How much time do you feel you have to have available to get a good ride in?

I have noticed that since my overall distance has increased I require more time (duh),but with that, I am passing on smaller windows of oppurtunity to ride. I feel guilty for doing it but the shorter rides with more intensity seem to zap me for the rest of the day. Also my recovery seems to take forever, ruining the longer rides I have scheduled later in the week.

Suggestions?

Try waking up really early and going before work. I do that sometimes and it really energizes me for the rest of the day.

Funny you should mention that. I really want to start commuting to work. Problem there is that I work in downtown Denver. Start time is 4am and I have yet to find a safe route into work. Very frustrating but something I am still working on.

Wow that's early. I would get on the bike at around 4 am. But I haven't done it in a while. I stay up too late.

I start work @ 4am which means I would have to leave the house 2:30-3 am to make it on time and get changed it to my uniform. Which is fine, just concerned about safety at that time of the morning ride thru, let's say, less desirable portions of the city.

Yeah that schedule makes it really tough. Well I guess afterwork seems to be your only option then.

How long and how intense are your shorter workouts? If you are working out for at least two hours, my suggestion is to make sure you consume about 200 calories containing 4 parts carbs to 1 part protein for recovery.

for shorter windows of time, I just hop on my MTB and do a little cross-training.