Patriot

Been depressed for about a month now. Haven't been on the bike much. I keep wanting to get on, but decide not to at the last minute. It's as if I keep finding minute reasons not to ride, then feel depressed about it later for not riding when I could have. So, I rev up my psyche to ride again, only to do the same thing again. It's a vicious cycle. One which I am finding difficult to break. I'm gaining weight because of all the Christmas cookies, and the recent storms and floods aren't helping.

What's all this brooding for? Absolutely nothing. Just wasting a few minutes at work typing.



The good news is, my knee is getting better. I suppose that's a glass half full in some respect.

MIN 

I feel ya but what breaks-up my funk is a good ass kicking on the bike. Get out there and ride! Just do it without thinking about it and the chemicals in your body will restore "your inner balance" Good luck man.

cuski

"A lack of physical activity leads to depression and dementia, evidence presented at the British Nutrition Foundation conference shows." Link

Force yourself to go for a ride. You'll feel better after that.

CastIron

Hop the train south with your bike for a weekend. A specific trip to bicycle may be the ticket. It happens.

Namenda

Good idea. Get the adrenalin pumping. Don't let depression get you down (pardon the cheesy humor).

ggg300

go to spin class...

Fox Farm

Are you sure that this has nothing to do with seasonal depression disorder due to short days, cold temps, and other end of year stuff? Try some cross training or even good high aerobic hikes. It will help to get you out of your head.

SlowSpinner

Patriot thanks for the post. I have been feeling and doing the exact same things.

redirekib

The holidays can be very depressing to some people for a variety of reasons, just do things that make you happy like hanging with good friends.

mattm

my guess is that not being on the bike has put you in this state. get out there!

i think part of it is the *****ty weather we've had out here in the PNW lately, i feel ya on that one.

stay strong! spring's only a few months away..

80vette

A month.... you need to get back on the bike B4 you loose all that endurance you have worked to develop!!!

Just tell yourself you are just going to go for a quick ride around the block.

Go from there.

NaBlade

I was feeling good until I opened this thread....

curiouskid55

You need to go....SHOPPING!! Buy yourselff some new expensive bike wear so you know you will look FANTASTIC on the bike, because LOOKING GOOD is what it's all about!! Feelings are overated anyway.

JiveTurkey

I get the same way sometimes. I can go for weeks where I'm riding so much I have to make myself take a day off. Other times, I feel like I want to but just can't do it.

I suggest just trying to go for short rides to get back into it. Shoot for a half hour. Don't make a big deal out of it. Don't fuss about what to wear, just get on your bike and ride around town.

When I'm feeling down, I tend to hit the MTB because mentally it feels more casual to ride out the door and do a nearby trail.

Edit: Sometimes I feel more motivated going with a friend or two. Not a big group; not a training ride. Just a casual, ride and chat on some country/forest roads kind of ride.

55/Rad

Or build a new bike...

Voodoo76

Just throw your gear on and go out for 20min, 30min. Don't feel like it needs to be some long drawn out training ride. Just get outside and pedal a bit.

The_Convert

That sounds healthy.

asmallsol

zoloft.

palesaint

Building the bike might not be healthy by itself. But, imagine a nice shiny new machine - staring at you, almost goating you on for a ride. I am certainly more motivated to get out and ride when I have some new component on my cheapo bike. I would go absolutely ape***** if I had a whole new bike.

nostromo

I had to take the riding indoors weeks ago (shorter nights, colder temps) and then the weekends too. I dreaded riding my spinning bike knowing it could be 6 months of indoor riding before I can be outside again. But I decided not to give into that feeling and plan my attack; I bought a bunch of CTS train right videos and a good cooling fan. From the first night I put one of the videos on I haven't looked back. I've had some knee problems but fortunately with better stretching it doesn't bother me as much.

I can drum up the motivation because the video makes me forget about the time I'm on the bike, and I'm always pushing myself to do better. I keep an excel sheet of each session and track my progress. I also get motivated knowing come springtime the club will be out riding hard and I don't want to be huffing and puffing to keep up.

I'm betting some of those guys will let themselves go...and I want to do some damage....

I've also given myself some rewards; a new seat, possibly a new bar, maybe even custom wheels. Just little things that will mean something to me and keep me motivated throughout the long winter.

Pharmr

just get out and ride....nothing crazy, but just do it....you'll feel better and then you'll ride some more...you'll thank yourself when you're done!!!

aham23

i take two days off in a row and bam......depression and dementia. like i needed some fancy british conference to confirm that. later.

The_Convert

Fairly short-sided is it not?

Terex

\\

Mmmm....short top tube, short head tube, short cranks. Mmmmm....but short sided. That is a new one.

the beef

Try exploring different types of riding. If you don't have a fixie, maybe try that - it's fun. Hit the trails with an MTB or cheapie cyclocross bike. Or just switch up your routes and explore new places. Take off your speedometers, forget your nice gear. Just pop on the bare minimum you need to go riding and ride for the sake of riding a bike. It's a liberating feeling.