[Closed] How do you motivate yourself to go out in the cold, windy & wet weather?

I don't. Riding's supposed to be fun, if I don't fancy going out then I do something else. It's not a crime

I don't. Riding's supposed to be fun, if I don't fancy going out then I do something else. It's not a crime

This.

Arrange to ride with someone else. Better still if you're both a bit competitive then neither wants to be the person that says "It's a bit wet out, fancy watching Sunday Brunch instead?"

I don't, generally. Will go out if I've arranged to ride with others though.

I remind myself of how crap I'll feel if I don't go out!

I think as long as the rainy horribleness/lovely dry dustiness balance is maintained then you can live with it. Its just that that balance has been seriously out of whack for the last couple of years 'summers'.

I've been really struggling to motivate myself too. But now the rain has finally stopped, the mud has frozen, and the ground is hard, my mojo has returned a bit 😀

there is a tipping point where it is to awful to go out. But i generally get some thing from a wet ride. the sense of just getting on with it.
having some decent gear helps.

but yesterday was bloody great, freezing, the bike came back cleaner than it went out, some of the old crap fell off1

Weather always looks worse from the dry.

I have a kid and a wife and a full time job. If I don't go out for my ride at the time booked, submitted, and approved in triplicate three months in advance, I don't get to go out at all. 😉

its always better in a forest - less windy and at least some shelter, so if like this weekend its cold and snowy or wet I opt for the mountain bike in the forest over the road bike. Tell yourself your choosing a nice warm cosy option instead of battle a headwind and huge wind chill. its all relative

I always struggle to go out if it is actually raining. It can start raining 30 seconds after I leave for all I care - that's fine. But if it is raining before I leave, for some reason, my motivation completely disappears into thin air.

I commute every day as we are only a one car family (the shame) so I have no choice int matter, I've just got to do it.

When it comes to fun riding, riding in shite weather isn't fun. So I don't bother.

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HTH.

😉

If it's just to ride socially then I don't bother but I'm in specific training mode so I use my rollers instead for either tempo, threshold or speed workouts.

The weather doesn't usually bother me unless it's heavy rain combned with strong wind. Was out in it yesterday at 0°c in a skinsuit competing in a TTT. That was very cold!!

I try to look at the weather as part of the overall challenge of riding.
Guess it may have something to do with how you came to riding MTBs.
My route was from a love of walking/climbing/mountaineering where grim weather added to the experience.
Perversely I do find riding dry trails in hot sun a bit dull too!
Or, do you mean riding on a road bike, in which case I see your point.

asterix - Member
its always better in a forest - less windy and at least some shelter, so if like this weekend its cold and snowy or wet I opt for the mountain bike in the forest over the road bike. Tell yourself your choosing a nice warm cosy option instead of battle a headwind and huge wind chill

Rogerthecat - I am fighhting over the decision to take the road bike out after having a miserable time yesterday (still recoving from manflu) Asterix ^^ has a point, maybe I should take the SS out for an hour and see if the forest has improved....

i wonder if its an age thing, every winter i find it harder to get going in the cold wheares in the past it would never have bothered me. today classic example, its dry, i have the time to grab a quick hour road ride, but knowing that my fingers will freeze solid before i get more than 5 mins up the hill i really can't be assed.

I embro up. It's the best way of preparing and motivating I can find.

The simple act of rubbing embrocation into your muscles then donning some thermal under layers on, then your normal riding kit, it's just the perfect determination mindset to go out and ride.

That and also the fact that one day, one day in the future you'll be sat somewhere where you don't really want to be, looking outside and spotting white puffy clouds, sun, dry trails and kicking yourself quite hard in nuts.

Take it whilst you can.

HTH 😆

Just riding with others for me, as soon as someone's definitely going out it's much easier to drag yourself out to (I find I'm always glad I went out on the ride it's just the initial motivation that's lacking)

Perversely I do find riding dry trails in hot sun a bit dull too!

You, sir, are absolutely...

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It's the cold , wet days that justify some of the kit I've bought over the years. Being comfortable on such days makes me feel smug.

If you can arrange rides with other the motivation is easy but it's tough on your own.
I've just moved from Bristol where I had a club of riders to call on for a ride to somewhere I know no riders, I will join a club eventually but for now motivation is hard. Yesterday I did my 2nd ride of the year, a road ride with below zero windchill, leaden skies and snow flurries. It took 10 miles to beat the urge to back and go home but eventually rolled in 3 1/2 hours later, the cold meant I didn't feel great at the time but once warmed up I felt fantastic as I always do once I've forced myself out.

