Grr...

[mimitabby]

Cella, i am not sure what will work for you; but mortality is what did it for me.
When my mother fell 2x last year and broke bones both times, I had my wakeup call. Osteoporosis and being out of shape are a bad combo. You need to be in shape to keep from stumbling. You need to be in shape to be able to open jar lids and climb stairs. Bicycling has been a great gateway drug for me. From there i have progressed to walking, stairclimbing, weighlifting and pushups.
I am not someone who exercises 3 hours a day; but for sure, I am trying to do SOMETHING 6 days a week.
I hope you get off your azz soon

[rapid cycler]

Hey, Cella—

I had a similar spell in the early part of this year. Over the course of a few months I went from riding outdoors every chance I got…to riding mostly on a trainer in front of the TV…to riding occasionally on a trainer in front of the TV—and being afraid to ride outside again—to hanging the bike in the garage and putting the trainer away. I sort of got into this weird place where I even contemplated selling my bike and getting something less fancy because I wasn't worthy of carbon and Ultegra. Yup, it was a spiral.

The good news is, spirals work both ways, because once I finally forced myself back out on the bike for an outdoor ride—with no pressure to do anything epic or exhausting—I rediscovered the exhilaration that lured me into cycling in the first place. I think the key is to reestablish the joy in your relationship with cycling—that pleasure that doesn't understand the language of "training ride" or "hill repeats" and instead recalls the freedom you felt as a kid when you got your first bike. I'll come back to you in time, but you might have to cajole yourself into that first ride. Keep the faith, and enjoy the trip back.

[Torrilin]

I stay motivated by competing with myself. How fast can I get to my partner's office to meet him for lunch? (around 8 minutes for 2.1 miles) Can I ride 10 miles? (not yet) Can I break my weekly mileage record? (yes!) How many miles can I get in in gear combo X?

Since I just moved and I use my bike as my primary transportation, I'm always going new places. That helps keep the interest level up. Finding raspberries in the Arboretum on Wednesday was awesome! If I'd been in a car I'd never have seen them. Now I have a reason to ride that route more... they should be ripe soon and I want to beat the birds to them.

The exercise high doesn't hurt either, but by itself it wouldn't be enough.

[Cyclo Kitty]

I think it's a familiar cycle, to get burned out. Three months ago was March, and March was nasty up here in the NE--I rode home in ice storms, just about lost my desire to ride. I took a day off, and rode different routes. I rode for fun instead of to work because riding in there actually wasn't fun...so I added a couple loops to the commute and that helps.

Get back on the bike and ride in circles around the yard, the driveway, whatever you've got. It's FUN. It feels GREAT. Just get back on. I think the rest will come to you if you just start again.

My personal motivations are to drive as little as possible and to bike instead, to get fit enough to race, and to race 'cross, and to prove to the lunky guys at work that a chick can do it...even when they won't/can't. It's my own foolish pride and a point of principle, but if I won't ride, I have to walk instead of driving. And I hate the walk to work. So I ride.

[maryellen]

Thank you for this thread!

Since my crash last August, I've had a hard time getting back on the bike. I went out for a few miles one day, then out for 26 miles the following week, then skipped a week. Surely not the way to get back to consistent riding!

I was compiling reasons why I couldn't ride today when I read this thread. It was clearly talking to me--especially Jiffer's "Just Do It" post so off I went for a 37 mile ride in the park. I'm getting there.

[Cella66]

Thank you all for your help. I think there are many reasons for my lack of motivation (a lot listed in this thread) Your suggestions are great ones and in some perverse way it helps to know I am not alone in my struggles.

I think the big thing is the "Groundhog Day" effect. Same ride day in and day out. Unless I put my bike in the back of my car and take it somewhere I am limited to the road that I live on.(rural living bites!) That coupled with no one to share the bikelove seem to be my biggest issues. None of my friends ride and they get this funny half glazed look when I talk about it. One of them will inevitably say "here she goes again!"

I still haven't got on my bike, but I hope to. I am setting a goal to at least ride once next week. It was supposed to be this morning, but the weather dampens more than my spirit.

Thanks for letting me whine and I will try some of the suggestions given.



marcie

[Suzi-Sue]

Hi Marcie,
The old 'lack of motivation' has happened to me a few times and it sucks!

I used to ride the same route all the time, and it did get a bit boring.
I started to set some goals and vary my route a bit.

1. Time yourself doing a route & try to improve on it!
2. Just go out and explore, take a few new roads. (I went through the town the other day for the first time, and it wasn't bad at all! It's nice to get up in the morning and have an option of good routes to choose from.)

I think having a selection of routes is a great thing as you can go on the one that suits your mood best that day

Somedays i look at my bike and just have no kick up the *** or motivation, but i would go out anyway. I just think to myself, i'll be home, outta the shower & reading a magazine in an hour n a half if i leave the house now...

but the thing is, i get back home and feel GREAT! and that's me hooked on cycling again.

I didn't ride for a few months, mainly due to the weather here in Ireland, and it was the hardest thing to just get up and go again fustrating sometimes, so i know how you feel & i know that every rider goes through those horrible little phases.

Hope you feel inspired to get out and about soon! do let us know!

[Cyclo Kitty]

same old same old....

Yeah, that was why I added the extra loops. I ride alone except when I can ride with DH. It gets pretty lonely and the folks at work think I am cra-a-a-zy.

You are not alone!! I really hope you can get back on the bike and start riding again. I've been thinking about you, and hoping you'll start again!

Good luck, and please post when you do ride again!

[pooks]

Maybe you need a new jersey or shorts?

I wouldn't ordinarily recommend "spending" yourself out of a funk, but if you need to shake things up a bit, maybe a new bit of gear or apparel will get you excited to wear/use it?

[Cella66]

Took me a while, but I got on the bike today. 3 miles at a whoppin 14.58! Woot...(insert sarcasm here) I have lost muscle and wind, but figured out the whole depression and motivation thing. I will say that it felt good mentally...

Thanks, it helps sometimes to know someone cares. I just wish I could suck it up.

[snapdragen]

Baby steps, it will happen.

[LBTC]

Cella, I'm sending you butterflies to give you motivation, to make your heart light, to make your rides easy and fast.

Hugs,
~T~

[ChickWithBrains]

It helps me *every* summer.

[Starfish]

I just wish I could suck it up.

I know everyone's different, but for me, when I start saying what you've written, above, it is time for me to be very gentle with myself, rather than beat myself up.

Someone else wrote "Baby Steps." That's the ticket. You got out there again...it will come.

We do care!

[Tuckervill]

Aha! Good place to post this article I just read. It's called Choose Joy, and it quotes extensively a book called Fitness Intuition by George Beinhorn.

http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displa...le.php?aid=148

The article is very, very inspiring. I'd love to read what others think about it.

Karen