Lack of Motivation

Anyone else struggling with motivation to get out on the bike at the moment?

Yep. 🙁

I go out with a group once a week on a Sunday which motivates me to get out. Normally I would also go out in the week on my own but struggled for motivation this year. Not been out with the group for 2 weeks because of the weather so I took a morning off, donned my off road wheels and went for a spin out on my own in the snow. Loved it and it has kick started my motivation...

I'm in the North East (Durham) if you are local and want a spin out to get motivated....

So….pretty much hardly ridden for 2 years. Went from a skinny racing snake to a lardy bloke with moobs.
Started training again about 8 weeks ago. Was a slow build, my ftp was appalling, I’m still a lardy chap…
But to help with the motivation I go to spin classes. Have purchased some larger winter riding gear, fits ok. Also bought a new bike, but that’s not been used too much due to weather.
But I’ve also decided I want to do some big rides next year and using that as the motivation.
I also use Sufferfest, have downloaded a load of zone 2 rides and use them, take it nice and easy.

Struggling to get organised to get out on my own for evening rides, so glad I joined a gym, getting there a couple of nights a week is making a nice change.

I have no indoor setup for cycling, and as a result the weather greatly influences my desire to cycle!
Not cycled on or off-road for far too many weeks until yesterday.
Mrs T is away for Christmas and before the journey I was supposed to sort her car tyre pressures out… car packed ready to go, but tyres not sorted! Do I get the track pump out and sort the pressures out, or cycle to the garage and meet Mrs T when she fills the car up with fuel?
Road bike out and a very enjoyable and unexpected 6mile blast of a bike ride to the garage, which then lead to a 9 mile cycle home.

My cycling enthusiasm has returned as a result of this unexpected trip. I’m sure it’s not just the weather that causes the lack of enthusiasm, but the monotony of doing the same routes. Try something different and see if that improves your motivation?

Sometimes have to force myself out so that I can feel the benefit afterwards and hope it snowballs from that point.

If that fails, then booking (and paying for) a future challenge can provide the motivation to start training.

Anyone else struggling with motivation to get out on the bike at the moment?

For about 6 years!!! 🤣🤣

Lucky if I’ve done six rides in that time.

TBH this is why I run through the winter. It’s a shorter time outdoors, warmer generally and especially for my hands and feet, no mucky bike to clean and maintain. Plus, I discovered I’m rather better at it and can enjoy races.

Do still enjoy a good day out on the bike in the summer. On or off road. And occasionally in the winter, it’s just that suitable weather/occasion is much rarer.

I'm lucky enough to have a set up in the garage, but I can't get motivated. Get home from work, eat tea, get stuff ready for the next day, play with the little one for a bit, do the bedtime routine, deal with my post tea IBS issues... By that point I can't be arsed going out for an hour. Entirely on me though, need to get over it and get on with it. Maybe next week....

Been suffering with it for most of this year! Done hardly any rides on my own, only really getting out when I've agreed to meet up with riding buddies. Pre-pandemic I was riding to work 4 times a week and at least two of the other days would be out somewhere too, my mileage was massive and my fitness was really good too. Fast forward to now and even though I have an indoor setup that I can jump on at short notice I've lapsed to riding IRL maybe twice a month and having to force myself on the turbo too. The 100 Days challenge did turn the tide for a bit but as work has got busier that has gradually fallen by the wayside too, only 1 session all last week.

Determined to turn the tide on it in the New Year though, going to do the Festive 500 and have two riding days booked in before the end of this year and use that as a springboard to keep it going until the better weather in the spring. Could really do with getting my cycle commute back (and my 4 day week!) but that's not likely for a while unless I want to ride 90 miles each day!

Just got to start. Fight the procrastination no matter how protracted your pre-ride routine ends up being and start those pedals turning. Endorphins and momentum will do the rest 😀

Tonight I started telling the wife I was planning to ride at 19:30 in a vain attempt for someone to hold me accountable and then fell asleep on the sofa 🤣
Had I just got up and ridden at 18:45 instead it would have been fine.

Could join a Zwift team and sign up for some organised races/TTT’s/meet-ups. Then you’d have people counting on you to ride.

Or just set a ridiculously low bar of success. “Tonight I’m going to set the Turbo up and get all my kit cleaned and ready”
Then another night “I’m going to get kitted up, calibrate the trainer and do 15mins” be away before you know it 😀

I nearly talked myself into buying a Stages SB20 bike as a way of increasing motivation last week but decided £100 of cables, chain, cassette and 2 new Sora derailleurs was a cheaper way to freshen things up.

I could have written that.

2months not even looked at it. Gone from 3k on a mtb to barely 1400 on a gravel bike.

