I love riding my bike, I really do. But it has actually been refreshing not to "have" to ride my bike for the last month and even more - not to feel guilty about not riding. (I cannot ride for 6 months because of medications taken because of my pulmonary emboli).

I miss riding, and when I can ride again, I plan to do more of the same long distance rides and training I did this year. But this makes me believe that sometimes you just need to take a step back and take a break, and not beat yourself up about it.

And it's funny, because I have gotten "burned out" on riding a few years ago, and I did take a voluntary break. This year I felt in no way burned out at all - physically or mentally - when I had to stop riding. But still, it has been nice not to have every weekend revolve around how I am going to fit my long ride in.