motivation

[trichef]

to all you girls out there, what motivates you to go out the door and ride your bike? anyone can answer!!

[divingbiker]

I have to get to work.

[DirtDiva]

Sunshine... Cake... Beer... Good company... New bike bits...

(Not necessarily in that order. ;))

[NJBikeGal]

The smile that appears upon my face every time I charge down a hill at 35 mph....the lovely ache that fills my legs after a grueling VO2 MAx workout....the knowledge that I will be able to hold my own next year in Cat 3 and open races....my teammates....my husband....my health....me! :D

Can't say much more than that!

[makbike]

Being able to ride with the fast pack! Climbing hills with less effort, being with a great group of people, laughing, eating and encouraging each other along the way. Improving my personal stats and kicking a certain individual's a** on club rides :D

[Tuckervill]

The wind in my hair and the fresh air. The tight muscles in my butt. :) The feeling of escape.

Karen

[lph]

The sheer joy of movement.

[batsheva]

what motivation to get out there???

all the fit tanned biker boys kitted out in spandex:cool:

[Thorn]

Hard to be lph's reply (beautifully put, lph), but, for me, it is 1-5 hours of escape--a mini-vacation, a de-stressifier.

[bmccasland]

The thought of *Recess!* :D when I get on my bike after work. And when the weather is nice, the shear fun of being out on a pretty day.

[Torrilin]

If I don't, I will run out of tasty food to eat. And then I will be sad. And hungry.

That works even on days where I'm feeling pretty beat up and run down.

[margo49]

I am my best self on my bike.
I feel like...me.
Essential and quintessential margo

Takes me 200 m to get into this Zone. Really.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Two things motivate me:

I usually treat myself to a good breakfast before my ride...can't wait for that croissant and latte....and I feel I "earn" that breakfast if i ride 20 or 30 miles afterwards.

I remember what it was like to be a kid again while riding my bike down country roads. That sense of freedom and carefreeness is very motivating to me. Such a simple wonderful pleasure, pedaling along past the cornfields, past babbling streams, kids playing in their yards, cats sunning themselves on porches.... :p It's so good for both the body and the soul.

[Zen]

what motivation to get out there???

all the fit tanned biker boys kitted out in spandex:cool:

:D ;)

[GLC1968]

I remind myself that I've never ever gotten back from a ride and thought "man, I wish I hadn't done that". :D

[emily_in_nc]

I remind myself that I've never ever gotten back from a ride and thought "man, I wish I hadn't done that". :D

Me either...except for my few minor-ish mountain bike crashes last summer, and of course my big pelvic fracture-inducing crash on April 17, '05. About that day, I often thought later "Couldn't I have done something else that day besides a training ride?" :D But your sentiment is right - aside from a crash, I always feel great after a ride!

Emily

[GLC1968]

Emily - I thought about that after my post. Even after the hardest, most difficult, most uncomfortable and most painful rides, I'm always still glad I went! :)

Of course, I've never had a major crash - so that would definitely be a different situation!

[limewave]

The "reputation"--what can I say?

I love hearing "I heard there was a strong female rider at the ride last week, that must have been you." Must have been :)

[bmccasland]

I remind myself that I've never ever gotten back from a ride and thought "man, I wish I hadn't done that". :D

Day two, MS Tour, woke up with a migraine, still rode 30 miles. Definitely wanted my meds, a cold compress, and a cool dark room. I wanted to go home, I wanted my mommy.:(

But most days, I ride because it's FUN! and I like to eat cookies, and icecream, and cheesecake, and and...

[oxysback]

I ride so my butt doesn't get any bigger than it already is...

Oh...and I like to eat. Hence, the big butt. :p

[sundial]

I'm an artist and I get my inspiration from nature. I love this time of year because the mist is rising from the fields and I've seen some spectacular sunrises. It's also my favorite time of the year and I love the fall foliage.

[ibcycling]

I started biking this spring because I love being outdoors, the scenery around here is gorgeous, it's a great break from "life" and stress, and I need to get into a healthier place.

Before today - the joy of exercise, knowing I was working toward a better me, knowing that someday the rides wouldn't seem so hard because I was building muscle and endurance - BUT I was getting frustrated because I was so slow and it seemed so hard

Today - New bike and new attitude! I road my new bike with the club this morning and I kept up, flew up the hills AHEAD of the club, did 30 miles with tons of leg and lung to spare. It was so freaking awesome I can't wait to go out again and didn't want to come home!!!

[solobiker]

I just love to be outside and the feeling of the movement that I can provide through my legs. I love the fast and intense rides and the slow rides. It helps to clear my mind after a day of work. Sometimes I am pretty darn tired and think, do I really want to go for a ride??? Yes of course..:D

[Delta7]

If I put on my cycling clothes, I will ride !;)

[lph]

I'm taking the metro today 'cos my legs are telling me they need a day off, and my first thought this morning was "oh, no - that means I have to WALK down to the station... That's so SLOW!!" :D

[Bklynmom]

Endorphin addiction for sure. Biking makes me feel great the rest of the day!

Also as I am approaching 50 years old (I'm 48 and a half) my motto was fit by 50. Now it's fast by 50:) .

[amymisk]

I love it. There is not one thing that is negative about cycling. It is a beautiful sport with elegant bikes and the best kind of people.

[Brandi]

I look out my window and see the mountains I ride through and want to just go. And then the phone rings and that makes me run out the door!

[Brandi]

Also reading this thread makes me want to get out there. Making breakfast now so i can go soon.

[Sheesh]

I had today off from work, and had every intention of picking up my bike from the shop and taking it for a quick spin. But, when I got up this morning, I turned on the TV and got sucked in! When I finally did pick up my bike from the shop, the last thing I wanted to do was ride. But, I thought about this thread and more specifically, the quote below:

"GLC1968 - 'I remind myself that I've never ever gotten back from a ride and thought "man, I wish I hadn't done that.'"

That was enough motivation to get my butt moving and out the door - I knew that I wouldn't regret riding, but I would certainly regret sitting on the couch all day. Thanks, ladies!

[Jiffer]

Sometimes the beautiful weather motivates me, sometimes the thought of an organized ride coming up, sometimes my husband kicking me in the butt and getting me on the tandem, sometimes the thought of wanting to be "that girl". That girl that passes me with ease and keeps up with the boys. Sometimes it's the thought of the scenary, the exhileration of going down a hill, the thrill of trying to beat my last time or go farther than I ever have.

[tbsotr]

I agree with GLC's reply!!! I've had hard rides, but NEVER felt like "man I wish I didn't go on that ride."

Even a "bad" ride is better than no ride at all. :D

[trichef]

now here's a follow up question: what motivates you when you see the weather outside isn't good for riding (READ: raining/drizzling). it really is enticing to see the sun and feel the crisp wind when you ride on a nice, shiny weather but what if it's just uncomfortable to ride outside: wet roads, dirt on your cycling jersey, and not to mention dirty bike!! :eek:

[DirtDiva]

Afraid of a little dirt? :eek: You roadie! :p

[crazycanuck]

Ummm..It's just coming out of winter down here and I spent most of that time riding in the rain, in the dark and at the end of the day cleaning a ton of sand off my bike!!! I don't care if i am wet & dirty at the end of a ride! As long as i can see & I make it home, i'm quite happy.

Just get out there and ride.

I am happy to say that I made it through what seemed like a never ending cycle of rain & wind!

I must mention i forgot to apply sunscreen today and have a sunburnt arm!!! Forecast says the sun will be away for a few days but will return on thursday!!! YAY!!!

c