Possible?: Getting rid of cycling rituals

[redrhodie]

When I got my new bike, I chose not to put a computer on. I still do a basic tracking of miles (I know how many miles all my regular routes are), but I try not to worry about speed. It's something I still struggle with. In fact, if I look at the clock before I ride, I'll often do the math later and calculate my speed, but at least it doesn't ruin the ride.

Since you've need recording speed and miles for so long, BSG, it may be hard to give up. But, in the end, it's made riding much more enjoyable for me. I can't wait to hear if you find it better, too.

[shootingstar]

When I got my new bike, I chose not to put a computer on. I still do a basic tracking of miles (I know how many miles all my regular routes are), but I try not to worry about speed. It's something I still struggle with. In fact, if I look at the clock before I ride, I'll often do the math later and calculate my speed, but at least it doesn't ruin the ride.

Since you've need recording speed and miles for so long, BSG, it may be hard to give up. But, in the end, it's made riding much more enjoyable for me. I can't wait to hear if you find it better, too.

Gave up my cyclometer ..um over a decade ago. I usually know the distance that I ride daily because there are several routes of choice that I go on regularily. That's how I can report my daily mileage here on TE. Plus if I'm riding with dearie, in an area/along a route I seldom do, I just ask him. He religiously tracks his mileage on ...a spreadsheet for cumulatives, graphs. No guff.
It's freeing ...and I'm still in shape, still cycling fit-ok and I still do decent mileage. (But I will never be a racer. But so what.)

Agree with gnat, that some of this ritual stuff is automated but only because I've learned the hard way over the yrs...forgetting my helmet once, forgetting money 1-2 times, forgetting my lock....never again.

It's nearly impossible for me just to jump onto a bike without this stuff even if I'm just intending to go for a 5 kms. ride. Usually it ends up longer or I want to go wandering off inside a store. Like a wandering child distracted by possibilities: she wants to explore.

I just haven't broken the barrier of not wearing cycling shoes, etc. for just a cycling 'jaunt'.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The biggest drag for me is changing my clothes to go for a ride.
Hard to get around some of that stuff, for sure. I need my chamois for anything over 10 miles!
But happily I don't use clipless so I wear any shoes I want or happen to be wearing already. I also never wear jeans (with troublesome heavy seams) or long skirts...I'm always in black leggings or capris often with short easy skirts, so I can actually just pull some bike shorts over them if I need a bit of padding.

I always use a tiny Baggellini purse with a diagonal shoulder/chest strap as my normal everyday purse, and I can actually wear that biking if I want or just throw the whole thing into my saddle bag. It's about 3" x 4" and carries everything I need to go out anywhere...even my cell phone slips into a pocket on it.

[Crankin]

Lisa,
Where can I get that purse?
I did what you are doing (letting go of recording mileage, speed) at the end of last year. While I still like to know how far I go, I use my computer (s) for that. Most of my regular routes, I know the mileage. It forced me to stop obsessing on my average. I will check it once in awhile, but mostly I don't. It has been liberating, especially since this year I have had several injuries, etc. that have made it pretty hard to ride fast. It's more important that I am out there riding. I do write down the mileage from my Jamis' computer and every few months I will add it in my head to the mileage on my road bike. Then, it's like a surprise to see the total.
I can't let go of the special clothing stuff. I have tried riding in regular clothes and it just feels wrong. I do have some different, casual riding clothes for errands that are not just for riding, especially the top half. It's the bottoms that are cycling specific, although not regular shorts or pants. Overall, I love having (and buying) the clothes I need for all the sports I do; I find at this time of year, it's sort of a pain to get ready for any outdoor activity, because it involves so many layers, you have to think about which level of warmth for the socks, etc. But, it hasn't stopped me.
I even get dressed in my yoga pants/tops to do yoga in my house, since I bought them when I was going to a gym. It makes it feel "serious" and once I put those pants on, I am comitted to doing at least 30 minutes.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Robin, it's this one, their tiniest one:
http://www.mybaggallini.com/shop/pro...?products_id=5
Smaller than you even expect, just perfect for the downsized life.

I know what you mean about putting on certain things to make you feel more committed to doing something....but it can work against people too, if they are having a hard time forcing themselves to just get in a few minutes of something.