Lead rides for others or sweep on rides for others - commitment = no choice = riding in poor weather. Like it or not.

Unless I'm ill, I go out when I get the chance too.

As this isn't very often at the moment, I take whatever conditions I get...

It's only the getting out there that feels horrible - once you're actually on it its fun!

STRAVA!

i think the tried and tested saying about 'no such thing as bad weather just the wrong/ right kit/ clothing ' helps

i wonder if its an age thing, every winter i find it harder to get going in the cold wheares in the past it would never have bothered me.

Same here especially last year when April was cold as well. I find it helps to have a big event lined up in June-July where you know you will either fail or suffer horribly if you don't get the training in.

Good tip here from Chris Boardman who would get into his kit before deciding whether to call off a training session becuase of bad weather. Much easier to decide not to ride from under the duvet.

motivation not required only logic - riding is fun and exciting - staying in is dull and boring. Weather not a factor

Think of it as preparation for SITS/Mayhem/24:12 etc 🙂

Good tip here from Chris Boardman who would get into his kit before deciding whether to call off a training session becuase of bad weather. Much easier to decide not to ride from under the duvet.

Best bit of advise I've heard in ages.

[yorkshireman] commuting by car costs me £4/day in petrol, and i'm not made of money.

[/yorkshireman]

wors - Member

When it comes to fun riding, riding in shite weather isn't fun. So I don't bother.

what he said, and it's not like i haven't got other things to be getting on with...

My advice would be to make sure you have proper kit to wear. If you are warm and dry its ok!

i like the logic idea... would i prefer to be out in the wild, or sat on the sofa...

Just think how rare it is that you go and the ride was spoilt because of the crap weather. Once you are out it is fine. Get decent kit though. Weather in Scotland is great at the mo!

iamroughrider - Member

i like the logic idea... would i prefer to be out in the wild, or sat in front of the tv..

if the weather's crap, TV! (or diy, or laundry, or bake a cake, or phone your mum, or etc.)

thecrookofdevon - Member

Just think how rare it is that you go and the ride was spoilt because of the crap weather...

crap weather is one of the few things that CAN spoil a ride...

i ventured out a couple of weeks back in very harsh weather. Except for my hands going numb ( wrong choice of gloves) I didn't even notice the weather and had an amazing time..

when i get back home I make sure I fix my mind on this feeling for a moment.. which then prepares me for the next time.

When it's wet and cold, put on a pair of these:

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I've always found that running in the rain is less unpleasant, and can be less messy (depending on how much deep mud you are going to be crawling through) than on the bike.

This is my favorite time of the year to ride. Frozen ground with a bit of sun is perfect. I go out in the rain on the basis that if I didn't I'd have hardly ridden at all last year. I'm not a fan of very hot days just too sweaty.

I've never regretted going for a ride, I try and remind myself of that.

I LOVE this time of year for cycling.
126 miles last week on the single speed over 5 sessions after work - back out this evening 🙂

the only motivation i need is that its not raining so i'll make the most of the firm conditions.

Sacrifice who you are now, for the person you will become! I also think about races, and how much i want to win! Grrrr 🙂

Commuting every day, so the brain's now re-programmed and I don't look at any weather conditions and think "that doesn't look like riding weather" because, if it's Tuesday then that sure as heck is riding weather, so it still is on a Sunday. The only weather that will stop be is freakishly high, gusty wind or, depending on where I was, lightning.

Thinking back over it, the most memorable rides over the last year, that have left the biggest grins, have generally been the ones with strange weather.

EDIT: The other positive advantage of going out when others might not is that the trails are a lot quieter.

Firstly arrange to ride out with a mate then you seriously can't let them down if you are both banking on each other for moral support out on the trail.
Secondly its taken a few years to build up enough winter weather clothing to keep myself warm and dry, that now makes all the difference.
Went out last night at 7,30pm only rode a short off road route of about 15 miles, it was cold and windy but quite firm, but I was glad to get out in the end.

I live in London and as a result find it really difficult to get out for a quick ride so it always has to be planned in advance. As a result, I always ride if I've said I'm going - otherwise I'd never ride!

So if you need motivation and have access to great riding; just think how lucky you are not to be a Londoner. And not just because of you're ability to hit the trails whenever you want 🙂

lots of wicking layers, a big cup of very strong coffee and the sound knowledge that in the past when i've not felt like I ALWAYS enjoy myself and never regret coming out, always at one stage on a cold ride I think to myself 'I'm glad I came out'

I never ride in a group when the weather is bad, I can't stand hearing the moaning of others about conditions, cold etc, sucks the will to continue right out of me.

