I have one question about the loss of motivation. Does it last beyond the first ten or twenty miles of a ride, or is it just hard to get on and go? I've had many a ride/swim/hike where the first bit seemed like a chore, and then things come together and the fun starts. I remember a runner with a shaved head named Burke (sp) who, when told how easy it must be for him to go out for training runs, said the first mile is just as hard for him as it is for everyone else, it's just that he finds the next ten to be easier than most people do.