Cycling And Work Restrictions

Carrera said:

I just wondered whether anyone else has had similar problems to myself regarding work and cycling training.
Essentially I work in security but find there is hardly any time available to either ride my bike or visit the gym. Moreover, I've had to reduce my cycling to just over an hour's intensive riding various times a week, but always at night.
It's really quite amazing. My employers tend to have me doing 12 hour shifts, maybe 8 - 10 days in a row. So, I was working on Christmas night, Christmas Eve night, New Year's Eve night and New Years day night. Now they're complaining about my holiday entiitlement (which is supposed to be 4 weeks per year).
Of course, with all the hours I earn enough money to invest in cycling equipment and, theoretically, I could even buy myself a Trek Maradon if I wanted. Some people tell me I'm lucky to be in work.
However, trying to work 12 hours every night without breaks or holidays is killing me. Should I change my job and do other people have similar difficulties?
P.S. I note that the standard of health amongst our staff is very poor. Most of the staff don't get sufficient exercise and smoke during the night. They don't seem to realise that such a lifestyle will negate all the advantages of the work they do.

My schedule is stable but by the time I arrive home I have about 1 hour to get ready and get on the bike.
By the time I get the dogs walked and change I have about 45 minutes or less before dark.
Too dangerous on the winding steep roads here at night.
So ,yes I am restricted to the trainer on weekdays and the temperatures have been cold here also. Wind chill right now is 4 F with 47 mph gusts.
Call me a sissy but that is too much for me.
I'll be doing the "MAG- Sprints" again tonight.
Working is a pain but I enjoy not starving so I compromise.

I confess the situation has been pissing me off. Working conditions in our firm aren't too good which is why we struggle to get stable staff who will stick it out. Soon as someone finishes or calls in ill, places have to be covered by somebody. You can do 9 nights in a row and have your hopes set on the 10th day that's supposed to be off. You're set on doing a nice, long bike-ride on that free day and then, suddenly, the whole thing can be cancelled.
I've had to evolve a very intense system of cycling where I sprint like hell up long hills for an hour till I pour with sweat.
The other day I saw a program about Italy and feel very tempted to go there (as a jobseeker-tourist) with my bike as the scenery must be terrific for cycling. Ivan Basso also raves about how good Italy is for cycling and he lives there, of course.

jhuskey said:

My schedule is stable but by the time I arrive home I have about 1 hour to get ready and get on the bike.
By the time I get the dogs walked and change I have about 45 minutes or less before dark.
Too dangerous on the winding steep roads here at night.
So ,yes I am restricted to the trainer on weekdays and the temperatures have been cold here also. Wind chill right now is 4 F with 47 mph gusts.
Call me a sissy but that is too much for me.
I'll be doing the "MAG- Sprints" again tonight.
Working is a pain but I enjoy not starving so I compromise.

Carrera said:

P.S. I note that the standard of health amongst our staff is very poor. Most of the staff don't get sufficient exercise and smoke during the night. They don't seem to realise that such a lifestyle will negate all the advantages of the work they do.

They probably drink, shoot dope and eat too many donuts too. Work for most only provides for a warm place to $hit. Nothng else matters much.Consider a career change if stuff matters to you.

I'm gonna make you guys sick (Apologies in advance). The situation at my job is really, really good. We've got a gym on the ground floor with 3 Lemond rev-masters. 3 days a week, they'll "give" you an extra 30 mins at lunch to exercise. We also have a locker room and showers. 90 mins is enough time to go down, get changed, get in 20 miles, shower, change and get back upstairs to enjoy a sandwich or soup at my desk. In fact, that's what I did today. I also work a flex schedule so I have every other Friday off (I just started this). I can't wait for daylight savings time so I can really pour on the miles...

Given your situation, I'd look for something else to do. You'll never regret gettin miles in, and your body will thank you one day. How many people when they die say "I glad I worked so much in my short time here...."

Carrera said:

I confess the situation has been pissing me off. Working conditions in our firm aren't too good which is why we struggle to get stable staff who will stick it out. Soon as someone finishes or calls in ill, places have to be covered by somebody. You can do 9 nights in a row and have your hopes set on the 10th day that's supposed to be off. You're set on doing a nice, long bike-ride on that free day and then, suddenly, the whole thing can be cancelled.
I've had to evolve a very intense system of cycling where I sprint like hell up long hills for an hour till I pour with sweat.
The other day I saw a program about Italy and feel very tempted to go there (as a jobseeker-tourist) with my bike as the scenery must be terrific for cycling. Ivan Basso also raves about how good Italy is for cycling and he lives there, of course.

