much easier to fit in 30 to 60 mins running sessions rather than a minimum 2 hour ride. I know it's not cycling, but in the off season when it's dark and crap weather its the best way of keeping fitness up for when the light comes back.
Best of all you dont get road salt on your bike. I HATE cleaning bikes.0
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