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Lost my motivation

Old 07-16-09, 07:05 PM
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Lost my motivation

I seem to have lost my motivation to ride, I think it's other things, I will not go into them, but in March I was riding the trainer a lot, in April when the weather was supposed to improve and I wanted to ride outside, it was crappy, now, aw, I can't seem to get motivated to go out and ride. My wife is a weekend warrior, and other then the rides with her, I can't seem to get motivated to do much more then the occasional run to the the store. So while last month I barely beat the previous year, I can't seem to get motivated to go out and do any training rides this year....

Maybe discussing it with you folks will help.
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Old 07-16-09, 07:52 PM
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In the time you took to write that post you could have been getting ready and on your bike.. get out and ride Clyde!
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Old 07-16-09, 07:56 PM
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Turn on Versus and watch Le Tour and that will motivate you!
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Old 07-16-09, 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Poolagoo
In the time you took to write that post you could have been getting ready and on your bike.. get out and ride Clyde!
Too dark for normal riding now, I need to replace the batteries in my headlight. Crap, should have asked the wife to get a set when she went out shopping, hmmm.... that was hours ago, where the heck is she????

It does, give me a reason to ride tomorrow.....
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Old 07-16-09, 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Paco97
Turn on Versus climb onto the trainer and watch Le Tour and that will motivate you!
In addition, when I began "The Road Back", I set one ironclad rule: No watching any sports on TV, unless I've already worked-out that day.
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Old 07-16-09, 08:17 PM
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Sometimes I don't feel much like riding, but I hop on the bike anyway, and by the time I hit the end of the block, I have a big grin on my face and I'm enjoying it like a kid. Get out there and ride.

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Old 07-16-09, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenH
Sometimes I don't feel much like riding, but I hop on the bike anyway, and by the time I hit the end of the block, I have a big grin on my face and I'm enjoying it like a kid. Get out there and ride.
I was gonna say something along these lines. Wogsterca, do you find that once you are out there you enjoy it? Is it just the getting up and getting out that is a problem?
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Old 07-16-09, 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by stark23x
I was gonna say something along these lines. Wogsterca, do you find that once you are out there you enjoy it? Is it just the getting up and getting out that is a problem?
It has been this year, here is what happened:

February I got on the trainer, did fairly well for the time of year, did fairly well in March too. The end of March, my wife brought home a cold, which I managed to catch. It was the cold from Hades, it knocked the stuffing out of me for about 3 weeks, during which we put the bikes outside and the trainer in the garage. The weather in April sucked, so I wasn't motivated to ride outside, yet. Once the weather improved, I didn't really feel like riding, and figured things would get better, they haven't. so.....
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Old 07-16-09, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Wogsterca
So while last month I barely beat the previous year, I can't seem to get motivated to go out and do any training rides this year....
How about some FUN rides???

I contend if it isn't fun, then folks will eventually stop - whatever the activity.

So, whatever is fun for you - do it. Explore some new areas. Tape over the cyclocomputer. Take beautiful pictures. Find a friend.

Forget the training for a bit.
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Old 07-16-09, 10:20 PM
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Try some new rides. I’d jump on the train to a new place to ride.

Have you been to Mackinac Island, MI ? The American island that has banned motorized vehicle for more than a century remains a living Victorian community.
www.mackinacisland.org/
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Old 07-16-09, 10:28 PM
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Or vice versa! Forget the pics and do some training. Time yourself up a climb, then try to beat it a day or two later.

Sometimes just to make it fun, I do a ten mile climb from home. My best time is 54 minutes. I will set out with the intentions of matching my best, then about 1/2 a mile from the top, I will try to push the pace to beat my PR. Even if I don't it's so much fun being hunched over the bike wondering if I'm gonna puke! Now that's fun!
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Old 07-16-09, 10:30 PM
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Get some of these cheapo P7 flashlights and night time riding will be much more fun. These things are bright - and you won't need to send your better half shopping for batteries.

See if you can find a bike club in your area ?

We have read a lot from you - we know you can do it!
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Old 07-16-09, 11:02 PM
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Unplug your T.V. and P.C. for a few days.... You will get very bored and have to do something to alleviate it... ride. Problem solved
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Old 07-17-09, 01:53 AM
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Maybe it would help if you came up with a reason to ride?

Figure out a destination, and try to get jazzed about it. I know with the walking I have been doing I have pushed through by wanting to get where I was going and focusing on it, and not on the fact I was walking only to find the walking was not so bad as I had expected.

I expect that bike riding will be the same when I am jazzed to go out to Dunn Bros coffee, Subway, and to get a nice haircut and go on whatever bike I buy.

Pick a spot you really wanna go to, get revved up, and then take it out on the pedals!

RD
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Old 07-17-09, 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Wogsterca
I seem to have lost my motivation to ride, I think it's other things, I will not go into them, but in March I was riding the trainer a lot, in April when the weather was supposed to improve and I wanted to ride outside, it was crappy, now, aw, I can't seem to get motivated to go out and ride. My wife is a weekend warrior, and other then the rides with her, I can't seem to get motivated to do much more then the occasional run to the the store. So while last month I barely beat the previous year, I can't seem to get motivated to go out and do any training rides this year....

Maybe discussing it with you folks will help.
I'm going to offend some folks here, but my suggestion is to do something else until the desire to ride comes back. And if it doesn't, well, that's OK too. If you feel obliged to ride, you'll find reasons to avoid riding.
 
Old 07-17-09, 06:04 AM
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Originally Posted by The Historian
I'm going to offend some folks here, but my suggestion is to do something else until the desire to ride comes back. And if it doesn't, well, that's OK too. If you feel obliged to ride, you'll find reasons to avoid riding.
+1

We are all wired different. If I thought I "Had" to go do something, I will find reasons not to. I took the posture that the only reason I want to ride is for FUN. Screw time, speed and competition.

