[Closed] Mojo advice

take up running - once you see how grim that is, you'll be back on a bike in no time 😁

I think most people go through the same thing at least once in their lives.

- Many people feel a general sense of malaise over the winter months. Maybe try taking vitamin D supplements as well eating healthily and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum.
- Don't stress about losing fitness, it comes back surprisingly quickly.
- Remember that you rode for fun, it's not a job. You will enjoy doing it again some day I'm sure of it.
- Try some other sports/activities like running or swimming. I'm really enjoying my swimming these day's and don't cycle as much as I once did.
- Maybe try to meet some more cycling pals. Maybe try your local club?
- Plan a cycling event which can help motivate you to keep riding.
- Don't do anything too hasty like selling all your cycling stuff and bikes.

Hope you're back on two wheels again soon but if it's not until the spring when it's warmer, then that's fine as well.

There hasn’t been a week when I haven’t ridden 2-3 times and enjoyed every minute, rain or shine.

For various reasons I haven’t touched a bike for 9 months. The longer it goes on, the further my fitness dwindles and the less I actually want to ride.

And yet I always promised myself that I would ride for life and enjoy riding well into old age.

Could have written that word-for-word right now, except for the 9 month bit. Had 6 weeks off the bikes around August time and before and after that I rode only to meet up with riding mates. For the last 15 years (barring enforced layups due to injury) I've not gone more than a few days without going for a ride! I would have made that 15 years up to 32 but I had a few years off the bike due to severe personal issues (mental health, financial and career situations all went to shit at the same time).

All I can say is similar to what others have: don't force it or make any rash decisions like selling the bikes. Sometimes we just need a bit of time out to reacquaint ourselves with what we love about something, to reignite the fire as it were. I'm kicking myself right now for missing out on my favourite time of year to ride, autumn, did a grand total of 4 rides outdoors in October, last year was 30+ including each leg of commutes. My fitness got destroyed over the summer (just see my 'results' in the STW Zwift races!) but it is coming back although slowly. I used to smash out laps of Cwmcarn and Afan for fun, even after a day's work but right now I'd struggle to make it up the initial climbs! Which is really annoying as I really want to ride the reopened Skyline trail but I know I'm not capable right now.

One thing you could do is have all your riding kit sat there ready to go, it'll remove one barrier. Doing that certainly helped me get out on Saturday! Removing barriers is the way forward.

The greater part of me wants to get back on the bike though

Keep that in mind, one day you'll just regain the urge to get out there. Your fitness may take a hit but it'll be a lot easier to regain what you have lost than it would be to get it if you never had it.

First rides the hardest.. you've really got to push yourself to get out with zero expectations as the reality will be disappointment that you weren't as fit as when you put the bike down last... It'll hurt and ride 2 will look even less appealing.. so, push again and get ride 2 done and you'll realise even though middle age is setting in, you've some amazing muscle memory and it'll be enjoyable albeit in a different way.
You could cheat the motivation with an ebike demo day, but I suspect it's a slippery slope...however, would it be the end of the world to have your riding future on an ebike?

take up running – once you see how grim that is, you’ll be back on a bike in no time 😁

LOL, so true!!

Just to add to the above recommendations, I'd say the first step is just to get on a bike - any bike, any ride, in fact the shorter the better. For me getting on a city bike and pottering around town is grand, getting the legs moving, shifting the weight around a bit, trying to time traffic lights so you don't have to stop and eyeing up kerbs to hop off.
From there it's easier to start thinking about when to get out for a 'proper' ride; otherwise I find I get more stuck on the logistical aspects, when I'll have time etc

Having been in that boat, many, many times over the last 10-12 years, I came to realise that to force it is not helpful. Truth is, that you've ridden for so long, it's really really unlikely you're "done" with it. This feeling of malaise is only temporary. It will pass.

In terms of speeding up it 'passing', I always found that I'm just one ride with mates away from falling madly back in love with it. Any ride. Doesn't need to be long, or hard. Just fun. I also found that using my bike for something other than fitness, or riding, was a revelation. A bit of a mindset shift if you like. I now think of my rides as an opportunity to switch off. It's the vehicle for a bit of mental peace if you like. It's no longer just riding for the enjoyment of the ride itself - it's so much more than just a ride.

Anyway, in a less wordy summary, your love of bikes hasn't gone forever. The malaise will pass. Just have a ride with no expectations. Slow riding gives you a brilliant opportunity to see stuff you've never noticed before!

If I lose my mojo I go down to Luisiana and bring back a mojo hand, some black cat bones and a john the conqueror-root. Seems to do the job.

take up running – once you see how grim that is, you’ll be back on a bike in no time

There's some truth in this, but also running is a useful way of regaining a bit of fitness quickly and maintaining it if you don't fancy a wet Tues night ride in November.

Has anyone mentioned getting a new bike yet?

😉

Part of me wants to get back on the bike. Part of me honestly would be quite happy to lose my fitness and give in to middle age spread. I feel quite a sense of disappointment in myself that I have squandered a lifetime of fitness and mentally that’s a part of it.

The greater part of me wants to get back on the bike though, so what advice does anybody have who might have been down this same path?

Do you think part of the problem is that you've made it a chore/task to complete and not a fun thing to do?

Honestly, if your main goal is keeping fit, there are a lot easier, cheaper and more pleasant ways to do it than getting on a bike when it's 3c and pissing down on a February morning. Go to the gym, it's warm, you can listen to your favourite music and catch a glimpse of those 20-somethings in their Gymshark kit as they glide past to make you feel young again.

You might want to ride bikes again for fun, you might not, it's not the end of the world. Change is constant, pastimes come and go, don't force yourself to ride if it's not your bag anymore, you'll only end up resenting it.

In exactly the same boat due to a long term injury and recent broken leg (we talked about it via PM on LFGSS). Not ridden now for over 12 months.

I do feel guilty about it occasionally both from not doing something I enjoy, the total loss of fitness, and the long term health impact of not exercising but I also remind myself if no motivation then there is no point forcing it. Also there are plenty of people out there in a much worse state than me, especially after the last 18 months.

I will have to some exercise to rehabilitate my broken leg, and so plan to zwift 2-3 times a week. I have kept my bikes and if still not interested in 6 months will think about selling most of them. In the meantime I am not going to force it or beat myself up. I have other things to do which fill my life. Cycling has always been my passion though so it is very weird!

Seems to be a common theme on here. I ordered some new bits from CRC, maybe that will get me going.

I find doing those little jobs you've been putting off or even just giving the bike a good wash often helps. Kind of rekindling the relationship in a way.