Burnt out?

[sundial]

I am sad about it but not motivated to start going full steam again, it is an odd mental state I am in.

I know exactly how you feel. I think I should have taken a couple of months off the bike last winter.

How about switching gears and heading to the gym to work on core strength and upper body work? How about hiking in and camping somewhere? In about a month it will be really enjoyable in the great outdoors. If you don't have the gear, than you're overdue for some shopping.

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry you're having a rough go of it with your love of cycling. I can relate. I think it happens to most people. You may still love it, but you just are sick of it. Sometimes you need to look at your bike and say "let's take a break." With some time away and doing other things, you'll come back to love riding again. I think we sometimes just need new things to give us a challenge/boost, and then we can return to the things that we found mundane and unexciting.
You're still commuting, tho, and I think that's a great way to still ride and find joy. Do you think in your subconscious that commuting has turned your cycling into a chore? Just a thought (it did for me when I did it more often last year).

[wackyjacky1]

Maybe the nice fall weather that we're supposed to have next week will give you a little inspiration to ride?

I think everybody has those physical/emotional hills and valleys...about everything, not just cycling. Ya just need a bit of a break, that's all. I'm sure it'll come back to you.

[SouthernBelle]

Next road ride, ride slower and look around. See that road over there? You've never been down that road. Go see what's there.

I did that today. I saw lots of horses and a mule.

[Popoki_Nui]

Most of 2008 has been like this for me too. I barely rode at all until the TdF was on TV; that got me sort of motivated, but not much. I've done more swimming (lake and ocean), and much more walking and hiking on days when I'd normally be riding.

SouthernBelle has a good point, and it's something I started doing a couple of months ago: I ride for pleasure now, not for sheer mileage like I was doing. It was becoming sooooo boring! When I ride now, I'm looking for a new road to explore, a trail I've never noticed before. I ride slower and actually see sights I never botherd to look at before. I stop more often, just because. I take my GPS and do a little caching.
I'm enjoying my rides much more than I have the last couple of years.

[chicago]

I think what you are experiencing is somewhat normal...things do get "boring" after a while... I suppose.... after all... it does happen to me (alot!)

Let's see... through the years I have...

1) 1995-2000... played ice hockey for 5 years... loved it until the drama got too much (too many women in one locker room after 5 years gets to be a bit much... quit on the spot... missed it but didn't regret it)

2) 2000-2001... lived in the city and did just about everything on the "lakefront"... bike/run/swim/etc...and then THAT got boring, LOL!

3) 2002-2006... took up running. hmmmmm... I like this. Did a race every weekend and soon did a 1/2 marathon and then my first marathon in 2004 (Chicago)... and again in 2005 (NewYork)... and oh climbed PikesPeak on a "running" ascent in 2005 (that sucked!!). Continued to run... I must have 50+ medals that I can't seem to throw away

4) 2007 -2008... found biking, lost running, LOL!! cycle cycle cycle and thought I try a bit of a tri Did a sprint in June 2007... it was fun... but alot of work for such small distance. Registered for a HIM (1/2 Ironman)... and the doc's found a 1" tumor in an endocrine gland in my neck (damn those good docs)... there went summer 2007 and my HIM Had surgery in June 2007... neck cut open, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Fall 2007... met a great guy until he found out I used to run... and then HE started running, so of course I had to get back into it... arggggggggggh!

5) 2008-current... I love biking, I love running, I love my new (soon to be a year) boyfriend... I do not play hockey anymore (sold all my old equipment).... but I can still outskate most guys

I guess what I am saying is that I think what you are going through is normal... things get old, they get boring... maybe you need to try something new... ever run a marathon??

[Aggie_Ama]

Chicago- Marathon training is on the agenda for next year, which is why I am training for a hilly 5 miler right now. I haven't been a regular runner in about 2 years so this is a new challenge and I think that is why it excites me.

I guess my panic button came on because of my past life. I was a really good bowler, seriously. I went all over the country, won big time awards, it consumed all my time and is how I met my husband! I had started at 6 but at about 21 I put down the bowling balls. It was also another sport with a lot of cattiness and expectations. I got to the point I didn't feel like trying to meet them so I walked away. Quit the college club team and just walked away. I tried league a couple more times but it just wasn't working for me. I still have my bowling balls and shoes but it has been 3 years since I used them.

I just don't want to crash and burn on cycling. It just is weird when you find yourself in a different spot. I think I will be back in the saddle, just need to decompress for awhile.

I did get a bit OCD about racking miles, would feel awful if I didn't have a hundred mile week. Now I log them after every ride but it is more like "wow look at how many mountain biking miles I have done, crazy!" It is also about a maintenance record keeping.

[Aggie_Ama]

I know exactly how you feel. I think I should have taken a couple of months off the bike last winter.

How about switching gears and heading to the gym to work on core strength and upper body work? How about hiking in and camping somewhere? In about a month it will be really enjoyable in the great outdoors. If you don't have the gear, than you're overdue for some shopping.

We love hiking and camping luckily we have several camping trips planned in the coming months.

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts, suggestions. I think I really need to just finish up some remodeling projects, run, hike, mountain bike and not be so hard on myself. Just because you have a nice road bike doesn't mean not using it for a few weeks is a crime. I will look forward to my organized ride in two weeks and not beat myself up for skipping next weekend to go camping. Sure 60 miles will probably not come as easy but I am doing this one alone which means plenty of time to notice the sights and enjoy the ride. And at least it is here which means I won't have altitude sickness like Ft Davis and Red River!