Great Lakes - Late summer cycling mojo: Anybody lost theirs?

I need some inspiration. Riding for me has gone way downhill in the past month or so. Life, work, kids' activities, and general sloth have all contributed.

I need a cure for what ails me. And the answer needs to be something that doesn't involve me buying more gear.

Hit me.

Go for a thrashing in the woods on the mountain bike.

Usually works for me :thumb:

Yes, since RAIN, my cycling has lacked Mojo, plus the worse TT performance ever this month. Best RAIN ever with major drop off after, good thing is it seems to be coming back? Plus this is coming late fall:

Crankenstein Monster 100 Mile – 3 person bike Time Trial

Are you doing Bike The Barns this year? I believe there are still a few more registration slots open. All of that food after some beautiful countryside biking should be enough to inspire anyone. If you are near Madison then the Ride the Drive is going on this Sunday and that should be a blast.

I think most every big mile rider goes through this. Your not alone. I am still riding almost daily but have dropped my intensity and mileage way down till I feel the love again.

my fire just got lit in the last two weeks. With it being so cool most of the summer I found it hard to get motivated. Also not having any late season goals didn't help either

Yes.

I need some inspiration. Riding for me has gone way downhill in the past month or so. Life, work, kids' activities, and general sloth have all contributed.

I need a cure for what ails me. And the answer needs to be something that doesn't involve me buying more gear.

Hit me.

Come on out to the VP ride saturday. I've got a buddy who just started riding, and will be riding it at his pace.

No playing frogger crossing route 62. No crazy mileage in a short period of time. No riding so fast you'll get short of breath. Just good old fashioned riding, like you need every once in a while.

And I'll be the entire group there will stop when you decide to get your weekly flat.

The cure - one word: cyclocross

I was going to suggest the VP ride. I am dropping in on it this weekend as well. Really looking forward to taking it easy and having fun. I have lost my road mojo. Happens to me every year around now. I will get reinvigorated come cross - right around Fall Fling.

I am trying to make it a point to keep rides now fun. Tuesday you know I tried but with so many low body fat, team kit wearing newbies on our ride....I just had to lay into them once I found I had the legs.

I needed that.

Still though I am sore and that hasn't happened in a long time.

I have been building wheels non stop. I just got done tonight and it's right after 3 am. Finished 6 wheels tonight and began working on my cross bike to get it ready for the season. Building up some tubular wheels for it, etc. Looking forward to it.

I can't remember the last time I commuted, always seem to be needing to run errands after work or at lunchtime so I have to drive and don't feel like fighting with the motorcycle drivers over the bike rack.

Come on out to the VP ride saturday.
VP ride?


And I'll be the entire group there will stop when you decide to get your weekly flat.
Strange how you always happen to be around when I flat.

I simply think about how I will feel mid-January when I can't ride, and how I will hate myself then if I don't ride now.

Funny, while I may not be totally enthused to go while I'm getting ready, after a few miles on the road, I'm always glad I chose to ride.

I haven't been on the bike for one month since my emergency surgery(one foot of my small intestine removed and an appendectomy),I have completely lost my mojo:cry:.My doctor told me I could start riding my bike outside again,I have ridden a couple of times on my trainer for 30 minutes this week and plan on riding with the Elmhurst Bike Club on Sunday.If any of you have seen my mojo please PM me,I need it back:).

VP ride?


Strange how you always happen to be around when I flat.

Village Pedaler, South Elgin. The most laid-back group ride ever. Very friendly folks.

Hi Tim,

Have not been here in a long time, but here I sit at the lake estate watching fog and rain for a second straight day, killing time on line. Bike and gear sit in the next room as I sit stuck grumbling about this terrible weather....and I just happen to be on a four-day weekend for this glorious stuff too.

About your lull....happens to most roadies is my bet....only natural.

Someone earlier said something about thinking of winter when you can't ride....that has helped get me going in the past.

Thing is, the rest of both your body AND mind that comes from doing other things only makes you enjoy the ride more when you get back on.

p.s.
Did my first solo century Monday...my season goal this year: check!

