Making time to ride is HARD. Between work, kids, social commitments, kid’s social commitments, and you know, sleeping and eating, it can feel near impossible to make time to ride.
However, it’s important. Not just for kicking butt in your age group at Iceman but because the freedom and exercise that the bike gives you is going to make you, well, a better you, As Elle Woods famously said,”Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” All jokes aside, we want to spend more time in the woods, preferably on some single track. Here are some ways I try to make that happen without neglecting my other responsibilities:
1. Schedule it- My husband and I both race, so we split the days of the week to train. I ride Tuesdays and Thursdays after work while he hangs out with our daughter and he rides Monday and Wednesdays. That way we both know who is going to be on kid duty and who is riding. I am more likely to schedule bike dates with my friends or go on group rides as long as I know ahead of time that I will be able to ride those days. Saturday and Sunday are more flexible and usually we both get some time to ride. Our daughter is young, so we don’t have those weekend sports to work around yet! As soon as I know about a group ride, race or event I put in on the calendar so we both know about it and that way we are more likely to work together to make it happen.
2. Get the whole family involved- Often we go as a family to a trail (preferably one that has a play ground) and bring our bikes and lunch. One of us will hang out with our daughter at the play ground and one will ride then we will switch. Often my daughter will want to take her strider on the trail as well. I’m just hoping when she’s older she still thinks I’m cool enough to ride with, and that I can still keep up with her!
3. Bring it with you- If it is my day to ride and I have to drive somewhere to work I try to just bring everything with me that I need for riding. That way I can spend less time commuting and just go straight to my ride after work. Do my coworkers make fun of me for walking out of the office in cycling shorts? Sure do, but I know I look awesome to other cyclists and that’s all that matters. I also know I have a better chance of catching bedtime if I ride right after work is done.
4. Embrace the short ride- I struggle with this. Often I will just not ride if I can’t ride more than an hour, but I should! An hour or even a half hour in between other commitments counts! Make it a hard effort. Work up a sweat. It may not seem worth the hassle but hey, it might just be the highlight of your day.
5. Keep it together- Your biking gear that is. Between the bike, kit, gear, and nutrition sometimes the time it takes to get it all together in such a time suck. Now, I keep everything I need for a ride in a dedicated cycling bag. After a ride I replace whatever nonperishable nutrition I used, wash what I need to wash, throw my big computer and taillight on the chargers and when its done I put it all back in the bag. That way it’s all packed and ready to go for the next time and It’s one less barrier to getting out the door.
6. The early morning grind- Yes, everyone knows this one but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it. Sometimes the only time you have is in the early morning before the chaos of the day starts. Personally, Im not a morning person so this doesn’t work for me but I’m lucky enough to have some time to ride at other points of the day.
These tips may or may not work for everyone, they may not even work for most people but hopefully there is something helpful here you can use. Most of all when you do find time to be on the bike relish it. Enjoy it fully. Do not let the parental/work/whatever type of guilt seep through. Use this time to fill your cup so you can show up for those who need you. Embrace your time on the bike even when its hard to find that time.
Thank you to our 2024 Iceman Ambassador Meg Hagerman @hagermanm