Training & Nutrition - Motivation

I have been doing good for two weeks. Got my new bike and have ridden 15 miles a day, Tuesday-Friday, 25-30 on Saturday and Sunday, 40-50 miles, but this Tuesday, I didn't enjoy my ride, bum got sore and my lower back hurt a bit and I just couldn't get into it so, when I got up this morning, I just couldn't get motivated and ended up not riding. I kinda feel like crap for not riding and was wondering what do you guys do to keep motivated :confused: .

I love to ride, even more now with my new bike, and feel I'm just in a slump, I have the Tour de France on tape and I may watch it in the morning.

Any suggestions :(

Two questions:
Do you have a clear, specific goal (or set of goals) at which you're aiming?
Are you taking any time off for resting and recovery? It sounds as though you may have "gorged" yourself on your new toy, and need to ease off a bit. Even one rest day a week (where "rest" means "not riding", not "vegging out in front of the TV") makes a big difference in my own case. Your mileage may vary.

Thanks for the reply, I take Monday off and have ordered Greg LeMonds book to give me some goals :) .

I dont feel I am overdoing it, but I maybe :mad: .

What led to the sore back and bum? Sounds like that was what set you back. As a result, maybe you were ready for a break. I agree with philosoraptor. A recovery day is just as much a part of training/conditioning as the workout days.

I took my new bike to the LBS as they had not set it up when I bought it, they measured me and re-adjusted my bike, I think now my reach is a bit longer so my back is not used to it :(

It may be that you started too much so soon after getting your new bike. I would suggest maybe cutting back on the mileage a little, and take an additional rest day- maybe take off Sundays and Wednesdays, so you get a nice break, and if you take off a weekend day (like Sunday), then you get a full day of rest with no work or riding to worry about, so you can kick back a bit, which is niiiiiiiice.

You want to give your body time to adjusting to riding the bike to begin with, then gradually build up the miles on the bike. I don't know how new you are to riding (road riding, that is), but if you're a newbie, I wouldn't push anyone new-ish into doing those kinds of miles you do on the weekends, and I wouldn't recommend them to do so many days without more rest days either.

Philosoraptor has it right too- if you're just exercising, you don't have goals and you burn out quicker. There's just no objective, and with no rhyme or reason, there's just not a lot of mental stimulation there for you. You burn out. But with a training, you have goals, and working towards goals gives you objective and motivation, and as you reach goals, you set new ones, which gives you even more motivation and excitement for your training.

What do you want to do? Where do you want to take your cycling?

Koffee

First - if you think you might be overdoing it, get a HRM and check your HR each morning and see if your resting HR changes - it can tell you if you are overtraining.

Second - I have hit several spots over this past season where it seemed I just wasn't motivated to do squat. I think it is normal to experience a little burn-out at times, especially if you are riding hard and often. Try mixing your routine up - perhaps ride later in the evening or hit a different route.

Whenever I need a little "kick in the pants" to get going again, I pop in a cycling tape and then hit a ride right after. I'll typically change my route or ride my usual training rides in the opposite direction - you'd be surprised how different it is going the other way.

Whatever you decide to do, know that you are NOT alone on this one. I think what makes a cyclist stand out from the rest is realizing something is wrong and working through it....it will make you a stroinger rider in the end. So, listen to your body and use this forum to help motivate - it is filled with great cyclists who have "been there and done that" and are ALWAYS willing to help.

Good luck!

Paul

I second the HRM suggestion, and take it a step further,
by the HRM book for indoor and outdoor cyclists, by Sally Edwards
and Sally Reed. The book has great rides for both trainers and
outdoors.
Don't burn yourself out, riding everyday will cause you to burn
out. If you do take a day off, don't beat yourself up for it.
Give yourself some time to adjust to the new position
and get the muscles working properly etc.

Marty

I had the same lack of motivation today. I've learned to listen to my body. If I'm coming up with every excuse not to ride a certain day, then my body is telling me to give it a rest.

In my particular situation, I think it is lack of sleep. The last few days have been busy and that really wears on you.

Take it easy, get some sleep and before you know it, you'll be ready for the road!

For me, setting a yearly goal keeps me motivated. Living in the Pacific Northwest, my goal for the past 2 years has been to ride the Seattle to Portland, (for those who don't know, it is a 200 mile ride from Seattle Wa to Portland Or, completed in either 1 or 2 days - I ride the 200 miles in one day). 2004 will be my third STP and I have already begun to plan for it. I ride 100 miles a week, riding 25 miles Monday and Wednesday and 50 miles on Saturday. Starting in May, I increase the miles I ride to 150-200 miles a week focusing on the longer rides. During the winter months, I ride a trainer 2-3 times a week with Saturday being an outside ride - depending on the weather.

For something new this year, I will be going to the gym twice a week on the days I don't ride.

dont worry too much. i think many of us dont feel motivated once in a while. whenver it rains or there is gloomy weather, i just stay in doors and sleep all day. i hate to work out when its so depressing outside. when its sunny and warm, im out and about making the most of the good weather.

but most of all....i work out knowing that chicks look at my rock hard legs. let me tell you, many girls that see me now compliment me when they realize how much weight i lost over the last year.