Motivation to Ride

[Little Lyon]

I know that I love how I feel after I ride. And I know that I want to lose weight. But I just got a new, stressful job where I work early, late, and weekends and I have a hard time motivating myself to ride. How do you ladies motivate yourself?

[Sadie]

I live in a rural community when "townies" right their bikes past my house almost daily. I can hear them talking as they go by. It makes me want to ride myself, and I usually do

[Aggie_Ama]

I have been struggling with the same issues after taking a stressful job and having a death that hit me hard. Just start small and don't pressure yourself, I find making plans to go ride means I have to. So schedule it, tell some "I am riding today".

[DebbieDowner]

In my case to reduce the stressful day nothing is better then excercise it gives you time on the open road to clear your head.... also if you day is limited with time ride your bike to work. something is better then nothing.

[tctrek]

I have an uber-stressful job and watch the clock to get out of there and get on my bike and ride off some of the stress. Must be the endorphins or something, but my co-workers notice I am grumpy if I miss a day or two on my bike.

So, think about how wonderful you will feel and how it will actually help you to cope with the stress. Don't let the negative thoughts keep you off your bike.

[OakLeaf]

Having a goal (either an event or something else) can be a big motivator.

So can riding with other people (actually I don't much like riding by myself in any case). Join a club ride, or just find some other people to ride with. Then you know where you're going to be and what you're going to be doing, whenever it is, on the days you don't have to work.

When I'm struggling hardest to drag myself out for a run, sometimes I just put my running clothes on. Then I've gotten them dirty and I have to run.

[PamNY]

I agree that a goal helps (in my case it's just a lovely view or bird-watching). Also, if you saw the total mess that is my home, you would know that I let things go in order to cycle. But beautiful autumn days and baby hawks don't last forever.

Pam

[staceysue]

My stressful job motivates me to ride. I love it that there's nobody I have to answer to while I'm riding. I get to decide when and how fast and how far - nobody demanding anything from me. I love the wind rushing in my face and into my lungs. It makes me feel free, and getting my heart racing and my legs burning is a great outlet for my anger and frustration.

[Lakerider]

To me it is so relaxing to get out and ride after a stressful day!

[radacrider]

Between work, single-parenting, house chores seems time flies and commuting is only an occassional luxury as I cannot regularly do the 30 mi round trip.

I use my bike for errands where I do not have to carry a lot of stuff. I sometimes just go out for a quick ride of a couple miles ... even that feels good.

On weekends, I take a few longer routes to my errand destinations. Where I do have time, I have a couple of different 12 mile routes in town, so I can get in a nice hour or so ride.

Mostly, though, it's errands that get me out and I probably find more errands than I use to these days.

[zia]

I use "the corner rule" for this and other exercise. The rule is that I must get dressed and get out there. But, if I get to the corner and *really, really* don't feel like going further, I'm allowed to go back. Guilt free! The point being, of course, that getting out is the hardest part. It's never failed me...

Also, having a good training group helps. It's hard to ditch when you have a group of wonderful women (or men, but not in my group!) waiting for you and missing you if you don't show!

[meggiestardust]

I've had a problem with motivation before. I have a tiring 40+ hour work week, a 60 mile commute(1 way), and am taking 14 units in school. On the days that I have time to ride, I usually feel so exhausted I use the time to catch up on sleep. My motivation is driving by others and seeing how happy they are, logging online and hearing other peoples adventures, and seeing how sad my bike looks in the garage.

My big thing has been to not force myself to ride. I know the way I think, and if I force myself to do it, I will just come to resent it, no matter how much I actually do enjoy it. I just try to make it as easy as possible for me to ride, even if only for a few hours. Keeping my bike ready to grab and go, tires inflated, clothes/shoes easily accessible, etc.