General Cycling Discussion - Need Serious Help!!

HELP!! Since my last race in late August I've been really, really bad at keeping up with the riding and conditioning. I blame it on burn-out. However back to my problem. Since then I've put on some poundage and lost all motivation. Slowly but surely I've been getting back into the swing of things...babysteps. However the way things are going its been one step forward- two steps backwards. What I need from anybody.....are ideas on how to keep motivation/training high. What does everybody else use when motivation is slipping or in my case....gone!! Thanks.

I look at my overweight self in the mirror and that motivates me. :D

Maybe you should just get out and ride for the fun of it. Don't train, just enjoy riding. You'll get lots of benefits and maybe riding for the enjoyment will help you get past the burnout.

Sometimes I buy something new for the bike. Then I have to ride just to check it out.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

One thing I do is to keep a calender up in a conspicuous spot, and mark all the days that I do some sort of workout, not necesarily cycling, but anything active. Could be a long walk with the dog, cycling, skiing, weights, whatever. I made an arbitrary cutoff of at least 30 minutes to make it meaningful as far as fitness goes.

Keeping it up where I can see it, and seeing the days run together by coloring them in keeps me motivated to make an even longer string.

Good luck!

Ride to work.

I second that e-motion.

Bike to work

(and school/girlfriends/shopping/coffee shop...)

First and foremost, riding should be FUN. It sort of sounds like you have made it into a chore, putting all sorts of expectations on yourself as to achievement, goals and the like.

One of the saddest things I have read in the bicycling arena is research that showed that many folks who were bicycle racers in their early years no longer ride at all in their later years.

Evidently they got hyped so much on the competition that they never learned the true, relaxing, enjoyable pleasures of biking.

Step back a little, take a long look at what your REALLY want to get out of biking. If you decide that you want a life-long activity to promote fitness, commune with nature, feel like flying - then plan a program to put the FUN back in biking.

If it is racing and winning, then you will have to make goals appropriate to that - and I don't do that so am of little help!!

Go have some fun, enjoyable, relaxing rides.

How about treating yourself to a nice warm syringe full of heroine as a treat after every ride! Over time, the motivation will grow.

You're not going to "trick" yourself into "wanting" to ride. Just relax and take Ba-Dg-Er's advice. If he could pull out of his funk than you can too.

Ride for fun.

Originally posted by Greg
How about treating yourself to a nice warm syringe full of heroine as a treat after every ride! Over time, the motivation will grow.


I thought you were on a natural high in your avitar Greg!!!

Rich ;)

Pure endorphine.

The eyes may be closed, but the mind is racing.

I startied back into ride by cleaning a repairing my bike
I change all the cables tires.
then fixed a date to ride it.
then I joined a local bike club. sometimes the local bike shop
have good rides. but with the club changes are you will find
someone in the same shape and lives pretty close .
But you must go slow but go .
the hardest part is that first ride...
good luck


K

WEll Day 2 in my little adventure. Went to a hour spin class last night, and although it wasnt a "relaxing" ride, I had a great time and workout. It was the first time I've been on a bike of any sort since I went de-funked. Tonight more of the same!!! Thanks for all the suggestions.

PS..Herion..not my style..Nothing better than that CrackCocaine :D

Just go out without a computer and find a scenic ride somewhere. Take your time and just enjoy being outside.

If you can't ride for fun then this sport is not for you, just a fact of life, you have to enjoy something to like it, you don't have to enjoy something to be good at it though.

jay