Struggling to train

[coffeejo]

Hang on, we're not talking competitions here, are we? They're only sportives. It seems to me that if you don't have time to ride your bike over the winter, don't sign up for events so early in the year.

 

[uclown2002]

I have some similarities with you. I work 12 hour shifts 6-6 earlies and nights. I get up at 3:50 and ride 25 miles to work even though I live 2 miles away. I also ride 20 miles coming home. On nights I am also a zombie as I only get 4 hours kip. So I get up and ride my bike for 40-50 miles. That is refreshing for sure and wakes me up. On my days off I do much the same 40-50 miles just about every day regardless of the weather conditions. So it can be done if you are motivated enough!

 

[Doyleyburger]

Ha ha easy there @coffeejo . Only been cycling since last summer.
Still a lot to learn !
Just sportives, we are only beginners here and obviously circumstances can change over a matter of months as does the weather. We obviously knew that over winter riding time would be greatly reduced but the weather has been horrendous here at times. And what with Jason having his son every weekend and working 12 hour shifts in between, it's harder to get out than a lot of people realise. Understand what you're saying "why we're these sportives booked up if we don't have time to train?"
It really is just a case of we didn't realise how much less frequent we could actually get out on our bikes.
Lesson learnt

 

[coffeejo]

Fair enough, hadn't twigged that side of things. Personally, I'd forget the events. Ride when you can for now and just enjoy it.

 

[Doyleyburger]

Well there booked now.
Just have to fail miserably I suppose haha
I think the answer is simple here
We just need to MAKE the time to get out somehow

 

[uclown2002]

To OP

if you're working 12 hour shifts I presume like me you get more days off during the week and not just on a weekend?

 

[VamP]

If you want to find the time, then you will.

I work 10 hour days on easy days, quite often a lot longer. I travel internationally on business. I also have children from a previous relationship, and from my current relationship.

What you need to do is get organized. Ride to work, it's a great way of eking out training time. Sitting in a car is (expensive) dead time. Extend your rides to accommodate your training needs. My morning ride is 25 miles, usually quite steady. Evening rides can be up to 75 miles, and you can do any workouts you like in 75 miles.

It might sound hard, and at times maybe it is, but the rewards are there if you want them. Personally, I am always gutted on the days I need to drive rather than cycle.

For cheap but great lights go here. Spend the money you save on fuel on some good quality clothes. Build up gradually, you will be amazed how quickly you start feeling not only less tired, but actually more energetic, even during your working hours.

Finally: Good luck.

 

[vickster]

Sportives aren't time limited and not a race. If it takes 12 hours to do the 100 miles, so be it and enjoy the sense of achievement

 

[VamP]

Sportives aren't time limited and not a race. If it takes 12 hours to do the 100 miles, so be it and enjoy the sense of achievement

It's not a very happy sense of achievement if you roll in to the finishing area after everyone has already gone home.

 

[Jason.T]

To OP

if you're working 12 hour shifts I presume like me you get more days off during the week and not just on a weekend?

Only a full day on Mondays, but apparently and hopefully our shifts are changing in April which means a longer stretch of working (I think 7 days straight will be the longest) but does result in a longer stretch of days off

 

[Jason.T]

Lights I think is the answer, I'll have a look at some of the suggested above and try and start riding to work on my night shifts earlier than I had planned

 

[Jason.T]

Sportives aren't time limited and not a race. If it takes 12 hours to do the 100 miles, so be it and enjoy the sense of achievement

There is nothing on the 2 we are doing which says they have to be done in a certain time but on the 100 miler it does state if you don't reach a feed station within their time slots you are asked to retire

But having said that there must be some sort of time schedule as a friend of hour done the 100 miler 2 years ago and got lost, he arrived at the finish as everybody was leaving in there cars and he wasn't allowed a medal or his name on the finishing list, he was gutted but does laugh about it now

 

[Spinney]

It's not a very happy sense of achievement if you roll in to the finishing area after everyone has already gone home.

That depends on your point of view. The OP is a beginner, and if the long sportive is the longest ride he has attempted so far, just finishing it will be an achievement, never mind the other people..
I've done 4 100+ mile rides over the 5 or so years I've been cycling 'seriously'. They each took me 10 hours or more - but I was well chuffed when I finished them (not to mention knackered and sore!).

 

[VamP]

That depends on your point of view. The OP is a beginner, and if the long sportive is the longest ride he has attempted so far, just finishing it will be an achievement, never mind the other people..
I've done 4 100+ mile rides over the 5 or so years I've been cycling 'seriously'. They each took me 10 hours or more - but I was well chuffed when I finished them (not to mention knackered and sore!).

You are right it does. Happily the OP has just posted directly above your post, explaining that coming in after everyone else has gone home would not be in keeping with his aspirations.

 

[Jason.T]

I would hope I could do it within 10 hours, I done 60 miles in about 4 and a half hours

Even if it took me 12-15 hours I would still be pleased I done it, even if it is the case that I don't get a medal or anything to show for it, I will plod along until I get to the end