I have the reverse of this in one of my neighbours Mick.

Sales rep driving around all day- lunch at pubs and he did enjoy a drink aswell. 40 lbs overweight and no fitness at all. He showed an interest in riding a bike and as I had a spare one in the shed- I set it up for him and told him to take the bike out whenever he wanted. He would not come out with me as I was too fit but a ride on his own with no pressure and he might chance it. A year later and he had never taken out the bike but another of our neighbours did the London to Brighton ride and although he suffered- he did it.

It shamed Mick into taking the bike out and the first ride hurt him. 5 miles up the cuckoo trail and back. For the next couple of months he rode on his own then one Sunday we had a ride with the neighbour that did the L to B and Mick came along. He found out he was not as bad as he thought and started riding in earnest. He came out with me a few times and I introduced him to hills and longer rides and only a couple more months and he bought a bike that was better than the one I had loaned him.

18 months later and he is doing 100 miles a week- 3 spinning sessions at the gym and he can beat me up any hill and over any distance. Not on for this year but he wants to try a couple of mountains so looks like a lads holiday next year to France.

I have known Mick for 20 years and we enjoy each others company. Now he is into cycling I see more of him but normally as a small dot in the distance as he crests the top of the hill. Time for me to start servicing his bike and get the brakes binding and not be able to get into the small ring for those hills.

So although The original post was about someone losing the thrill of cycling- I can at least tell the other side where others find the joy of it aswell.