dark13star

The other day I biked down to the reservoir and was talking to a guy as he got is kayak ready. I realized that I hadn't even had my kayaks out yet this spring. I also realized that I don't have a fishing license yet, and that I haven't planned any backpacking trips. I just got back into road biking this year, and it is eating up most of my active time. I am enjoying it and am in better shape than ever, but I think I need to get some balance, now that summer is almost here and the snow is melting in the mountains.

I notice that a lot of people here are hardcore cyclists, but for those of us that are more generalists, what else do you do and how does it compete with your cycling time? I am not talking work and family, but your other activities. I am now trying to balance road cycling with:

-Mountain biking
-Skiing (still can ski in CO)
-Snow shoeing (mostly over for the year, but still needed up high)
-Hiking and trail running
-running
-swimming
-Backpacking
-Flyfishing
-Kayaking
-Weight and core training
-Wildlife and nature photography (usually combined with something above)
-SCUBA (this one requires a bit of travel from Denver...)

I need more leisure time, but these activities can certainly eat up a paycheck too. Fortunately, we don't have kids and my wife does several of these activities too. The great thing about a bike is I can get on it at home, without driving someplace first. Although I have been taking it up to the mountains a lot to practice climbing.

rollin

Underwater photography. Cycling is my cheap hobby.

hyunelan2

I've actually been trying to 'cut back' on the number of activities/hobbies I have. I had too many and not enough time for all of them. Gave up modifying/tinkering with cars, computers & electronics.

Cycling is still probably the most time-consuming of thing I do (thankfully). But I also am involved with:

-Tropical Aquariums
-Jetskiing (probably my last summer with the Jetskis ,)
-Automotive detailing (couldn't give up the car hobby completely)
-& whatever else my wife comes up with

EventServices

Too many to list.

I'll rest when I'm dead.

caloso

Gardening, reading, skiing and snowboarding, old movies.

dark13star

I like this attitude.

J.Lockdown

I love biking but at the same time their is only so much I want to do in a day. So I try to balance it with other activities that I have done before I started biking

- Indoor soccer (Sunday and Thursday nights)
- Running
- Swimming
- Weight Lifting
- Bowling
- Golf
- Tennis
- Eating Food ha

enjoi07

graphic designer

cyclist

lover

uclamutt

Rock climbing
Cycling
International travel + SCUBA
Acoustic guitar when time permits

artifice

hm, made me think about things I've been doing less of lately, too:

• downhill ski racing. winter, obv no issue there
• running. only make it about 1x/wk now, compared to 4...
• yoga. maybe 2x/month now, instead of weekly?
• reading. now my post-ride recovery activity + sunbathing as a preventative measure for bad tanlines
• design. unfortunately I still have to go to work instead of cycling all the time, so i stay somewhat in the groove, although a good portion of work time turns into BF time?
• shopping. riding 5 days/week keeps me out of malls. maybe good for the pocketbook in one aspect, except for what I spend on cycling now instead
• drinking. lets be honest, my weekends out have lessened in prep for a ride the next day... eeh.

Hida Yanra

Music production & Live DJing (electronica)
Playing the piano
Dancing (if there is music- there shall be dancing)
Reading
Baking
Design & Construction (currently a few custom furniture pieces and an apartment remodel)
Graphic Design

dark13star

Yeah, I like to drink too, but the dehydration messes with my rides, so I find myself cutting back.

Some others made me think about the indoor activities too. I haven't picked up a guitar in weeks and much of my reading has been cycling rags or BF. I do a lot of research reading and writing for work though.

dcvelo

Interesting question....

- hiking
- kayaking
- birding
- music (guitar and banjo)

...also just got a sport fishing boat though really did that for the wife and stepson. I'd just as soon spend the time on the water in my kayak. But it'll be fun....

Cycling is decidedly at the top of the list (I'm typing this in my cycling kit after a lunch time ride...).

mrbUSA

Pre birth of son:
Had 24' Grady for fishing, scuba, spearfishing and lobstering
Fished and Scuba'd every Saturday
Trap and Skeet shooting
Gym x 3 per week
Cycling somewhat
Beer Drinking
Cigar Smoking
Grilling

Post 4-year old son:
Sold boat (1-week before hurricane Wilma)
Scuba gear dry rotting/collecting dust
Purchasing fish and other seafood
Shot trap 4x on one day
Since re-picking up cycling, I loathe the gym but still go at least once per week
Cycling 3x per week
Beer Drinking continued..
No time for a cigar and out of eye sight of 4-year old son
Grilling continued...
Cycling 3x per week, did I mention this? Cycling is the ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dcvelo

Beer drinking didn't increase?

mrbUSA

Likely the most consistent Sport I have....

humboldt'sroads

I've got the same problem - been serious about road riding for the past year, much to the detriment of:

climbing/bouldering
skiing
snowboarding
backpacking
surfing
running
photography
yoga
skateboarding
birding
swimming
festival-going
golf
guitar
frisbee
photography

Hell, I'm even sacrificing Burning Man this year to be able to afford bike crap and rides! I'd say I spend less than half as much time and money on unhealthy things (drinking, smoking, festivals, etc...) now that I'm on road-crack, and in better shape than I've ever been! Never thought I'd rather drop $40 to go hang out with a thousand strangers in spandex instead of hitting up yet another Bassnectar set!

steaktaco

I like to Dremel.

jupiter422

Riding
Running
Hiking
Backpacking
Flying Airplanes
Foreign Languages (Spanish, Portuguese, some Italian)
International Travel (Latin America and California, mostly)
Firearms
Acoustic Guitar
Rebuilding Engines
Remodeling
Piano
Personal Trainer & Coaching
Running a Business
Trumpet
Wine (Dark, dry reds, mainly south american)
Electronic Design & Computers
Cooking (& Eating)
edit: Amateur Radio

God only knows what I am doing when I am sleeping... not that I do it often or for very long. I am sure that whatever it is, it is productive.

Snow_canuck

Listing to vinyl, yes, omg, sweet smooth vinyl through a tube head amp.

H82GOSLW

I get up at 5am most everyday to workout. Still to cold in the morning to ride the bike....so I either do my P90X workout or run 4 to 5 miles before going to work 2 hours away. I'm only riding once per week on the bike, usually late sunday mornings. For those of you who have a list of 5 to 10 'hobbies'.....do you have kids? My 3 kids' activities tie up most of my free time. Much like mrbUSA, my list of hobbies changed considerably after the kids were born.

GeeBee650

Spinning for an hour 2x per week
Swimming 30-50 laps 2x per week
Running 3-6 miles 2x per week
Weight lifting 2x per week
Cycling as much as the weather will allow

I want to fit kayaking in there somewhere.

artifice

nope, no kids for this kid. (24 y.o)

Freaknhell

.

well, this looks like as good a place as any to jump into the fray. Been lurking for a year since I started cycling. Just upgraded the beginner bike to a nicer ride and now completing some of the transformations I used to think were ridiculous in my pre-cycling days. . . GU, Lycra, riding on the streets etc. Anyway, I still buy and listen to a lot of vinyl myself. To this day there's nothing quite like the sound and feel of vinyl! Kudos to you sir.

I also like:

Mtbing
listen to good sounds / collecting vinyl
reading
cussing
drinking "good" beer
going to the woods and blowing **** up (w/out the beer)

dark13star

I bet that those of us who have the longer lists are the ones without kids. That is certainly true of the people I know and I spend a lot more time with my child-free friends lately because the others just can't get out as much.

I suppose we will pay for it when we are old and don't have anyone to ignore us