I'm not motivated to ride

[elk]

so how was it?? Sundial...crack the spell?

[dachshund]

I was in Florida this last week for a conference, and I have new respect for anyone who can exercise in 90+ heat with that humidity. And of course it rained every day. This gave me a whole new perspective on what we call "hot" out here.

[Zen]

Lawdamercy it's hot.

[Geonz]

I had a pretty bad case of unmotivation today but... for me, it will stay and linger... until I ignore it and go for a ride. I tell the "I just don't feel like it, I'm tired" voice that I completely sympathize, but that I am pretty sure it's lackadaisicality triggered by lack of activity, so I'll just go out for half an hour. I'm about to do that right now, since our morning ride was washed out... I am motivated by curiosity, since last week when I went by one stretch it smelled exactly like a distillery and I want to see if things are still fermenting

So... for me the worst thing is to NOT "force" myself to get out there. If I feel crappy in two miles I'll come back home (tho' I t hink I'll blow my nose, too, since that worked so well last time I felt this way )

[Sheesh]

I've had this feeling a lot lately. It's been a tough year, and I haven't ridden much. I find that the longer I'm off the bike, the harder it is to get back on it. Even today, my husband harassed me until I got on the bike and rode with him. Once I got going, though, it felt great. It's just so darn hard to actually get off the couch and out the door.

[sundial]

so how was it?? Sundial...crack the spell?

I actually got up early Sunday morning and headed for the hilliest road near me. I did about 12 miles and my face was beat red. I have no idea what my heart rate was but I was glad to get home and cool off. Hubby wanted to watch a cycling event we recorded and I wasn't in the mood. But I guess I'm slowly coming around.

I think my peak month is July every year. I always become the most dedicated during that month.

[redrhodie]

I'm having the opposite problem...I'm not motivated to do anything but ride. The only way I can make myself work is to ride there, then I'm chomping at the bit for the ride home. My gym membership is a total waste. I have no desire to clean, see friends, go away. All I want to do is ride (and eat and sleep).

So, I'll send you a little of my motivation. Be warned, it won't make you any faster, or ride longer distances. It will just make you think about nothing but riding.

Really though, I think your issue is the heat.

[Miranda]

I was having the exact same problem, and was going to post this. Thx for the thread.

One of my issues was that I could not put my finger on what it was exactly that made me not want to ride. Weather is some of it, extra pounds from winter a bit, but the biggest was that I was just sick of what I had been doing. In short, I needed to mix something new up to get remotivated.

I bought a hitch rack for my vehicle so I could travel out of part of the high starting traffic areas of my route that I hated. Well, that was a huge help initially. I have a parking trouble thread that rained on that party. But I'm not giving up. I will find a new place to park and start. It made me feel like my bike and I were going on a school field trip. Same with mtb. Found some new trails to try. I hiked with my dog first to check it out. It's not a true mtb place, but was fun. Funny, when I have the doggie, instead of the bike, it somehow made me long for my bike to be there.

The other thing that I decided was really bumming me out was riding alone. Sometimes the solitude is just what the doctor ordered. But, I'm sick of it ALL THE TIME. I did pay for a membership to a local club. I have yet to go. I need to learn how to ride with others. Got some tips from here. But, I'm still feeling a bit chicken. In the midst of that, an aquaint that's a much better rider than me lost his partner. I proposed that to get some type of motivation for him, I could be like a recovery ride. It would be better than no riding. Still trying to schedule that out, but just the thought of doing it makes me want to get better in the meantime to keep up.

Lastly, I needed to mix something up with my bikes and gear. Summer school vacation for the kids limits my riding. They are not quite old enough for me to leave alone to ride. Finding a sitter has not been working out. They both do ride their bikes everyday, but it's basically coasting for me. Both of them also need new bigger sized bikes. DS, my younget, who LOVES to ride his bike with me, is in need of repair too... he won't let me off the bike hook. The road bike, can't coast that slow, the mtb too nooby. I posted a thread about refurbishing my bike pre-drivers license (25+years old) and after reading about ladies MIXTE bikes here, I'm even more excited. It will be perfect for the neighborhood spin with the kids. Good combo to shop for kids bikes, and mom's refurb bike project! I can't wait to ride her.

Those are my mix it up and get motivated ideas I'm working with, FWIW.

Miranda

EDIT, and p.s ...about the extra weight I did this...
I ditched my tech performance toys. My Polar HRM needs sent in for a new battery, so not wearing that. My Flight Deck has something wrong with it and needs lbs work. Pre-that, comparing what I "used to be able to ride last season" vs what I'm doing now until the pounds come off was depressing me. It should have motivated me to get better, but instead, it just made me beat myself up to the point I didn't want to go at all. Now, I just use perceived exersion and two goals. Goal #1: I made up to the top of the hill without falling over clipped in = success. Goal #2: I made it back home, period, when I was getting tired and away at the furthest point out = success.