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Sadly new year and resolutions haven’t inspired me to get out on the bike or be more active.
just wondered if anyone have recommendations of films, documentaries etc that motivate and inspire them. Not just cycling but anything that promotes a more active and outdoors life.
NB I know the real answer is to “just get out there” rather than sitting indoors watching stuff but my motivation is low at moment so those comments won’t help. Also, on cold dark evenings surely watching something that can inspire is better than doom scrolling?!
What if something happened tomorrow that meant you could never ride again? Those dreaded days do happen.
Yes get out!! That dreaded day has just happened to me, I have been told by my consultant/Dr to stop riding for at least the next 6 months, maybe longer whilst my injury recovers and gains strength. To say I am gutted isn't anywhere near.
On the plus side I can still walk & hike etc, at least I have something......honestly, get out and ride!!
The Way. I walked it before seeing the film and it's a pretty good representation of the Compostelle experience. Walked a few time more by various routes since seing the film and I'm looking forward to the next one.
The Dawn Wall is epic. I watched it when I was in hospital with Covid and got a little bit obsessed with it.
“The doorstep mile” is a common struggle for many adventurers
Alastair Humphreys writes and YouTube’s about both micro adventures and round the world epics
He even has a book to help would be adventurers with this hurdle
As others have said, just start, even cycling to the end of your street, overcomes that initial “doorstep mile”
Good luck and go for it
These should really be in a playlist as there are a trilogy - great scenery, great riding and the music helps as well.
https://youtu.be/qSc32IyVjxw?si=DHcR7kCMBrBBzLiM
Apocalypse Now
Completely not the answer you're looking for, but as for 'just getting out there'
The weather has been fab for most of this weekend in Derbyshire. Pick a day like that and force yourself to do it. Once you are out and moving you'll wonder what you were putting it off for. Come back grinning and you'll be itching for the next ride.
I've gone through many months having no motivation to ride in years gone by. Once I've kicked myself up the arse, the motivation comes flooding back
'Into the wild'
Synopsis: Middle class teenager wanders into Yukon to find himself/nature; promptly dies of exposure & starvation.
It's actually a really good film, though.
Not sure if this is allowed, and will not post a link, but over on cyclechat there is a great thread entitled "your ride today", its just simply that, an account (often with pictures) of the contributors ride, some are little pootles some are mtb some are road, often with pictures, but I must admit I do find it gets me out if I haven't for a few days/week etc - seeing other people out on their bike doing their local lane/path/bridleway etc really helps...
There's 125 videos here I find inspiring, making them even if at one time no one watched them inspires me to get out. Hope one might do the same for you
https://youtube.com/@ukgravelco?si=Ov6GMEO3AEQGLHNU
There’s 125 videos here I find inspiring, making them even if at one time no one watched them inspires me to get out. Hope one might do the same for you
Can't say I've watched them all but do enjoy a watch of your channel from time to time. 👍
Anything outdoors for me on YouTube or Netflix has some good outdoorsy content. Maybe a skills video if I'm going to a local trail centre so I can try some stuff. I watched the Yukon Assignment the other day on Netflix about a paddle trip through the Yukon (funnily enough). It just made me want to be outdoors.
There's a great film in this year's Banff FF called North Shore Betty, a lady riding fantastic techy BC trails in her 70s. A great example of the restorative powers of cycling, and being in the outdoors generally
As above, regarding the Banff film fests.
Pick any year of Banff on YouTube theres lots to choose from although not all available on YouTube.
Some inspiring and thought provoking.
Apocalypse Now
Oh yeah!
Also any of the Bond films...
That shite comes on I'm outta da door!
Not biking, but still one of my all time favourite films.....'This Mountain Life'. I think its available on Shitflix or Prime...
I tend to be pretty good at motivation for going for rides, put my riding gear out on a Friday or Saturday night ready for an early morning start, so long as it's not pelting down. Going into ride mode the minute you wake up means nothing else can get in the way and you're pedalling off before the excuses can start. I follow the odd amateur YouTube channel, there's an audax guy who'll happily munch 200 - 400km in a weekend in bad weather on roads, if I watch one of those it usually gives me a kick to get off my butt and get out there if I'm slacking
All quiet from the OP. Hopefully, he switched the computer off and went out 🙂
The Dawn Wall as mentioned above as the starter, then Free Solo as your main course straight after.
I love a hiking video, I typically just type 'thru hike' and the name of a trail into youtube and based on the metrics pick from there. The art of walking was a good one about the PCT.
The Way as above is also good, I've only done the tiny English camino but intend to get back and do more when I can.
There are a couple of good Barkley Marathons docs you can watch, one on youtube and another now on netflix I think. Those are inspirational.
The river runner, good doc on netflix about kayaking.
14 peaks - mountain climbing, amazing doc
Got a turbo trainer? Sign up for a month to Wahoo SYSTM, there is a load of documentaries on there you can watch whilst pedalling away in Zone 2 , or get stuck into Sufferfest for a HIIT of dopamine...
Not sure if ‘inspiring’ is the right word, but ‘Downhill’ is a great film about 4 blokes of a certain age doing the C2C walk (fair bit in the Lakes) - shot in a pseudo-documentary style. Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant but ultimately it makes you feel good and prob want to walk the C2C. Not sure where you can watch it, but very much worth it if you do.
Race to the Summit on Netflix is good - about ascent speed records for 2 rival Alpinists.
Thanks for the tips.
Havent got ‘out there’ but done couple sessions on Zwift so better than nothing! And can now watch some of these whilst doing more!
Havent got ‘out there’
It’s probably just as well.
Finished work at 3.00 and decided to get out for an hour in the last daylight and it wasn’t pleasant, in fact it was so cold my feet and hands were painful when I got home.
Enough to put you off.😀
A cracking recommendation from an old thread is Hooks. A film about a man who walks from his house to visit every bothy in the country. It’s a great watch, you can find it on YouTube.
If this doesn’t get you motivated to ride it’s time to give up: https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/films/unreal
For me it’s still the best MTB film made to date. Even more though provoking when you realise not all the cast are still with us today.
Hooks is very good