Okay, this is my 6th week commuting to work by bike. So far, I've loved it!

But this morning...man! I was just dreading it! Dreading the route, every bump, every hill, the extra time it takes, it was pathetic!!!

I figure the "honeymoon" is over and I just have to get past this phase. I guess given that it was Monday morning and that I knew it would be a tough workday/week didn't help!

I feel lazy towards the end of the week but it usually doesn't stop me. Heck, I feel lazy when driving a car towards the end of the week. What usually gets me are consecutive bad days but that is more frustration than anything.

Sure. But my lottery ticket has yet to get punched and I do like to eat. Suck it up and move on.

Me, I'm way too lazy to go walk up four stories to get to the elevated subway track, then another 4 stories or so out of the depths of the Upper East Side just to walk about 3/4 of a mile to work. So, I take my bike instead...

Not really. I do get tired, but I know how I feel when I don't ride and that motivates me.

Sometimes. There are days every now and again when I just don't feel like tackling the climb.
Sometimes I suck it up, other times, I let the bus carry me up the hill and finish the commute in the saddle.

Maybe I don't count, because part of my motivation for bike commuting is environmental. So if I drive, I get guilt, which ruins it anyway.

Actually, this is not even applicable for me since last December, when I gave up my personal car. Now I don't really have a choice. If I drive the family car, the rest of my family won't have it for the day. Or I inconvenience them making them drop me off and pick me up. Either way, it's easier just to ride. (I should state that it's only 5 miles each way.) And since giving up the car, I've discovered an even deeper joy of feeling that I don't really need it anyway.

Look at it this way. Do most people enjoy driving their car to work? No, they just have to get to work somehow. So, don't feel bad if you aren't always filled with glee at the thought of getting on the steed for another day of battle. Would you really enjoy driving your car more? Well, okay, if you do that sometimes, and it keeps you from getting burned out bike commuting, so be it. It's your life. Maybe if you give yourself some car days, you'll start missing the bike ride and be more motivated to take it up again. Marriages don't end just because the honeymoon does.

IMO if you're dreading it, take a day or two off. Or more. A few days commuting in a car and you'll want to be back at it.

I do struggle occasionally with motivation; for me, variety is the key. I ride different bikes. Or different routes. Or take a day off if my body says so. Or ride a very easy day. Just variety, really, keeps me in it.

I finally got to the point where I hadn't driven my car to work for months, and it just never occurs to me anymore to even think about not getting on the bike in the morning, even as I walk past the car to get to it.

The cool thing is that if you change your route on your bike, it only costs you calories. If you did the same thing to spice up your commute in your car, it'd cost you money and cost all of us health.

Do it for the children.

That said, if you need a day off of riding, take it.

I was lazy a week or so ago I geuss it goes in spurts

It's ok to take your car if you feel burned out. I started to let myself have 1-2 "car" days a week for about a month, and it was definitely a relief in terms of stress, scheduling, and fatigue. The best part is that you'll almost definitely get accustomed to the bike ride faster if you don't overdo it, and you'll go bike-free faster as a result. I pat myself on my back if I go car free for at least 2/5 weekdays, and happily, I've been going 4/5-5/5 car free consistently for the past 4 weeks.

Wait until its about 0 degrees out...

I felt horrible this morning. Monday, I got stung on my forehead last week and it hurt to put on my helmet, etc. Somehow it all seemed to fade after a couple of miles. But those first couple of miles in the fog and dark just felt terrible.
Take a day or two if you need it. I take Fridays off.

If ever I were to lose motivation for bike commuting I'd consider the alternatives and motivation would be back in a snap! Honestly, I shudder at the thought of driving to a job (never owned a car, woohoo!) and sitting on the subway, while I love mass transit, seems like a huge waste of time that could otherwise be spent exercising via bike commuting. Call me logical but that's how I think of it. I used to do a bike - commuter train - bike commute. The time spent on the train would be used for getting work done on the laptop.

Yes, it can be a struggle. You *can* get through it, but to me, if you have been riding anything above moderaetely hard for six weeks, you need (deserve) a rest for a day or three. No guilts in that, and anyone who says there are (including yourself) is way off beam.

i never get lazy. what i get sometimes is tired.

That's how I look at it. I wouldn't rate my commute as one of my more enjoyable rides, it's more like a business transaction. Sure, it has it's moments, but there are other places I'd rather be riding most days. The real reason I do it is because I have no desire to pay whatever it costs to acquire and maintain a car just to sit in gridlock for two hours a day. The bus? Well, it has largely the same problem (if it shows up at all). Consequently, I just saddle up the bike and ride. If I'm feeling tired, I just take it a bit easier.

Yes, and that likely means that I am bored. Which in turn means, I am awaiting tomorrow to get back on the bike or at least do something. and that applies to today. The tremonts are blowing at over 50 mph and I am bored stiff.

+1

I used to think - 'okay, now I'll only commute cause the weather is nice' or 'it's winter so no bike for a while'. Now I just do it when I want. I've even dragged the bike in on the train in the AM and ridden home (or vice-versa) once or twice. Just go with what feels right.

The only bad thing about a lay-off imo is when you no longer have the bike prepped or your bag stocked with tube, pump, etc. It's always a pain getting started again. But if you are talking a day or two, no biggie. Your body will be fresher when you get back on the bike, too.

Yeah some mornings I drag for the half hour I get ready to go. I pathetically check the inflation on my tires twice to forstall the trip. The first few miles I curse the three speed bumps, the large potholl and the two lights that refuse to acknowledge my big steel mtbike. What keeps me doing it every morning though is the knowledge that every single day I've ridden, I've arrived at work with an ear to ear smile on my face ready to get started on the day.

Even on the day I had three flats, I was still smiling (although one minute late) when I got to work. Even on the day I rode through three feet of water I was smiling (although chilled) when I got to work.

I know how you feel. I drive on Monday to restock my clothes at work and I can't wait to get out of the car. I now hate driving and when I don't get to ride I really feel sluggish..

Driving to work is too much of a hassle. I can only get motivated to do it when I have to go to the airport after work.

Paul

I could add that my alternative to riding is taking the T. I've probably driven to my current job 3 times in the past 4.5 years. Usually when I take the T, I get to work and think, "wish I'd ridden." As an example, I'm not riding today because I'm going to the Red Sox (the third place Red Sox...groan) game tonight and am going to take the T to work so I can take it home from Fenway. I'm already missing my ride for the day. Tough life, I know.

today is my lazy day. Normally, I'd be getting up for class around this time. Today, three hours ago. Tuesday is a bus day.