CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

The Rock; and the hard place

(13 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by Baldcyclist
  • Latest reply from Baldcyclist
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Baldcyclist
    Member

    How do you square the circle when:

    Pre child life - Wife works 3 12.5 hour shifts a week meaning your free to cycle commute 3 and a bit hours a day 4 days a week, racking up 6000 miles a year.

    Child life, wife on maternity leave - still manage to do a bit, but also laid off because of an accident, get about 2500 miles in that year.

    Child life, wife now working 2 days a week. I have to do childcare run (by bike at least), but that means I now only have 3 days a week where I can do the long cycle commutes. Motivation has gone because when I do those long commutes, they take 25 minutes longer than they used to, meaning I only see the wee man for 15 minutes in the evening. Add to that he's a germ factory and I have never been so ill as I have over the winter. So when you do cycle you get at best 3 weeks on before the next bug puts you out for 2 weeks and back to square one. This year so far I've cycle 210 miles...

    6000 > 2500 > more or less nil miles a year equates to about 12kg in weight, although I have lost 2kg this year so far.

    How do others fit in cycling when you only have 3 days available for it, and the result of cycling is not seeing the boy?

    Train / cycle combination works a bit, but it's not enough to regain any fitness. Help.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    The infection thing will get better. really.

    Can't speak to the rest, given my commute is a teeny tiny fraction of yours. but I am certainly far less fit than I was before.

    (ps haven't forgotten about sending you a POP flag!)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. paddyirish
    Member

    @baldcyclist, feel your pain - it is very hard to squeeze the hours into the day and the kids are only young once.
    First steps are hard and I really hope you can get out there. Also appreciate that your commute is a lot longer than mine and that will take up time.

    I'd say 3 x 1 way commutes and back on the train are a good bet, until you build up some fitness/speed and then review.

    I am a lark and could get up before everyone else (very early) and got out of the house fast i.e. have bag packed the night before, throw cycling gear on, have a cup of coffee (and a banana if necessary) and go within 15 mins of alarm going off, nobody would miss me and on good days I could even take the scenic route to work. I'd have breakfast at my desk and try to start working day ASAP. I was lucky as I just had to put in x hours, so a 15-30 min lunch break at my desk was fine and I could spend the minimum time at work.

    I generally took the train to get home as soon as I could to be useful and to get time with the wee one. I would often do the bed time routine and lie on her floor and hold her and as she went to sleep. 9 times out of 10 I was snoring before she was...

    Don't beat yourself up if you can't do 1 scheduled day, but try not to miss 2 in a row.

    I also did a bit of brisk walking with the buggy had the benefit of cross training and having some bonding time, tried to include some hills and end up at the park.

    Another way is to promise yourself a reward or make a £1 bet with a good mate, the sort you'd resent giving even £1 to.

    Hope this helps and that you can get over the hump and rediscover the love.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    Leave a bike at work and pop out for exercise at lunchtime. Go out at home in the evening when the child is asleep, or get one of those things you put the bike on to pedal it without moving.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. crowriver
    Member

    I think wing pig's suggestion is a good one. Unfortunately, real life is intervening and things probably won't change much until your wee person is a bit bigger.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. Morningsider
    Member

    Running at lunch time has helped me maintain at least some semblance of fitness since children came along (yes, I know it isn't cycling). For me, it is much harder exercise than cycling - seems much more efficient than grinding out the miles. Holyrood Park is ideal, if your work is anywhere near it. Lots of other options for running in Edinburgh.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. earthowned
    Member

    @Baldcyclist - I'm in the same boat as you. Not much I can add to the excellent suggestions above, but if you want to join me for a lunchtime spin around Arthur's Seat anytime you'd be very welcome.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. Claire
    Member

    I was going to suggest a turbo trainer but wingpig beat me to it. I know a lot of folk that kept their fitness up over winter by cycling indoors. I find it a wee bit depressing, but appreciate that if you're short on time and need to build or maintain fitness it's a really good option.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Thanks folks.

    lunch times are out as I've given up half an hour a day for a shorter day on Thursday - My 2 cildcare days are Thurs / Fri. Work 10:30 - 4 on Thurs allowing the drop off (9)/ pickup (5) and train to work. WAH on Friday.

    The early morning run seems the viable option, I used to do it anyway and could leave half an hour earlier due to my fatness (unfortunately unlinke paddyirish I hate mornings!). I always prefered the home run with the wind assist and slightly less hill, and have tended to do that when cycling as it's a bit easier.

    I know it will get better, and no I wouldn;t give him back ;) , but I really do miss that time on the bike.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. spytfyre
    Member

    Yes wee yins mess with schedules.
    I would say the turbo trainer like wingpig said
    Once wee yin old enough to sit on the trailer bike (just got my 4 year old on it previous son was 5 or 6 before we got the trailer) you will be able to take him places and SRD is right the bug factory does wear off.
    I too hate mornings, my commute is ridiculously short along canal and lunch time is a 30 min scoff at desk and read the news and CCE most days. Then the ride back home is short and quick to get kids from school and child minder.
    Other than that I took up playing the GPS catpure the flag game "ingress" (join the resistance) on my phone so I had something to keep me entertained for an evening while I pushed the buggy all across town to give mrs Spytfear time to sleep.

    Long story short - it's temporary you will get back to more hours and miles

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. paddyirish
    Member

    @badcyclist - evidence that it does get better- about a month ago, I had a wonderful ride from the Bay into Edinburgh with my eldest (now 7). We both had fun all the way in and I was so proud of her.

    One other idea, on weekends, you'll be starting to visit the zoo, Almond Valley, Boness railway, Muddy Boots etc. Assuming you have a car and your wife is happy to drive, no reason why you couldn't put a change of clothes in the boot, leave on your bike 1/2 hr early and meet them there... Still enjoy the activity as a family, but get some exercise, and the little one will likely be snoring at least one way anyway.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. Mandopicker101
    Member

    Prior to a trailer bike, have you considered a child trailer? Weight of child, other 'stuff' plus trailer gives you a decent workout. We bought an inexpensive model as a means of bringing our dog with us on cycling trips (we were daft about that dog).

    If memory serves, you can have child in a trailer from about 6-9 months (once they can hold their heads up). Ours remained in use until about age 4 and I still have it in the shed, destined for rebirth as a regular cargo trailer.

    Ours did daily duty for the nursery run (stored at nursery in their pram shed), shopping outings plus more fun stuff like day trips out.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Aye, I've got a cheap halfrauds trailer for the childcare run. 3 minutes either way so not enough for excersise. Still, it's a 10 minute walk so worth it, and the trailer is easy to pull.

    I've still not 'strava'd' the childcare and work run, so don't know how far it is yet. Probably 6 miles a day in bits.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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