how to get myself motivated to ride

[Starfish]

And last but not least, the longer I stay off the bike, the harder it is to get motivated to get back on. But I have not had a single instance where once on the bike and road, I wasn't mentally slapping myself and saying, "What an idiot! This feels so great -- what was I thinking?!?"

Strangely enough, for me, it also helps to do something else if I am moaning about taking the bike out. I'll let myself go swim or go to the gym instead. I find that within a few days, I am again really looking forward to getting out the on bike...something about keeping it fun.