[Closed] Losing my mojo for MTB...

Life is too short not to be happy. Do what makes you happy. If you want to put the MTB to one side and just ride the road bike do it. You can always come back to it when you're ready, especially if you're still young. I've done three MTB comebacks in my life and am currently on my fourth sabatical while I concentrate on the road bike because I've also just lost my MTB mojo. But I am happy on the road bike.

Be happy mate.

Only suggestion I can give is to find some folk who ride at a similar pace (or get quicker). It's seems like some of your other problems can only be changed if you move!

Edit - I've seen a lot of lads pack mountain biking in and change to road bikes for the same reasons.

Embrace it. I'm a bit like that at the moment. This year only used the mtb for a few events and a couple of big trips- all the casual local stuff has been either on easy paths on the cx bike, or on the road. Fittest I've ever been.
Next year might be different though. Great thing about bikes, I can find one to suit every mood.

I think you need to move. If I had to drive to find some decent riding I'd probably give up.

I considered posting a similar thread today about all types of biking. After an apathetic moment of indecision that caused me to miss a club road ride, I then had a physical and mental breakdown on the turbo this morning. Not able to get up to speed on the Turbo for two weeks now, I've decided - with some advice - not to touch a bike for a week as I've been battering away at some training plan or another since feb.

Re the rigid SS - I did the same and recently - as in last week went 29er. I have found that plodding along at one speed and different associated challenges it brings has refreshed my MTB as has riding the Beastway race series. Riding rigid SS seems to feel like it has an air of purity about it as well IMO - no setting up the suspension - just pedal and looking for smooth lines. Perhaps get a cheap one and try it, or just have a rest from bikes for a bit.

I lost mine five years ago after being the world's most enthusiastic mountain biker for 20 years - off somewhere every weekend, talking about mountain biking to the point of irritating the rest of the family, living and dreaming mountain bikes. Road cycling has given me a whole new outlook, made me much much fitter and saved me a fortune in worn out kit and fuel for the weekends away.

And I just love the subtlety and style of road riding; though I wouldn't go as far as buying Rapha kit.

As above, don't fight it. As long as it's not part of some more serious depression type thing, which it does not sound like it is?
Do what you enjoy, ride more, in whatever style and have more sex.

geetee1972 - Member

Life is too short not to be happy. Do what makes you happy. If you want to put the MTB to one side and just ride the road bike do it. You can always come back to it when you're ready, especially if you're still young. I've done three MTB comebacks in my life and am currently on my fourth sabbatical while I concentrate on the road bike because I've also just lost my MTB mojo. But I am happy on the road bike.

Be happy mate.

This + lots.

I just enjoy riding a bike. it doesn't have to be scary or rad etc just plenty of scenic views.
Sometimes just stopping to look at that view of the local vista makes me happy and long may it continue 😀

Get a fatbike! I did about a year and a half ago, and it really made riding fun again.

My mtbs have largely been unloved this year as riding road, just for the odd event, which due to the road bike I'm performing much better at. Was just starting to get bored of road riding and did my first tt this week, reinvigorated and interested again! Just keep changing it round. For me setting some sort of goal is key like entering a big event like torq12

These things happen, last summer it was all about the road for me, only went out on the mtb about half a dozen times all summer, this year it's the opposite, hardly touched the road bike but have been out on the mtb almost every week, some times multiple times in a week. This is why multiple bikes are a good thing.

This is what's great about riding bikes - N+1 doesn't cost a lot 🙂 but it can give you a whole new lease of life.

Why not get a CX bike and combine the MTB with road?

Part of the reason I'm sure is that on MTB rides I feel like I'm always either holding a group of fast guys up, or I get bored waiting for really slow people.

Go out on your own then??

Thing that I get fed up with in MTBing very fast - driving to trails and the resulting lack of freedom and spontaneity.
Things I love about road bikes - riding from the door and lack of maintenance.

Get a simple MTB that suits what you have on your doorstep? Rocky stuff on a susser or woodland trails on a rigid, it's all pretty similar to me.
And ride alone more, it's great. No waiting while people faff with gadgets, better flow as you never need to regroup and go where you please. Not always better but I'm often happier on solo rides, or with small groups that I know well. Riding alone on a simple bike is riding for the pure enjoyment of it, I love it.