T-Mobil is there now. I would just like to visit and ride the area sometime for about a month or two.

Well, my job is good for making money but we don't get paid overtime rates, we work all public holidays and we do some 70 hours, week in week out. Yes, I've saved up money with my job but after 3 years with hardly any holiday time, I'm getting fed up with it. I can't believe they're dragging their heels over a holiday either.
The best shift I guess is 6.00 a.m. till 14.00 p.m. I used to do that when I had an outdoor job and it would be really cool for cycling.

Lonnie Utah said:

I'm gonna make you guys sick (Apologies in advance). The situation at my job is really, really good. We've got a gym on the ground floor with 3 Lemond rev-masters. 3 days a week, they'll "give" you an extra 30 mins at lunch to exercise. We also have a locker room and showers. 90 mins is enough time to go down, get changed, get in 20 miles, shower, change and get back upstairs to enjoy a sandwich or soup at my desk. In fact, that's what I did today. I also work a flex schedule so I have every other Friday off (I just started this). I can't wait for daylight savings time so I can really pour on the miles...

Given your situation, I'd look for something else to do. You'll never regret gettin miles in, and your body will thank you one day. How many people when they die say "I glad I worked so much in my short time here...."

Lonnie Utah said:

I'm gonna make you guys sick (Apologies in advance). The situation at my job is really, really good. We've got a gym on the ground floor with 3 Lemond rev-masters. 3 days a week, they'll "give" you an extra 30 mins at lunch to exercise. We also have a locker room and showers. 90 mins is enough time to go down, get changed, get in 20 miles, shower, change and get back upstairs to enjoy a sandwich or soup at my desk. In fact, that's what I did today. I also work a flex schedule so I have every other Friday off (I just started this). I can't wait for daylight savings time so I can really pour on the miles...

Given your situation, I'd look for something else to do. You'll never regret gettin miles in, and your body will thank you one day. How many people when they die say "I glad I worked so much in my short time here...."

Good grief. This sounds like the exact opposite of the companies I've worked for - including the last 2 placed that laid me off because of mergers/downsizing/outsourcing/whatever. In fact there isn't a place I've worked for yet where the working conditions weren't so terrible that most people had very low morale (self included). In fact working in the computer business has been the worst. Management always had very unrealistic expectations from engineers.

Our management is dumb at times. They haven't figured out yet that if you treat people well they will give more of themselves and work harder. The short term gain you might get by begrudging certain rights is usually negatively compensated for by a longer term loss of morale.
To my mind this is a fundamental problem with the country as a whole - decent worker ethics. I often don't see the point of our signing an E.U. charter on working regulations if people over here have insufficient backbone to take holiday time (rather than becoming martyrs and being too scared to take a stand).
Don't know if any of you folks ever saw Disclosure starring Michael Douglas? You know, that happened to me as well - sexually harassed by a female boss. On one hand I kind of enjoyed it as the woman in case was reasonably attractive but, on the other hand, it became really stressful and out of control.
It turns out there are lots of guys who suffer sexual harassment at the hands of female bosses at work but can't complain as they'd just be laughed at as being a wus. But let me tell you, female bosses can be ruthless in the work place.
Now I guess I'm drifting from the subject matter.

Doctor Morbius said:

Good grief. This sounds like the exact opposite of the companies I've worked for - including the last 2 placed that laid me off because of mergers/downsizing/outsourcing/whatever. In fact there isn't a place I've worked for yet where the working conditions weren't so terrible that most people had very low morale (self included). In fact working in the computer business has been the worst. Management always had very unrealistic expectations from engineers.

The company I work for love you if you put in a lot of hours (I'm hourly with OT). But I can choose what time to come in and leave. So I come in at 400hrs and leave at 1400 or 1600hrs. which will give some time to ride in my trainer or outside (I also need to spend time with the family). I also work on Sat and Sun. (sometimes). I really can't complain since I've been making good money and can save for some new somponents or even a bike. But it was surely better before since I get to ride up to 2 hrs during lunch time and don't need to work on weekends. It's hard if you don't have a definite weekly schedule, but you just have to squeeze in the time to ride. One time I was riding my trainer at 2200 hrs til 2330hrs. :eek: Then to work the next day at 500hrs.

