General Cycling Discussion - i have lost interest :(

I have been off the saddle for more than 2 months now.. My buddies have been calling me..

I have been so busy these past months that I dont have time to ride anymore.. Now that I have the time, I dont like to. I feel tired and weak.

I want to go back into cycling.. but... I don't like to ride..

Help me pls.. What do you think I need to do to make my interest in bikes come back? Buy new upgrades:D?

Thanks guys... you might have noticed i havent been visisting the forums for quite some time..

Help me pls.. What do you think I need to do to make my interest in bikes come back?

Go for a short ride but don't make it about riding. Pick a spot you'd like to see, pick an errand you have to do, etc and just hop on your bike and ride to get there. I'll bet that somewhere along the way, you will be reawakened to the joys of riding. I sometimes fall into the slump of not wanting to ride too but once I'm on the bike, that feeling quickly goes away. The trick is to get yourself on the bike and sometimes, in order for that to happen, you have to trick your mind. Good luck and let us know how things go.

I've noticed your abscence lately, and was wondering where you'd got to. I think Khuon has the best advice here, what you need to do above all else is not to worry about your performance when riding that errand. Some of the lack of desire may stem from a sub-conscious fear that you won't be as strong when you get back in the saddle (I know it's been problem for me in the past), so don't bother to measure it. Just get out and enjoy the fresh air, the scenery, the sensation of the wind on your face. The rest should follow.

I completely agree with what the others have mentioned. Just get on the bike and go get a coffee or a treat of some sort and go cruising and sightseeing...maybe someplace that you haven't been yet.

I know what you are dealing with.

think about your health, riding a bike will make you healthy

Choose a special route or destination - someplace pretty or relaxing or whatever turns you on. Just go for the fun of it. Put some tape over your computer. Take a lunch or go to a restaurant. Make the joy of biking the purpose of the trip. If you like nature, stop and check out the birds, wildlife and/or flowers. Take some pictures. Take the competition out of the biking, and add back in the joy.

I have noticed your absence from Activebody.org!

Good luck.

I agree. Ride for the enjoyment, don't pay attention to speed, heart rate (unless you're getting consistently out of breath), etc. Find a great place to start that will give you extra motivation, and don't overdo it with time or intensity. Before long, I'm sure you'll remember why you took up cycling.

Koffee

thanks a lot guys/gals... i really appreciate it.

Im going for a ride tommorrow.. Ill make it short.. say under 5km... Ill put a tape over the computer and wont wear my cycling cloths...

the trip to the bikeshop always cheered me up... ill just ride to the shop... funny thing is the sig. other is wanting me to ride... and buy new bike stuff... hmmm.. funny...:) why didn't this happend before.. :D(she wanting me to buy upgrades)

Ill try it... wish me luck..

Thanks again... I really needed that pat in the back.

From your post, I concluded that you were a guy, and guys can be really competitive when they get together. You said your buddies were calling you; did you guys get together and just go hard all the time? Did, even the easy rides, turn into races, who could drop who, and mini crits? I'm just curious, because nothing will burn you out more than constant pressure. I know that. When I started riding and training, every ride became important. Every ride was because of a race (at this time, adventure racing,) or because I wanted to drop a friend, or just because I put the pressure on myself. It wasn't until my world fell apart, and I was forced to find an outlet for my energy, that I found what cycling was all about. I went from riding 4 days a week because I had to in order to achieve a goal, to riding 6 days a week for hours just to melt away the world.

When I get burned out, like I think you are, I take a trip. I mountain bike a lot, so I'll pick an all day epic ride a few hours away, camp out with hubby, eat cheap, fish, and spend a day or two riding. We stop every 20 min. or so, have some pb&j sandwiches for lunch, and relax. Or, sometimes, we pick a destination just an hour away, go ride for a few hours and have pizza afterwards. It makes riding what it's supposed to be: fun. I don't believe that riding is all about performance. For me, the joy of riding is when the world melts away, and nothing matters except clearing that log, bombing a downhill, or climbing that hill that always makes you dismount. Sometimes, you just need to get back to the salt of the matter, and nothing gets you there like a cheap road trip, some fat tire, a fishing pole, and your bike.

Another trick-the 10 minute rule. If I don't really feel like riding, I get dressed, and take my bike outside. I tell myself that I'm going to ride 10 minutes away from the house, and, if I still don't want to ride, I can come home. That way, I've at least rode 20 minutes: 10 out and 10 back. Usually, though, I get 10 minutes away from home and start feeling good.

Just ride. If you don't wanna ride anymore, then find something else, but get that stress out of you. It's not healthy, and it's not worth it. We have such a small amount of time in this world: Don't spend it stressed and too busy to do the things you love.

Buy a new bike thats lets you ride completely differently. If your a roadie, get a mountain bike, or visaversa. The excitement of something completely different will revitalize you.