I ride with the dog a lot, he doesn't mind waiting on the hills, doesn't get arsey if I want to try the same bit of trail a few times and is always on for going out. He saved my mojo but sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

Get yourself over to Cannock but go exploring on your own around there and Brocton looking for the off piste stuff. I happily get lost and seem to find new bits all the time. After 2 years of exploring I'm only now starting to feel like I can do an planned off piste route.

I think you have answered the question your self DONE TO DEATH.Mix it up more road/CX/MTB.There is alot in the Forest Of Dean have been riding there for 24 years and fine new trails often and i know it pretty well and new stuff is being built all the time.You could try the Cotswolds above Cheltenham and Gloucester plenty there.Have a change try 2 wheels with an engine 😀

Similar story for me, mtb sitting forlornly with 3 month old mud while road bike gets ridden every day. Think I'm just bored with the whole "gear lust" thing that has overtaken most people I ride with.
Sure, there's a fair deal of it in roadie circles but most I know have the "pump up the tyres, give the chain a wipe, and get riding" attitude.
Far less faffing and fettling, just riding, banter and cake stops.
Anyway, it's all bikes at the end of the day 🙂

You could sign up for a race, set yourself a realistic goal and train for it (rather than just take part). Whatever discipline takes your fancy.

Life is too short not to be happy. Do what makes you happy. If you want to put the MTB to one side and just ride the road bike do it. You can always come back to it when you're ready, especially if you're still young. I've done three MTB comebacks in my life and am currently on my fourth sabatical while I concentrate on the road bike because I've also just lost my MTB mojo. But I am happy on the road bike.

Only suggestion I can give is to find some folk who ride at a similar pace (or get quicker).

I think the problem is that I'm a social rider. If a group of people wanna go out that I know are of a similar pace, I'm there. If it's (as is too often the case) a wannabe elite racer training ride, or (again as is all too often the case) a newbie hand holding exercise, I lose interest. I sound like a selfish ****t now, and I know it, but bikes aren't just a passion for me, they're now a livelihood, so I know I need to enjoy my riding more.

And ride alone more, it's great. No waiting while people faff with gadgets, better flow as you never need to regroup and go where you please. Not always better but I'm often happier on solo rides, or with small groups that I know well. Riding alone on a simple bike is riding for the pure enjoyment of it, I love it.

I can understand the benefits, but it's the motivation to ride on my own I struggle with. Any ideas to improve motivation for riding alone? I manage the odd 60-90 minute road ride on my own occasionally (I find this a LOT easier than riding MTB on my own), but still struggle not to find a reason not to ride.

I think you need to move. If I had to drive to find some decent riding I'd probably give up.

Moving isn't an option... Various reasons, but won't be moving any time soon. It's roughly 30mins in the car door to door to the nearest trails worth riding. On the road bike, I can be on beautiful quiet country lanes inside 5 minutes!

I considered posting a similar thread today about all types of biking. After an apathetic moment of indecision that caused me to miss a club road ride, I then had a physical and mental breakdown on the turbo this morning. Not able to get up to speed on the Turbo for two weeks now, I've decided - with some advice - not to touch a bike for a week as I've been battering away at some training plan or another since feb.

Despite thinking about it over the disgusting winter, I still didn't give in to buying a turbo. And I think the day I do, cycling will cease to be entertaining and just become about exercise! Don't get me wrong, I like being in shape and fit, but I can't do exercise for exercise's sake. It's got to give me some kind of excitement, or at least provide some kind of social stimulation.

I just enjoy riding a bike. it doesn't have to be scary or rad etc just plenty of scenic views.
Sometimes just stopping to look at that view of the local vista makes me happy and long may it continue

I do try. I definitely take more time to take the scenery in these days than I used to do. It does help for sure.

My mtbs have largely been unloved this year as riding road, just for the odd event, which due to the road bike I'm performing much better at. Was just starting to get bored of road riding and did my first tt this week, reinvigorated and interested again! Just keep changing it round. For me setting some sort of goal is key like entering a big event like torq12

TTing is a no no... Tried it, once... Honestly think I'd rather get fat! It just holds no appeal.

