Day Jobs?

[milestonerides]

Hello,

I would like to know what people do that allows them to take months after months to go on bicycle tours.  I can only imagine teaching would be a good occupation as teachers get 2-3 months off for summer breaks but are there other occupation you can get into that allows you maximum time to travel? 

I'm at a cross-road in my career and I'm looking for an alternate job opportunity which will allow me to go on frequent bicycle tours.

Thanks in advance for your response!

~Johnny

[2riders]

I know I can't take months to ride, but retirements 4 years away....for now it's nice short weekend/weeklong Inn to Inn rides.   5yrs from now perhaps longer.

[Pat Lamb]

My office job allows me to accrue leave up to about a month and a half at the end of the year.  After I'd been here a while, I was getting enough to stretch it a fair bit more by the middle of summer.  Then I talked to the bosses and got the OK to take LWOP (leave without pay) for a bit more.

Hint: I wouldn't go into a job interview asking if I could take off three months, preferably with pay, after a year or two.  Get the job you can tolerate first, then start looking for ways to work the system.

[JayH]

I can bank up to 10 weeks of paid vacation. Can take a LOA as mentioned too but I tend to go awhile before taking vacation other than the occasional day or two.  If you are smart about using paid vacation, you can bank enough to go on this longer trips.... 

Jay

[John Nelson]

I combine vacation with unpaid leave. I try not to push my luck by asking for leave every year. I think larger employers are usually better for this, as the larger staff provides more options for accommodating your leave. It also helps to announce your intentions well in advance to give them plenty of time to plan for it. And I typically do just that, "announce" my plans rather than put in a request. Requests can be delayed and/or denied. "Announce" your plans and they just seems to be just one of the many constraints that the company must plan around.

[milestonerides]

Thanks for the feedback.  I was thinking about getting into a bicycling related industry where they may encourage you to take trips like this.  Is there anybody here that work for such industry or company that can provide some insight?  I am taking the Leadership Training tour through Adventure Cycling next March.  I'm just hoping I can meet like minded folks with similar goals and expectations.  I would love to be a professional ride leader but have no idea what that entails so if anybody who's done that, please chime in.

~Johnny

[freewheeling@scriptorserv]

Dear Johnny --
If you dream of staying on the road, maybe you need a job that does not require a "place of work". I'm a translator, but writers, editors, transcriptionists, etc. could arguably work anywhere. If you take in assignments and deliver product over the internet, like a telecommuter does (mmm, there's an idea for a liberally-minded company), you might be able to simply take your work on the road. I am testing this concept right now, and I have no schedule for returning home. My blog is freewheelingfreelancer.wordpress.com, if you want to see if the trip gives you any ideas. IHTH.
Smooth roads & tailwinds, Jonathan.

[Westinghouse]

I teach. I just had time off but it was too hot to do the trip I wanted to do. I wanted to cycle from Florida to California.

[milestonerides]

@freewheelingfreelancer - Thanks for presenting options.  I do realize that there are other freelance options but I definitely need to dial down on my expenses so I don't depend on my paycheck for day to day expenses.

[rondickinson]

27 years of hard labor in building my business.  Now I can delegate and take some time off.   There is no free lunch.

[paddleboy17]

No one is going to like my answer...

If it is just you, you have options.  But if you have a wife and or kids, you do NOT have options.  The grown up thing to do is put them first, and keep  your dreams on hold until you situation permits you to indulge in them.  In my case, I am very much looking forward to retirement.  I am 55, and have a 35 year backlog of neglected personal projects.  In 10 years, assuming I get to retire in comfort, I will have a 45 year backlog of neglected personal projects to start getting caught up on.

[rondickinson]

Paddleboy:

Great perspective. 
I guess that's why I'm 53 and still waiting for the big tour ride.
Doesn't mean we can't enjoy life with lots of short epic rides, but there are some many priorities more important.
If you plan well and work hard, eventually you get to do most things, but there are no promisses.

[canalligators]

Consider section-riding an epic route.  I crossed the Northern Tier in 2-week sections.

[driftlessregion]

I ran into a guy touring in Death Valley National Park (during the shutdown-a great time to ride there!) whose kids are grown and here is the kicker-he is a tax accountant. Come June he has made enough money for the rest of the year and off he goes.

[BrianW]

Start your kids touring with you at a young age. Ideally, figure out how to get your spouse interested in it, too. I have an 8 year old son, and we've embedded biking, hiking, and even bike touring in many (if not most) of our vacations since he's been born. From a three day trip on the C&O Canal with him in his Burley trailer behind our tandem, to a self-supported bike tour along the Danube last year on our triplet bike (three-seater). My wife also enjoys touring, even though she's not an "athletic type." BUT, we tour the way that works for her: on our own, but staying in B&Bs, hotels, etc. Maybe someday she'll want to bike across the USA with me, camping mostly, but maybe not. That's ok.

Partnerships are about meeting in the middle. Find a way to make it work and be fun for all involved. It's not just about what you want!

But back to the original question: for every person that takes three months to ride the Transam, there are probably 5-10 of us who have done an overnight tour, or maybe a week or two tour. They aren't as sexy as the long-haul tours, but are good for the soul nonetheless. 

This summer I took a month off work and we took our campervan across the USA (with bikes on the back :-). #1 question we got was "how did you get so much time off?" Simple: I asked (and took all my vacation time at once). Not everyone has such an understanding manager, but you don't know unless you ask. I took my work laptop with me, checked e-mail each day, but thankfully didn't have to do much troubleshooting at all. I felt like I was being responsible to my boss and colleagues, though, by being available if needed.