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Maybe it's the weather or just having so little time to myself that I can't be bothered to go out for a ride. Usually I'd have shot up the hills yesterday morning, with the grotty weather they'd have been quiet, had the entertainment of trying to stay upright on the lick wet rocks - but no was happy to stay at home and do jobs about the house...
Anyone else had a slump like this, and how did you turn it around?
Don't force it IMO - do something else if riding isn't getting your juices flowing.
Or buy a new bike. 😉
I get that a lot.
I will look forward all week to a day off so as I can get out on my bike.
But when the day arrives I am knackered and find the thought of a day of rest very appealing and really don't fancy a ride .
I know if I don't it will probably be another week before the opportunity will come again so think I wiill go, and turn around if I genuinely feel not up to it.
But once on the bike I am very happy and end up gone for hours, Infact I find that by the time I am half way through getting all my kit togeather and clobber on my attitude has changed and I am raring to go.
There is no think only do!!
Pick days to ride and then just ride without even considering it.
Remember the hardest part of any ride is the walk to the bike and you always enjoy it once out
I've never regretted going out on my bike. Every time I've had the chance to go out, and haven't gone, I've regretted it. I just remind myself of that every time I have a wee wobble!.
This time of year, I am mixing things up by taking out the CX bike on some forest paths. Fun, in a different way, but without the mud-fest
Wow, are you 37 too?
I find time an extremely precious thing right now, and I just don't have enough of it. Full time job, parent, wife (expecting), housework. Grab an hour or two once a week to get out on the bike but never enough time to drive to a decent venue so have to make do.
37, wow I wish..... 58 and have spent a fortune on winter gear and am never reluctant to wear it......get your get up and go up and going again!!!!! Slitherfests rule!
I find my off road commute the perfect cure - I have to get to work no matter what the conditions so it doesn't bother me, I just do it. And that means you never get into that cycle of thinking you should be using your bike more which just seems to make it harder to get motivated.If it's a nice enough morning I can leave a bit earlier and extend the ride. I've also bought a cx/tourer for rides on my days off - getting plastered in mud twice a day is plenty so if I've a day off and the weathers reasonable then I'll take that out.
Yeah I get this. The daily commute is easy, but that's probably down to routine. Weekend rides can be harder to find the energy to do. If I don't go I regret it later on in the day. But if I force myself out on a ride I wonder why I had the negative attitude and end up enjoying it.
Days out to Aston/Chicksands etc normally start with me either feeling nervous/lack of enthusiasm, but after a couple of runs I'm normally raring for more.
Odd.
Yup I'd say just ride, don't prepare for it, just get some bike clothes on and drag you bike behind you and go play, don't hack for the sake of it, just play around.
38, 3 kids and working hard. I feel it sometimes. Luckily 1 day a week I teach riding so I'm out. The winter months have me reaching for the turbo a couple of times a week.
We've all been there. I went through the same last year to the point I almost threw in the towel and had my bike up for sale. Thankfully, I saw the light, withdrew my bike from sale and forced myself onto it. I've never looked back since. I think this sums it up beautifully:
Remember the hardest part of any ride is the walk to the bike and you always enjoy it once out
I think having something to aim for is the key. Look for an event to 'train' for be it a race/enduro/trip etc. Having a goal gives you a reason to go out instead of going out for the sake of it which is easier to talk yourself out of!
ah yes, the last minute dither. it is damp and freezing here but the bike's out and waiting for me to muster up the motivation. which i will in about five minutes and it'll be worth it. maybe not today btu the miles i do now will set me up for next year. had a 'fat' winter last year and it's taken me most of the this year to get over it. never again!
It's got nothing to do with your age
Anyone else had a slump like this, and how did you turn it around?
I'd been going off the boil for a couple of years,then I was diagnosed with cancer last xmas, the treatment has gone very well and it's totally changed my outlook on things.
I riding more now than I have for years. 🙂
I'm 56 BTW
its harder with age as what you have to aim for is a slow decline in your health
I aim for bucket rides to keep me motivated- do the fred whitton for example
Think a strategy would be to sort my gear out the night before, then I'm halfway there...
I've been thinking of posting about this too. Last week with all the news about bike deaths, I was to afraid to commute, so got the train. I did commute today and I am determined to commute all week and do a night ride on Friday.
I think its my age (43) and the weather, you have to push yourself a little, I really enjoyed the ride this morning, even though it was p1ssing down!
+1It's got nothing to do with your age
always helps.Think a strategy would be to sort my gear out the night before
I think the worst thing is that you will beat yourself up about not going, I do, if you don't feel like it, leave it, IME the joy returns.
Though I always say to myself "I've never regreted going for a ride, I've often regreted not going though"
Last week with all the news about bike deaths, I was to afraid to commute, so got the train
Man ,don't dwell on things like that.
There's a lot of stuff that could happen to you every day,most the time it will come no where near you.
Hardest part is just getting out the door, once out on the bike the weather/conditions are never as bad as you thought they were going to be.
just back from what can best be described as an amble/ beautiful weather. delighted i went out
weather is often a downer for night rides I find.
Thankfully have easy access to Glasgow Velodrome, where its light, warm and dry 🙂
Winter riding seems to be a state of mind - I'm in my late 40's and this is going to be my second year of real winter riding. The temperature has already dropped significantly and rain is expected more than not - but still I get out and hit the trails. Good clothing - great gloves - a buff and a good set of lights take the sting out of the weather. The rest is about remembering how great it feels to carve through mud and come home looking like a teenager again, only it's the wife giving me a telling off not my mum. Even if you only get out for a quick dash on the same trails each night, riding in the dark after work is still challenging enough to be rewarding. Don't wait for the weekend - Pick up your get up and go and get out.
put some money down for an event you'd like to do in the spring (it doesn't have to be anything too radical) - I find that gives me something to aim for and eases the process of getting out to maintain fitness
asterix - Member
put some money down for an event you'd like to do in the spring (it doesn't have to be anything too radical) - I find that gives me something to aim for and eases the process of getting out to maintain fitness
OK in theory.
I would love to do that but with a dodgy back and knees I would probably waste a lot of money.
Had been keen to do the Dudes. If I had I would have had to cancel. Went out for a ride in the hills with lbs owner( who finished in top 30!) on Monday. Got home, had dinner and could barely get out of the chair when my knee seized up and was blown up like a balloon 🙄
30 odd years of squash, cycling, walking around, crawling on concrete floors and auld age taking its toll 🙄
Out tonight for a couple of hrs
Out tomorrow
Road ride Thurs
Out Sat or Sun if I don't take up an offer of a day on the beer http://www.sulwathbrewers.co.uk 🙄
Hardest part is just getting out the door, once out on the bike the weather/conditions are never as bad as you thought they were going to be
Obviously not an intervals ride which I look forward to but am in such pain after 20m all I can do is think of excuses to end early.