The goal thing though does help. Did Bontrager 24/12 as a 12hr solo last year, my first ever, and really enjoyed it. Was the fittest I've been for some time, but due to many commitments this year, I've neither been able to ride as much, or plan far enough ahead to look at doing something like this again this year. Sounds like excuses I know, but I'm busy working 60hrs plus a week (for myself I'll admit) so any rides I do get the chance for, I'm more bothered about just having fun rather than any training etc.

Why not get a CX bike and combine the MTB with road?

Have one. It's barely been used. Some people bill them as the best of both worlds, IMO, they're too much of a compromise to be particularly good either on road or off. Though I suppose if I was riding lots of local canals and local woods, it might be different as it would be more suitable.

Get a simple MTB that suits what you have on your doorstep? Rocky stuff on a susser or woodland trails on a rigid, it's all pretty similar to me.

MTB wise, got a 29er HT and a short travel 29er FS at the moment. I spent years owning long travel full sus bikes, or HT's with a fork longer than really suitable and not using them. Very tempted still by the SS thing as I borrowed one weeks ago, and though I couldn't get up a few climbs on it, it definitely made me think more about the ride.

There is alot in the Forest Of Dean have been riding there for 24 years and fine new trails often and i know it pretty well and new stuff is being built all the time.

You almost certainly know it better than me, but I definitely know it better than 99% of the rest of the public that ride there. I think the thing is, every time I ride down there, I'm ALWAYS leading a group. Same in the Wyre Forest... I never get the luxury of just sitting back and enjoying the trails without worrying about not losing people, I'm always the one shepherding everyone else and making sure that they enjoy the ride themselves. Again, very selfish perhaps, but I can't remember the last time someone else showed me an interesting trail that I'd not ridden before, that I got a real buzz from! For instance, I love Dowies, but now I know it so well that I go down there, and expect to beat my Strava times down Dowies each and every time I ride there otherwise it annoys me! 😕

You could try the Cotswolds above Cheltenham and Gloucester plenty there.

Love Cranham, don't know it at all though, and my Cranham local (you know who you are if you're reading this!!! 😉 ) has moved away and given MTB's up! 🙁 So I've not ridden there in 2 years or so...

Have a change try 2 wheels with an engine

Been there, done that, can't afford it any more on a number of levels. Still got a bike in my Dad's shed that's been there for years and one day I'll fully restore it, but I can't ride a motorbike slowly (I'm not a lunatic, but I do like the sensation of speed), So I recognise it's probably best I don't ride one at all until I can ride one at speeds that wouldn't lose my license in a very short space of time.

Guy who owns the motorbike shop 2 doors from mine keeps offering me a go on his Ducati 1098R with full race pipe and a factory re-map though! It's got about 190bhp, and all up weight of about 165kg... 😯

+1 Simon

Or get building, if mo won't come to the mountain..

Get a simple MTB that suits what you have on your doorstep?

That's what I did, and it's working out very well. Bike is a rigid 29er which cost £400. If I use it, then great, but I won't beat myself up about not using it if not. As it is I think my new simple MTB is scratching my offroad itch enough to make me abandon my plans to get a new CX bike later in the year, and maybe just get a road bike again to compliment it.

This shit is like a vicious cycle, stuff appeals, then doesn't. No harm in walking away from biking for a bit. Go running, climbing etc. You'll get the call again at some point.

I lose my motorbike mojo, here's the outcome:

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I don't know if you can fight it, I tried to and all it meant was the mojo was well and truly killed. I think possibly the best thing to do is just back away gently and sneak up on it again some other time. If I lost my mtb mojo I'd be gutted but it seems to come in hand with aquiring some alternative mojo.

The 29ers have killed it for you!

postierich - Member
The 29ers have killed it for you!

...and the eureka moment arrives. Yes, 650b is the answer... *faints*

I felt the same. I built my bike a few years ago while i was working away, got home built it up.

things didn't fit, wrong parts. spent ages getting it to work. by the time it was all sorted i was fed up. My mates were a lot faster as i didn't ride for 8 months.

went away and left the bike for 10 months while i worked abroad again. came home spent all my time with the GF. Then away for 3 months came home 3 weeks ago and love it. A few tweaks and some good lungs and I'm away. Spending lots of time getting quicker. getting out with the boys on saturday. ill tell um I'm fat and wait! Moving to Cape Town and its coming with me! I love my bike.

I used to live in worcester, hate the place. now live by the sea.