Village Pedaler, South Elgin. The most laid-back group ride ever. Very friendly folks.

He used to do that ride with me just about every Saturday a couple of years ago.....

Ugh. Me too.

p.s.
Did my first solo century Monday...my season goal this year: check!


Nice job Phil! :thumb:

Thought you had decided centuries weren't for you after doing your first...:innocent:

Nice job Phil! :thumb:

Thought you had decided centuries weren't for you after doing your first...:innocent:

Yes I did, which made the challenge I gave myself this season all the more difficult.
It was a good feeling.

Village Pedaler, South Elgin. The most laid-back group ride ever. Very friendly folks.

Ahh, yeah. It's been a couple of years since I showed up. They still rolling out ~7:30?

Nice job Phil! :thumb:
+100


Thought you had decided centuries weren't for you after doing your first...:innocent:

I think his statement was something like, "Centuries with FIBs aren't really for me. Almost 6 hours with Bears fans.... think about it."

Not me. Highly motivated but sidelIned for at least another week with tendinitis. Just go out for fun long rides if you don't have the drive to pound.

Yes I did, which made the challenge I gave myself this season all the more difficult.
It was a good feeling.

That deserves a celebration! Might I suggest a fine wine? Appropriately sized pizza? New bike toy perhaps? Something matching of course....

....maybe some blingy new wheels? I know this guy...... :innocent:

;) - again :thumb:

Blingy new wheels coming next week.
Trek would not talk about it in public, but word is they are having problems with the paired, bladed spoke race lites that came on my Madone. A whole new design now, and I am getting the one I popped a spoke on replaced with the new stuff! Spokes popping the problem with the originals according to 'sources', which I think you can figure out. :)

How about some family rides on a nice rail trail? I find if I spend a week or so not thinking about mileage or speed and hitting some leisurely paths (and I go 5,000 miles a year) that the mojo returns. Helps to commute to work by bike - can't get home unless you ride (well, I could take the bus...).

There's always the Cream City Century too!

Plus the fall offers up a whole new venue of riding, at least scenery-wise.

I agree that the thought of not riding in January helps things along - must..go..out..while..I..can.

Road Race (http://www.abdcycling.com/files/Flyer_Fling09.pdf) in late september. i need a partner in crime. jus sayin. later.

Man I want to do the Harper Ride really bad. If I drill it up front at 350w, how many people can I drop within 5 minutes?

It's been over a year since I last rode Harper. Maybe I'll come 'home' in a couple weekends before it gets cold.

Man I want to do the Harper Ride really bad. If I drill it up front at 350w, how many people can I drop within 5 minutes?

It's been over a year since I last rode Harper. Maybe I'll come 'home' in a couple weekends before it gets cold.

Probably not Wayne Simon or Ryan Freund.

Road Race (http://www.abdcycling.com/files/Flyer_Fling09.pdf) in late september. i need a partner in crime. jus sayin. later.

You know there's one a couple weeks earlier even closer to you (with 3 Cat 5 heats and a masters 4/5 race), right?

Probably not Wayne Simon or Ryan Freund.

hmm, wayne simon...is he a shorter guy with real short hair, in his 40s? i rode with a wayne at EAD this winter and he always kicked everyone's butt on the TT's

hmm, wayne simon...is he a shorter guy with real short hair, in his 40s? i rode with a wayne at EAD this winter and he always kicked everyone's butt on the TT's

More like his 50's as he was the 50-54 Master's National Road Race Champion last year.

More like his 50's as he was the 50-54 Master's National Road Race Champion last year.

nar, that's not him.

You can tell whether or not it's Wayne because he's the one sweating awesome and crapping rainbows.

Interesting how this topic was brought up when our weather is super **** right now. Cold and rainy. Today we have sun, but it just doesn't have that summer feeling, and I am kind of down and out. I am trying to work up a ride, but I don't know how well I am doing with that one. Forget losing my mojo, I have lost my drive right now :(

I kind of like riding in the coolness. It's fun pulling out the arm warmers and vests. Had a great ride with the VP crew. Just what I was looking for. I got to hang out and talk the whole time. Saw numbers I haven't seen all year. :eek:

You can tell whether or not it's Wayne because he's the one sweating awesome and crapping rainbows.

