[Closed] 31 yr old with half decent bike, living next to the Peaks needing motivation!

Simples - mountain biking is good for your soul. You also live next to mountain biking mecca.............whats the alternative.......soaps in the evening???? 😀

Tracey needs you, she's alone and feeling neglected.

All she wants is for you to enjoy yourself, put a smile on your face and see you making the most of the fun and freedom she can give you.

Remember the good times you've had together, there are many more to be had and it just keeps on getting better.

She can take you to places you've never been and give you experiences that will stay with you for life.

The hardest part is putting your gear on and walking out the door but when you're out there the rewards are endless and the more you do the more you'll want to do.

Forget the car, it's just a tin box that wants your money.

You two get out there and ride!

Poor, sad, lonely, neglected Tracey!
I reckon some of your old biking buddies may still be out there - in fact I did bump into one of them up near Ladybower a couple of weeks ago - along with his trail hound.

Because riding bikes is what makes us cool.

Anyway, when you say one mile from the Peaks, where exactly?

as velomanic says, the hardest part is getting your kit on and out the door.
i understand how you feel though, cos im the same.

Buy a new bit and ride some new trails,drink beer afterwards.

Lady_Gresley, I'm confused by STW names but I assume you're someoneone I know/have ridden with? Who was it you bumped into, Mr Dave?

Beefy, I live on the edge of Sheffield (Fulwood) and it's about a mile in a straight line from my house to Lady Canning's Plantation / Ringinglow road.

I do seem to have a distinct lack of riding buddies at the moment and I do find it really hard to motivate myself to go out alone..

Maybe you're just not really a mountain biker...

Maybe you're just not really a mountain biker...

+1

You live next to Peaks, yet have been out 2x in a year. I think it's just time to accept it's not for you.

A quick edit of last weekend. Rider, editor and switchback-master is another member on here....

Peaks you say?

There's a few of us go out from Crookes regular like.

🙂

I've never genuinely really understood 'I need motivation' threads, runnersworld.co.uk abounds with them. I tend to need motivation to do things I don't really want to do. Given the generally optional nature of mucking about on bikes, if you don't want to do it, don't do it. If you do, do.
Simple 🙂

To put it into context, I live 100miles away, and have been biking in the peaks more than the OP 😉

I've never genuinely really understood 'I need motivation' threads, runnersworld.co.uk abounds with them. I tend to need motivation to do things I don't really want to do. Given the generally optional nature of mucking about on bikes, if you don't want to do it, don't do it. If you do, do.

Indeed. I am not running at the moment, due to docs orders, and it's driving me up the friggin' wall as I cannot do something I enjoy. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it and just accept it's not for me.

Crochet is nice at this time of year. I can sit in my conservatory and watch birds feeding in the garden. A nice space heater will help keep you warm and I find a packet of Rich Tea biscuits and a cup of Earl Grey invaluable. Once conditions improve, in the summer for example, I often venture into the garden and sketch still lifes of flowers, plants and the odd dead animal. Very calming.

Alternatively if I'm feeling more active, I opt for a game of croquet with my neighbour, Mrs Carruthers. She's a game old bird and the play can be surprisingly energetic. Since I discovered these more civilised pursuits, my mountain bicycle has been untouched.

You might want to give these alternatives a try. I find that they give me much the same buzz as mountain biking, but without needing to ride my bike.

change bikes name from Tracey to Holly Willoughby...may encourage you to throw a leg over more often 😉

[img] [/img]

[b]GET ON THAT ****IN' BIKE AND RAG THE AR5E OFF IT YOU LAZY, FAT, UNGRATEFUL BOY![/b]
That's advice from the gentry, that is. 😉

Go out, (forget the car) Sprint into a techy rock section, lose the back end on a flat turn and catch some air somewhere. Then if doing the above doesn't put a smile on your face, maybe it's time to sell your bike 😉

You have to isolate what you love about MTB and what you hate.

For me I love almost losing it in techy sections, and on turns, those "oh shit" moments when the bikes goes off the line but you manage to ride through it. I hated scrubbing kak of my rear sprockets after every couple of rides, and could never be bothered to change gear. So now I ride more twisty techy stuff on a singlespeed.

I live in Brighton, we're moving to Sheffield next year. I cannot wait to have big, gritty swoopy national park trails to razz about on. I also don't drive yet so find myself confined to that which is pedalling distance away.

