breadbin

I spoke on another thread about how I always make excuses for not riding but I'm beginning to think my job is non-conducive to exercise!

I'm on my second night out of 4. 12 hour shifts 8 to 8. Finish my nights on Monday morning. Back in on day shifts Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. 13hr shifts. 7.30 to 8.30.

I was all set to get back into cycling but gonna find it awful tough to squeeze in spins around these shifts. Monday, Thursday fair enough any suggestions? I'm on my feet all day in work and at 330lbs I'm not fit to fart when I'm off. Anyone else manage cycling around busy work schedules got any ideas?

nfmisso

commute by bike.

Steve B.

If you have a safe spot to leave your car, do so, bike home, return by bike next day.

Maybe the Monday to Tues and Friday to Sat.

If it's a short commute, find ways to extend just to get distance/time in.

Do a wet towel shower at work. Leave clothes obviously.

JohnJ80

get good lights and ride at night. I travel for work a fair bit, run a business and ride 6 days per week average. It's a matter of scheduling, discipline, priority and desire.

J.

breadbin

I'd love to commute. I used to live in the city and had a 7 mile commute which I enjoyed. Now I'm in the country and the commute is 17 miles each way. Probably take me 2 hours each way the way I am now and I'd be killed after it.

There's a little village about halfway that I might be able to leave the car at. I did think about doing it before but never followed it through. Was thinking it might not be a good idea before a busy shift. Might even be better for me - give me more energy for the day?

I know what you're saying about making time for it though. Even with all the shifts I do have an hour to spare here and there I just need to prioritise it.

TrojanHorse

Well, find time. Everybody is busy.

Hit the rack when you get home, wake up an hour early and ride before work. Get to the point where 17 miles is approximately an hour or so and you can start commuting. It's possible!

brawlo

I have a friend that works a similar style of shiftwork. He's on Zwift now and does a short trainer ride after work. On his last shift before a break and his days off he will go for a ride to smell the roses. He races as well as being a martial arts sensei. He's also now owner building a house. I honestly don't know how the hell he fits it all in!

MikeRides

I've been in the same situation lately as well as I've been working 4am-8pm 6 days week. I'm itching at the thought of just investing in some GOOD, BRIGHT lights to go riding after work but my job is very physical that I'm usually dead tired at the end of the day. That leaves me with Sundays, which I've reserved for my girlfriend (and soon, my daughter when she returns from summer camp). Wish I could convince my girlfriend to ride a bike, but she never learned how to and simply isn't interested.

Nstoltzner

Although I only work 40 hours a week at a 9-5, I too find it hard to fit time in sometimes. Beyond this I am also a full time Graduate student which takes a ton of time. For me it is just riding when I have a chance and when I go out, I go as far as I can to get my miles in.

jsigone

an hour a day is all you need to get some good miles on the bike x 4-5days a week. Make it a habit, don't break it.

You can have 50-100miles in those 5 hours on the bike

DMC707 

I cant believe im even suggesting it, but a decent e bike, like the Specialized Turbo (not too bad at $2500) - would help you knock that commute out

Then keep your low slung racer or mountain bike fresh for those weekend rides

Rollfast

Yes, park the car more often. When gas got to $3.00 a gallon ten years ago I couldn't even afford to drive anymore.


Probably saved my life, I was about ten years into being a diabetic and all of that sitting in a moving chair using one leg was a bad thing at them time.


That leg was good at getting a speeding ticket too.

dfritch

Shift work sucks! I just retired from a job that had me working different shift every week for the past 3 1/2 years. During the day I had great intentions of riding, but by the time I got home I was to exhausted to get on my bike. Shift works can lead to poor diet habits, lack of sleep, a number of health problems. I feel for you!

breadbin

I'm technically only 40 hours a week too but sometimes the duty runs into the previous week. This is my 5th long day out of 6! In again tomorrow and so will have worked 6 out of 7. Horrible but I'm off 3 starting Wednesday. Hope to do a bit then. I find I'm exhausted on my days off though so I don't do as much as I should.

Seriously thinking of getting a new job!

Leebo

17 miles? That is my commute length, I do 2-6 trips per week. The car on back roads takes and hour, 20 minutes longer by bike. Start there. Got a lunch or dinner break? pedal.

breadbin

I would like to get myself to a point where I could do the 17 miles in an hour. Wouldn't be bad at all. I'd say it's more like 2 hours now. Gonna try it on my days off to see.

If I'm honest I'd be worrying about being able to manage the job after a big cycle in the morning. I find it tough enough now as it is. It's not a job I can just go in and switch off. Saying that I need to change something. I think a commute would be the way to go!

Leebo

So, start with something multi modal. Take a car, bus or train part of the way.

FBOATSB 

I am currently working six ten hour shifts per week with 130 miles per day of commuting. Hopefully for just a few more weeks. It may be hard but I still manage to force myself to get a minimum of 1 hour per day, maybe more on Sundays. I do this by riding outside when weather permits and indoors any other time.

squirtdad

what type of lunch break do you get? Even if not riding, could you walk 20-30 minutes? Then add longer rides on your off days? Doing something will get you a slow and steady gain.

breadbin

I do get an hour for lunch, officially only 40 mins but if I were to go out nothing would be said. My colleagues would be sympathetic. I'm very conscious that I'd be sweating like mad and looking like a beetroot though!

VCSL2015

at what speed lol

VCSL2015

Watch TV less. Sit on the couch less. Sleep less.