Must

Sort

My

Shit

Out8

I switched to running:5k and 10k.
Simply couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of mtbing during winters

Best motivation I got recently was to get an e bike so even if your not feeling up to going out ,just use the motor more at least you get out and things can build from there

I’m normally relatively happy to plod away on the turbo trainer a couple of times a week through the winter but can’t get motivated for it at all this year.

I don't understand how anyone is motivated to ride indoors, go for a ride outdoors instead.

Got to agree with @intheborders there, however unpleasant it might be weather wise, it’s got to beat cycling indoors! Cannot imagine why anyone would do that! Most of the appeal of cycling is the outdoor bit! Just get outside and do it - very rarely regret it once you’re out the door…

Booked myself something scary next summer so motivation is high! Get some plans in that will push you and get a routine going. (Yes it’s not actually that easy, and giving yourself a break is also allowed!)

I work outdoors, so am more than happy to be pedalling in the dining room on a cold, wet, blustery dark night thanks.

Fair!

I've struggled with Zwift this year. Gone from 1500km to maybe less than 500km. This means I just ride more outside. Good group for a night ride and a weekend ride. Just back from a slop and slide and it's way better than jumping on the turbo. Although by end Feb I'lm sure it'll get a bit old.

I'll ride the turbo more over the break, but I'm nowhere near as motivated as I used to be. No idea why.

I wrote a bit of thing about this: https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/snowtivation/  (does have the odd swear word).

If I didn't have all my riding buddies tho, I would struggle to get out in the winter. And MTB rides generally end in the pub!

very rarely regret it once you’re out the door…

This^^^. In all my years of riding bikes I can only remember a few rides where I wished I hadn’t bothered. No matter what weather or how I’m feeling.

We seem to have nothing but damp, wet weather, I quickly loose motivation. So this time of year I either use the TT or quite often I turn to walking, both local and further away.

Walking always feels way better out in the rain than riding, as long as I do something I'm happy, its a good feeling once I have returned home.

i had been commuting for months, but had the lurgy 3 weeks back and havent ridden in since.

I keep telling myself i will, but end up not. But i will be back on it when i return to work after the christmas break.

And intend on dusting off the turbo trainer to do the festive 500 on zwift.

As someone mentioned, running is a lot less faff in these dark winter months.

Its interesting how a few days or weeks off can really destroy ones motivation.

 very rarely regret it once you’re out the door…

So true. As is said though, the hardest part of the ride is from sofa to bike....it is for me

I think lack of riding begats lack of motivation sadly! I've just hit a wee slump of getting bored riding on my own but also constant lurgies (lurgii?). When you wake up feeling a bit coldy or fevery you just start debating the wisdom of even easy workouts or rides (especially given the cold and wet).

Going for a walk at lunchtime is usually quite productive, I never seem too demotivated for a walk at least.

For me the hot weather during summer combined with other non cycling stuff reduced my outdoor cycling.
Then the switch to a wet autumn and now a cold winter didn't encourage my return to biking.
I might try and restart the indoor biking in the new year.
Hopefully I'll ride more with the tandem club.
I need to plan out a few months of achievable targets to get going again.

I was doing great in September and the beginning of October. More rides and miles than ever before. Then I got Covid (4th time); was back in the office FT delivering training; permanently tired. I've spent M-F of Dec in Glasgow with a training group and had cold, fluey stuff going on, so when I have got home I just CBA. Finished tomorrow and driving home, however, for Crimbo, so I don't care what the weather is doing on Xmas eve I'm heading out on the bike. (although I may procrastinate about the weather, my cold, my lungs, my weight, my...oh FTLOG)

I came back from France in July 2019 and turned into this...

The world has changed since then. I've been suffering with Covid most of this year. I need to join a group of mincers and start spinning my legs again.

very rarely regret it once you’re out the door…

If I'm not feeling it, and I know it'll be fine once I'm out, I put myself in sort of "autopilot mode" and just get ready to go riding you know? Get dressed, fill a bottle...Like when you've got a boring shitty thing to do a work, just get down to it and get it done.

@sharkattack

see you on the 22nd Jan at BPW then 😀

I think the answer is that, hard as it might be to build up to getting out (especially if it’s wet / cold), it’s always great to actually be out. I don’t think I’ve ever regretted starting a ride. Always feel better after than before.
I was seeing a Chinese doc a while back and complained of a lack of energy. He made an interesting point.
He said asked - it that you’re feeling weak once you get started or that you’re having trouble with the motivation to get on the bike in the first place.
Definitely the latter in my case.
Of course off-road biking at this time of the year leads to significant post-ride cleaning (and in my case chain off for a boiling water wash and trip to the slow cooker of wax). That’s the bit that gets to me. I’m rehabbing after a slipped disc so felt I could justify a Specialized SL ebike to get me pedalling. Still regaining function in one leg, it’s up to 65% dorsiflexion resistance now. I’m pleased to be out as I thought I’d never ride again.
The E-bike is a bugger to clean.