You live near the Peak AND drive you lucky so and so. Suck it up and get out there!

I had a great session with a friend last night on a short section with some little doubles and berms. It was great to work on something and improve, with the first use of Kona Wah Wahs being very rewarding. It's great to get away from the daily meh, see the season coming in and ride amongst the first bluebells. The trails here are most but still fairly solid and it's perfect temperature wise for getting sweaty but not sticky.

GET ON YOUR FLIPPIN' BIKE OR YOU'LL MISS OUT!

Lolz at BWD! 😀 Your such a card 😀 (or should that be CAD!)

come for a ride with us on a tues evening? train/drive out to meet at the shop 1730ish most weeks (well, when there's enough interested!)

Si

Some people like riding more than others. If you want to ride you'll ride, if you want to visit friends you'll visit friends. It doesn't matter how much you do one or the other

Why don't you try some different sorts of riding to ease yourself back into it, trail centres or something a bit more straightforward than the Peaks ?

I couldn't face a full ride today so just went out in jeans and hoodie to the bmx track. Mixing it up is a good idea.

Thanks for the mixed motivation chaps!

The videos have indeed inspired me as have the " maybe you're not a real mountain biker" comments!

I've just nipped out and bought a lovely sticky DHF and a nice round middleburn ring. I think tomorrow I'll drag Tracey out and scrape the mud off her.

To be honest it's all a bit weird this lack of motivation. I absolutely love technical descents and in fact the last time I rode was scaring myself flipless on Wharncliffe's DH tracks. It seems that as I've not been able to run over the last 2 months (due to foot injury that won't go away) this lack of exercise has turned me into a phat, lethargic slug.

Si, thanks - I may indeed see if I can get out to meet you guys for a ride sometime. It rather depends on whether I can leave work early enough to get there for 5.30.

Pook - once I've regained some vague fitness I might tag along if I may?

Schweize - where was that video taken?

Rider on a carbine? . makes me want one even more

It isn't dark yet. Leave the mud where it is, get on your bike and go and play on it for half an hour. Don't ride anywhere, just act the goat in your locale - trackstands, wheelies, manuals, hops, etc.

5.30/6/whatever - we can hang around a bit if we know you're coming. keep an eye on our Facebook page, that's where I post about it - [url=

[b]Schweiz[/b] - nice vid. How's that Garmin mounted on the top tube? Certainly seems stuck fast.

don't worry about it, ride, don't ride it's not the end of the world.

Pull yourself together Reigny - you're a lucky git living that close to Ladybower! Takes me hour and a half just to drive there 🙁

To be honest it's all a bit weird this lack of motivation. I absolutely love technical descents and in fact the last time I rode was scaring myself flipless on Wharncliffe's DH tracks. It seems that as I've not been able to run over the last 2 months (due to foot injury that won't go away) this lack of exercise has turned me into a phat, lethargic slug.

Don't ask Schweiz how to attach Garmins to top tubes. Apparently his went flying somewhere on that trail. Zip ties are you're only man. Not pretty, but functional.

The video is from a trail in the Rhone valley in the French speaking part of Switzerland. It's a great springtime trail since it has a real alpine feel to it but at a relatively low altitude.

The rider in the film is on a carbine which he rates very highly (but he is a fully subscribed Intense fanboy so it's hard to know if he should be believed or not)

The Garmin is a 705 with the mount zip tied to the top tube. I have the 800 mounted in the same position but I have to say that the 705 mount is much more solid (although less convenient)

How about giving your bike a different name, so it doesn't feel like you are mounting a character from Birds of a Feather?

rrr - anytime. email in profile

What kind of diet do you have, sometimes the wrong food leaves you without enough energy, as for family at the weekend 😯

No wonder you're miserable 😀

Hmmm I suppose I could rename Tracey but what else suits a Tracer?!

Diet, yes definite room for improvement - probably not enough green things of late.

Pook - thanks, I'll be in touch when I've got the bike sorted and have developed a modicum of fitness!

R-R-R,

how long have you lived in Sheffield?

need to see some new trails?

ahwiles, I've lived in Sheffield since 2003 but having relied on lifts from mates until very recently, so haven't really explored as much as I should!

New trails would be good, where are you thinking of?

