Northern California - What's wrong with me? I keep making excuses not to ride.

I want to get back on my bike. I'm on BF to help get me motivated but I keep making excuses not to get out. I'm in Reno this week and knock off from work around 6PM. Biz trip so no family obligations after work. I should have brought my bike with me but didn't because I thought it'd be too hot. Hot, schmot. Get off your fat behind and ride, cantdrv55.

I'd flog myself but I didn't bring my whip either because I thought it'd hurt too much. Hurt, schmurt.

If you are in Reno often, then bring your friggin bike. Otherwise, go someplace good to eat. I suggest Mario's Portofino Restaurant at 1505 S Virginia St. (Virginia and Mt. Rose - not the highway). Best italian food in Reno. Robeerto is the real deal. The salmon with artichokes is to die for..
After you have eaten, go back to your hotel and dream of burning off lots of calories on your bike. You don't want to look like the typical fat-assed tourist do you?

You don't want to look like the typical fat-assed tourist do you?

Too late. Thanks for the tip on the restaurant! It's not far from my hotel at all at South Meadows Pkwy.

htfu

htfu

ouch!

htfu


Nice. You eat with that mouth?

Nice. You eat with that mouth?

I assume he meant it as tough love. i.e. go ride.

You probably put it off long enough that it will be hard to get back on the bike, and or disappointing or extra difficult when you do. But, each day you put it off you're making it 1 day harder to get back on.

Hey cant... I'm in the same paradoxical boat as you...

I still really enjoy the forums and thinking about riding but this year I'm just not riding as much. I'm not sure why either.

Once I get out there though I still really enjoy it. Maybe it's because you (or I) are putting too much pressure on ourselves.. Like we have to faster or farther or whatever instead of just enjoying the experience of the ride itself.

And then like Ygduf said.. it just gets harder the more we put it off cuz then we feel guiltier and more like a lazy slacking bum each day we put it off. Too much pressure I think.

I'm trying to just chill and enjoy my commute to work and the feel of wheels turning and seeing the trees pass by and the smell of the morning or evening, etc.

I dunno.. maybe it's not the same as you but.. hey, you're not alone though.

Maybe we should go for a ride :)

OK, tough love I get. Thanks il professore.

You are right, Ygduf. The longer I put it off, the harder to get back on. What I think I'll do is sign up and pay for an event ahead of time so that I'll have to train for it or lose money on the registration if I can't ride. Worked before, should work again. Gotta play mind games with myself.

roguedog, you bike commute to work? You're ahead of the game!

I think you need a new bike/bike parts. When I got my fixed gear I logged miles like no other just because and when I changed up some of the components on my road bike I ended up logging ~800 miles in the following month.

stimulus leads to response.

disclaimer: not guaranteed to lead to positive response

Feel the force, don't force the feel.

If you go out when you don't want to, it won't be fun. I forced myself on a road ride last winter, even though I didn't really want to ride. Nothing bad happened on the ride, except for being miserable from start to finish.

Never again.

cantdrv.

I found a really good trick to getting back out was to commit to something. Sign up for an organized ride.. or better yet, something like Team in Training, where you'll have to suffer the burden of fund raising, however, in that burden you will also eat the responsibility of living up to your end of the deal and riding like you promised all the people who donated to you :).

Kind of a drastic approach I'm sure, but in the end, getting started again is the hardest part, once you're up and moving and feeling good.. riding gets easy (er)

Either that, or just force feed it into the schedule. Alot some amount of time, regardless of how small to riding even if its 15min. around the block, as long as you always ride in that 15min. no matter what you'll get used to making the time for it.

Just my thoughts.

Feel the force, don't force the feel.

If you go out when you don't want to, it won't be fun. I forced myself on a road ride last winter, even though I didn't really want to ride. Nothing bad happened on the ride, except for being miserable from start to finish.

+1

Sometimes, it's ok not to ride if you don't feel like it. Forcing it will lead to you hating it, and then you'll hang the bike up and go find something else to amuse yourself with. Taking a break can be a Good Thing.

Also, I find riding alone can get a bit lackluster, and many times I lack the motivation to go o solo mio. What has gotten me off my ennui-ridden ass more than once is to schedule a ride with someone else. That way, I have a commitment that needs to be met, regardless of my personal fellings of malaise. I've had a lot of GREAT rides that way, when left to my own devices I probably would have sat around the house and vegitated.

Open invitation time - I'm always up for a ride on the weekends, and we are about the same ability. Oftentimes I have Bikingshearer in tow. We would welcome another rider that goes the same speed we do. :) You'll be surprised at how many miles you'll rack up while yammering over the bars with us. Plus, we stop for refreshment a lot. :)

+1

Sometimes, it's ok not to ride if you don't feel like it. Forcing it will lead to you hating it, and then you'll hang the bike up and go find something else to amuse yourself with. Taking a break can be a Good Thing.

