how to get myself motivated to ride

[cosc]

Surgtech, I can understand your lack of motivation. After an injury it is so easy to find a excuse not to ride-speaking from my history. (I might reinjure ailing limbs, too windy, cold, rainy, might storm, not enough time and you know the play-back that goes through our heads. Regina is right on with setting a daily time with whatever works with your schedule and just do it. Don't over think it! Try to have your bike road worthy before time to get out the door. Keep gear and apparel organized so you won't get slowed up when your rarin to go. Keep only positive thoughts about how much fun and benefits you'll reap to be a more confident, stronger and contented woman. Do set realistic goals that are doable for you and build from there.

[RoadRaven]

Hmmm, very hard to get motivated sometimes... I understand this too

I do most of my riding on my own too

It is about little goals, baby steps and keeping your eye on the prize

little goals: Getting up to the top of the hill in a bigger gear than last time... or complete a course a few seconds faster...

baby steps: Fitting in the rides I can and being pleased, even though they are not always the length I want.

the prize: Well... two prizes for me... weight loss to regain self-esteem as well as be able to climb/race better... second prize is to move up grades in my club... from G, to F (where I am now) to E, to D. I'd be thrilled to be competitive in D grade in road races, and to do TT times that belong in C.

[northstar]

I second Knot's advice on errand running. (I can get back to this now that I've replaced my stolen hybrid with a 197X Schwinn Suburban 10 speed...shiny blue with skinny tires and fenders! It's older than I am and in great shape.)

Errands feel like a treat for me when I get to do them on my bike. I get to listen to the birds and ride right up to the door without messing with parking lots (or the 3.25 gas here this weekend!). It makes me realize how lovely riding is, and I can't wait to get out on my road bike and really fly.

Sometimes it helps if I give myself a destination on my road rides. I'm going to get to X point (hopefully by a certain time) and rest by the lake. Or have a latte. Or visit a friend. (I'm not a hard core roadie!)

[Grog]

I used to have motivational problems for exercise, especially for running. I'd start doing something and then stop soon enough... I'm amazed that I've spent nearly a year now running or cycling at least 5 days a week. The main trick for me has been to do it first thing in the morning, especially when I have no other motivator. I make sure all I need for either cycling or running is ready the night before (which might even mean putting my bike in my kitchen - our appartment is very small and we definitely do not have a garage!!), fill the water bottles, get the food ready along with my other riding accessories (or just my running clothes if that's what I'm setting out to do). The night before I remind myself a few times, once I'm in bed, that the next morning I am going for a ride/a run and think about the route I'm going to take. Or I talk about it with my sweet partner (also a cyclist, that helps). I guess you can call that visualization.

Then the next morning, before I can think about it, I put on my cycling or running clothes. Once they're on, I feel silly changing out of them, and going out of the door is much easier.

I also agree with all the other pieces of advice, especially the errands. I really enjoy going to the grocery store on my bike...

And above all: smile while you're doing it.

[Geonz]

I used to be all dressed for jogging so that I could be out doing it before I was even awake. Cycling... I don't need to.
Logging the miles and minutes is good, too, because *every* time out adds to the cumulative total, and I focus on the cumulative. I'm a person who does better if I'm out ahead, absolutely certain I am going to fail, but hey, I'm ahead of the pace right now so I'll just see if I can hold on a little longer. Then, sometimes, I do surprise myself and regardless, I am ahead of thegame.
Sometimes I have to get down to the whole "one day at a time" thinking... what am I doing **right now** ... forget about the big picture that intimidates me and sends me back to my room. Just thsi fifteen minutes...
I try to pay attention to what has worked and use it
... which reminds me, I really do need to make that phone call I've been putting off forever...

[dingster1]

Most definitely agree on the errands. I park my car now except for church, running my son to night classes (no bus options or he'd be on it) and long distance trips). This morning I rode to breakfast. Im thinking of getting a grocery pannier sometime soon. I do one large carful of groceries a month and then small runs every so often which I can do on my bike.

[surgtech1956]

Thanks ladies for all the 'motivational' ideas. I like the idea of running errands and going for coffee. I need to post a thread on 'bike locks'. Nancy