Skipping a few posts but move. Driving to get to cannock?? There is much better out there.
After that buy a new bike and book a holiday somewhere inspiring 🙂

The mojo… it comes and it goes and then comes back. Personally speaking, the relationship I have with biking/cycling/mountain biking is like all relationships - imagine them as elastic bands. Sometimes we're close, then other times, we stretch apart, but the strong relationships are like the elastic band and at some point, we get drawn closer once more. Give it time, enjoy whatever you do and try not to mourn your loss of enthusiasm because if your love of mountain biking is as strong as it appears with your many and varied contributions on here, you'll be back with it again at some point 😀

There is of course some rule to do with points of elasticity, that I recall vaguely from school. At which point I believe that saying goodbye isn't so much to do with mourning, but gratitude and I don't think you're at that point yet 😀

I think the driving thing would put a dampener on it for me as well. I'm incredibly lucky that I've got quality riding from my doorstep. Last night for example (and two or three times a week at this time of year), put the kids to bed and was walking out the door at just gone 8 and did an hours ride. 10 miles on lovely dusty moorland trails, being stopped by dog walkers to chat about the Tour and whether I'd been to see it and how they were amazed by it etc etc. Was a great little ride.

Another thing which I've just discovered is that monster that is Strava. My last couple of rides have been logged on it and I've just done similar local trails but its kinda added a different dimension to my ride where I'm pushing the speed thing a bit more. I'm not sure if its more enjoyable but a pootle has turned into an hours proper workout. Its something different... I'm not going to log all my rides but I enjoy the analysis of my riding afterwards!

Don't force it. I came back from the Alps last year "all biked out" parked my MTB and ignored it for probably 3 months. Then, one morning, i woke up, and just wanted to ride. So i did, and it was FAB! 😉

Having a range of hobbies outside of MTBs is healthy and normal imo!

Some good life experience advise above.

The only thing I'd add: Remember the old saying..."Do something everyday that scares you." When I feel the mojo dying (for anything) I find that going to that bit of trail that scares me works wonders for re-lighting the fire.

I do it all for fun. Social rides in the main at weekends, and I don't care that we can all be different pace, and frankly the rest don't care either. The stuff I ride at weekends are social climbs where there's no intent to beat a time, stop at a trail, then head off in turn at each own's pace, climb up somewhere else, and repeat. With chat stops, food & mechanicals.

Sometimes I do evening rides with guys more into a set pace, but the pace is generally set by the slowest, and I find I can fit into the pace okay, not always at the back 😀 . That's my fitness kind of ride, but still more of a social thing to me. Some of those guys are into races and stuff but I'm not really bothered about that.

And if there's no one to ride with, I'm out exploring.

I mix it up between ful sus and hard tail, and the HT I find expands my range of riding as I can happily ride a lot of local trails, bridleways, tow paths, longer xc-ish stuff, plus it's more preferable on the night rides. The full sus is long travel AM bike and a bit too much for that but a right blast in places where it's justified, and great for away trips.

I think I'd struggle far more getting any kind of mojo for road cycling. Nothing could bore me more than tarmac, and getting out with other riders means joining a serious club, doing sportives and other kinds of bollox that would just turn me off riding forever. Just doesn't hold the same social appeal to me as off road, or even when riding solo off road has the appeal of enjoying being out in nature and away from urban and traffic.

And yeah, as above, I enjoy an off road ride more if there's something that can scare me a bit. Though solo rides I'm a little more cautious these days, especially if I'm not likely to be found until the morning by dog walkers. That or eaten by wolves.

No i meant proper motobikes OFF-Road ones you sell the right named brand.Your half way there :wink:.

Have one. It's barely been used. Some people bill them as the best of both worlds, IMO, they're too much of a compromise to be particularly good either on road or off. Though I suppose if I was riding lots of local canals and local woods, it might be different as it would be more suitable.

I reckon you need to look at things in a different, more positive way. Take cross bikes, you can take the attitude that they're slower on the road than a road bike and far worse off road than a mountain bike. Or you can reason that they're far better off road than a road bike and a sight better on road than a mountain bike.

