The Two-and-a-Quarter Rule

Hi Wade, how many wife’s/partners out there that would like to know that you've added them under the same “Point” as the kids, I would guess. None. Stay upright.

PS. I was listening to 3AW at 7:00pm last night while they were talking about the clear away down Moordy way. Surprisingly they favoured it, but only because they think it’s great that someone or at least one council is trying to fix a problem.

I don't have kids so I'm speaking in complete ignorance. Apparently they take a little bit of time!

This is so true. I cannot give the same amount of time to cycling that I did befoe kids. I squeeze as much as possible in but there is always the priority factor that comes into play.

Great website Wade, thanks for your support.

Good to know. But how do a break the news to the wife that i'm reducing her back to a 1/4 point?

Hmmmm work one point? Really?

MOST people probably (and I mean white collar) despise cubicle work. Most people work to live (some sadly living to work).

Personally, I am happy to give work 0. My other internet pursuits, though they consume my time, I don't consider them work as I enjoy them and they're geared toward freeing me from cubicle slavery. I give them 1 at the moment, but 0.75 down the track.

My gf I am giving .75 to.

I am giving .75 therefore to my cycling, travel, and surfing.

Are we allowed

Easy – its just like buying new bike gear. Don't mention it until she notices it and then tell her just like you have always had those wheels, she has always been on a quarter point.

2¼ rule is totally spot on; any less and you are wasting away your life, any more and you are..er…wasting away your life!

I take 3/4 of my work points and put them towards cycling ;-)

Trust me Wade, little kids' hearing is especially attuned to hearing a bike being wheeled outside and door closed at 5am. I could drop a hammer in their room at 9 or 10pm and they just snore through.

The idea of allocating points is a good one because it means you focus on them, and you actually cut out those that don't rate or deserve a point (ie. standing around waffling at work when you could be getting home to the kids; getting up early for a ride that also allows you to hit work hard early).

If you can, be ruthless with your point allocation (ie. social diary) as you are with training – ie. no long junk miles, concentrated effort at all times then get off the track.

Having said all that, jeez I hated the mature age students at Uni, sitting down the front like sucks, answering all the questions, shushing the louts talking up the back…have I beome one of them now?

ow, I hate it when you come up with these lifestyle comments that are totally correct and force me to pull my head out of the sand. I enjoy my cycling addiction and don't want to admit that there are more important things in life. Most of all, I hope that my wife never reads these blogs of yours as that will just further reign in the already generous leash she allows me for this early mid-life crisis.

1 pt cycling (probaby more)
1 pt wife and kids
.25 pt work

need to develop a 28hr day

Stick to black (especially as Assos stuff is often that colour) for your bikes, gear, etc. She'll never notice.

Otherwise, as Mr.T says, get yourself some nuts.

You are right JJ – it is only at 5am that you realise the true loudness of a campag rear hub!

its a very good point you've brought up today Wade. to the point and though provoking. bravo. – please write something in fairfax re: bike lane clearway in Kingston CC (mordi way)

Agree – Kingston should be given great applause for this move (tricky one for them given their residents and voters are generally against it). Will be great to have parking between mentone and mordialloc between 6-10am on Saturday and Sundays. As this is going to be a 12 month trial we also all need to be doing everything we can to ensure that this is not abused by our fellow cyclists so that they decide to make this a permanent thing for the future. I also understand that Bayside Council is voting on a similar arrangement for their stretch of road next week so keeping the pressure on them to do a trial as well.

Well said!

My wife and kids are into cycling… it's called maximising what works! Eldest daughter loves the velodrome and can't wait for road season. Wife soon to have a baby, but itching to get back on the bike and start riding again. So our Fridays and Saturdays are quality family time – riding! Works a treat.

I'm not sure of the the 2 1/4 concept in terms of scientific rigour, but I think the point is a really important one. I regularly get reminders to pull my head in, get off the bike, and focus on what's important – to which I reply “the bike IS important!” The outcome of those conversations is rarely positive =)

To be honest, I'm not sure if you can ever really “balance” things. Life is always so fluid and what works one week may be chaotic the following week. I love cycling and feel like I cannot do it enough. But when I'm old and dying I really can't see myself wishing I'd climbed such-and-such a hill one more time, or competed in whatever race just once more. I'm far more likely to wish I'd spent less time on the bike and more time with the people that matter most.

