Cycling Doldrums?

[crazycanuck]

RP...don't give up

I'm damn slow on the road & on the dirt BUT i still keep on mozying out there. I feel the same way somedays but just realize that i'm not out to be the next Anna Meares or Judith Arndt...I want to be out there because..well..just cuz..

Relax. Take a deep breath. Sit on it for a bit.

If you decide to take a break from cycling, it's all coolio. The friends you've made through cycling will still be round and the chickas on TE will be here too . Cycling doesn't have to make you who you are if you don't want to.

Just a thought for you

C

[tangentgirl]

Don't sell the bikes. The great thing about having a bike is that you have a bike. So you take a break for a month or six months or a year. Then, when you feel like it, there it is. You don't have to go anywhere or buy anything, you just have your bike. Easy as pie.*

What do you like about riding?

*Why is pie supposed to be easy? I tried this last Thanksgiving. Pie was not easy. Perhaps I should amend the statement to, "easy as grocery store pie." Or "easy as lemon pie out of the candy machine." Or "easy as piRsquared."

[Becky]

Nothing wrong with taking a break. I've been through phases where I quit riding to run, and then to play soccer, and then I go back to the bikes. After a heavy cycling season last year, I'm doing a lot more running again, and less riding.

Don't sell the bikes...not yet. Think of it as a cycling sabbatical, and let your heart tell you when it needs to ride again. Oh, and anyone who logs 3,000 miles is most definitely a cyclist. There's this very competitive mentality in cycling (at least around my area), and sometimes we unfairly judge ourselves against others. OMG, I am so guilty of this! By why beat yourself up over how fast or how far or how many miles?

How to Ride a Bike Forever

((RP))

[redrhodie]

Why don't you try riding your bike to do some errands? That may change the dynamic of why you're riding, give you a purpose, and take away the other expectations that are getting you down. Keep it short and sweet, and see how it feels.

[Jolt]

Why don't you try riding your bike to do some errands?

I was going to say exactly the same thing! Then you're getting some exercise, getting things done that you have to do anyway, and keeping some pollution out of the air to boot. Very satisfying, and no competition (except maybe with yourself).

[Veronica]

Ride your own ride. You have to keep it fun and stop fretting about what anyone else thinks.

Yeah, I've experienced the loss of motivation:

2006 - 5,000+ miles
2007 - 4,000+ miles
2008 - 3,000+ miles
2009 - 750 miles

Riding became a chore at the end of 2008. I wasn't doing it for me anymore. I was doing it to get an R-12 and it wasn't fun.

As far as the extra weight goes, unless you have other health issues, it's really calories in versus calories out. Some calorie types are more satisfying. Personally, I eat a lot of protein (nuts and peanut butter) and almost no fruit. Fruit is just simple sugar and does nothing to satisfy me. Think about your eating habits. Do you eat out of stress? Do you eat 'cause you're bored? Cut out the junk. It takes time. I lost 30 pounds back in 2001 in about 6 months and have kept it off. It's taken about a year to lose 5 more. That required cutting back on my sugar intake. I love sweets.

Do you have an unrealistic expectation of what your weight should be? I'm just about 5'5" and weigh 145 pounds. If I just look at the numbers, I think, "Wow, that's kinda tubby. Women that height should weigh 120 pounds." But you know what, that's for the models, not triathletes. I'm not made to be a stick. Maybe you're not either.

Whatever you do, do it for you. Not because it's what someone else thinks is right.

Veronica

[daisylubob]

Maybe there is an element of overtraining going on. Riding too much and focusing on just getting faster or stronger can create fatiuge. Or a lack of even wanting to ride. Try cutting back a bit and see what happens.
That being said, don't give up! You never know when you will be FORCED to stay off your bike. I am in that situation currently and it is hell.....

