Road Cycling - How do YOU keep riding fun?

So i ve just completed my first real season of racing. With all the training rides and races and driving to races it sometimes gets hard to remember we do this for FUN right? About half way through the year i was gettin really burnt out, riding 4-5 times a week, usualy 30-50 mile rides at a time and i could feel myself starting to HATE my bike. So one sunday i went out, didnt take the HRM didnt turn on the flight deck and just rode around. I mean i was just RIDING MY BIKE, no fast pace not pushing it. Started enjoying the scenery and the weather. The feeling of being "away" from everything and the freedom of being on my bike and just cruising where i wanted. After 2 hrs of this i felt like a new man. Now every sunday i do this same routine, nothing fancy just cruise around town. Killing two birds with one stone i might add, getting my recovery in while enjoying myself. SO how does everyone here keep riding from becoming a second job or from getting to the point where they burn out, i m interested to see how others do it.
Drew

I have made this claim for a long time..Racing alone is not riding just "being about the bike. " Cycling has always been touring and exploring, but under your own power. Not once has cycling been anything but fun under these conditions. Sorry, can't relate to your concern.

I take about 2-4 days off, then the next time I get back on the bike, it's so much more fun because my legs aren't feeling like dead tree stumps.

Opposite to what a few of you have voiced, when I see my times improve, or my speed increase it really makes it fun for me. Seeing the improvement and knowing I’ve gained something always keeps me riding happily along. Not to say I don’t enjoy a nice cruising ride, but it doesn’t stack up to the way I feel when I break a personal record.

I do it by riding four different types of bikes that I have. Because each one is so different I tend to ride each one in it's own particular mode of venturing. I also find that cycling helps the physical attributes that I have gained from the martial arts stay sharp. Besides if we claim to be the most intelligent species on this planet that means we can be the most creative with how we appreciate the ride we are opportune too. Life is short and to me riding a bike just seems to make it longer!......................................................................

Going to a MTB or BMX is always a great way to break up the week.

Have you ever gone on a ride and saw some awesome stuff and wish you had a camera? Well, carry a camera with you on a ride and stop to take pictures then!

Plan on riding to a specific destination/event. Ride your bike to the field where you and your buddies set up a football game. (bring 'real' shoes!)

Turn off your computer and rip off all the electrodes and wires coming out all your holes. If you look like a machine, you're going to act like one.

Get a map and hang it on the wall. Then begin to ride each street in your town until you mark them all off then move to the next one. Makes it kinda like an adventure game. Yes, I'm a nerd.

Bring a friend. Introduce someone to the great sport of cycling and take a nice leisurely ride while you help them get accustomed to their new toy.

Hike, jog, run. Awesome supplement to your riding. Getting onto the walking trails gets you away from the constant flow of cars and noisy areas. Also lets you slow down to enjoy everything around you.

I'll try to think of some more stuff.

I ride like a madman for 3 yrs .....then take 10 yrs off.....then start riding again

Go do something else for awhile. There's too much else to do - I know this is heresy on this forum :eek: But sample all of nature's and mankind offerings and return periodically to the ones that make you really jump out of bed in the morning ;)

In my case I've road raced, MTB'ed, ran upto a marathon, done various tri combinations, paddled(designed and built my racing canoe), inline skated, x-country skiied(classic and skating), alpine skiied, swam, played with sports cars, did equestrian riding(still own two horses), pumped iron, racketball, handball, wrestled, football, baseball, hunted, fished, golf, tennis................. next on the list archery, kayaking, turbo installation............... :D Most of these were at competition levels and many I return to every know and then. The beauty of endurance related activities is that you can migrate to new ones and be up to speed rather quickly.

And then there's all the intellectual activities - past, present and future but that's another post :p

I've come to learn that if you have to ask yourself "if you're having fun", then you're not having fun anymore and it's time to re-energize :(

This recipe never gets me bored during the year:

40% fixed gear riding, solo, small group, or w/large pack, usually in rags.
30% road bike, solo, small group, or w/large pack, mostly in lycra.
20% mountain biking into the local mountains, in lycra, wool, and rags.
10% short bikepacking/camping weekend tours, on road tourer or mtb tourer, in lycra, wool, & rags.

.....plus constant bike tinkering in the garage with my favourite brew.

I have several riding partners that strictly ride road bikes all year long and nothing else. Now that would bore the crap outa me...

I ride like a madman for 3 yrs .....then take 10 yrs off.....then start riding again
LMAO, good one.

I borrowed a buddies tandem and took my spin instructor out for a few rides. (50, 102, 57. all fast. /groan) but I tell ya, that was something different. And that century was the most fun I've had on a bike. So I agree that getting someone new involved in the sport is fun. (It helps if they are cute and 23 )

I have also taken time during the week to leave the HRM at home and not use the big ring at all. During these rides I set out to see how nice the day is, to look around, talk to folks, etc. This is very therapudic.