H-e-l-p M-e
 

Between SAD and cool/cold temps my motivation to bike commute is in the toilet.
I get up every morning and get everything ready to go. I open the door to check the air temperature (to determine how many layers I'll need, etc.) and I quickly close the door and tell myself I'll ride tomorrow when it's warmer.

Please help me get out of this rut. :cry:

How cold does it get in Atlanta?

man up...

you mean to tell me you get bike clothes on and THEN chicken out???

just the thought of having to change AGAIN wouls motivate me right out the door.

only thing that stops me is freakishly bad weather or injury...

if you don't give yourself the option not to do it, i'd bet you'll do it!

as N_C said, how cold does it get in hot-lanta???

Rent and watch the movie "An Inconvenient Truth." That will help.

This morning in John's Creek (about 20 miles north of RonH) it was mid 20's at 7:20 this morning. So it can get chilly.

Ron....I tell myself that I am saving gas money. I'm improving my health, and I am impressing the young ladies at the office . That last part may or may not be true, but it works for me :D

Also, just think about how much easier the rides in spring will be if you maintain your fitness rather having to rebuild it.

Consider yourself lucky...
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1...morningbc1.jpg

Its a state of mind--you do it or not. I dont feel like commuting in the morning when its cold here in Indiana, but after a few minutes of riding I feel much better about it. I lived in GA for many years and when I moved here I thought I would die from the cold and wind. Its easier now as Im getting used to it.
Dont think of it as work--think of it as an adventure! I also like not spending $ for fuel and such on the car--along with scraping windshields and warming up the car for 15 minutes, getting stuck in traffic, etc. Now I get the bike out of the garage and pedal away. A few minutes into the ride and Im warmed up and have to vent my clothes to keep from overheating. I sometimes pass poeple I work with who are stuck in traffic--I smile, wave and pedal on. The look on their faces is worth it.
The secret for me was proper layering--which put me into a better frame of mind for riding. Believe me--Hotlanta has a very mild winter compaired to the northwest area!

I ask myself a vey simple question: "when was the last time you rode to work and when you got there would rather have taken the car"???

Even if I don't want to go, once I'm going, all is well.

Tell as many people at work that you're going to ride in the next morning.
DON'T go outside before you're actually leaving.
No new tattoos until you've commuted to work ten days in a row, all before MLK Holiday.
Step on the scale.

Ron, try to remember when you couldn't ride after your surgery and see if that help motivate you.

Also, are there any problems with clothing and equipment? When you get to work, are your hands and feet warm (or at least not frozen)? I know you really dislike cold weather--is this a life-long aversion or did it happen in the last few years? If you really dislike cold that much, maybe ridding in cold air isn't for you.

Maybe you can take the old-folks shuttle to work those days. :p

sell your car.

Those long dark mornings are probably getting to ya. Take a break RonH you deserve it.
....the New Year's weekend is coming. Next week, it'll be noticably lighter in the mornings.

meanwhile...watch your wallet (as it's probably draining like a sieve from gas prices).

Make sure you have the right clothes for colder weather. I've found that I'm the most reluctant/regretful of riding when I'm not prepared for the elements. If I have on the right clothes, it doesn't matter how cold it is outside, I'm always pretty comfortable.

I've been a bit burned out as well. This 2 week break has done wonders. Maybe you should consciously take a break for a week or two and return when the itch starts bugging you. That or take mass transit to sufficiently annoy yourself.

Slash your tires on the car, that way you'll have to bike it, regardless of how much you want to or not :)

Think of it as a challenge you need to conquer. Either that or tell yourself you will give it a try to the end of the block and if it is still too cold you can chicken out then and go home.

Have you ever tried MARTA ( the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)? 1 day would sufficiently annoy almost anyone.

When I'm feeling wimpy in the morning, I think that people ride in Minnesota... Others may know more though.

One of the best treatments for S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder, for those not in the know) is to hit up the tanning booth for a few minutes a week. Even just a 5 minute session twice a week will improve your outlook.

If you don't want to go to the fake 'n' bake salon, then check out getting an Ott Lite bulb for your desk lamp. Full spectrum plant bulbs will alleviate some of the "short days, too little sunlight, too much 60-cycle hum lamps" blahs that many people are prone to over the winter months.

Check to weather forecast the night before and arrange the clothes you will wear. Put on the clothes in the morning and go. If you get a bit too hot you can always undo your jacket, or take off your face mask.

+1
A coworker of mine had difficulties with this when she lived in Wisconsin. Her exact solution was to hit the tanning booth. The eventual permanent solution was to move to Denver. More sunshine I guess.

+1

+1,000,000 :eek:

Agree, you'll be quite upset with having wasted what could have been a good ride to watch that.

My, more gentle approach, works well. Carry your bike to work in your car. Leave the car at work and ride in. The next morning you don't have much choice but to complete the trip. I don't like the short days either but I found time on the bike (even in the dark) is a remedy.