In spite of that, the instant gratification I get from riding means I'll be back out there at 5.30 tomorrow morning! Ouch, wife just hit me again! (Jokes… she hit my bike =))

This is great news, I've just gained a point back!!!! My GF is just about to go back to uni to study Law while still working almost full time.

cycling 1.25
girlfriend .25
work .25
other stuff .5

After seeing the hysterical anti-cyclist response on Herald Sun website I am not so sure how it will go down dave. Just like when Neil Mitchell stokes that fire every six months, it's like a dog whistle for all the redneck muppets to come out of their caves. Then again, the Age is a more educated (if often Leftie) reader.

All those bogans posting about the Kingston CC move, most still think rego pays for roads (taxes do), and if you don't pay rego then you can't use the road (ie. pedestrians, wheelchairs, etc.). None even understand that the rider in front means less traffic for them. Even less understand you can't fit 1,000 cyclists riding 30-40 kph's on Beach Road onto the bike track, where apparently the walkers, dogs, kids, etc. will miraculously disappear.

If a cyclist rides through a red light, then we're all maniacs and it's ok to mow us down. If a driver speeds or talks on their mobile phone then it's soceity's fault, or the police need to crack down on it, not the fault of all drivers.

I can almost guarantee that most complaining about Kingston's move would never even park down that way anyway, so their supposed inconvenience argument is bulldust. I am a St.Kilda resident and anything that keeps the bogans from parking in my street and trashing the place on Saturday and Sunday nights is welcome. Unfortunately the City of Port Phillip Council is one of the worst for cycling measures, apart from the Copenhagen lane in Fitzroy Street, every other road is decidedly un-bike friendly. They are too busy looking to hand out my rates to one legged lesbian whales, or hsoting festivals for the bogans of Melbourne to park outside my house, p1ss on my car, and chunder in my garden. This weekend's going to be a good one..

I liked your style last week with the article about engaging with drivers. Lots of comments in the pack about it. Keep it real.

perhaps hallmark needs to make a “I LOVE (cycling more than) YOU” line of cards.

Do your GF a favour. Tell her to study something else!! Legal is the most negative profession there is. It's like a leech that feeds on your soul. You know the Thriller video clip? Those gouls are actually lawyers. Sorry, don't listen to me I'm just jaded. I should get back to work now. I love paper warfare.

Justin your third paragraph is spot on.

I agree with the concept behind today's post but I think the 2 and a quarter is definitely fluid.
When I am with my wife (and soon to be child) then its full commitment of 2 points (0.25 is still thinking about that guy's bike we just passed, that road I just saw that looks good for riding, what time I need to go to sleep to be ready to ride the next day, where am I riding etc).
When I am at work its a full two points to work (0.25 dedicated to surfing the interwebz looking at CT and other sites and looking out the window at the Swan River, envious of the people I see out there riding).
And when I climb on the bike for the commute or for the weekend ride its a full 2 points with 0.25 dedicated to thinking of things I should have done at work, with my wife, round the yard etc. Very quickly, that 0.25 gets absorbed though, and there is a full 2.25 dedicated to nothing but the ride.

Sheesh JC, you allright mate? Anyway, surely you are talking about real estate agents…

I used to live on Beach Rd in Sandy (now off Beach Rd in Hampton) and I can't agree with this (except the rest of your post, which I agree with re: mobile phones, riding on shared paths etc). What do you want residents to do who don't have off street parking (and there'd be many), or those who live a fair old walk from the nearest side street (think elderly/disabled).

How is this fair?

Although the nature strip is common/crown/whatever land, I don't think this is going to help much with attitude toward us.

A better solution might have been reducing nature strip depth as they have done in Elwood to allow for the install of a bike lane.

And re: your comment about it stopping bogans parking here and there, no, it won't, it just shifts the problem – in any case it seems you're referring to your particular location around St Kilda, and whilst you make some fair points about regard for property, I don't see how affecting residents is going to ameliorate that.

