Work, family, sleep, synagogue, household chores...

As far as motivation, I think that I have found that the best tool is enjoying the physical sensations of riding. For me, when I focus too much on what the bike computer is telling me, then riding turns into just more work that has to be scheduled. When I am focussed on enjoying the ride, I am 13 again - and grinning as I ride. I am in the right place when my jaw muscles are as sore as my legs.

When I am in that place, motivation to ride is not an issue. When I am in that place, the motivation to stop riding is the issue - how to convince myself to stop to deal with one of the "work, family, sleep, synagogue, household chores ..." responsibilities. Usually sleep.

I was never any kind of at athlete. By anyone's stretch of the imagination. So our cases are probably very different.