Neil is right. Do it when you want to and don't do it when you don't want to.
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Old 07-17-09, 06:06 AM
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What Neil said ^^^

The bicycle is not the only form of cardio exercise. So long as you are not vegging out on the couch then there is nothing wrong with taking a break from the bike to pursue other interests. Roller blade, cannoe, swim, play basket ball etc.
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Old 07-17-09, 06:09 AM
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Lots of good suggestions here. I"m goign to mostly agree with DnvrFox and Historian's comments. If you really don't feel like riding for a while, don't -- but DO find something else to do. However, if you think it's just a general malaise and you need to get some momentum, then go out and just ride around the block, ride to the coffee shop or to get ice cream, or to a neighborhood baseball game, or hit some garage sales on a Saturday morning.

The only other suggestion I'd have is -- if you are normally a roadie, get a MT bike and hit the trails, and vice versa if you are typically riding MTB. Switching up gets you riding, keeps you fresh, and makes ME want to ride more of both.
 
Old 07-17-09, 07:45 AM
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OK do you have a a DVR??? Could you lose a few pounds?? If so..go get the Charmicahel Trianing DVDs or some other ones..and do 1 hour on Crtierium or Power... adn whoosh any kind of depression/non motivation will go as you have a puddle sweat around you.


Next take a shower....go plop on couch you deserve it.


OK so right now - can you do it????
Either get on trainer or go out and ride... Go WOG go!! OK Report back in and tell us your riding schedule for today. We need an I DID IT post!


Go Go Go Go Go

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Old 07-17-09, 08:12 AM
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I sometimes feel like I'm in a similar boat, probably for different reasons tho. See, every time I ride I usually enjoy it. I just need to do it more often and consistently. I put in 30 miles and change on Wednesday, despite not having ridden in over 10 days. Felt great, except that my shoes are too tight in the toes and my hands get numb. The more I ride the more I want a road bike. But I can't spend money just that quick, and even if I did getting shoes, road bike, etc wouldn't necessarily guarantee anything, just improve the odds.

I took a morning ride Wednesday, then had a pizza buffet for lunch right on the trail. It dawned on me that I could post up in my local sportbike website a Saturday morning ride and lunch, as a number of us also ride bicycles as well. So that might turn out to be something, who knows. Or I just might end up riding by myself again. Only one way to find out, and I figure I'll be doing just that in about 8 days.

Sometimes I wonder if I think realistically or not - part of me feels like I'd be happier with a road bike, another part of me feels like that's wishful thinking and I still need to drop 50 more pounds first, and still another part of me feels like that "maybe I'm not the rider I'd like to think I am" and should just ride recreationally (as opposed to....what? not too sure).

A lot of mornings I get home from 8 or 9 hours of work standing on my feet - all I want to do is just sit down then go to bed. Then I sleep, and wake up, and its too late, and the cycle starts all over again.

Sitting at this computer is also bad - it's so easy and every minute spent in front of the keyboard, indeed every minute spent typing this very post, means one less minute out there and riding.

It's a really nice morning out there. Now pardon me while I log off this infernal machine and go for a ride, short or long it doesn't matter.....

Tom
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Old 07-17-09, 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by jboyd
Screw time, speed and competition.

Neil is right. Do it when you want to and don't do it when you don't want to.
Yeah, Neil is correct if'n the OP wants out of cycling for a bit. I've done it, no problem there!

BUT! The OP posted a similar thread 2 or 3 months back, same issue. Since I've been reading the Clyde forum, OP has had the same cycling habits and continues to post going stale while stating that he rides for FUN. Lots of sightseeing cycling, lots of photos, but no motivation.

I'm with Bee! Get on the bike and bust your hump! That would be something different from the same old stale routine. Circulatize that blood!

Posting that one rides for fun but continuing to go stale doesn't sound like fun. Maybe something different on the bike would make it FUN again!
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Old 07-17-09, 08:26 AM
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get on the bike and roll out the driveway first, [fully planning on turning around
and going back inside]...THEN while you are out on the bike....decide if you don't wanna ride.
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Old 07-17-09, 09:58 AM
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I just wish I could ride. My Cypress was stolen (temporarily Kryptonite cable locked to a post outside my apartment while we did a G.I. party in the living room, some azhat found a narrow window opportunity to cut the cable and took the bike). My Draft needs a new wheel set (https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1278 ordered yesterday from Dallas hopefully it'll be sent UPS ground today).

Meanwhile, The Wog just isn't motivated to get his fat butt on a bike and ride. You make me sick. You're worthless and weak. And what is that? A Twisted Sister button on your uniform? Drop and give me two zero pushups maggot. Then get on your bike and give me two zero miles.

(some people respond better to the drill sergent approach to motivation )
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Old 07-17-09, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Tex_Arcana
I just wish I could ride. My Cypress was stolen (temporarily Kryptonite cable locked to a post outside my apartment while we did a G.I. party in the living room, some azhat found a narrow window opportunity to cut the cable and took the bike). My Draft needs a new wheel set (https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1278 ordered yesterday from Dallas hopefully it'll be sent UPS ground today).

Meanwhile, The Wog just isn't motivated to get his fat butt on a bike and ride. You make me sick. You're worthless and weak. And what is that? A Twisted Sister button on your uniform? Drop and give me two zero pushups maggot. Then get on your bike and give me two zero miles.

(some people respond better to the drill sergent approach to motivation )
And I was just getting ready to channel R Lee Ermey. Ya maggot.
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Old 07-17-09, 10:46 AM
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Sir, no Sir! Sir, it is a pledge pin not a Twisted Sister button Sir!
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