Forgot about recovery days. I discovered that riding for two weeks straight without a break was not good. Started feeling tired, muscles were sore, back was sore and stamina was low. Took a couple days off the bike to recover and felt rejuvenated on the next ride. So now, I incorporate recovery days, but not in a formalized plan, it just depends on how I'm feeling.

Injury, now I'm chicken, plus the pain killers I'm taking have made me way to mellow. Gotta kick these things. I am pain free for about 4 hours after a ride. I need to ride more.

What makes me occasionally reluctant?

Temperature and humidity. Getting better this time of year, 30 F less than a month ago at maybe 85F now in the early mornings, still more than 80 % humid

Traffic - people aren't used to, or accommodating to, bikes. OK at 5.00 am, which also helps with the condition above

'Part from that, NOTHING would substitute for my weekend early morning bike rides. The very best part of my weeks here.

I'm often too half hearted about late afternoon rides. I know, everyone has job pressures, but often in the twilight I prefer to cook than to ride!

Well it doesn't look like I'm riding this weekend... my favorite flight demonstration team, The Canadian Snowbirds, will be in town to perform at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.

Brad

PS Well, a broken commode has kept me from the air show today and off of the bike, just f'g wonderful!

+100. Some years are better/worse than others. This year has been a ongoing saga of multiple disasters with getting consistently on the bike which wears on your mental state.

+1

As I walked into the office this morning, someone commented on how nice the weather has been recently. It occurred to me, "Oh you mean what I see between the car door and the office door each day?"

It seems by the time I have time to enjoy being outdoors, it's no longer nice to be outdoors....

Health issues is my biggest reason for keeping off the bike. When I am feeling good I really enjoy ridding. I have 5 different routs and that helps with diversion. I am usually training for some "el Tour" or other, and thats a motivator too. The last few years have been a struggle regulating the thyroid and testosterone levels for me.
Living in the desert, I can't use the weather as a factor.

When I get really stuck for motivation I tell myself to stop thinking and get dressed. Most of the time that works. But, sometimes it's not easy.

I spent many years of my youth as a competitive swimmer, and most workouts were in short-course pools. I'm totally immune to any of the boredom or too routine type of issues some cyclists have. When you have spent years going back and forth against the clock for two to four hours every day, anything that causes a change of scenery along with the workout is a dream come true.

I definitely, can relate as well!-- Sometimes the competitive drive within myself makes it seem too much like work...that's also when I have a leave of absence!! -- I agree with, Gfish....Ya gotta create a way to make it fun again. !!

My motivation after the Victorian bushfires in 2009 evaporated for almost two years. It's only now that I (and Machka) feel emotionally equipped to tackle long rides with any success again. It's been a patient, albeit frustrating at times, journey to get the enthusiasm back. Our tandem bought early this year, and some really notable improvements in our century efforts on it have helped a lot.

Anyone who complains they don't feel motivated just because they don't feel like getting on a bike should read threads by Sai-Kai-Tai, Beverly, DnvrFox and a few other notables in this forum, and a few threads elsewhere by people overcoming significant emotional and/or physical hardships.

Sort of puts things in perspective, I think.

rain and cold windy days oh and hemorrhoids would do it too

just go for a bike ride nothing more nothing less. No "training" just a ride

The solution to our problem!

Mrs.Freedom and myself were geeked to a 38 mile group ride today.The weather was forecast for strong winds.We drove to the start of the ride and decided that it really was not safe to be out there.I feel we made the right choice as the winds are 30 to 50 mph. not to mention the 25 dollar fee to ride each.Sometimes its hard to make the choice not to ride when you are pumped to do so.One other thing temps are in the mid 50s.

TOUCHE'!! I also agree... This is excellent advice!!

I am off my bike for rest of the year. I had abdominal surgery a week ago.

My last crash on August 10th. I will be in traction for the next 3 weeks. Taking pain killers like candy. Broken right hand, dislocated fingers on the left hand, fractured back. Messed up my pretty face. Only have 50% use of my hands. But i am still alive.

What happened?

My conclusion as well. Although I must admit the wind around here has been pretty formidable and that does keep me off the bike.

Ditto??

Weather is No 1 thing for me. It simply is not fun to battle a 20mph+ headwind. Know it is excellant exercise. But it ain't fun. Not at all. Same goes for riding in 100 degree heat. Not fun. While I do ride for the exercise, it still is supposed to be fun.
One of my solutions for keeping it fun is to not let myself feel pressured to pedal to the max just because I am riding. Instead, I will get on my stationary bike at home and push it. And spend time doing different leg weights at the gym. By doing this I increase my stamina and endurance without sacrificing enjoying my bike rides.
I ride by myself(boring at times). Usually ride from 15 to 50 plus miles, depending on how much time I have to ride. Bike is a Giant 2003 XTC1 SE that I have more or less made into a hybrid.(slicks and road cassette)

I'll be off for a while. Broken right clavicle in commuting accident Monday morning. I'm told my bike came out better than I did (had a coworker pick it up from the fire dept. and stash it in my office).

A good friend from church was hit Sunday evening and ended up with a broken left clavicle, 11 broken ribs, punctured lungs and tendon damage in his foot.

Ran into a locked gate at over 22mph going up an incline on the back side of Santa Fe Dam. Mile 33 or so into my ride, head down, sort of drifted off, not looking where i was going. As i was going over the top my legs hit the top of the gate and whipped me down, straight into the pavement, got my hands up but still did damage to my face. Looked at my left hand, middle and ring fingers straight up 90 degrees from the knuckle. I reset both of them. Major pain face, back. I have done this route many times, just got to the gate alot faster than ever before. Previous weeks had been riding in the big ring only, lowest gear for 44 to 52 miles a trip. Wanted to see the improvement. Last two miles of the 26 mile out leg is uphill, which i usually go 12 to 14 mph. That day i was going 18 to 20 mph in that same section. Best i could come up with is that i did not take in enough fluids. I only stopped for a few minutes at the turn around point. Reason i was riding in the big gears was to get ready to ride in the mountains this fall. Still in pain, swelling down enough to be in tracktion twice a week for the next three weeks. Still can't lift anything, some off and on paralysis of my last two fingers of my left hand. Slow improvement in my hands. Just have to go to therapy and see what happens.

Now that it gets dark sooner, the weekend is all that's left for me. I do 2 spin classes during the week, but that still leaves me wanting to hop on my bike and ride. So for now, it's limited to some weekend riding at best.

Walking pneumonia, at the moment.