Managing work and cycling

[Red Robin]

Most advice given so far speaks to early morning riding. In my experience, as your waking time is within your control, it is the only reliable way to go. 

 

I don't know what you are graduating as and what kind of job you will be doing but I can assure you that if you are joining a profession or a Corporate, you will not be leaving at 17h00 whilst building a career.

 

Get to bed early, ride before traffic and work and you are ready to take on your day.

 

I can only wholeheartedly agree with the above regarding riding in the morning, you are starting out your career now and your behaviour, work ethic and performance will have ramifications as to how far you actually progress in your chosen career. Don't be in a rush to leave work or be a clock watcher. You may work many hours 'unpaid' but ultimately it is only to your benefit.  

Good luck with both your riding and your career and may they both be successful.

[lechatnoir]

Don't forget to factor that thing called 'personal life' in as well. 

['Dale]

Thanks for all the input guys. It seems I will have to become a morning person

 

I already have a IDT and work with a coach so my rides are already structured and updated weekly. At the moment I do all my indoor training in the evening (bar weekends) at around 9:30pm. That seems to work best form my current schedule.

 

 

 

BSc Computer Science specializing in AI (research modules) and software engineering. Hoping to pursue a honours as well quite soon after graduation

 

That'll be the biggest adjustment

In a few weeks of adjusting, you'll really start to enjoy those early morning spins

 

Just get to bed earlier 

Another adjustment there to make the whole thing work.

[devocean]

I can't comment on what it's like in Jhb, but in Cape Town I find if you can commute to work by bike (have shower facilities and don't live too far from work) it's easy to get mileage in around the 8am - 5,6,7pm job without waking up at stupid o clock. I don't do indoor trainers or early mornings. My commute to work is 15km, but if i take a detour it's about 52km. 

 

So the bare minimum its 30km a day and a day where I take the detour to work will be like 67km total. To get to work by 8am with a 52km commute, you only have to leave home at 6:30am (will vary slightly for how hard you want to ride). 

Most people here are sitting in traffic for longer than that!

[Frosty]

Be prepared to losesacrifice a bit of personal/training time when you start working. As your job is probably your main source of income, you need to do whatever is necessary to keep the status quo intact.

 

I've worked at companies where I lost a lot of personal time, and my cycling took a bit of a dip. It happens and if you can't work around it, vasbyt - it won't last forever. If it does, make a choice and find something else.

 

Have a look on Strava at the times each person is out training and it will give you an idea of what is required.

[Grease_Monkey]

I have found it's really a matter of where you live and work. I have always had to be at the office 8 to 5, unfortunately like that for most of us - and when you start off it is most likely 8 to 6/7pm. That leaves you with mornings, as your afternoons/evenings never work out the way you plan, and for me, I just miss too many planned rides if I don't go in the morning.

 

When I lived and worked in Stellenbosch I could easily fit in a nice 1.5 - 2hr ride in the morning before work as I could go from my doorstep onto the trails. Now that I live and work in Pretoria a morning ride is near impossible as I am just not comfortable riding in the traffic on a roadbike (and don't really enjoy it), and getting out on the mtb involves loading up the car and travelling 30mins to the trails (which ads another 1hr total), and then I have to drive to work, so just too much time in the car (and diesel too expensive with that much driving).

 

So the balance I have found is to get in a 3 watt bike sessions in the morning before work per week, and a night ride every Tuesday evening at Wolwespruit bike park, and rest on a Friday. I save my long rides for the weekends. It is not ideal as I never sleep in, but it works, and cycling is better than sleeping anyway.

 

If you have the luxury of staying in an area where it is safe to cycle from your doorstep count yourself very lucky and make the most of it while you can. My one regret is that while I lived in Stellenbosch I did not make enough use of the trails!

[Spinnekop]

No more junk miles

Or less

Get very specific with your training

 

It also depends your level of racing or performance goals.

 

Overall, yes, it is a time and energy management tightwire

This. 

[Spinnekop]

I have been working and cycling in Pretoria for over 16 years now.  Normal 8-5 job (But it is usually more)

 

Wake up at 3:30.  Out the door at 4:30

Road

Ride neighbourhood until 6am

Kids and Mrs dropped at 7 and work at 7:30.

 

Once you start working (Especially in your field) you'll find that evening rides are a luxury.  You almost always work later.  Family time.  Relax after a long day etc.

So mornings are the better option for me.