Also, I find riding alone can get a bit lackluster, and many times I lack the motivation to go o solo mio. What has gotten me off my ennui-ridden ass more than once is to schedule a ride with someone else. That way, I have a commitment that needs to be met, regardless of my personal fellings of malaise. I've had a lot of GREAT rides that way, when left to my own devices I probably would have sat around the house and vegitated.

Open invitation time - I'm always up for a ride on the weekends, and we are about the same ability. Oftentimes I have Bikingshearer in tow. We would welcome another rider that goes the same speed we do. :) You'll be surprised at how many miles you'll rack up while yammering over the bars with us. Plus, we stop for refreshment a lot. :)

I'm in a similar boat, mostly with work getting in the way of my riding over the past year or two. I'm in Woodland and am looking for someone to ride with, so PM me if interested.

Well, for what it's worth, it's pretty remarkable how motivating it can be to get out & ride when forced to stay off the bike for over three months on account of an injury.

Just sayin ' ... :innocent:

I'm counting down the days :twitchy:

htfu...unfamiliar with the term. Guess I'm too old.

htfu...unfamiliar with the term. Guess I'm too old.

urry he ... p

Is it too hot.?.. Too bad.What a shame.. Ride east out US 50. One of the nation's most memorable rides/roads.. The loneliest road in America. Still not too late to rent a bike.. US 50 closely parallels the route of the Pony Express. Follow their lead. But, you get to do it on an iron horse. Need a drink, you can always stop by one of it's many chicken ranches for a 'shirley temple.'

Found a shop that will rent you a bike. If you have a rental car return it. Bike to your business appt. After work is done start exploring outside the city. Stay away from the casinos and buffets!!!

htfu...unfamiliar with the term. Guess I'm too old.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=htfu

Urban Dictionary can be very useful for old fogies like you and me. ;)

Although sometimes I wish I hadn't looked certain terms up. :twitchy:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=htfu

Urban Dictionary can be very useful for old fogies like you and me. ;)

Although sometimes I wish I hadn't looked certain terms up. :twitchy:

Correct.

See definition #1.

I think it was made popular by this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EY7lYRneHc

Yep. And then he started selling black wristbands with htfu spelled out. A couple of year ago,Stuart O'Grady got them for his team (then CSC) which they wore on the Tour.

And now you know...the rest of the story.

By the way, I went out for a ride today. First time for three and a half months. :D

By the way, I went out for a ride today. First time for three and a half months. :D

Well, don't whisper, shout! :thumb: :beer:

Yep. And then he started selling black wristbands with htfu spelled out. A couple of year ago,Stuart O'Grady got them for his team (then CSC) which they wore on the Tour.

And now you know...the rest of the story.

]By the way, I went out for a ride today. First time for three and a half months. :D[/SIZE]

Fixed it for you.

Congrats! Didn't it feel awesome?

I can sympathize. With no goal my riding has been sporadic. I need to sign up for another event. Having an event is great motivation. It's weird, I'm happy once I'm out on the bike. I just gotta get out the door.

...when did I start this thread? ;) Good suggestions. I know for me, if I preplan with someone, I'm less likely to stay home in front of the computer. Also for me, it's like roguedog, where I'm learning to take an easy ride once in a while, instead of pushing it and dreading the next time I go out. And sometimes, in my mature way, I bribe myself. "If I ride 30 miles of hills today, I get an iced latte!" kind of thing :p. And I'm wondering why I still haven't lost my winter weight...:rolleyes:

When I first got seriously into cycling about 14 years ago, I went just a little nuts. I went from riding a hybrid 2 miles to work to getting a road bike (that I continually upgraded the bits on) for 50-60 mile rides every weekend in a single year. Then I got a NICE bike, and I was putting in 140-160 mile weeks. Then I joined PenVelo, and I was putting in over 100 miles every weekend, in addition to riding three days a week, all in just a couple years.

Then, after riding like a madman (for me) all summer and fall, as winter ended and spring sprung, I just couldn't bring myself to throw a leg over the saddle. I ended up off the bike for about 4 years. Finally, I started up again, but I've been taking it much less seriously, so as not to burn out. I think maybe I did too much riding of one single kind - group riding - and neglected the solo rides that I find restore my soul. Now I need to find the right balance.

I guess the point is, don't beat yourself up too much, don't force it. Wait for a day when it's just too beautiful NOT to ride, then take it slow, and remember that life's too short to spend much time doing stuff you don't enjoy.