MBailey23

HI all. I'm new here. I just got back into biking so pretty much a newbie trying to improve her life.
Yesterday, I found excuses to not ride. Today - I watched the sun keep getting lower and lower. Finally said not today Devil! Grabbed my bike and rode 5 miles to at least say I did it.

DiabloScott

KenCT 

Often the hardest part of the ride is ignoring reasons why we shouldn't get on the bike.

Kabuki12

It takes a while before riding becomes habitual . Don’t try to go for long rides until you’re ready but try to get on your bike a couple or few times a week to get yourself used to riding regularly. Soon it will feel like something you look forward to rather than trying to avoid. I started riding regularly when I was quite young and have kept at it so no issues, but I have friends that have had trouble getting back on the bike after a long reprieve and it can be a struggle.

bruce19

I have this problem too. This is what I've learned about myself trying to deal with this. I over think things. I have to tell myself to decide to ride and then stop thinking. Just go. The other thing is that until I get fitness I always have some discomfort/pain in my legs whenever I go out to ride. That, of course, dissuades me. When I get fitness my whole attitude changes. My advice is to pick a time to ride and then forget about it. And, be patient with yourself. Just enjoy the ride.

BTinNYC

Keep up the good work!

A bit of guilt about not riding is a sign; before long you'll have to force yourself to take a rest day. 😉

kermie

Lot's of excuses to not ride. The days I get up and put on my gear before I have time to think of excuses, always works the best for me.

Iride01 

It helps to have a friend to ride with. If I'm ask to go riding I almost never turn down the request no matter how bad I might feel.

Likewise I feel that others do the same when I ask. Sometimes I'll ask even when I don't feel like riding knowing that if they accept I can't find an excuse to back out.

When I have to go solo, I've never regretted the ride no matter how lousy I felt beforehand or what other stuff I had to do.

MBailey23

it’s starting to become habitual. I didn’t go today because it was just so hot outside but yesterday? I rode twice! A friend found me at the park and asked me to ride with him for a bit and we ended back at my place and caught up… But when it was time for him to leave, he was surprised to find me taking my bike back out to finish my ride. I’m starting to get where my brain is craving it which is a very good thing!

Kabuki12

^^^^Yea, definitely in the right direction! Good on ya, just keep pedaling…..

Chuck M 

For me, I find if I air up my tires, fill my water bottle and put it in the fridge the night before, I am more inclined to get up early and get my ride in. When I plan to run, I sleep in my running shorts and a shirt..

downtube42

All the times I agonized about the weather before a big ride - rain, wind, cold, heat, wind - I've never once regretted going on the ride. It's never as bad as imagined.

Get on your bike and ride. You won't regret it.

IcySwan1 

Sometimes it is a challenge. I don’t agree with everything the Velomanti preach, but riding in inclement weather does lead to peer separation.

MBailey23

I did not ride today and I’m choosing not to feel guilty about it. It was really hot outside. I did get a lot of indoor stuff done that needed done though. Hopefully I can get out in between rain showers tomorrow.

MBailey23

that’s an interesting way to do it! The running part I mean. My plan is to be riding in the mornings. Right now I’ve been riding in the evenings but I definitely wanna switch that. I have a really flexible job working for Google and my boss is in California and I am in Ohio so I don’t even see or hear of him until noon most days so I definitely have some time in the mornings to go riding.

MBailey23

I have a friend who rides his bike to work, regardless of the weather. It always amazes me what he rides through!

CAT7RDR

There are rarely perfect days to ride.
However, there are plenty of good enough days to keep me riding 3 days per week.

Chuck M 

Sleeping in the running gear is what I do to somewhat motivate me to commit to getting out the door to run alone. There is a teenage girl I know down the street that is 40 years younger than me I run with most mornings and she is very punctual with her 5:00 am "I'm ready to run" texts. I don't think she likes to run alone either and so we make good accountability partners.

Riding I prefer to do solo unless I'm riding around the neighborhood with the grandkids. I'm sometimes late getting out the door because I like to enjoy another cup of coffee.

MinnMan

Some pretty good advice here already. I have many times when I have had trouble getting out the door to ride my bike, but extremely few when I regretted the ride after the fact.

If you are having trouble motivating to ride, it may help to lower the bar. Say, if your regular ride is 20 miles, tell yourself that you're just going to go out and do 5. Once you are out, you may change your mind and go longer. Or not. The key is to get yourself out the door, even if you don't go very far.

rsbob 

I believe the devil you referred to was your lack of motivation. We are, or should be, responsible for our own actions or in-actions rather than foisting it off. You defeated your lack of motivation which is excellent. Good for you and keep up the cycling.

50PlusCycling

The bad part about being able to think is being able to rationalize good excuses to do or not do do things. I can easily come up with excuses to buy things I don’t need, and to find excuses to get out of things I should be doing. When it comes to riding, I don’t think, I just go out and ride.