And Strava has quite high amusement value too. 🙂

Come and play in the secret cheeky trails with ss idiots on the chase. We promise not to make you cry too much...but seriously, riding with new folks on new stuff can be a grwat way to rekindle the joy of simply mucking about on bikes

There must be some cheeky trails near you. If not - build them in winter - ride them in summer.

Don't come to malvern, the ridings' awful.

South Wales local stuff when you have some time free, you know where I am 😉

Change your goals. Ride SS, be dropped downhill but catch up on the climbs. Most of my riding is road and race. Off road is often with Teens 1 and 2. Goals change completely to having fun, technical mastery and enjoying how Teen 1 just vanishes downhill.

Don't come to malvern, the ridings' awful.

This 😉

I lived in Worcester for a few years and I was up the Malverns nearly every weekend. Felt really lucky to have it on my doorstep. There is some immense riding up there and it's probably <15 minutes drive from you, or even a short train ride if you like.

15 minutes drive from you, or even a short train ride if you like.

He could always ride over,then he'd get his roadie fix.

There's a new bike shop in Bewdley, Overspoke, who do rides each week. At the mo there both road and mtb options happening at the same time. I've not managed to go yet due to work/family but Mark who runs the shop is one of the nicest people I've ever met so I'd be totally happy to recommend him and the rides. MTB in the Wyee with some chat re Clent I think.

Like GeeTee, my MTB mojo is a bit meh right now and for many of the reasons you listed. I've parked the bike and ride the roadie for now. It'll come back and when it does I'll be über retro on my 26" wheels!

Don't dispair mboy!

I've lost the mojo too.
Been riding the road bike 3pr 4 times a week since August last yr and hardly touched a mtb. Went to the lakes in June & took my big mtb - hated every minute of it. OK, a lot of that was picking the wrong route, horrible bike-carrying ascents followed by dull gravel road descents, too much tarmac & getting caught in a massive bog that took over an hr to get through whilst dragging/throwing the bike.
All the time I kept thinking "if I'd brought the road bike I could have done Hardknott & Wrynose.."
Also, the whole gear thing has really pee'd me off. Over night my MTB's are obsolete, forks don't fit, wheels are the wrong size gearing all wrong etc. Being 5'2" 29'ers don't fit & I can't see the point of 650b. I read the mag and it doesn't speak to me anymore, I feel no connection to scene, the new kit coming out is stupidly expensive/doesn't fit my bikes and the 'enduro' clothing kit is straight out of the circus!

Maybe it will come back, but at the mo' I'm giving serious thought to getting rid of my MTB's.

Over night my MTB's are obsolete, forks don't fit, wheels are the wrong size gearing all wrong etc. Being 5'2" 29'ers don't fit & I can't see the point of 650b. I read the mag and it doesn't speak to me anymore, I feel no connection to scene, the new kit coming out is stupidly expensive/doesn't fit my bikes and the 'enduro' clothing kit is straight out of the circus!

I think a lot of our issues come from group-ride arms races. "I need 'x' so I can keep up" etc. The reality is that the result of the urge to be faster is sometimes killing the fun, which is odd as riding fast is damn good fun. However if not racing, the perception of speed is what we're often looking for most of the time rather than absolute speed relative to others. There's no answer to this of course .. blokes on bikes will be what we are.

If you can't get motivated to ride while we're having a relatively good summer (and it sounds like you've got no kids and a decent amount of free time), then you might as well sell your MTBs.

What would be the worst thing about not being an MTBer any more?

What would be the worst thing about not being an MTBer any more?

Not being able to wear the gnar baggies?

What would be the worst thing about not being an MTBer any more?

Take up middle/long distance running.

You will hate it so much that any kind of cycling will seem like a relief.

I used to run, then I found bikes. Now I just run if I'm bored of the bike and it all comes flooding back.

Cranham is my "soul food", we try to get there a few times each year. You would be welcombe to join us for our next ride there if you like.

get a little getto type urban bike / maybe a singlespeed rigid or something similar for local riding from the doorstep and make some interesting urban/local offroad riding routes up. Go and explore locally.

Do what you want to do.

Take up middle/long distance running.

You will hate it so much that any kind of cycling will seem like a relief.

Unless the OP is like me, and loves distance running.

Has to be offroad, mind.

I'm the same OP, in the last 12 months I must have been out on my mtb less than half a dozen times. And I have some pretty decent trails from my door. I'd much rather go out on the road bike. I have been considering selling my 5 and going back to a hardtail.