Tony, I don't think it's fluid at all. 2 1/4 is an arbitrary rule of thumb that makes a lot of intuitive sense. The point is that people who genuinely excel at some thing are invariably, over a sustained period of time (ie years), doing a small number of things (most often one thing) very well rather than many things less well. Most of us make a decent fist of squezzing 4 things into 2 1/4. People who are at the top of their field, whether they be the best cyclist, business leader or husband/father that you know, are probably giving that one thing 1.5 points and paying a very large personal, social or professional price. But they're the very best at one thing. Narcissitic? Sometimes. But at least it reminds the rest of us to force rank the way we allocate our time and reflect on the consequences of our decisions.

GOLD!

..and here was I thinking “Yesterday's post was so good, I almost hope he doesn't post anything as it will be a let down”

and you pull this one out!!

Fantasic Wade and all the comenters.

I have 4 kids under 10, so they probably get more than 1 point.
Cycling definitely gets at least one point,
but I am lucky that I do “fly in – fly out” work – when I am home, no points go to work,

When I am at work, no points go to Wife and Kids.

Thanks Ducan. BTW, this is the gentleman who I had lunch with yesterday ;-)

Sorry Duncan, maybe I should have qualified with.. the 2 and a quarter points is definitely fluid “for me”.
Mind you, I don't genuinely excel at anything – and would never seek to say I was even if I thought so – but I have a heap of fun trying.
Anyway, this is way over my allotted 0.25 of a point – time to get back to the two points of work.

This is a pretty timely thread, I was just talking about this with a mate today.. and articulates my situation perfectly. I actually do want to ease off from competitive cycling and just do a minimal amount to stay fit, but another part of my cries foul at all the hard-earnt racing fitness I will loose that I have accumulated over the years. Its like a crazy drug addiction that I just can't figure out how to accept breaking. Any tips?

The study of law is fascinating. It is the practise of law that is soul-destroying.

Fortunately I have quite a small girlfriend.

I don't think the concept is meant to be calculated over such short periods of time.

Try broadening your perspective to “what did I really bother over the last year?”

Yep cheers – I thought more about what Duncan had said after replying and I see the point of the post. Not necessarily a good point (for me) when I think about how much I obsess over cycling compared to most other things. But it does help put things in perspective regarding a fair use of my time.

On this morning's ride I noticed that my allocation of time to wife, kids, and work – while necessary – has severely impacted on my riding. I'm a father of four (5th due in a couple of months) and one of the guys I ride with destroyed me in everything today. And I used to be faster than him! While I'm doing well to squeeze in 10 hours a week, he's smashing out 20 and it shows.

So while I've committed to allocate 'points' (time) to other things I think are more important, I HATE seeing what happens to me when I ride with the single guys with far fewer responsibilities.

Wow 5 kids … you need more points. :)

This is the issue.. I am ultra-competitive, but I feel like its basically not a fair competition anymore, and I want to take my bat and ball home. It sounds defeatist, and it is to a degree, but perhaps this is a personality flaw of mine. If I can't dedicate myself to something 100%, I'd prefer not to not do it half-arsed, or I find it frustrating. Maybe I just need to lighten up and just enjoy cycling more as a fitness / social outlet, and give up racing, but that is what I am struggling with! :-/

This sort of discussion should be shown to the other half when she/he complains about cycling. It serves as proof that it is impossible for a working & married with kids cyclist to have the time to get any action on the side.

On a separate but related issue, with 14 girlfriends, 14 majors, 2 kids and 1 wife, how was Tiger spreading his points?

Tiger should stopped at the 18th hole. Boom boom ching!

and how many points do you reckon Norman Rockefeller had going? Do swingers get to take their points back afterwards?

Tiger perfect case in point: golf 1.5, shagging 0.50 (high on variety and efficiency, low on foreplay), 0.15 mates, 0.1 family

It's only 6am to 10am on Sat/Sun mornings.

