Maybe normal in South East Wisconsin. Never heard of it here in So Cal where there are more bike shops than anywhere else in the States. Take a trip to a warmer climate and see how refreshing it is to the mind and body.

Well, it's kind of motivating knowing that I'm definitely not the only one who has be suffering from a lack of motivation this spring. I'll push through it, and hopefully rediscover my love of riding. I have some big goals (for me) this year, so the sooner the better. Garfield, I will actually be taking a trip to the Bay Area a week from Friday. I'm slammed for time, but I do intend to get a couple of good rides in around my old stomping grounds. Thanks again, every reply has been helpful, even HTFU!

Niel, maybe its going out too hard all at once, doing hard, long mileage right out of the gate can be just more than your body wants to take on. A few shorter rides to gather up some endurance and seat time can let you become more enthusiastic about riding. I'd agree with some rides to just cruise about, stop some and look around your area to see what you are flying past while out on a training ride, going hard. Throwing in a few screw around rides each week helps me keep from burning out on riding.

This too shall pass, don't get discouraged about things early in the season.

Bill

For me, the fact that I got on the bike in the spring this year, unlike the last couple of years, has motivated me to ride even more. My goal is 1,000 miles this year (which I am beginning to think is too low), but I am a casual rider, and don't really care about speed or high miles.

If I do the mileage I want for a year or two, I think I might have to look somewhere else for the motivation... I am not sure what that will be, but I suspect that I would shift my focus more toward events or destinations, and making sure I had the miles behind me to be able to enjoy them as much as possible. For me, it might be to ride a section of a specific rail trail, or take a historic or scenic day tour. For you it might be to go out west and ride the RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Ranier in One Day) or another challenging ride.

I also find that having someone to ride with helps me... even though I am an introvert, it is nice to have someone to chat with along the way. I heard something in a movie recently that I think applies at some level, "Happiness is only real if it is shared."

So, the summary of all of the babbling up to now... Don't seek the enthusiasm... seek something to fuel the enthusiasm, and it will happen.

Have your bicycle ready to ride. Have your clothing, gear, whatever, ready to go. When the moment hits you, all you need to do is get dressed, air up, water in bottles plus a little snack and GO. Chances are good that if you really enjoy bicycling, once you start rolling that special feeling will resonate throughout your being and the motivation to continue starts to grow. No need to go fast or far, just go and enjoy.

I am also an introvert, but have no need for company to make a 20 mile ride or a 100+ mile ride enjoyable. We are all different, and many here have given ideas about getting motivated, your job now is to pick-up the ball and run, walk or ride with it.

Good luck.

Simple changes to ground rules:

- don't use the car when the bike will do (going to the bank, small grocery runs, appointments, etc.)
- three short rides daily versus one long one
- pick a destination for weekend rides that involves something else enjoy (museum, breakfast joint, park/scenic for photos, ball game)
- bring a friend.

No de-motivated people in SoCal - you truly are blessed.

Here's some temps today throughout California

Today's Extremes
State Highs
93 °F El Centro
93 °F Needles
91 °F Blythe
91 °F Imperial
91 °F Thermal

State Lows

30 °F MCMWTC BRIDGEPORT, CA
32 °F Truckee-Tahoe
33 °F Blue Canyon
33 °F South Lake Tahoe
35 °F Trinity Center

Here is all the motivation I need to get in condition!

Just went on a 2nd date with a woman that I had my first date with 20 years ago. She looks even better than 20 years ago and rides a late model Raleigh International.

I had a reaction to my blood pressure meds last year before the end of spring. I was sick for a whole week and we changed meds. I lost a lot of weight in that one week. So, gradually, I built the weight back up about 65 or 70 percent of what I lost. A while back, I reacted to the replacement meds and now I am on another medicine. So, this time, I had a swollen throat and swollen gums. The throat is much better (not completely normal, but, close). The gums are still swollen a bit. I am taking short rides until the weather is a bit better. So, I understand what you are experiencing.

There is no need to push yourself. When you do that, you get burned out.

In my last book (I wrote it in 2008 and just last weekend, we released the second edition), I "talked" about motivation and fitness. I mentioned how so many people join some health club and go to the gym to workout, but, they soon quit because working out is too much like work. I tell people to use the "recreational fitness" approach. In your case, ride for FUN-- don't push yourself. Sometimes, a change of course is a good way to spark interest. So, take a few shorter rides until you find an interesting fresh route to use for FUN and fitness.

Focus on riding for fun rather than a workout and see how that changes things.

Dang, Mickey, what on earth medications are doing that to you, what will you have to do if exercise and diet don't keep your BP under control? I realize you could not take them with those side effects, sounds pretty serious with the swollen throat. Is the publisher's url in your signature where I could find your books?

Bill

There's this hill. On a windy day, when it's blowing down that hill straight at me, I think "I'll just go as far as that road sign, where it starts to get steep. Then I'll turn around and go home."

I get to the sign, but I keep climbing to the top.

When I'm on the bike, the obstacles my mind puts in front of me often turn out to be phantoms.

Anticipation helps with motivation in the spring. Along about Feb I start to do a complete cleaning and maintence on my bike and trike. Im in the snow belt and cant ride till the weather get better, but just working with the bike and trike is motivation to want to get out and ride.

When I am riding the BP stays pretty steady. The URL is in the sig for the publishing business website and provides links to Amazon. The next couple of books planned are "Get Happy, Stay Happy" and "Somehow We Manage (why businesses fail)" --both in progress.