@op do what you want to do, don’t do what you don’t want to do, and don’t stress about the difference. we’re only here for a little while.

[img] [/img]

This
I lived in Worcester for a few years and I was up the Malverns nearly every weekend. Felt really lucky to have it on my doorstep. There is some immense riding up there and it's probably <15 minutes drive from you, or even a short train ride if you like.

Malverns are great on sunny summer's eves when you're in the mood for a hard ride. I don't often finish work before 7, often stay later than that, and I live the wrong side of Worcs (so it's a 30 min drive not a 15!), and I'm often not in the mood for all that climbing. I love the Wyre Forest for instance (and can get there as quick as Malverns), but when it's drenched in water for 50 weeks of the year, it's rather depressing!

Had a call yesterday morning, a guy I know who knows I only work a half day on Monday normally. Ended up going down the FoD with him and another friend of his yesterday afternoon as it happens. Only a lap of the Enduro XC loop followed by a lap of Freeminers, but started to get in the zone a bit more and enjoy the ride. Helped I didn't have to spend too much time waiting for them too I think, but it was still sociable. Felt good on the bike too, last couple of MTB rides I've made more than my fair share of mistakes and had really off days. Yesterday I felt planted, cleaned every climb and descent without issue, railed the berms and popped off the roots nicely! 🙂

Come and play in the secret cheeky trails with ss idiots on the chase. We promise not to make you cry too much...but seriously, riding with new folks on new stuff can be a grwat way to rekindle the joy of simply mucking about on bikes

I'll see when I could be free to do that, would love to ride some of the lesser known stuff up there. It's been too long since the (now moved away Postie) showed me anything up there.

South Wales local stuff when you have some time free, you know where I am

You've lost weight and are at least pretending to get fit though! I may have to do some training first... 😉

But seriously, would be good actually. I'll drop you a line about a ride soon... Do you ever have Mondays off per chance?

Also, the whole gear thing has really pee'd me off. Over night my MTB's are obsolete, forks don't fit, wheels are the wrong size gearing all wrong etc. Being 5'2" 29'ers don't fit & I can't see the point of 650b. I read the mag and it doesn't speak to me anymore, I feel no connection to scene, the new kit coming out is stupidly expensive/doesn't fit my bikes and the 'enduro' clothing kit is straight out of the circus!

You make a very good point!

It's interesting to note though, that I see more VERY tall people on mountain bikes these days that I ever did when bikes all had 26" wheels and the largest frame sizes you could get were 20"... Maybe you're suffering at their expense! I do feel almost short at 5ft10 these days though out on the trail, and some company's "medium" sized MTB's almost feel a bit big these days to me.

If you can't get motivated to ride while we're having a relatively good summer (and it sounds like you've got no kids and a decent amount of free time), then you might as well sell your MTBs.
What would be the worst thing about not being an MTBer any more?

You've not understood my reasons behind my lack of motivation... I don't have kids, but I also have pretty much no free time. Other than Thursday evenings for a road ride, Sundays are pretty much the only guaranteed time each week I get to ride if I chose to. But often then, the thought of always having to drive somewhere, always having to guide other people round and wait for them, well... I need some variety I think. Go out with people that are happy to guide me for a bit. I love riding with my GF at times, but sometimes I also need to go out with someone who's genuinely going to show me a clean pair of heels on their local trails, but is also happy to do that in a sociable way.

Basically, you can see why road riding has become more and more appealing!

Take up middle/long distance running.
You will hate it so much that any kind of cycling will seem like a relief.

I was quite a good runner when I was a kid. These days if I run to the corner shop I'll have bad knees, hips and shin splints! It's always bored the arse off me too...

Cranham is my "soul food", we try to get there a few times each year. You would be welcombe to join us for our next ride there if you like.

Cranham is an absolute gem. One that sooooo many people drive past all the time without even knowing it's there! I wish I knew it well enough to go explore on my own thus far. Will aim to get on a couple of rides down there soon.

get a little getto type urban bike / maybe a singlespeed rigid or something similar for local riding from the doorstep and make some interesting urban/local offroad riding routes up. Go and explore locally.

It does seem a fairly logical solution... Though I've been desperately trying not to spend any money on fixing this problem thus far!

