Fitting it in

[Owlie]

Grad school is causing some serious bike-withdrawal issues around here! I'm getting exercise in (and some TV, thanks to the trainer), but I really want some trail/road time. It'll be much easier next year because I'll be done with classes and on my own schedule. Ditto for summer (see comment on classes, and if nothing else, I'll have early sunrises and late sunsets.) Right now, though...two days a week I have 11-hour days, and the other three are...however long they want us there.

How do all of you manage to get riding into your schedules?! Granted, my time management skills leave something to be desired...

[Becky]

Honestly, I don't have much time to ride during the week....and my schedule is often less hectic than most peoples'... For me, commuting and errand-running have been the answer to work-week riding. My bright bike headlight opened up a lot of options in terms of riding time. I also try to get chores/errands out of the way during the week so that I can do longer rides on the weekend.

For me, I found more time to ride when I a) made it a priority and b) changed the way that I thought about riding. I realized that not every ride needed to be 3+ hours long, and that there will be time for those rides someday, even if it's not as often or as soon as I'd like.

Are there ways that you can currently adjust your schedule or routine to allow for more saddle time?

Good luck to you....this is temporary and it will get better

[westtexas]

For me, I found more time to ride when I a) made it a priority and b) changed the way that I thought about riding. I realized that not every ride needed to be 3+ hours long, and that there will be time for those rides someday, even if it's not as often or as soon as I'd like.

+1

It was easier in the summer too, when the days were longer, to come home and ride after a 12 hour day (7-7 for me). Now I try to ride to work when I can and on the weekends I put in some serious miles (when I'm not working). My group is going to be riding all through the winter, so I'm about to make a serious investment in hi-viz gear so I can ride safely after dark as well.

The trainer is good too - I've got rollers for those nights when I don't want to go out, but they are so BORING.

Any time on the bike is good for you, so once again +1 to Becky. Thirty minutes is still better than nothing! And riding to and from school is good too. And riding to your lunch. And taking a break in the middle of the day to just pedal around campus.

[Titania]

Now that the days have gotten shorter, my riding time is pretty much just on weekends. And, with the weather getting cold, I may not be riding outside for much longer. I do have a trainer, though, so I'm planning on getting riding time inside this winter...something is better than nothing, right?

[jyyanks]

I too work 7-7 and with the shorter days and colder nights, rides are reserved for weekends only. I totally feel your pain!

[bluebug32]

Sometimes short high intensity rides can be just as fulfilling as longer ones. You still get that great rush from riding and, as research suggests, a training benefit if you're doing intervals.

[rubysoho]

My work schedule is anything but consistent during certain points of the year (like right now). I try to be flexible and ride when I can. If there isn't time for a ride and I need to do something then I go out for a run. I have a gym membership so there is always spin classes or swimming, etc... But if I work long hours one day I schedule my work week to have a shorter day and I will use that time to ride. I might shift my work hours to the evening at least once a week so that would give me a morning for a longer ride.

[limewave]

Most of my rides are 60 minutes or less because of my schedule. I set up one of my mountain bikes as a commuter/bike path bike so that I didn't feel the need to always put on a full cycling kit. All of a sudden, a nice ride down the bike path was much more appealing!

Even so, I typically get one ride in a week. Maybe 2 or 3. At least one of those rides is a 2-4 mile bike ride with the kids. However, I do ride the trainer year 'round. I can't get out and ride during the daylight and I can't afford a gym membership, so the trainer it is. Ride 2-3x a week and run 2-3x a week. It's working out pretty well

DH has that problem where he thinks every ride needs to be 3 hours . . . and therefore has only done about 3 rides this year.

Good luck! Schedules can get so overwhelming.