I also make money out of my job but I disagree with the long hours ethic. I don't mind working long hours occasionally but not all the time. Tiredness leads to inefficiency.
This isn't the place to discuss any personal problems but I just found out my firm wants to opt out of their responsibility to provide holiday leave so I'm in two minds as to whether I should quit on principle. Granted getting another job wouldn't be easy so maybe I would be making that trip to Italy after all.
The problem over here is that people won't fight for the most basic employment rights which means I'm usually the only one who will make a stand. But to be frank, the health of the people who have been following such an inefficient work ethic is pretty poor. Some of them seem red in the face with blood pressure and smoke like chimneys. They hand their wage cheques over to the wife at the end of the week and do no exercise at all.
I used to work in health promotion and know that this area has a high rate of early deaths (many people popping off at 60).

eortiz said:

The company I work for love you if you put in a lot of hours (I'm hourly with OT). But I can choose what time to come in and leave. So I come in at 400hrs and leave at 1400 or 1600hrs. which will give some time to ride in my trainer or outside (I also need to spend time with the family). I also work on Sat and Sun. (sometimes). I really can't complain since I've been making good money and can save for some new somponents or even a bike. But it was surely better before since I get to ride up to 2 hrs during lunch time and don't need to work on weekends. It's hard if you don't have a definite weekly schedule, but you just have to squeeze in the time to ride. One time I was riding my trainer at 2200 hrs til 2330hrs. :eek: Then to work the next day at 500hrs.

Carrera said:

I also make money out of my job but I disagree with the long hours ethic. I don't mind working long hours occasionally but not all the time. Tiredness leads to inefficiency.
This isn't the place to discuss any personal problems but I just found out my firm wants to opt out of their responsibility to provide holiday leave so I'm in two minds as to whether I should quit on principle. Granted getting another job wouldn't be easy so maybe I would be making that trip to Italy after all.
The problem over here is that people won't fight for the most basic employment rights which means I'm usually the only one who will make a stand. But to be frank, the health of the people who have been following such an inefficient work ethic is pretty poor. Some of them seem red in the face with blood pressure and smoke like chimneys. They hand their wage cheques over to the wife at the end of the week and do no exercise at all.
I used to work in health promotion and know that this area has a high rate of early deaths (many people popping off at 60).

I worked all last year i got all the things that i wanted to get ready for what i am about to do this year starting this week, Next week i get to go learn to drive a forklift truck so that will be 8hrs on my [censored] getting paid relatively well and all the energy that i am going to save is going to be put onnto the pedals. Sure its going to being awake alnight and sleeping between 3-5hrs and feeling extremly drained and really having to push onesself to get the bike out..

day 7 and already upto 23mph average my taget is 30mph but i guess we all start with good intentions

My last job screwed me. First they said they would hire someone else to help with the 'schedule' as I was the only person at a supposed 3 person branch. I ended up working 72hour weeks for 3 months. NO OT. Straight salary. But supposedly it was worth it at the time. Good stock options, expanding etc. F'ers laid us (all the people that started with me in various areas) all off about 2 weeks before our options were vested, they had grown to almost 10K in just under a year. 10K bye-bye. Same thing with the 401k match...bye-bye.... 😠

I sure took one for the 'team' 🙄

Meek One said:

My last job screwed me. First they said they would hire someone else to help with the 'schedule' as I was the only person at a supposed 3 person branch. I ended up working 72hour weeks for 3 months. NO OT. Straight salary. But supposedly it was worth it at the time. Good stock options, expanding etc. F'ers laid us (all the people that started with me in various areas) all off about 2 weeks before our options were vested, they had grown to almost 10K in just under a year. 10K bye-bye. Same thing with the 401k match...bye-bye.... 😠

I sure took one for the 'team' 🙄

I got stuffed with my last job 1 week before Xmas I was gutted, and all the missus had to say was all that time you worked and all those hours you missed out on your bike last year, Here take this TACX I magic and regain your miles, maybe you'll get a job in the next few weeks, but don't be so down hearted..

:eek: **enjoy your time at home with us since the summer won't be here for some time 😄

Carrera said:

I also make money out of my job but I disagree with the long hours ethic. I don't mind working long hours occasionally but not all the time. Tiredness leads to inefficiency.) ...

Money isn't worth cr@p if you don't have the time, energy or motivation to enjoy it. The conditions in your current job aren't likely to change if there are other staff willing to accept the long hours and decrease in the essentials like holiday leave.