[Pedal Wench]

Do you have an unrealistic expectation of what your weight should be? I'm just about 5'5" and weigh 145 pounds. If I just look at the numbers, I think, "Wow, that's kinda tubby. Women that height should weigh 120 pounds." But you know what, that's for the models, not triathletes. I'm not made to be a stick. Maybe you're not either.

I needed that. 120 was the number that I always want to be, but I would rather look like an athlete than a model. You just made my day!

[Becky]

I needed that. 120 was the number that I always want to be, but I would rather look like an athlete than a model. You just made my day!

Agreed! At 5'4" and 130, I think I look like an athlete. But my doctor's office is always shocked by how much I weigh for my height.... I think they expect me to be 115 or something....it boggles my mind....

I'm glad to hear that this isn't just me...thanks ladies!

[shootingstar]

Why don't you try riding your bike to do some errands? That may change the dynamic of why you're riding, give you a purpose, and take away the other expectations that are getting you down. Keep it short and sweet, and see how it feels.

+1
Keep it real simple and short for yourself Rollie for now, on cycling. And get on with other parts of your life/activities.

Then in a few weeks, months later, mosey over to rethink this.

And don't overanalyze about cycling/something think you've failed. You haven't failed. You're burnt out.

Sometimes overanalyzing means delaying, delaying and delaying on other stuff. Go where your heart needs to go now.

[OakLeaf]

(((((Rollie)))))

Honestly? It sounds to me like a crisis of self-esteem, not anything that really has to do with the bike. Unless I'm missing something, that there's something else you do love, that keeps you active, that doesn't make you feel the way you're feeling on the bike right now. In which case, maybe just do that other thing, and don't worry about the bike for now (but yeah, don't sell it).

So... I'm not trying to suggest it's easy, but I'd start by working on learning to love the person riding the bike, not worrying so much about the bike.

Maybe, also, you need to find different people to ride with. It's true, everyone has an innate potential, and even at a "weekend warrior" level far removed from that potential, everyone's going to get stronger at a different rate. But there are LOTS of groups of cyclists that ride at LOTS of different paces. The very fact that you say you're getting "dropped" implies that you're riding with people who are dropping you. There are no-drop groups and clubs, "D" level group rides for people who just want to be out in the fresh air and smell the roses, or maybe you can hook up with one or two people who want to ride your same pace. Or you might find that you enjoy riding by yourself.

Years ago when I was racing, yeah, it WAS really frustrating to get beat by the same woman week after week after week. Twenty years later - having burned out on cycling and come back to it - I've started doing a little running as well, only to find out that that SAME woman is way faster and stronger than I am on the road as well as on the bike. (Never mind she'd been a runner even before she took up cycling.) But here's the difference - I don't care. I know better than to try and compete with her. I'm doing it for ME.

If you really want to improve specifics, what have you been doing? The best way to get faster is intervals - have you been doing those? Even if you have no intention of racing, if you want to get faster, you want to do the same type of workouts that racers do to improve their speed. As far as handling skills, have you taken a skills course? And if so, there's no shame in taking it again. I'm really not familiar with that whole world on bicycles, but lots of people take a motorcycle handling class every couple of years just to brush up on their skills.

But again - what I'm hearing from you is that it really isn't about the specifics. Self-esteem is a tough journey and I wish you strength and sureness on that road.

[Bike Chick]

Your bikes don't eat anything while they sit in the stand so they aren't costing you anything to keep them, are they?

Put them up for a while and give it a break. No one says you have to ride everyday. I get dropped too and it is frustrating but I still go and am constantly looking for a riding partner that rides my speed. Check out some local bike clubs or post something on TE and try to find a buddy to ride with that rides your speed.

Go shopping for bike clothes or some accessories. A new jersey or gloves always perks up my mood.

Oh, and by the way, 3000 miles a year is impressive! I consider myself a cyclist and don't do 3000 miles a year and if I did I would probably be burned out right now which might be the case with you.

Hugs to you. You know all the TErs will always be here no matter whether you ride 30 or 3000 miles a year:-)