I'm doing my last year of undergrad uni and have a severe lack of free time. I like nothing more than riding down the coast on a sunday but just can't really afford to (I spend half of my saturday playing hockey and the other half sleeping in after a week of work and a night of at least a couple of beers). Anyways, what I'm getting at is: commute! (if you can that is). You get to ride your bike AND see the birds chirping, the sun rising (or hovering already up, depending how keen you are) etc etc.

I kinda agree with sm266

I don't like things that involve competition against others, I like to challenge myself though. I'm considered new to mt biking, cus I only really got into it this summer. The first time I went to a trail, it was a really hard trail. I was with some pros who have been riding on that trail for ages. It was about 8 miles, and the first mile of constant up hill along water washed path with large loose rocks wasn't something I could handle. So after the first mile, I could barely stand on my legs. Plus I was riding s cheap girl's bike from Walmart.

However what bothered me was I really don't want to slow the other people down. I know I am slow, and even those guys were nice and never minded about waiting for me, I was under pressure from myself to keep up with them. I like to go at my own place. I like to stop whenever I want to take a nice look at the surrounding, especially in the woods. I want to enjoy a ride, so now I mostly do it alone.

I kinda agree with sm266

I don't like things that involve competition against others, I like to challenge myself though. I still like competition, just it comes more naturally to me since I relaxed. I ride better because I cut myself some slack.


However what bothered me was I really don't want to slow the other people down. I know I am slow, and even those guys were nice and never minded about waiting for me, I was under pressure from myself to keep up with them. I like to go at my own place. I like to stop whenever I want to take a nice look at the surrounding, especially in the woods. I want to enjoy a ride, so now I mostly do it alone.

That's what I had to do initially. I had to learn by myself, so I'd go alone. I progressed quicker because I wasn't always playing catchup. Eventually you'll get there, but just take your time and enjoy it.

I like Chris' suggestion..Go on a ride in your favorite locations..Can't say I feel bored with riding..But, We have so many incredible, scenic rides here abouts. I go on some of my favorite hill rides with nicely scented valleys, I always come back inspired..A ride by the ocean is always inspiring.. Riding is what keeps me sane, so I think.
You have been off the bike for long, you will be weaker..Can't keep up, that will be a cause for disappointment, so don't expect to. Personally, I think racers eventually burn out. have to love biking for the sense of independence, freedom, fresh air. If you ride to race and once defeated, guess the game is all over.. Why continue...? As Lance says, it is about the bike. Bet, even he would think the bike is more important than beating someone. Beating another racer is not what brought him back from cancer. That is my opinion.
I ride to tour . Bikes are my means of getting around.Of attempting to be fit...My goal cross a continent.

I try to remember that I always feel better after I finish riding, despite how I feel before the ride.

:beer: Here Here!! :beer:

Choose a special route or destination - someplace pretty or relaxing or whatever turns you on. Just go for the fun of it. Put some tape over your computer. Take a lunch or go to a restaurant. Make the joy of biking the purpose of the trip. If you like nature, stop and check out the birds, wildlife and/or flowers. Take some pictures. Take the competition out of the biking, and add back in the joy.

I have noticed your absence from Activebody.org!

Good luck.

Ok 2 months off and you are still 360 miles ahead of me at activebody.org :eek:
I lost the will to ride two years ago after I lost a race by 7 seconds. I didn't ride for a month. Going back was tough but as soon as I had a couple of rides under my belt I rembered how much I loved to ride.

The open road with the wind in your hair; just you and the bike hammering away stroke by stroke. Some of what really does it for me is the view of nature on a bike. Every once and a while you get a chance to see something special. Today on a ride I saw a deer come out onto the road about 75 yards ahead of me. Then it stopped and looked at me until I was about 50 feet from it; I had to yell at it to get out of the way, and then it wandered off into the woods. Those are the moments that make biking fun for me it's the little things. The surprise around each corner. The thrill of a big downhill.

You'll find your love again; just get out and give your bike another chance to woo you.

-Gary

I'm insanely competitive....I have to be racing against something, even if it was yesterday's ETA. If I lose, who cares, at least I gave it everything I have. My commute....If I don't at least run within 15 seconds of my best I get annoyed.


About a month and a half ago, right about when I finally broken in my trigger shifters on the outlook, I got bored with cycling. What it turned out to be was I just could not beat my old time...for over a month. I was putting nearly 250+ miles a week in, and my time was actually going up... So I just gave it a rest for a coupple weeks...no weekend riding, just rest...then it was very hard to get back on...but once I felt how much faster I felt now that my overworked muscles were back on track.....WHEEE.....bike bug bit me square on the buttocks...again!!!

Simply change your bar tapes and go out for a short spin...... you'll thank me for it.

I always get ultra motivated watching races. Maybe try a couple cool Cycling DVD's . World Cycling has a good selection. My personal fave would be the 1998 Giro D'itaia, but that's just me....

You sound exhausted.

-either a vacation, or some serious down time, away from work, seem necessary. Some gentle rides might work their way in there, under the heading of 'active recovery'.