It starts on Beach Road at Mundy Street (just city side of the SLSC) and goes to the turn at Nepean Highway at Mordi (21 kms all up). I just spent a few minutes looking at Google Earth and would argue that the vast majority of housing are single dwellings and have garages/off-street parking for its residents. Same for flats, they all have car parks.

It's only back up in St.Kilda where Councils allow apartments without car spaces, and even then we have got used to the fact that you are not entitled to park outside your house every night, just that Council will charge you (ie. City of Port Phillip $120 a year) to park somewhere in the general neighbourhood.

No idea either way about the elderly or disabled park out the front on the street, I doubt there are that many who don't already have a space on site, but neither of us have the facts on that one.

It's also only a 12 month trial. In that time Council would not have even got designs for nature strips works past concept stage. Digging up the nature strip is a big cost, I know because I do it in my other life (non cycling). There are huge costs in exacavating and relocating infrastructure such as HV cables, drains, etc. This way, they can consider doing that (and getting the budget) if the trial works.

9,100 cyclists use Beach Road on a weekend, according to a recent BV survey.

Michael Forbes is now a quadraplegic after being hit by a truck and cannoning into a parked car a couple of years ago, not his fault.

On Christmas Eve 2008, a driver at Mentone killed one rider and seriously injured his brother, hitting them from behind and stating he was distracted by a parked car.

Storm in a teacup.

How many of the people crying about it actually live on Beach Road there anyway?

If they don't, what's their problem?

Justin Sums it up perfectly, enjoy what matters, your bike may not be there forever so do what you will on it now but dont isolate your view to the white lines on the road. family and friends are inevidebly what life is about, find friends on the bike, encourage family to ride but dont sacrifice them for a race that comes around each week or each year. there will always be a next race or a next training day. but kids turn 1 once and walk for the first time once and all week we complain about missing that sleep in in a warm bed with good company ;) but we all get out at 5am to ride….
maybe making time to enjoy life and family will in a way make your time on the bike more enjoyable and successful. i know i perform far better on the bike knowing that i havent ignored my GF or family in order to ride.
This way our success' and experiences can be shared and enjoyed and not fall on the def ears of an ignored significant other…

there is plenty of room for balance! for me work rates a very distant 3rd to 2 other things that make me very happy…

I am very lucky and my gorgeous wife is also a keen cyclist, and last winter did more km than me most days, now that I am not working. ( got made redundant.. yeah!) and she is working part time, we train together most days and race together lots of weekends, so I give wife and cycling 2 points, the rest of life gets the .25! Thanks Wade, made me realise how lucky I am.

Yeah but I love that! Cold winters morning, sun not yet even close, and the only sound for miles is my little freehub clicking down towards the corner of our street. Ohhh boy I need to get back on that bike… :-)

I concur; work gets big fat zero.

(and yes, Wade, I now have a clue what you were on about before…my work is so 'zero' that I can't access this from their network because it has the word 'blog' in the title)

Wade – I was told this rule by a client of mine years ago who states that it is the 3 and a quarter rule….usually family / work / sport (cycling) and 1/4 of one other…get them out of balance and it all goes to the shi$$er….

this is why there are grades

hmmm efficiency is key ;)

just started commuting 40km each way to work, guaranteed way to get in the kms, with one easy and one hard ride twice a day. some days have pt'd it, and car pooled a few times. gets me up early, and makes me get in the kms before and after. always start work feeling happy, and leave work excited to ride.

TP, with you all the way here, we need to start a campaign to convince campy that noisy free wheels aren't cool.

Relief is at hand – some of campy's new wheels (I just took delivery of the 2010 version of the Shamal Ultra 2-way) have “USB hubs” which contain ceramic bearings. They are far far quieter when freewheeling – guess it is because of these different bearings? And tubeless is the way forward!

[...] winter. I have a wife to keep happy, a demanding job, a blog, a full race schedule. We only have 2 1/4 points to play with and it’s apparent that I need to be efficient with my time on the bike. There’s an old [...]

[...] spend time with my wife, and sleep more than 6 hours a day. I had no specific goals. CT’s 2 and a quarter rule came in to play and cycling took a back seat. I got a cold and it has been around since then (it [...]