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Man, I've lost my mojo.

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Man, I've lost my mojo.

Old 08-06-09, 12:04 PM
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Man, I've lost my mojo.

I used to ride all over the city to and from work for years with a ladies bike that didn't even fit me.

I recenty bought a bike (the bike has fenders) and the only time I have ridden it was on the way back from purchasing it.

I was petrified! Street car tracks, beamers, cabbies. Things that never bothered me now have me frightened!

Sometimes I go to the gym in our condo, and it over looks a street with a busy bike lane. There I see:

Little girls, Old men, hipsters riding fixies while texting, bros on mountain bikes. They have no fear!

How do I get my mojo back!
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Old 08-06-09, 12:16 PM
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How far are you from a park or a quiet street?

Spend some time getting re-acquainted with being on a bicycle without the extra stress of traffic.

Play with your brakes, carve some turns, get comfortable with your bike. Once you feel connected with your bike you can introduce other stuff like traffic.

It'll come back!
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Old 08-06-09, 12:24 PM
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Sounds like you've gotten a fear of fenders. Pull them off and the fear will go away.

Seriously... just ride, your connection will return in time.
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Old 08-06-09, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by ithasfenders
...

How do I get my mojo back!
You just have to go for it!

Go for it, you'll be fine!
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Old 08-06-09, 12:47 PM
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I know just how you feel - I lost my blinkie on Tuesday.

Go ride.
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Old 08-06-09, 12:52 PM
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Go find a young girl/guy to have sex with. Maybe it will all come back to you.
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Old 08-06-09, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Go find a young girl/guy to have sex with. Maybe it will all come back to you.
Oh, sure, make it sound easy!
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Old 08-06-09, 01:14 PM
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Listen to loud music while riding in traffic. You'll be oblivious to the traffic around you and the music will psych you up a little.*

* May result in permanent injury. Use internet advice with caution.
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Old 08-06-09, 02:48 PM
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listen to loud muddy waters!
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Old 08-06-09, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by neilfein
Sounds like you've gotten a fear of fenders. Pull them off and the fear will go away.
But then he'd have to change his username!

Anyway, I second canyoneagle's recommendation to spend some time familiarising yourself with the bike in a quiet area. You'll feel much more in control, and a lot of that fear may go away, once your brain has incorporated the new bicycle into your body schema, so to speak.
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Old 08-06-09, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by jeffpoulin
Listen to loud music while riding in traffic. You'll be oblivious to the traffic around you and the music will psych you up a little.*

* May result in permanent injury. Use internet advice with caution.
You're kidding I know, but I did exactly this in NYC and it helped. YMMV...
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Old 08-07-09, 08:11 AM
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cut yourself with a sharp knife and leave the blood. turn your head and spit. start swearing and go kick a dog. I would say toughfen the f*** up but I hate expression. just ride my friend, ride. your mojo is waiting to come out again.
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Old 08-07-09, 10:51 AM
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You're afraid of BMW motorcycles?
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Old 08-07-09, 11:08 AM
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So is it that you get nervous or did you lose interest? I know lots of people here have probably done a little of both at one time or another.

I developed a slight fear for commuting a couple of years ago. It was in the winter and I got bumped by a car (again). I also had a couple of close calls in that same day.

I started riding on trails (especially the Katy) and it seemed to help. I didn't get tired of riding, I got tired of the stinking traffic! This year I am back to commuting. I got a little creative and found some new steets to ride on. I also found a hidden trail that gets me pretty close to home without having to ride in traffic.

When I get bored with riding the same city, the same streets, the same time every day, I'll add somethng to my bike or helmet. Some new-ness has worked.

Last but not least (and then I'll shut up) think about how you are saving the planet of CO2 by not driving (sorry, I teach Sustainability). That always motivates me.

Ride man, ride.

Jerry H
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Old 08-07-09, 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by jharte
Last but not least (and then I'll shut up) think about how you are saving the planet of CO2 by not driving (sorry, I teach Sustainability). That always motivates me.

Ride man, ride.

Jerry H
I figured out once that I omit 64 pounds of carbon emissions every time I ride to work.
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Old 08-07-09, 11:48 AM
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As someone who has at times been scared off the bike, or spooked from a typical route: riding for exercise in a more bike friendly location has always eventually led back to bike commuting. Sometimes it takes a month or two, and I sat out one entire winter after a crash while I was in the middle of a job search (the idea of showing up to an interview with a raspberry or missing teeth really unnerved me).

While commuting I find I sometimes develop a lack of interest or enthusiasm, I combat this by exploiting my natural love of exploring and will at least a few times a week take a turn down a street I've never tried before, or add a loop that looks scenic. Occasionally this results in an evening ride of miserable traffic but often I discover a new route and it always increases the miles. Two days ago on an exercise ride (after the commute) I road through some construction signage that had appeared off of my usual route and made first tracks on 3 miles of a brand new road, most fun I've had in ages on a ride, I did a number of laps before heading back to the planned route.
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Old 08-07-09, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Go find a young girl/guy to have sex with. Maybe it will all come back to you.


That's very politically correct of you.
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Old 08-07-09, 12:44 PM
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Don't worry it'll all come back. But you will have to ride to get it back.
Remember, even Lance was afraid of going back to the peloton before the TDF. And he finished 3rd! LOSER!
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Old 08-07-09, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by ithasfenders
How do I get my mojo back!
Go ride for a few miles; get the endorphins and blood pumping. Then ride in traffic. Presto!
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Old 08-07-09, 03:44 PM
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Get back on a girl's bike.

On a more serious note, you should familiarize yourself to your new bike, then follow through with rides that increase your traffic exposure and make necessary adjustments as your comfort level increases. you will be texting while skidding in no time.
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Old 08-07-09, 06:23 PM
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Cocaine and heroin. speed ball. R I P BILLY MAYS!
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Old 08-08-09, 06:47 AM
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Just get out there and rock it.
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Old 08-08-09, 09:10 AM
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When I first got back on a bike, after 25+ years of not riding, I almost crashed just running around in a parking lot.

Solution? Ride a little every day or two. After a while, ride a little farther each day. I also practiced things such as braking (with and without Flintstone brakes ), turning tight corners, turning while going fast ( well, fast for me), and other aspects of riding. At first, I stayed mostly in bike lanes and safe places. Gradually, I ventured out into mixed traffic, then narrow roads, and eventually even rush-hour traffic on normal streets.

Took a while, but I built up to the point I now ride most everywhere I go, including a 10-mile one-way commute to school 4-5 days per week.

I suggest giving yourself time, and if you want to ride, ride and keep riding until it's natural and normal feeling for you again. Best of luck!
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Old 08-08-09, 09:55 AM
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I am with you, dude. I never ride in traffic anymore. If I need to get somewhere, I usually take a major street - very cautiously - over to a less traveled/traffic street.

Yeah, you can wear a helmet, pads all over your body but all it takes is a few crunked out people in an escalade to end your life....

I'm not trying to scare you. I'm saying it's like Nike - Just Do It. Get back out there and regain your confidence - with caution of course.
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Old 08-08-09, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by abstractform20
Cocaine and heroin. speed ball. R I P BILLY MAYS!


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