Come upto the lakes I will put you off mtbing for life 🙂

Malverns are great on sunny summer's eves when you're in the mood for a hard ride. I don't often finish work before 7

Don't you work in a bike shop? Why are you still there at 7? Sod that.

Don't you work in a bike shop? Why are you still there at 7? Sod that.

😆

Maybe I go that extra mile... 😉

Come upto the lakes I will put you off mtbing for life

Hehehe. In all seriousness, I am planning a, wait for it... Week off in August. Wanted to go abroad with the GF, but don't think it's going to be possible for me to actually leave the helm for long enough to get a whole week off, but might manage a few days... 🙂

I even rode a (shock horror) 650b wheel sized bike briefly today, that I thought was really rather good... Still not sure it'll sway me back from 29er's though.

It does seem a fairly logical solution... Though I've been desperately trying not to spend any money on fixing this problem thus far!

If you look at my history, you'll see I actually spent the sum total of £40 on a 29er rigid SingleSpeed within the last 10 days. I've done two rides on it and loved it. I didn't expect to.

Blimey i must ride in a different Cranham to others.

Have you been on an uplift day? Ride out of your comfort zone, better to be scared to death than bored to death!

"Blimey i must ride in a different Cranham to others."

You should see what we normally have to ride 🙁 . Cranham is worth the 50min drive to do a few times a year. It just has a good mix of trails that suit my skill level & is never busy (unlike some trail centres).

Funny this, I live in the same sort of area, and have recently sold my road bike in favour of spending more time in my mtb. Wishing I still had one now mind, might get a cheap one over the winter, but really loving the mountain bike at the moment, road rides were getting very samey and boring, there's only so many roads that are nice to ride. Over the chase there's loads to explore. I haven't even started on the off piste stuff after two years.

Whereabouts in Worcester is your shop?

I've been having a similar 'identity crisis' of late. Just not been motivated to get out at all, I think part of it was needing to get over thinking about myself as being a 'mountainbiker' as opposed to someone that happens to ride a bike for fun. If it's not fun - do something else.

I've been out on the road bike a bit, done a bit more running, taken up swimming again for the first time in about 10 years and got of the bandwagon of constant new bike bits coveting an to be honest I feel better for it in the end. That said I went out locally with a few folk last week, first ride in about 6 weeks, and had a great time. I found the key is not to treat it like a chore that you feel you should be doing. Go out if you feel like it, if not maybe try taking up something else (swim/run/climb/martial arts etc etc) for a bit for a bit of variety.

Perhaps we are too spoilt living in the Cotswolds.Having Cranham on our doorstep!!!!!!.Only ridden in there once off-road this year prefer the faster trails in the the Forest of Dean.Mind i do ride through there alot on the road to see how muddy it is,which is alot of the year.

I like Cranham precisely because it's tighter and techier than much of the FoD. My favourite trails in the FoD are all the steep/tight/techy ones too.

Shop is in Droitwich, few miles out of Worcester. We've built quite a decent following already, many of them join us consistently on road rides, which is great. Might be a sign of the times, but the only MTB rides I organised, I ended up cancelling cos nobody wanted to come!

MTB riding for me is usually just me and the GF these days. Though she's very fit, she's not very confident, so rides tend to be a bit of a yo-yo of her waiting at the top of climbs and me waiting (a lot) at the bottom of descents... We don't spend much time together in other words, whereas on the roads I'm finding everything just that bit more sociable.

Thinking the weekend/week away to try and ride new places might just be the answer to rekindle the love... 🙂

...I'd rather just lay in bed. My GF finds it extremely frustrating...

I think you've answered your own question. Don't just lie there man 🙂

Don't you work in a bike shop? Why are you still there at 7? Sod that.

Maybe I go that extra mile...

All joking aside, and assuming that wasn't you being a martyr, if you're not being paid for working outside shop hours is that really worth it? IMO you can "go the extra mile" without having to work free overtime every day, and if there's too much work to do that's not fair on you. You don't own the shop.