If you weren't so tired, (mentally and physically) there might be more room for all the things you love?

Spoil yourself a bit;-)

If you haven't yet, you might want to try a tandem.

g'day,

get down to the LBS asap!.....grab a new pair of knicks & jersey, don't forget the cool socks, maybe a team cap to wear under the helmet?, ...some new Rudy's?......guarantee you'll be out riding straight away,

cheers,

Hitchy

I think your feelings sound very understandable--it's always hard to restart something that you have abruptly abandoned, especially if you had worked hard to get where you were in the first place. The prospect of picking up where you left off is demoralizing, and it gets worse the longer you don't do anything about it. The trick at this point is to remove all expectations for yourself (and of course, to have fun!)

Somebody said to put tape over your computer and that's excellent advice. Also, try to make the next ride "different": try riding a different route from your usual ones, buy a new jersey (if your into clothes), or put on some new bar tape or a new H2O cage, or re-true your wheels--just do *something* to make the next ride feel a little new.

Have fun! :)

The days that I don't want or care to ride...are the days that I most need to ride.

I want to go back into cycling.. but... I don't like to ride..



That is a problem. I find that i always like to ride and have ever since i was a kid. Have you ever noticed that all kids seem to like to ride. Most school age kids ride a bike somewhere each day. Most of them don't ride that far but they always ride. They must be onto something??

For me i have found that numbers kill my desire to get on the bike. I started out riding 9 miles, then 12, then 16, then 19, then 20, now sometimes 30 miles every day. What i have discovered is that I am starting to lose interest in my ride. After about an hour and 1/2 on the bike i start thinking about other things i would rather be doing.

I simply can't spend 2 hours on a bike every day, it isn't feasible for a MWC working male. I also realize that distance, speed etc. had absolutely nothing to do with why i first enjoyed riding. I enjoyed "being away from it all". Maybe you can try and remember why you first wanted to ride a lot. I bet that reason is still there.

Lately i have been entertaining thoughts of skipping one of my early AM rides. Today i about did, but i am glad i got on the bike. There is a bunch of wild turkeys on the same road out in the country that i have been seeing every day. We are getting so friendly with each other that today they almost decided not to move. I literally had to slow down for them (30 plus) to get out of my way. Oh well i guess they get lazy too.

Different discipline maybe. Try mtbiking for fun...something besides being on the road and counting the numbers...I have to switch it up a lot. Sometime dh, xc, djing etc...I treat biking like its a game....not a job :)

Today I once again met my 3 point buck and his doe girl friend. I first encountered them last week at a turn in the bike path. I stopped and we analyzed each other a bit. The buck decided I was not trustworthy, so he and the doe went back into the forest.

Today, he must have felt somewhat better about me. He and I stared at each other for about two minutes, then, with a bound, he jumped over the bike path, and the doe followed. They went out to the meadow and grazed on some shrubs.

Jsut before my buck and I met, I spotted some sort of game hen crossing the trail.

It is things like these that are the delight of my riding - and peddling along absolutely silently (yes, my Shimano 105's are absolutely quiet) thinking thoughts and figuring out life.

That is why I love to ride by myself, and not be in a competition with someone else.

Today I once again met my 3 point buck and his doe girl friend. I first encountered them last week at a turn in the bike path. I stopped and we analyzed each other a bit. The buck decided I was not trustworthy, so he and the doe went back into the forest.

Was it this one?

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/20040711-everett-laconner/PICT0019.jpg

Was it this one?



YES! BUT HOW DID HE GET TO WASHINGTON?

YES! BUT HOW DID HE GET TO WASHINGTON?

I don't know but that's I-5 over there to the far left and that's not too far from Mount Vernon, WA which is halfway to the border. My guess is that he's on his way to Canada!

Hey that's the same one I saw last week. :)

Nice picture! I went to college in Mt. Vernon and was born and raised in Bellingham. My buddies and I rode a lot of those country roads and park trails.

'bent Brian

I have been off the saddle for more than 2 months now.. My buddies have been calling me..

I have been so busy these past months that I dont have time to ride anymore.. Now that I have the time, I dont like to. I feel tired and weak.

I want to go back into cycling.. but... I don't like to ride..

Help me pls.. What do you think I need to do to make my interest in bikes come back? Buy new upgrades:D?

Thanks guys... you might have noticed i havent been visisting the forums for quite some time..

I would'nt worry about it too much. There's plenty of time in life to put down one thing for another and take it back up again. Just go with the flow. Let me share a personal story fwiw, when I was a kid in High school I would ride an old junker bike all over the place pretending I was Greg Lemond or some such thing, I never ever could afford a nice racing bike. Then I borowed a nice track bike and rode that for years. After college I got a job travelling and probably did not ride a bike for 3 years. Now at age 33 I have raced cyclocross and road in cat 4 and I am having the time of my life. If you are not having fun doing it then don't. Do what ever suits your fancy at any givin time...