:roflmao2:

sounds about right.

(don't forget the couple of kids, too)

as far as i'm concerned, cycling mojo doesn't start until mid-september

I need some inspiration. Riding for me has gone way downhill in the past month or so. Life, work, kids' activities, and general sloth have all contributed.

I need a cure for what ails me. And the answer needs to be something that doesn't involve me buying more gear.

Hit me.

i was going to say buy more gear, but since that's out....I find general sloth has a strange insidious way of perpetuating itself. For moi, assuming you are rested and not overtrained....the best remedy is just getting out riding even if initially I don't feel like it. If you're tired of group rides, go solo, or vice versa. You will feel better after you are done and wonder why you ever thought about NOT riding.

It's fun pulling out the arm warmers and vests.

Wrong sport Rob
http://www.georgecannonphotography.com/blogimages/dressup.jpg

I finally put the wheels on and rocked a 2.5 mile ride last night at 6.0 mph average. And I didn't wear a helmet.

I think I'm out of the funk.

I finally put the wheels on and rocked a 2.5 mile ride last night at 6.0 mph average. And I didn't wear a helmet.

I think I'm out of the funk.

Welcome back, bro! :thumb:

I'm going on a cross ride tonight....excited. That's new. Happy to ride....

i got a new seat post and plan to ride the trainer....oh wait, that still sucks. sorry. continue on. later.

I need some inspiration. Riding for me has gone way downhill in the past month or so. Life, work, kids' activities, and general sloth have all contributed.

I need a cure for what ails me. And the answer needs to be something that doesn't involve me buying more gear.

Hit me.

See two similar threads:

"this is a depressing thread": http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=580248

"Lost my motivation": http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=563165

Since you asked for it, here's a whack:


I've ridden a grand total of about 2 km since June 1st. Yes, you read that right...

And then, on July 29th I was hospitalized for 2 weeks with DVT. Turns out it was a good thing I wasn't cycling after all! Cycling could have killed me...

I desperately want to ride my bicycle!! But there's the fear that I could possible have an accident and bleed to death (Warfarin reduces my blood's ability to clot), and even if I did get on my bicycle, I couldn't go far or fast or anything.

One day soon I will get out there and start to ride ... back to starting from scratch with short slow rides.

So with all that in mind .......... if you can ride, go ride!! You never know when it might be taken away from you (emphasis added).

i got a new seat post and plan to ride the trainer....oh wait, that still sucks. sorry. continue on. later.

Trainer? Dude... it's friggin sunny outside!

The only thing that hampers my cycling is it gets dark too early. But I've just countered that yesterday with ordering a hub dynamo and a Edelux light. I'll be sooo ready for the 5:30pm darkness. Fork the trainer and riding inside the house.

The only thing that hampers my cycling is it gets dark too early. But I've just countered that yesterday with ordering a hub dynamo and a Edelux light. I'll be sooo ready for the 5:30pm darkness. Fork the trainer and riding inside the house.

Muhahaha....we are kindred spirits. I have convinced my husband that when it starts getting dark early (he isn't home till around 6 ) that we get the lights and continue our 20 mile trail ride at least until the snow flies....

Of course, he doesn't yet know that once the snow flies, I've got other ideas to keep us out there...muhahahaha

I second the above post referencing health. It's hard to give that motivation to someone who hasn't experienced it, but being unable to do anything physical for so long has made every ride super sweet. I'm totally digging this great weather. I know I'm corny ! :p

Of course, he doesn't yet know that once the snow flies, I've got other ideas to keep us out there...muhahahaha

This should help: Click (http://www-bdnew.fnal.gov/pbar/organizationalchart/peterson/snowplow_files/Bike_Plow.html)

This should help: Click (http://www-bdnew.fnal.gov/pbar/organizationalchart/peterson/snowplow_files/Bike_Plow.html)

Haha.. that is friggin awesome. The only problem I see is the 5 foot of snow that always drops down during a good night.