Burnt out?

[Aggie_Ama]

I know it has been discussed before but I think I am burnt out! Last year I rode all the time, after work, 60+ on a weekend day, 150+ miles a week, 4 centuries. I was always riding and I loved it. This year I have sort of lost that loving feeling. Mountain biking is fun and I am really enjoying running but I haven't had the enthusiam for road riding. In fact in the last month I have hardly done any road riding. I feel bored on the local roads but don't want to drive anywhere to ride either.

It has been an exceptionally hot and windy summer but I just feel guilty for my poor little Cannondale sitting there. I still love cycling but I just haven't felt commited to it lately. I am signing up for an organized ride on the 28th that benefits the organization (Lions Club) that maintains my local running trail. I am hoping that will renew some interest. In years past we have done many organized rides, this year only two and that was months ago. We did travel to Fort Davis and Red River which was a lot of fun but I struggled and didn't get to enjoy them as much as I had hoped. I think this may be part of my ho-hum attitude? I am sad about it but not motivated to start going full steam again, it is an odd mental state I am in.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[chicago]

^^^^^^^^

awwwwwwwwwwwww Aggie.. I so know how you feel. I have felt that so many times in so many ways in so many aspects of my life. I know how it feels. Earlier this summer the boyfriend and I both crashed big time... too many weekends out of town, too many century(s) too fast, it was nuts. So we just stopped... for the latter part of June and said "no more" for a few weeks... no more. Sometimes you just need to say "no more".

I can related to the OCD about logging the miles, argggggh!! All my friends are doing Ironmans... I feel like a loser with xxx miles, it's crazy!!

So you are most likely doing the right thing. Everything new gets old... and then it moves into maintenance mode... just like our jobs, our commute to work, hopefully not our husbands and SO's... (but then maybe sometimes, LOL)

Honestly... I think being honest about how you are feeling is most important. Cycling is great, but certainly it's not everything. Life is soooooooooooo big... maybe you just need to see what else is out there.. "while" riding on that sweet bike

oh and not to mention... I can sooooo help you with that marathon goal... it's great, you will love it!! The boyfriend is planning his 1st marathon in May 2009 at The Flying Pig. Marathon's are great... you can do it!!!

[crazycanuck]

Last year I put a lot of pressure on myself to rack up the km's, etc etc. I was doing 160km+/wk, did well at many mtn bike events and my first 200km. I wanted to do 10,000km last year.

It took a cycling mishap to bring me back down to reality. Spending 4 months away from something I love made me think about how much it means to be out there! I've spent the last 6 months getting myself back to the shape I was and will probably need a bit more time..

I'm desperate to get my right leg muscles to the exact strength I require to jump out of the saddle quickly. I am desperate to do longer distances but am not going to beat myself up if I don't do one right away. Patience...

The trails, your bike and the cycling community will always be there. If you need to take time away to rejuvinate yourself, then so be it.

C

[newfsmith]

It is normal to burn out when you are passionate about something. It comes back if you just let the embers rest.

[sundial]

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've given this more thought and I've noticed that not only have I lost my desire to cycle, but other things as well. I think I'm in one of those cycles where I feel apathetic about.....everything. The interesting thing is others feel apathetic too. It feels like something is pressing down, as if everything feels like a chore--like it doesn't matter if we try.

I wonder if we are more sensitive to atmospheric changes than we previously thought and, as a result, may have a bearing on our energy level.

I am only hoping that with the cooler temps it'll give me a boost and that I'll truly desire to ride again. I want to try and focus on enjoying the ride and not focus on performance, mileage, and numbers. Maybe I'll pack my watercolors with me on the mtb and do a plein aire painting.

[chutch]

I find that every year around the end of August/first of September I get really bummed out, no motivation, just a major slump. Then I get revived as soon as the weather starts to change and that crisp fall feeling starts up.

Now that I've figured it out, I give myself a break around this time of year and don't beat up on myself if I don't ride a lot. I try to do other activities and start to plan for fall riding and adding in some cross training as the daylight gets shorter.

[Aggie_Ama]

Today I went and did my longest mountain bike ride to date but that only matters in I was able to spend 2.5 hours in the lovely outdoors. It was 14 miles of trails, I was excited to notice a marked improvement in bike handling. I also noticed the squirrels, two big doves (safe from hunting season when in the park) and and girl about 12 riding with her dad! I felt happy, content and unpressured. I think I just need to loosen up and let myself just be, pick the activity that suits my mood and not pressure myself to do one because I haven't in a while. No goals, no bars to reach, just ride when I want to and enjoy it.