But I do like to ride on my own in the wet, rightly or wrongly I put myself in the mindset that every ride makes me a little stronger, and if others have stayed in the house because of the weather, then I have made a little gain.

I dont need motivation to ride I just love riding my bike, the weather/temperature doesn't bother me.

Get an indoor hobby. Climbing wall, acrobatics centre, plain old gym, weights in front of Formula 1 on the telly, whatever. Basing all your exercise on being outside when ya live in the UK is, I've just decided, the reason we are an obese nation. 🙂

klumpy - Member

Basing all your exercise on being outside when ya live in the UK is, I've just decided, the reason we are an obese nation.

Much as I hate to disagree....

Winter riding is training for your mind. When Summer arrives you will remember the mud, wet, cold and wind and never let a good ride opportunity be wasted. Those who daren't in the winter are the ones who don't in the Summer.

When Summer arrives you will remember the mud, wet, cold and wind

unless we get another shitty summer...

I commute every day as we are only a one car family (the shame) so I have no choice in the matter, I've just got to do it.

This for daily miles. Club runs for sociable miles and training.

Haven't been on a mountain bike ride since November, but that is due to bike access rather than weather. Was sad to have missed the snow 🙁

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

pay particular attention to rules 5 + 9.

Nobby - Member
Think of it as preparation for SITS/Mayhem/24:12 etc

If you remember SITS 2012 you'll know exatcly my frame of mind. 😐

The term "Fair Weather Fairy" being applied to them help anyone?

Set a target event ( or events )
Tell as many people as you can about the target,better still ride with people that are doing the same event(s)
Ride in a group.( see above )
Ride with people that will send you the most abusive txts EVA,if you miss a ride ( you get to do the same back )
Get some good riding gear.
Plan for bad weather all the time ,then be pleasantly surprised when it's nice .
MTFU or indeed WTFU and get on with it.

HTH 🙂

I like the Boardman tip.

Just get on with it and don't think about it too much, you know you'll feel much better for it once you've done it. When training it's just part of the routine and it's not a choice of whether to do it or not (helps if you have a training plan.) If it's just getting out for a ride for fun, well if it's not going to be fun then don't do it. Do something else instead, go on the turbo, go for a swim, go down the gym, read a book.

Also worth thinking back to times when you've been desperate to get out riding but not been able to (e.g injury or other commitments.)

I think of winter MTB rides as preferable to (and safer than) winter road riding and I also tell myself that riding in harder conditions will improve my overall riding as it seems so much easier in warm dry conditions (though warm dry conditions equated to about 2% of last year's rides!)

How do you motivate yourself to go out in the cold, windy & wet weather?

I don't bother at all, riding for me is meant to be fun and something to look forward to and i couldn't give a rats arse with regard to fitness levels or heart rate or beating last weeks bike ride effort. If i don't feel like a bike ride and the weather is shite then i may read a book wi a coffee and nice biscuits in front of the fire or i may go to the pub to see my mates or i may just fart about the house and do stuff that needs doing.

I started trying to get fit and lose weight seriously about 4 weeks ago,and gave in and bought an exercise bike ,I've no riding mates locally,so get out with a group once a week,but if the weather's bad ,I'm on the bike in front of the tv.I'm a lot quicker when I do get out though,and I'm only doing an hour 3 times a week.

It helps to have a load of (bonkers) mates who you've arranged to go out with.
Paid dividends yesterday - freezing cold with a biting wind, in the car park, but soon warmed up (courtesy of riding my singlespeed)
The trails were frozen so resembled dust in places and we all came back with clean bikes - it was just like summer, but with frost 😉

I'm lucky to be here after a serious RTA, I wasn't sure if I would be able to ride again. Consequently I have no problem getting the motivation to ride at all, I'm just happy to be able to.

Riding is good for the soul. That is enough motivation.

The longest distance is from your warm bed to the front door with the bike in hand. Once you cover that, you'll not regret it!

126 miles last week on the single speed over 5 sessions after work - back out this evening

Because I love bicycles and I don't get too ride as much as I used to (young kids).

If its filthy wet or really cold I sometimes cut the miles but not the smiles.

I find the group ride followed by pub quite motivational although havent managed that for two months due to illness and work commitments but missing these makes me more motivated on my own soit all kind of balances out.