Grr...

[Cella66]

I have lost all motivation and can't seem to get it back. I haven't been on my bike in weeks. Now, it just sits. A friend of mine actually took a picture of my bike and sent me an email (from my bike) telling me how much it missed me. I am at a loss as to how to motivate myself again. I ride alone which doesn't help. What gives? I don't want a pity party, just trying to figure out a different approach to this stupid problem.

Any ideas?

[Melalvai]

When did this happen? Because about 3 months ago, I became a bicycle fanatic, I like to say a born-again bicyclist. Maybe I got all your biking passion. Well, you should take some of it back, because it is interfering with the rest of my life! Just leave me a little.

Seriously, what happened is I took the Road I course (designed by the League of American Bicyclists, http://www.bikeleague.org). I suppose it depends on the instructor as well, mine was apparently excellent (and is now my best riding buddy. And I hope he's not reading these forums regularly because he has a big enough ego w/o my help.)

[bacarver]

Hi -

Sorry to hear about the inner turmoil regarding time on the bike. Has something happened or did something happen in the past?
What other sports/activities do you engage in?
Maybe it's time to give a new physical activity a try for awhile, or a hobby, or new interest to broaden your horizons.
I've ridden alone since 1989 when I got married and moved to Southern Indiana. I used to live in Indy where I had riding partners, club rides, group rides, a velodrome close to my house, racing opportunities, etc. Now I ride all by myself. I push myself hard, so my fitness is about the same. I'm 47 and in darn good shape. I'm proud of my freaky bikie tan.
This body is the only one I'm going to have. I have to take care of it. I want to be able to stay active when I'm old and gray. This means dedication. I'm a nurse and I take care of too many patients who let themselves get fat and lazy long ago. I work in Kentucky where nearly everyone smokes. This isn't the life for me.
Don't beat yourself up.
I'm sure you find answers to your situation and you'll move forward.

Best wishes.

Barb

[DarcyInOregon]

I am like Barb in that I ride alone during the week and there is no cycling club in my rural county. But I have two TE friends with whom I can ride with a few times a month and that helps for the longer rides because riding with friends is a lot of fun. The real trick is to register for the event rides at a ride level that is more difficult than your current longest ride, and then start training for that specific event ride.

Other tricks are to bike from Town A to Town B, stop for ice cream or a fruit smoothie or a special goodie in Town B, then bike back to Town A.

To get motivated, just get on the bike and go. Once the ride is over you will feel great and wonder why you stayed off the bike.

Darcy

[annie]

I agree with Darcy. Signing up for an event can be very motivating. Scares you into training, if nothing else.
Also, having a destination, whether it's a nearby town or an ice cream parlor, or a coffee shop....... just somewhere to go. It doesn't have to be far. Stick a small paperback in your pocket so you can read when you get there, if you don't want to sit alone with nothing to do.

Once you get out there again, I bet your desire to ride will come back.

Annie

[Melalvai]

Now I ride all by myself. I push myself hard, so my fitness is about the same. I'm 47 and in darn good shape. I'm proud of my freaky bikie tan.

Me too! I love my tan lines/areas, and the little tan circles from my gloves. And although outwardly embarrassed by my chainring tatoos, secretly pleased. And the bruises on my shins from flipping the pedal up with my toe too hard. (Those should heal now that I have toe straps.)

I'm 33 & in darn good shape for me.

I find riding by myself I go easier than with someone who can go faster than me. I try to push myself, but I get distracted and forget and suddenly realize I slowed way down. I like to vary my rides. By myself, with my husband who is slower but I like the company and family-ness of it, or with my riding buddy who is a good friend and helps me keep a challenging pace.

[Zen]

The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one.

Motivators:
1)as stated previously, events to train for

2)a riding partner.

3) a swift kick in the

If there is a bike club in your area they should have weekly rides.
a lot of bike shops also have weekly rides

What's stopping you?
I imagine you sitting there saying to yourself "I really should ride my bike today but_____________"

What goes in that blank?
Whatever it is, you know it's lame.

RIDE YOUR BIKE

[Mr. Bloom]

Is it possible that you're struggling with depression? Lack of motivation to do what you intuitively know you should do...well, it's one sympton...

If you're anywhere near Bethel Maine in July...we'll be there riding...I assure you that Silver is a motivator!!!

In addition, there's a group of 80 teenagers from Bloomington completing a three week ride from Fort Meyers to Vermont on July 15...drive over there and see them at the end of the line...I think it will be motivating to see these 13 year olds finishing a 1,500 mile ride....http://us.1.p11.geocities.com/decycl...ana/index.html

[Jiffer]

JUST DO IT!

Sorry! Had to say it!

I agree with the other posts. Find a riding buddy. Search one out at all costs! Surely there must be SOMEONE somewhere who you can ride with. Do you have a cycling club in your area?

I also like the motivation of an event to train for. Do you have a bike computer? Do you try to improve your riding by tracking your progress of speed and distance, how much easier a climb is getting, etc? Those kinds of things motivate me. I can't compare myself too much to other people, (since everyone I know is WAY better than me!) but I can compare myself to me and see my improvement and it spurs me on!

I say, tell yourself you're going for a ride tomorrow and just do it. Plan it. Decide where you're going. Get your stuff out before you go to bed. it doesn't have to be far or fast. Just something to get you out there.

I also agree with what someone else said in that you may be wanting more variety in your exercise. I can't understand why anyone would want to do anything other than cycling, but, you know! Whatever floats your boat! Do you like to run? Swim? Work out at the gym? Maybe you can still ride your bike, but add some variety if you aren't thrilled with doing the same thing all the time. (Which, of course, variety in your route, people you ride with, etc. helps). If you find a cycling club with set riding dates, maybe that will help. Planning you're going for a specific ride at a specific time.

Well, I hope we have encouarged you to get back on your bike. Let us know when you did and, hopefully, how exhilarating it was!

So, again I say ...

JUST DO IT!

[rij73]

A friend of mine actually took a picture of my bike and sent me an email (from my bike) telling me how much it missed me.

That's brilliant! Does this friend have a bike? Sounds like a built-in riding partner to me...

There have been some great ideas on this thread, and I'm bookmarking it in case I ever run into the same issue. All I can say is that I second the bike computer idea if you don't already have one. Tracking my increase in speed and mileage has been a huge motivator for me. I've never been good at anything athletic, and it's awesome to see evidence of my improvement.

Good luck, and get out there and enjoy the beautiful summer!

[DDH]

So, hows it going? Did you get out there and ride?

I am having this problem on and off, but mine is because the weather will not cooperate and I am afraid to ride when the rodes are wet.

We have had so much rain in TX and I am really tired of it. All the cool weather rides have been ruined by rain and then when you do have a clear day someone has appts. or life things get in the way.
I have been going anyday I can, and yesterday it was so hot and humid that I thought I was going to melt before I got home. LOL
It's all good though, I still enjoyed my ride.

[Livin the Dream]

My motivation comes and goes. There are evenings when my day has just been hectic, I'm tired and I'd rather plop my butt on the couch and read a book. DH rarely rides with me during the week -- he's a weekend rider only. So, when I'm fighting a mental "should I do it or should I not" battle with myself, I agree with myself that I'll just ride to my daughter's house and back (She lives a mile away). Once I'm on the bike and going, I'm fine. I don't think I've ever just ridden to her house and back. I'm no marathon rider by any stretch of the imagination -- I ride because it is the form of exercise I enjoy most. I usually end up riding at least 6 - 7 miles and feeling much better when I'm back home!

[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.