They sound like a bunch of soul-sucking parasites and, if I were you, I'd start looking for another job. The act of just looking for another opportunity is motivating in itself 🙂 .

The one thing that I am fortunate with my boss / company owner is that he used to be on the Clemson University cycling team. My riding buddy also shares an office space with me so the owner is always coming in and asking how the cycling is going and when we are going again. He says he want to get his bike in shape to ride and go with us. We also have another coworker that goes mt. biking with us.

I find it interesting that several people at work started to emulate me because of my eating habits. Now when I go to get water to mix my protein drink there are others doing the same. The owner of the company sees me doing and goes to get his protein powder. You can walk around my office and see jugs of protein powder in various offices.

I have never preached fitness nor do I even like to talk about it anymore because in many cases we can come off as being a "fitness snob", but it seems that these people have watched me and started doing it on their own. It makes me happy that we can have a positive influence on some folks without even saying a word.

I feel very blessed where I am working at, but I know that is not true for many people.

Well said. I agree with you entirely.

Miss Meow said:

Money isn't worth cr@p if you don't have the time, energy or motivation to enjoy it. The conditions in your current job aren't likely to change if there are other staff willing to accept the long hours and decrease in the essentials like holiday leave.

They sound like a bunch of soul-sucking parasites and, if I were you, I'd start looking for another job. The act of just looking for another opportunity is motivating in itself 🙂 .

Felt_Rider said:

The one thing that I am fortunate with my boss / company owner is that he used to be on the Clemson University cycling team. My riding buddy also shares an office space with me so the owner is always coming in and asking how the cycling is going and when we are going again. He says he want to get his bike in shape to ride and go with us. We also have another coworker that goes mt. biking with us.

I find it interesting that several people at work started to emulate me because of my eating habits. Now when I go to get water to mix my protein drink there are others doing the same. The owner of the company sees me doing and goes to get his protein powder. You can walk around my office and see jugs of protein powder in various offices.

I have never preached fitness nor do I even like to talk about it anymore because in many cases we can come off as being a "fitness snob", but it seems that these people have watched me and started doing it on their own. It makes me happy that we can have a positive influence on some folks without even saying a word.

I feel very blessed where I am working at, but I know that is not true for many people.

I think that you are most fortunate, i used to turn up at work and i was mocked constantly about the amount of food i used to consume, 4 this 5 that eating 3-4 times the amount of food that we eat, i used to be called names all the time. I ain't over weight if anything i'm underweight but i used to spend the entire of breaks eating and snacking throughout work time. but the mocking got to a point that i would just maybe get one butty and maybe a banna but i began to feel week, lethargic and rather tired, but come July august i was no longer going for rides, since i no longer had the energy since i was under consuming on calories.

i happened to loose a stone or more over this period of time, my parents commented that i had lost weight, thy where even curious weather i had began to take drugs.

But now Since leaving that place of work i have managed to regain over a stone. I think i'm eating the right stuff, probably not cause i'm a lover of fast food and confectionary since i feel there is no refreshing hit of that from sugar hopefully i'll reagain the speed and power that i lost last year😄

Just think how lucky you are.

Carrera said:

I just wondered whether anyone else has had similar problems to myself regarding work and cycling training.
Essentially I work in security but find there is hardly any time available to either ride my bike or visit the gym.

I thought you were a teacher?

Ah, I used to be a teacher of English as a foreign language. I have a reasonable level of higher education but no PHD or anything like that.
My field certainly isn't sports science although I did do a human biology course some years ago at uni.
The reason I do a fairly low level job as a security guard is in order to use the time for study. I know of no other job when you can sit in an office all night and get paid for reading, if you're willing to take a lower rate of pay.
The incredibly long hours are good for my studies but not so good for my cycling. There is no real compromise or ideal solution at present.
The only way I can get a bike workout is to do really intense climbing/sprinting over 80 minutes or so. It's not so good for fat burning, of course, and my long term endurance will suffer. I have no choice, though.
Things are so tight I had to drop my gym work entirely so all I can get in is the sprinting up hills.
Still at least I'm out there braving the cold and rain. Amazingly all the other cyclists have retreated for Winter while I've been riding and improving somewhat in 50 mph winds. Of course, I suppose I could get a static roller and sneak it to work with me. That could be one way round the problem.

ric_stern/RST said:

I thought you were a teacher?