Time spent cycling

[ChocolateLover2000]

Inspired by another thread...

What is an acceptable amount of time for someone to spend on their hobby that takes them out of the house and away from family? Is 3-4 hours a week ok, if 1-2 of those hours are after kids bedtime and the other 2 are a weekend morning? Kids are 4 and 7 and I have no other significant hobbies. 3-4 hours would be total maximum, most weeks more like 2 hours.

I'm the mum here btw. But I know a lot of people have issues with how much time their partner spends cycling.

Oh and this is summer months only. Far far less in winter months.

Also, I always ask if it's ok and would never go if not convenient.

That sounds reasonable to me barring any situation such as working 6 days a week so the cyclist has no family/children time.

Well both myself and partner spend about the same time exercising independently (not cycling!) and have kids the same age. Never causes us any grief or issues.

As long as it doesnt interfere with family life it would not bother me. I exercise for two hours a day, albeit at home but it is my time. If my OH went off and left me to deal with the DC everyday and at weekends I would lose my shit

Sounds more than reasonable. My husband and I split our cycling time, an hour or so every other week night, and a weekend ride each usually.

Of course it's reasonable, I spent far more time on my hobby (not cycling ) when my DS was young, my DH was totally fine with it and enjoyed having one-to-one time with his own child ....and of course he had time to follow his own hobbies too.

Thanks, you've reassured me. I do less than this at the moment but want to increase it. I thought it was reasonable but then read another thread where people were complaining because their OH was out one morning a weekend.

I think it depends entirely on the impact rather than the actual hours. My brother goes on 3-4h hour rides in the summer, but he goes out (quietly) at 6am on a Sunday, during which SIL and nieces will have a chilled Sunday morning + cartoons. That's more manageable than say, going to the gym for an hour after work and leaving SIL to do school runs/tea/home work.

It's reasonable as long as everyone is happy about it and has equal opportunity to spend time doing hobbies etc.

As long as you are ensuring that your kids (if you have them) get decent chunks of uninterrupted time with you and arent just slotted in around your hobbies, and you are fair with your partner about each getting adult time.

I have a friend who spends the whole saturday on her hobby, partner spends whole sunday on his, kids never get to spend time with both parents as a family. Bit sad.

I dont think anyone can say set times. Eg 4 hours is nothing if you have a job where you finish in time to pick them up after school every day. 4 hours is a lot if you have a job where you're asleep when they're in school and work one day at the weekend and sleep in on the other and then go out to do your hobby in the only afternoon you've got available. It depends how much time people have anyway, how they split chores, how much quality time they have with children etc etc

It's all good as long as obviously the kids/home/important stuff is not neglected. Be that two or ten hours a week.

It's too restrictive and actually, unrealistic, to put an exact number on it. If you are happy, the children's needs are met and there is nothing more pressing needing your attention, then crack on.