Ride on your own for a bit,
You can ride then for yourself at your own pace and mood, gives you time to think about stuff and what you want out life,

If you want to stop to soak up a view, take a pic or just to have a breather then you can when you want,

Use your bike for A-B transport and throw in some off road, be it a detour on route to work, or to the shops after work,

Meeting some friends for a pint? take the bike and have some fun cycling there and home 🙂

Cycling is an escape from the mundane things in life, and you will always feel better if you keep exercising by cycling than doing no exercise 🙂

Wanted to go abroad with the GF, but don't think it's going to be possible for me to actually leave the helm for long enough to get a whole week off, but might manage a few days...

In that case fella, you're doing it wrong. Do I take it that your being at the 'helm' means you're either the proprietor or manager? In which case, the art of good effective management is to make yourself dispensable/redundant. Seriously. How else will anyone learn responsibility and gain recognition if you don't let it happen? If you don't take charge of their professional development? Learn to delegate more, take time out and let your people feel like you trust them to do a good job, they'll appreciate you more for it, as will your GF probably as she'll see more of you.

Either that or stop whinging. 😉

I'm kind of the same, I ride with some great guys (including Alex from here) in the FOD, it's where I live, but I'm losing the love of doing the stuff they do, we ride the brilliant stuff of the FOD and surrounding areas, the group are quick and often put people off.

Thing is, I got into road riding last year and now prefer the fitness gains of road riding instead of being in the woods, I enjoy the feel of doing a 50 mile ride instead of a 20 miler. Increased fitness is good and I just enjoy being out and riding.

I live in Ross and cycle alone on the road, I can understand where you come from to a certain extent, the thought of roading it is far more enjoyable than an mtb ride, even living in a fantastic area and even riding with a great bunch.

I can't bring myself to join a club and the only mate I have who road rides is too slow for me to ride with, he pootles whereas I prefer to get on with it a little 😉

Do what makes you happy though and don't label yourself, I get a load of stick for being a lycra wearing roadie perv, but my mates are there if I fancy a ride off road at any point. I've stopped calling myself an MTBer or Roadie, I'm a cyclist.. that kind of helps as did just admitting to myself that I'm not up for doing massive drops and jumps, the world didn't end and I can stuff most of the group up any hill I just stand with the camera whilst they try to kill themselves 😉

Give us an email if you wanna road ride, it's only 30 minutes and Malvern is kind of midway for a ride!

All joking aside, and assuming that wasn't you being a martyr, if you're not being paid for working outside shop hours is that really worth it? IMO you can "go the extra mile" without having to work free overtime every day, and if there's too much work to do that's not fair on you. You don't own the shop.

😉

To be fair, I'm making hay whilst the sun shines... Did a normal week's takings in one day yesterday, another good day today, 2 people coming to put hefty deposits on new bikes tomorrow... And a workshop FULL of bikes that need fixing!

Cycling is an escape from the mundane things in life, and you will always feel better if you keep exercising by cycling than doing no exercise

Couldn't have put it better myself. Won't be stopping any time soon (anytime ever I hope!) just that at the moment, in general, I'm finding a lot more motivation to get out on the road bike than the mountain bike.

the art of good effective management is to make yourself dispensable/redundant. Seriously. How else will anyone learn responsibility and gain recognition if you don't let it happen? If you don't take charge of their professional development? Learn to delegate more, take time out and let your people feel like you trust them to do a good job, they'll appreciate you more for it, as will your GF probably as she'll see more of you.

I totally 100% agree... You are so correct, it's impossible to be more so. The problem is that in the bike trade, good shop staff can almost command their own wage and will go wherever is most desirable (ie. the big shops with lots of lovely brands). For me, the wages I can afford to pay, I can't be too choosy just yet and end up on my own for 2/3 days a week... Few more weeks like this week though, and I may be able to do something about that, and start having more time for the GF and to possibly get my MTB mojo back! 🙂

Either that or stop whinging.

Not so much whinging, was more seeking advice from those who have experienced the same relative loss of interest for MTB on how to get it back.

Do what makes you happy though and don't label yourself, I get a load of stick for being a lycra wearing roadie perv, but my mates are there if I fancy a ride off road at any point. I've stopped calling myself an MTBer or Roadie, I'm a cyclist..

We're all cyclists (well those of us that ride a bike anyway)... Cycling is almost as bad as music when it comes to genres and pigeon-holing, and the sooner the prejudices subside, the better! The absolute worst prejudice I come across funnily enough, is the 26" diehards that vehemently despise 29ers! Strange eh...