 

And as 'Dale said.

Much more specific training.  No "empty" kilos anymore.

[dave303e]

I have been juggling full time job, training and a part time honours degree all of last year and will continue now this year. You will realise how important your time is and if you learn to manage it you will be fine. I actually have gotten a lot stronger since juggling as you learn to vasbyt and just get on with it a lot more.

 

For me a typical week:

The days I have class(Class usually 6pm-9/10pm last year this was mon/wed and sometimes thurs) I will train 5-6:45am, then off to work by 7:30, leave work 4:30 and off to class, it makes a looong day so eat and fuel up your body well.

The days without class I train after work and did the longer sessions to make up for it.

 

Fit Chef so you don't waste an hour a day cooking for 1(assuming you a bachelor) and you get good food

Never waste a lunch hour take it and do the things you need to do after work if possible to free that time for training.

[Jurgens Smit]

I have been juggling full time job, training and a part time honours degree all of last year and will continue now this year. You will realise how important your time is and if you learn to manage it you will be fine. I actually have gotten a lot stronger since juggling as you learn to vasbyt and just get on with it a lot more.

 

For me a typical week:

The days I have class(Class usually 6pm-9/10pm last year this was mon/wed and sometimes thurs) I will train 5-6:45am, then off to work by 7:30, leave work 4:30 and off to class, it makes a looong day so eat and fuel up your body well.

The days without class I train after work and did the longer sessions to make up for it.

 

Fit Chef so you don't waste an hour a day cooking for 1(assuming you a bachelor) and you get good food

Never waste a lunch hour take it and do the things you need to do after work if possible to free that time for training.

 

What is your Honours in?

Is fitchefs' pricing worth it when compared to buying and cooking your own food? 

[Bateleur1]

I have been working and cycling in Pretoria for over 16 years now.  Normal 8-5 job (But it is usually more)

 

Wake up at 3:30.  Out the door at 4:30

Road

Ride neighbourhood until 6am

Kids and Mrs dropped at 7 and work at 7:30.

 

Once you start working (Especially in your field) you'll find that evening rides are a luxury.  You almost always work later.  Family time.  Relax after a long day etc.

So mornings are the better option for me.

 

And as 'Dale said.

Much more specific training.  No "empty" kilos anymore.

 

What time do you get to bed?  I need about 7.5 hours of sleep (yes every person is different here).  To get up at 3:30 I need to be in bed by 20:00.  Getting home at night at about 18:00 does not leave much time for family especially if you look at prepping and cleaning for dinner, kids school stuff, etc.

[Honkdonk]

Get up early, ride for 1,5hrs whichever way - group, wattbike etc. Get home in time to shower smash a brekkie and a coffee and make sure you are on time. As you grow and work your way up what ever ladder it is you choose to climb it will, at some point become easier.

Getting married and having kids throws the whole routine out the window. Make peace with that now.

Or dont get married and ride all weekend long and as many times as you can during the week..

[leeubok]

Most advice given so far speaks to early morning riding. In my experience, as your waking time is within your control, it is the only reliable way to go. 

 

 

Not true. I often set my alarm for early in the morning, but then somehow someone presses the snooz button, making me sleep in... 

[eddy]

Not true. I often set my alarm for early in the morning, but then somehow someone presses the snooz button, making me sleep in... 

 

 

This does happen to my alarm too. If only I could find the XXXXX who hits the snooze button !

 

Seriously though, waking up and riding is a habit which takes about two weeks to get into. It requires you to gradually make your bedtime earlier, get into the swing of having all your kit sorted the night before and committing to it.

 

Will be starting tomorrow morning !

[Spinnekop]

What time do you get to bed?  I need about 7.5 hours of sleep (yes every person is different here).  To get up at 3:30 I need to be in bed by 20:00.  Getting home at night at about 18:00 does not leave much time for family especially if you look at prepping and cleaning for dinner, kids school stuff, etc.

Bed around 8pm, 8:30ish

We travel together as a family.  So typically I'll pick the little one up at around 5:10.  Mrs at 5:15.

So we have around 3 hours "family time" in the evenings. 

Plus the hour in traffic in the mornings.

Not enough but not bad.

 

Getting home at 5:30am/6am gives me the opportunity to still catch everyone in bed and make them coffee. 

Win/win

[pe3nguin]

Quit your future job. Ride full time. You're welcome.

My invoice is in the mail. <3