Road Cycling - What's your motivation...

It's cold outside, limiting my cycling. I'm riding indoors on a trainer but having a difficult time keeping motivated. Oh, I try to mix it up with "Time Trial Tuesdays" and "One Legged Wednesdays" but still...

What's your motivation?

Fat.

Originally posted by pokey
Fat.
FAT. Oh wait, pokey said that already. :eek:

How about "love handles".

Aw come on. Besides fat.

OK, how about not getting fat?

Control of blood sugars.

Starting at (or near) where I was in September next spring.

Starting at (or near) where I was in September next spring

That's a god one. This is my 2nd year. Last spring I hated having to get in my base miles (instead of training for the better rides).

It's no fun working hard to go only 20 miles (and being all tired out after) when last year I was impressing myself with 60 mile rides. The 20 milers just don’t WOW me anymore, but if I slog off in the winter, I still have to work up to them again – what a drag.
:mad:

i find it very difficult to stay motivated because i'm being pulled in so many directions in a typical day, between work, family, errands, etc., etc. the only way i have found to routinely ride is to integrate it into something i do every day, which is commute to work.

it is not glamorous. it's still dark and cold in the morning, but it feels great to ride to work instead of sitting in long lines of cars. it saves gas and it's good for you.

We are getting into the only time of year that I don't envy those of you who live farther north. We seldom get below freezing here so I can ride year round, just putting on knee and arm warmers and sometime an extra layer or two. Like Bandit I commute every day so I get about 25 miles without ever having to make a decision. I just ride some extra miles a couple of days during the week and hit the road with some riding buddies early on Saturday or Sunday.

The best form of motivation - make some goals. You can check my post out about them in this forum. Also, try riding with some buddies. They'll help you stick with it.

I want to be better...

And I want to make the podium [masters] in the provincial cyclo-cross champs next year... And I want to crush my friends on competitive rides... :D

Yes, Being on the trainer is boring compared to being outdoors.. We have great riding in winter, but I find the early darkness limiting..
Motivation. Just to be on the bike. A day without the bike is incomplete...Work too hard to lose muscle definition.. I watch the hamstrings downsize- that is motivation enough.. Usually on the trainer during the news. That will get you to cranking..

When the time allows after family & biz priorities, my motivation comes from my desire to excel and is natural... and being a diabetic, health is another motivator... Oh, my wife and son want me around for a while too. Guess my life insurance isn't paid off yet :P

Originally posted by velocipedio
...And I want to crush my friends on competitive rides

Oh geez, what am I in for? My motivation is going to be the comment above and not give him the satisfaction, while leaving him in the dust on the Fritz Farm sprint!

Originally posted by velo
The best form of motivation - make some goals.

The good thing about a goal is that even if you don't quite achieve it you will be much farther along than if you hadn't set it and tried for it.

To get in shape, lose weight, and most importantly, do the STP (Seattle to Portland bike event) this summer. :)

Any comments please about those of us that are obsessed with getting in our base miles..
Today, I was disappointed to learn for one/two months- I will be taken off shift and work just day shifts..
The present shift arrangement, I have off like 15 days a month.. I work twelve hour shifts.. For those two months, I will have like 10..
If I do not get in at least 600 miles a month- I am not fit to live with...
Weather can be nice here in the winter.... To get in my miles can a highly motivated person get out at night and get a really good workout..I just do not trust cars at night. They are crazy enough in the day.. On curvy roads- cars just do not stay out of the bike lanes, particularily at night.. Working on the trainer- hardly the same as my usual day time ride up our hills- all those days off, while on shift... On day shift I do not get home until about 5:30 pm each day- pretty dark by then...
Also,I will have more martial problems. My wife does not know how much time I put in on the bike, while she is at work..have every weekend off is the pits...

Keeping Father Time at bay for as long as possible.

If I do not get in at least 600 miles a month- I am not fit to live with

Boy, wish I had time to get in even 400 miles a month!

I work days and I'm gone about 11 hours each day, so I know what you're going through. The only way I got a ride today was to get up at 4am and ride in the dark so I could leave for work by 6am. I'll get home from work at 5pm eat and have to run my kid to dance school. I hope that I can get to bed early enough so that I can get up tomorrow at 4am for a ride.

This sounds like an idea for a new thread - "Scheduling you rides"

Next year's racing season is just around the corner. I want to be faster than I was last year.

Also, I remember the work I did last winter, and how I picked up in April where I was in October. It was very satisfying.

Originally posted by velocipedio
... And I want to crush my friends on competitive rides... :D

I third this motion.

And keeping up with the girls on rides. I mean no disrespect, there are a couple of national champ gals in my area that regularly drop my sorry a$$ while shooting snot rockets across my bow. That's motivation.

To have Fun.

Marty

Originally posted by cyclezealot

Also,I will have more martial problems.

Freudian slip?:D

I want to keep my little body fit and firm so that all my boyfriends will be impressed when I ride nekkid.

Boy, wish I had time to get in even 400 miles a month!

I ride just because I want to, that's it nothing more nothing less.

We all have the time problem, The way I took care of it is as follows.

I ride my bike everywhere all the time, I ride it to work, to the store, to meetings and appointments, on organized rides on the weekends and sometimes at night, and sometimes I ride for no reason at all accept to smell the roses and relieve some stress. The people in my life have learned to wait because I take time to get where I'm going. If they decide not to wait, then so what, I go elsewhere, I ride my bike, all 5 of them, that's just the way it is. Everyone seems to be used to it, it is no longer an issue because I've made it my routine. I'm 47 years old and have logged just over 12,000 miles since 1/1/02. I incroporate riding into my daily life, sometimes it's a utility thing, I have found that if you really want to ride, you will find the time. I have also found that if you really don't want to ride, you can always find an excuse or reason why not to. So, get out and ride the bike.

because the voice in my head says `more adrenaline, I need more'.... :)

the fact that I need a new wardrobe coz all my pants no longer fit, I am nearly the owner of a single chin, everyone calling me `skinny dave', the days being warm - even hot and sunny :: they are all incidental !!

What a great way to get some fresh air, keep fit, sweat like crazy, and get up and do it all again the next day.

It also helps to have a longer term goal - like ride across Australia next year Perth to Hobart - anyone want to join us - registrations are open for another 46 days.

Overall motivation, general fitness, get my act together and get rid of the poundage. Also to get better at climbing, there are so many places to go with hills.

During a ride motivation: Catch up to the rider in front of me. Beat my old best time. Stay ahead of the bus. Keep the heart rate up. Catch the green light. Now that you passed the bike, keep the pace, because otherwise you'll get passed... that shows you for showing off ;)