cantdrv55

I'm going stir crazy. I haven't ridden since my son was born on 9/5. I'm grouchy and fat...OK, fatter. Haven't gotten more than 5 hours of sleep a day on the weekdays and, on the weekends, I do the nightshift until 8 AM taking care of my boy so my wife can get some shuteye. If this keeps up much longer, I'll have to break out the CycleOps and spin in the garage. I hate riding indoors but I hate not being able to button my pants more.

How long was your layoff and how did you cope?

BlastRadius

I don't think I've been off the bike longer than a week since I really started riding again in 2003, even with the two little kids. Just take the 1-2 hours and do it. Work it out with your wife. It's better for you both in the long run.

The injuries I have now till probably keep my off my bike the longest by far.

rydaddy

Invest in nice lights, front and back, and plan a route that would be safe to ride in the dark (ie light traffic, no thugs, etc). The window of opportunities will widen beyond belief!

You can also get on that trainer but I agree with you, it gets a little boring. You can set up a tv and watch movies or something.

To answer your question... I get the shakes after 3 days off the saddle.

Gee3

When I moved back to the Bay Area last year I took off about 5 mos. My weight also took off! Doh! Coming from flat Texas to hilly Cali was not making cycling fun for me. But I am learning to appreciate climbing some now thanks to a compact crank and a 12-26 cassette! haha!

mayukawa

Longest period off the bike? More than five years...though I jog and ran (usually 5~15 miles per session) five nights a week during that cycling haitus.

msincredible

I was off from 2002-2006 (personal reasons). I stayed in shape running and hiking.

0_o

cantdrv55:
I know what you're going through and I feel for ya.

At least you have a trainer and can get some type of riding in. I know it’s not as wonderful as being out on the road but it’s better than nothing .

I am sure you will slowly start seeing more riding time once your little one starts getting close to 6-8 months of age. My little guy’s 8 months old now and I’m starting to finally see a decent increase in my riding time …

As for coping with not being able to ride I’m not sure how I got through it. I think the constant daze I was in from the lack of sleep, always being being around the baby and having friends over to visit the baby made everything a lot easier to deal with.

huytheskigod

Now...

mtnwalker

13 years for me. I discovered the wonders of computer gaming and was addicted. I passed a lot of time sitting in front of a computer screen and gained 40 pounds. No hiking, no sports. The only physical activity I had was work. It was a sad life and I hope not to experience that again.

Wait. I hear CounterStrike calling my name. I'm going to see whats going on. I'll be right back.

genejockey 

Not counting the time from when I got my Drivers License at 16 till I finally bought another bike at 38?

2002(ish) - 2006(ish). And unlike msincredible, I DID NOT stay in shape.

I just stopped riding when the rains came one winter, and didn't start up again the next spring. I think I was burned out. I'd been doing group rides with PenVelo twice a week, and not doing my long Sunday solo rides, and I just stopped wanting to ride. It turns out the long solo rides are what I like most about cycling.

5 years off the bike left me with a lot of physical conditioning to try and recover, bad habits to break, and weight to lose.

uspspro

Are you in a situation where you can commute by bike (with lighting of course)?

That way you are "forced" to ride everyday

msincredible

Or maybe even just short errands (groceries etc.) on the bike? A little is better than none.

drjava

I was off the bike for a long, long time after riding everywhere and in every weather during college in the midwest. Two years ago I dusted off the old Panasonic and started commuting. I'm having so much fun doing that, I bought a fixed gear for a little added challenge.

Whats next? Carbon fiber and boy racer clothes? Never know.

jonathanb715

More than 10 years - I was transferred overseas, and quickly decided that riding in and around Warsaw would be close to suicidal (and I had been riding in NYC before). The roads weren't built for lots of traffic - the city was planned for almost everyone (except party leaders) to take public transportation. To be legally parked, you had to have one wheel up on the curb - no bike lanes! Plus, most locals were new to driving - I was scared in a car, much less on a bike. Our first was born there, 2nd was born on my second assignment (in Israel). The kids eliminated any time to spend on the bike - I used to get my workouts in at a gym during lunch.

