CranesInTexas

Ok, time to take the plunge. I’ve been trolling for a few weeks and have decided to introduce myself. I am 30 years old, 6’2” and weighed 275 at the peak of the summer. Enough is enough determination has me currently fluxing around 260 (damn Thanksgiving). To help me get determined about losing weight, I signed up for the MS150 thinking the training work alone should get me back to healthy with an end goal of the 220s.

Stage two of my plan happened this week as I got off my comfort bike from the LBS and purchased a road bike off CL (2006 Trek 1200 with stock pic below).

Now I just need to find the time to ride. I have two children under two years old, so road time is a tight squeeze. Good news is my wife is highly supportive, but I find that riding takes time away from my kids so I am stuck and my kids will always win. Any suggestions or stories of balancing would be greatly appreciated.

That is it for now, but I appreciate knowing I am not the only one out there. Although it is a little mind blowing to think that I can be capable of riding 100 miles in one day.

PS – I love the Clyde themed Jersey by JonnyHK. If there were a tall version, I am definitely in for one. God blessed me with the legs of a 5’11” man and a torso of a 6’4” one.

gotls1

Welcome!

If it's at all feasible for you, commuting is a great way to get in more ride time and miles. When I drive to work it takes me about 30 minutes. When I ride, it takes me a little less than an hour. So at the end of the day, when I commute on my bike I get two hours of riding, but it only "costs" me an extra hour of my day. Way more efficient than driving to a gym (10-15 minutes) riding nowhere or walking on a hamster wheel for an hour and then driving home again (another 10-15 minutes).

flip18436572

Good luck and have fun with it and you will continue. When it becomes work or no fun, take a small break and come back to it.

Da Tinker

Outstanding! Congrats on both starting to ride & getting signed up for the MS 150 (I'm making the wild assumption it is for the BP MS 150 in April)!

Hope to see you on the road this spring, as I'm a ride marshal for the MS 150. The spring training rides in the area are great.

Engyo

Cranes -

Find a Burley or equal trailer - I hauled my daughter around everywhere, and the extra weight and drag were great training. Of course, that was when she was under 5, and she's 20 now........

Doohickie

+1 on the commuting. I hadn't found the time to ride for years, but started commuting in February and now I'm riding most days of the week.

CranesInTexas

Thanks for the advise ya'll. I do have a trailer that i hook up to my comfort bike. I also have a kid carrier in the back so my eldest can sit with me and the second with my wife. this is a good solution for the weekends.

as for the commuting, i would absolutely love to, but i'm nearly 30 miles from work and would have to cross or follow 3 highways and a tollway.


as for the MS150, yes its the BP MS150 from houston to austin and i'm really excited for it. i think a solution might be rides on a trainer after the kiddies fall asleep.

thanks all

txvintage

Welcome Cranes!

Yep, it's sometimes hard to dedicate the time to riding. I struggle with feeling selfish sometimes that I "take" the time for "me". In so many ways this is the polar opposite of the truth though.

There is a regular poster, who is being sort of quiet these days, named Ben who has served as one of my motivational members from a distance. He started at over 400 lbs and has come so very far. In his writings he offers that the reason he is doing this is so he will be around later in his young children's life and be able to to be more active and involved with them.

I can think of no more noble incentive.

My youngest is 18 and in her senior year of high school and my oldest is coming up on 23. I think about being around later in their lives ail the time these days. This is about health and weight loss, but it will also turn into being a cyclist. Most people have hobbies or ways they pass their time. Many people end up passing their time on the couch watching TV. Yep, you are with your family when doing so, but I offer that you might be making best use of the time.

There are much worse ways to spend time and money than on your bike. The time spent riding will greatly increase your quality of life and energy levels that you can share with your family and friends and is a huge dividend.

It may take some work on figuring out a fair and equitable sharing of duties and responsibilities with your wife when it comes to caring for small children. Some one has to be there with them and no one wants to hang it all on their spouse. I'll bet that if you look at your current schedule, you can find some ride time in there that allows yuu to do both.

Welcome to the herd!

Missbumble 

:WELCOME:Hi Cranes! Congrats on the new bike! Yup one day you can go out and ride 100 miles!! They just add up. I started in June and rode my 100 I think in September. I do think it is about compromise. I have 2 cats - and I let them do their own thing and usually ride sat and Sunday mornings. Find a good group ride to join - and that will help you set the time aside. Perhaps every Sat or Sunday you ride at the same time with the group and maybe that will just become what Daddy does to take care of himself? Just a thought.


Have fun!

Miss B

Tom Stormcrowe

Cranes, welcome to the herd!

kenseth03

Welcome Cranes! I have a four year old and I always feel guilty leaving him to go riding. It's not easy but I tell myself that if I take some time now for this I will be around as my child gets older and I will be able to participate in some activities with him without feeling like I'm going to die. So in the end a little "selfish" time for yourself will pay off big time down the road. Good luck and congratulations on the new bike! Keep us posted on your progress.

H.A.W.G.

Im young an know nothing about parenting, but like everyone says. Take time now to be around later. You are also being a great role model for them. They see dad exercising and enjoying it they will want to do the same, and when they are old enough, get them involved, even if it is just them riding around the neighborhood at the beginning of your ride.

steve2k

Commuting is an excellent way to get on the bike, maybe there are other options for you, could you drive half way and cycle the rest? Maybe drive in, cycle home, cycle in, drive home etc. I sometimes go the long way home (10m instead of 6m) just because it's such a nice way to commute.

I ride my bike completely guilt free; I get some exercise, it's good for weight loss, my son sees a healthy model of Daddy cycling to work and my wife gets to have the car. I don't feel that it eats into my family time much and it prevents me from going out at the weekend on my own.

bautieri

Nice to have you here!

So both of the kiddos are under two...might be a little too soon to take them with you in a trailer but that is definatly an option in a year or so. Then all you have to do is get mom to come along and bicycling can be a family activity.

Stick with it and provide your children with a healthy role model!

Neil_B

Welcome!

hammond9705

Get some lights and ride early in the morning. I get up at 5am 3 times a week, on the road by 530, and can do 22 miles and be back before 7. On weekends I leave early (6 or 7) for a ride, do 40-50 and be back by 10 or so.