New tyres, cassette, rings, pedals and rear mech ordered.

This will all help, won't it? :-S

I live on the edge of Sheffield (Fulwood) and it's about a mile in a straight line from my house to Lady Canning's Plantation / Ringinglow road.

Docrobster- woo! Just round the corner from me!

I might indeed be free Sunday morning (let me check with the wife), however I've literally not done any exercise for months so I wouldn't blame you if you dont fancy enduring my snail pace!

you don't need fitness to ride with us, just a sense of humour and haribo!

out most Tuesdays, (including tomorrow), you're more than welcome to join us.

new emails go to junk which I don't get on my phone though, so please don't think I'm ignoring you

Thanks Pook, I'm currently waiting for some bits to be delivered before I can ride Tracey (I cleaned her off yesterday and realised she's in a bad way!)

I shall no doubt be hassling you both soon! 🙂

No worries. You've 11 years on me so I suspect your unfit will be my peak condition!

Mate - we just spent months planning, and several hundred quid executing, a weekend-long trip to the Peaks from all over the UK - London, Brighton, Worthing, Southampton etc, plus a couple of local pals. Despite having the South Downs on the doorstep, families to spend time with, credit cards we should be paying off etc, we drove up to the Peaks just to ride - Ladybower first day, then White Peak stuff around Hope the next - and had an absolute blast.

An odd but satisfying side-effect was that when we were sitting in the pub planning the next one, us SOuth Coast folks realised that we had plenty of stuff that our Peaks mates would probably love, so they're coming to us next time.

Maybe you could get your mojo back by showing someone else the trails you used to ride, and see if the magic comes back? Seeing it through someone else's eyes can make all the difference.

Good luck anyway - if you decide you don't want the Peaks, we'll have em...;-)

I know I'm very lucky to have such decent riding on my doorstep , I just need to get out there and remind myself how fun it is!

I was actually thinking of organising a forum free for all Peaks ride/camping weekend if there was enough interest , this summer..

Docrobster - I'm a great fan of beer lovely beer and also Paprika's round the corner so currently am carrying excess baggage as well as zero fitness! I don't think I'm doing anything on Sunday but am awaiting bike bits so will let you know ASAP , thanks!

If you can't get away from work in time to make it over to Hope for the 18Bikes shop ride, there's always The Biketree on Abbeydale Road, Wed and Sat at 7pm, have a look on Facebook...

Just to throw in - we ride the Dark Peak quite a lot, and you'd always be welcome to tag along. Pace is social (ie the fast lads wait at the top / bottom, if there are any) and we're generally a good laugh. Not sure when the next trip is, but email is in profile 🙂

FFS Dan just bloody ride and stop pontificating. I wish I had the free time you have to ride, and yet I still find time to ride 100 miles a month.
Your in a fantastic location to just ride out of your door on your own at night, morning, even weekends ! Rivelin, Houndkirk.. and now the Peak.

Pick yerself up and ride before you have kids and you have fek all time 😉

Hey, Dan, MGO has just read this thread and said he'll swap locations and bikes with you for a week to see if that motivates you - he's on a fixie road bike in Norwich - count your blessings, mate.

So, I finally managed to get a couple of hours free this afternoon and so dragged mysel out for only the 3rd time this year. It hurt - only 12 miles but at least 1800 ft of climbing (according to somewhat temperamental Endomondo anyway).

So what have we learned? We have learned thus:

My legs still can indeed go round in that circular motion

My jacket no longer could be described as having any properties pertaining to any degree of water resistance.

1/2 inch hail stones hurt

There's now only 2 half decent descents on my local loops since the peak authority flattened houndkirk 🙁

Tracey got in the air a couple of times and we both enjoyed it!

Crumpets taste 3214% better after a ride. FACT

Docrobster, Pook et al - I shall be in touch at some point about tagging along on a ride!

yey, there you go Dan your out 😉

Indeed I am Si! It's just such a shame so much has been flattened out there! I don't suppose you have any plots of your local loops I could rob?!

I dunno, houndkirk is still sort of okay if you stick to the right and go between the boulders?
Okay so not really, its nothing on what it once was. At least Jumble Road (below Xroads) is still untouched, for now?

and remaining so. After the outcry over houndkirk Sheffield council have decided to take a 'more sensitive' approach.

look up the ride Sheffield site for more info