Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,286
Likes: 317
From: Lake Geneva, WI
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Originally Posted by
bruce19
I seem to have these periods of not wanting to ride that are, for lack of a better term, psychological. Almost all of my rides are solo and in the 15-40 mi. range. In a good week I'll be out four days. Then I'll have this feeling of not wanting to be on the bike. I realized that it was all because of my "training" as a HS and college athlete. Sounds strange but even at age 65 I often get very competitive with myself. I get into this mindset that each ride has to be faster than the last one. Eventually riding becomes a test instead of fun. Lately I've been dealing with this by stopping myself from this thinking and telling myself that this ride will be about spinning or easy riding and attacking hills. Just wondering if anyone else has some mental thing that gets in their way.
Originally Posted by
GFish
We share some common traits....
Ride mostly solo............check
Ride 15 - 40 miles..........check
Ride 4 days per week......check (on average)
Riding competitive..........check
Waning motivation.........check
For myself, it was important to set clear goals. Mine is to ride faster and lose weight. Except the rides started becoming a test of endurance and definitely not fun. It got bad enough, that a few rides were almost over after riding only 100 feet. The bike started symbolizing work instead of freedom and fun. So I started changing how I ride to bring the romance back.
Here's what I did...
Instead of hammering the pedals over the entire ride, I choose particular locations to work out; hammer fest a hill, short or long intervals on a flat, maybe high cadence spinning for X miles. Whatever workout I choose, I try to get it over early in the ride. This way, I can enjoy the remaining miles without any guilt or feel the need to challenge myself. At some point, I'll pick one day (or two) to ride hard for extended miles, but for now, the short or mid intervals are working.
I believe having a riding partner or group would also help keep the motivation up. But, I haven't found anyone close, so I'll continue enjoying solo country rides while watching farm life, the animals, changing weather and seasons after the workout is over. The bike is fun again.
I'm also in this group with the same mix of overall goals, miles traveled and frequency on the bike.
My motivation comes-n-goes a few times a year. It doesn’t bother me much since I know my cycling motivation always returns. I was bumped by a car that caused a harmless fall this spring. It took me a while to get back on the bike. Once I was riding again, I regained my confidence. I have some slight upper-respiratory irritation this week. I decided to stay off the bike and give the body a chance to recuperate. I should be back on the bike by Sunday, after a week off.
This ebb & flow is normal in most parts of my life. People are not robots.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 10-13-11 at 12:57 PM.