But this weather!!! Better get wrapped up and get to it. Just over a 3rd batch of (quite mild) CV19. Time to make the effort.

I ride with this group in the South West based around Exeter, there is no shortage of people setting up rides across Dartmoor. Everyone is welcome to join us.

I ride with this group in the South West based around Exeter, there is no shortage of people setting up rides across Dartmoor. Everyone is welcome to join us.

That probably doesn't help with the poor motivation, I used to have some decent trails on my doorstep and a couple of groups to ride with. Since moving a couple of years back we're now in an area where there doesn't seem to be any groups out riding at all, even on weekends. It's a bit odd as there's some decent riding around here!

I haven't been out for three weeks which is unheard of. My explanations sound a bit like the random excuse generator!
Illness, grandchildcare , weather, wife's illness, entertaining and probably the most important, mega apathy

now in an area where there doesn’t seem to be any groups out riding at all, even on weekends. It’s a bit odd as there’s some decent riding around here!

Ditto!

Just joined our local road club, seems like 90% of them have just retired to Zwift for the winter, although in fairness the MTBers still seem to be getting out but unfortunately they meet a 45 minute drive from me which isn't really worth it for a 2 hour bimble round a trail centre 🙄

Just joined our local road club

I tried the local road club last year.
I went on two rides with them and never again, to say it was dull would be an understatement 😂

I don't do any road riding at all now so it kind of limits things. There's another club nearby who seem to do a few gravel rides but that's about it.

I don’t do any road riding at all now so it kind of limits things. There’s another club nearby who seem to do a few gravel rides but that’s about it.

The road riding around me is pretty good, although I'm not really keen on the rolling-road-block style club rides so will likely stick to smaller groups and gravel rides.

I had hoped that club rides would be regular and pretty much guaranteed to go ahead every weekend but considering the size and reputation of the club I'm a bit underwhelmed so far, not many rides being posted or rides getting cancelled at last minute etc. I guess ride leaders are human too!

Yeah my motivation has taken a bit of a dive of late. Had an absolutely awesome 2022 riding wise and it just feels like I had so much great riding I am not all that bothered about mediocre muddy riding in mediocre weather at the moment.

I much prefer running when it's like this, quick excercise hit and no messing about with muddy bikes.
Unfortunately I have strained my left calf. Keep trying to run again too soon and knackering it again ☹️ need to rest it until into Jan I think.

I can't really stand the turbo trainer. Getting out and about is at least half the fun, for me.

I've been doing a lot of walking to make up for all that, but I am sure my top end fitness is suffering as a result. I have thought of going and doing singlespeed hill reps as a quick easy substitute for running, but, yknow, 🤮. CBA.

I’ve been doing a lot of walking to make up for all that, but I am sure my top end fitness is suffering as a result.

Sounds like you need to read the 'Zone 2' threads! 😉 I'm hoping that a bit of regular walking will help me maintain fitness until such time as I can get back into a routine. Lower back is thanking me for it (I think)

I can’t really stand the turbo trainer. Getting out and about is at least half the fun, for me.

The trainer can help beat the motivation cycle though - that one where you know riding is gonna be tough so you don't go out, and because you don't go out the riding gets tougher. Keeping/developing fitness indoors carries over to more enjoyable riding outdoors.

Plus there's a different sort of motivation for a relatively warm, sun-kissed (if you bought a SAD lamp for turbo duties 😉) and musically accompanied dose of endorphins, it's about a million times better than nothing at all.

Thanks to this thread (and a hint of blue sky outside) I dragged my sniffly and generally fatigued feeling self out for a quick 25km spin at lunch, feeling much better already so thanks OP! 😎

No, rarely suffer from a lack of motivation. Lack of time/opportunity sometimes (like this week, in the run up to Christmas, with all shopping, wrapping, housework, entertaining, trying to finish work stuff ... and not being able to ride as much as I'd like)

I think variety, of bike, and type of ride, helps combat low motivation. I've a FS, SS HT, SS steel road/CX, and a gravel bike with full mudguards. Sometimes 40 minutes around the local urban streets on the SS CX bike is enough, or an hour on the HT around the local woods, and they're easier to fit into smaller windows of opportunity.

I have only ridden for 45 minutes so far this December.

However, I had a heavy cold that took almost two weeks to shift, then we had snow and compacted ice for a week, and at the moment I have Covid.

Can’t wait to get out again. I think not being able to go out works wonders for me wanting to go out.

No, rarely suffer from a lack of motivation. Lack of time/opportunity sometimes

Same.

Some life changes have meant I've cut down my riding about 60% this year. I think next year I'll be finding a balance somewhere in the middle.

Bit frustrating to be laid up with Covid during the recent frozen spell. Could have got some great rides in.

Motivation has been fine recently, not being sick for any length of time seems to be the biggest issue for me. i seem to have had 1 lurgy after another this winter.