“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” – Zig Ziglar
Finding time for everything in our lives is hard. With work, vacations, school, soccer practice, family time and so many other obligations, we seem to get busier year after year. It is impossible. To have a balanced life, something has to give, right? Maybe, maybe not. Like the quote above, it is not so much about the time you have, as it is about your priorities and direction. A hobby like cycling takes a lot of time. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice it, no, you just have to set your priorities straight.
Direction Means Planning
If you want to get into cycling, do! It is a great way to stay in shape and enjoy the outdoors. If you are a cycling veteran, then you know how difficult it is to get your training in. Either way, creating and maintaining the habit can be a challenge. One way to help this, is to set goals, simple goals, to keep yourself accountable. If you want to ride 6 times a week, then do it! If your goal is to get on your bike 3 times a week, then that is what you should do. But you have to be consistent and you have to feel accountable. If you have a flimsy habit, it is much easier to make excuses and let it cut into your valuable family life. To have a balanced life you first have to get your plans and goals in order.
Click the link below to learn ways to develop good new habits:
Cycling Isn’t First
MAMIL’s or Middle Aged Men in Lycra. This has become a negative term describing men who put cycling first and everything else on the back burner. If you type it into google, you will find many articles of wives discussing their frustrations about their bicycling husbands. It is not a good thing. But it is easy to understand why this happens. Cycling is an intensive sport requiring more time and effort (sometimes money) than many other types of exercise. To get good you have to put in the time, it is that simple. But it shouldn’t be your first priority. You can cycle seriously and have time for everything else, but it takes a little direction. Here is some advice from writer Andrew Critchlow to help you balance your life as you cycle through the hills of Utah:
- Family comes first. Professional cyclists will often talk about the bike being first and foremost. Remember that you’re not riding for Team Sky and that your family always comes before the $12,000 carbon Pinarello in the garage.
- Planning prevents poor performance. Devise a racing and training calendar around your family and career, not the other way around. Periodise your schedule to allow for one weekend every month away from racing and break your season up so that you spend ample time when you don’t go near the bike. Don’t take your bike on holiday with the family unless everyone else plans to go cycling too.
- Get them involved. Share what you’re doing with your family – but don’t bore them with it. Watching you fly past along with 80 other riders every 20 minutes in your local road race will turn them off the sport quicker than watching a Lance Armstrong interview.
- Set a budget. Cycling is an expensive sport: you can spend an unlimited sum in the pursuit of success and carbon fiber. Be open with your partner and agree a monthly budget on cycling. Then stick to it.
- Train early. I find getting out on the bike by 5am in the morning works as I can be back by 6:30am, in time to help get the kids ready for school. That way, I’m not eating into time I would otherwise be spending with my family. An indoor trainer like a Wattbike can also help, as it means you can train without absenting yourself from the family space.
If you have been in a bike accident call us today.