Do as I say, not as I did - work it out with your wife and make time to get back on the bike!

JB

Ty.S

Get one of those Tug-A-long trailers.. attach it to a tandem, and the whole family can go out and get some fresh air.

Just my thoughts. I've been off my bike since the Mt. Diablo challenge, work, family issues, colder weather, nagging injuries have been "a" cause. The only real cause is ME. I need to set up my trainer, and I can't even motivate enough to do that lately. I keep saying "I'll do it tommorow".. but that has lasted for 2 weeks now. Actually.. I might as well do it now.

Gee3

During my hiatus I stayed in shape... round's a shape right?

mtnwalker

Hmmm, my shape was more pear like.

mtnwalker

+1 on commuting. But with your current schedule it may be a bit difficult. When the kid gets older and set to autopilot, like mine, then commuting to work is much more doable.

cantdrv55

Thanks for the advice everyone. Can't commute to work (I drive 35K miles/yr up and down CA and NV for work). I can do short grocery runs though and just suck it up and ride even when I'm tired.

Gest24

I was sporaticly riding from 05-07. Nothing serious like before I joined the Navy. But recently my income has gone up and I've been able to afford a bike I want to ride every chance I get. Now I just need the 13 hour work days to stop so I can get more saddle time in.

Tapeworm21

Seven stupid years I was off my bike. In high school I rode every day after school, and I loved it to death. Then I went to college, did some things I shouldn't have.... ended up doing practically nothing for 7 years. My Stumpjumper just collected dust in every apartment I moved to. I got married, moved out to California, quit smoking, calmed down my lifestyle, and all is good again. Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself.

steelblue

Over 10 years for me. Job, marriage, kid sucked up my riding time and gained 30 pounds. What little riding I did was just leisurely rides with my wife and son in the Burley. Now my son is seven and his days are more structured, I have more time to ride. My wife is also very supportive of me getting back into shape for obvious reasons.

Cantdrv55- If you are interested, I have a Burley trailer that sits two you can borrow. It gives you a chance to ride and give you wife a break w/o the kids.

huytheskigod

About the only riding I can get in is the short ride from my office to the picnic tables where we have lunch. It's nearly dark or dark when I get off work. I would commute but it's only 3 miles and I don't have shower facilities unless I join the gym on campus. I wish I could do some rides in the dark but can't afford the needed lighting at the moment. I'm left to weekends and they seem to be filled with stuff most of the time. I'm getting frustrated though so I think some serious rearranging of priorities and time will need to be done.

Bostic

From 1999 until about a year ago I was not riding. A combination of friends moving away I used to ride with, commuting from SF to Mt. View as well as driving out to Concord for band practice. Over the years I would see other cyclists out and about doing their thing and the itch would return but it would disappear fast enough. I would still follow the TDF and see how Lance and crew were doing each day as well as look over the occasional bike website. Last year about this time I had had enough, I had to get back to cycling. I didn't want to over commit but did want to buy a better bike than I had before ('94 Trek 2300) so I bought a 2004 5200 on ebay and haven't looked back since.

minivandriveby

Yeah! Same here, 1999 was a bad year for cycling... I used to ride a lot before I met my wife who is more of the runner type. My bike went through 3 moves, two kids, and 0 miles before I gave it to charity last year. I got the bug this year and realize what I was missing for over 8 years.
My suggestion for now is to dust off that trainer and use it every day. Same for the Ski God Huy.. Go buy a nice trainer and get acquainted with your television an hour each night. Buy a used Burley Cantdrv(got mine off craigs for $65) and take your kid around as soon as it is safe to do so (not sure about newborns so please consult your pediatrician ). I love these two things. Worth every penny. I am able to ride something every day and I feel great!