Trying to get back on the bike...

[Pedal Wench]

It is like someone is trying to lose weight, fell off the wagon, and the advice is to say, hey stop keeping a food diary. It makes no sense. <<<>>>Take the bike computer, just like you record to the food diary, and then use the data or don't use it, but don't leave the bike computer at home. Getting back on the bike and regaining the fitness is a matter of the heart and has nothing to do with a tool that records the data of the ride.

Not what I was really saying...

It's more like staying off the scale. If you've gained weight, and you're feeling bad about it, you don't need the numbers on the scale to know that, yup, you've gained weight. For many people, that's even more of an impetus to give up entirely. I was thinking that she doesn't need the bike computer (and I'm pretty sure I said for the first ride or two...) to tell her, yup, you're slow.

If you're dieting and fall off the wagon, I would imagine it's best to wait until you've got your eating back under control and have the scale moving in the right direction. A food diary is a tool to do that. I equate the bike computer more to a scale than a diary. Most people know about how far they've ridden, but don't need the slap-in-the-face that a slow average speed can be to someone just getting their mojo back.

Go and ride just for fun, and then when you're ready to get serious about it, start looking at numbers again. What could be most wonderful is if your numbers aren't as bad as you think they are!

[DarcyInOregon]

I am the kind of person who doesn’t go through life fearing the possibility or potential of getting bad information that will lower my spirits. It is best to lead life in a way that you confront fears. The easiest path through life may not be the best path through life. If I were to give in to my fears, my life would be nothing but “might-ofs” and “what-ifs” and I would never know what could have been.

I went back through my training log. It was January 2 I got back on my bike, not January 1. Because I had the bike computer, I kept up with the training log. I was expecting to do maybe 6 miles that day and maybe have an average speed of around 10-11 mph. Nope, with a healing lung that labored with each breath and healing broken ribs, I biked 23.11 miles (no hills) with an average speed of 13.52 and an average heart rate of 143 and an average cadence of 76. Maybe these numbers are poor for a racing professional, but I am 56-years-old, will never race, and I was delighted with my ride and my joy in the ride was high.

Because I faced my fears, I was able to keep up the training log. And yes, I was scared to get back on the bike. But on the scale of what is really scary in life, tragedy and extreme sorrow is at the top, and getting back on the bike is just getting back on the bike and way down on the ladder of scary things that can happen to you.

I refuse to let fears rule my life. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems and as I just showed, can be much better than expected.

[ShubieGA]

Hey Milkbone, I am in the same boat. I have been off for a year due to medical as well. Just getting started again. I have been taking short rides with no computer on my hybrid. But am looking forward to getting on my road bike (Pearl) again. I just signed up for a shorter ride (20 miles) on Tour de Pink to give me a goal. Baby steps!!!

[Crankin]

Most of us on this forum don't race, although it's great to hear from those who do. I certainly don't aspire to that and never will. I enjoyed being around racers/showing my support for my son and exchange student, but since I didn't start this until I was in my late forties, it never even was on the table as something I was interested in.
I think all of the comments stating don't look at your computer, take a slow ride, find the joy, reflect a need that most of this have to make this fun. When I had to slow down, I did, but it still pissed me off. I don't need the "bad information" to tell me what I already know... and this is exactly what the others here have expressed: forget about all of the numbers stuff and enjoy. Like when you were a kid. I am not afraid of "poor numbers," I just don't want it rubbed in my face. It helped me to think about my friends who couldn't do even one eighth of what i could do, even when I was struggling. For people who hang around cyclists all of the time, one's perspective can get a little, ah, out of whack. I know i have been guilty of this. It's why I continue to ride with my friends who are slower than me and will never be as fast.
Motivation is a very tricky thing, especially for people making lifestyle changes. What works for one doesn't always work for another. Training logs and technology increased my negativity and anxiety over cycling. Just one more thing to do, like work. Quitting Bike Journal was the best thing I ever did. In fact, I started improving after I stopped logging my miles there.

[sarahkonamojo]

Welcome back to your bike. It has missed you.

My experience is that I have been struggling with fitness for a couple of years. I keep plugging at it and do what feels right at the time (bike, swim, or run.) And I love keeping track of my outtings.

however, my forerunner recently died. I have been computer free. It has been quite liberating. I might stay that way for a couple of months. (See what Santa brings.) I mostly try to work on spinning up hills which isn't too fast anyway. Then I just enjoy the ride back down. Making sure I get out is what I keep track of now, data be gone. For now.

Sarah

[OakLeaf]

Welcome back milkbone. Sorry to hear that things have been rough for you, but glad that life seems to be looking up.

+1 on not worrying about the numbers - including worrying about whether you are ever going to "improve" from where you are now. "Improvement" can take a lot of forms, and not all of them can be measured with gadgets. And even if you can get past beating yourself up (which I sure hope you do), why turn cycling into a chore that you have to do just so you can see a "better" number on your computer?

Ride for the joy of it. Ride for the feel of the wind on your skin, the smell of the air, the sound of your tires.

[buffybike]

When I'm feeling my motivation slip I change the way I think about the ride. Instead of thinking, "I should ride", I think, "I'm going to do something nice for myself and go for a ride." The experience then feels like a gift to myself rather than a chore.

[redrhodie]

"Improvement" can take a lot of forms, and not all of them can be measured with gadgets. And even if you can get past beating yourself up (which I sure hope you do), why turn cycling into a chore that you have to do just so you can see a "better" number on your computer?

Ride for the joy of it. Ride for the feel of the wind on your skin, the smell of the air, the sound of your tires.

I want to have that engraved on a headset cap so I can read it every time I ride. Thanks, Oakleaf.

[jessmarimba]

Ride for the joy of it. Ride for the feel of the wind on your skin, the smell of the air, the sound of your tires.

I wish that was short enough to fit on a Road ID

[Pedal Wench]

Ride for the joy of it. Ride for the feel of the wind on your skin, the smell of the air, the sound of your tires.

THAT is what I was trying to say all along!

[Bike Chick]

Ride for the joy of it. Ride for the feel of the wind on your skin, the smell of the air, the sound of your tires.

It would make a great [Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Specialized, you name it] slogan! Thanks, Oak! That put a smile on my face

[Aquila]

I think Darcy makes an important point, though. For some of us, seeing numbers and keeping track helps us. For some, maybe not.

For me, when I get frustrated or feel a loss of biking joy, I try to do something different. Lately, I'm trying to sprint a little. I'm lousy, but it's fun to see if I can go just a little faster for a tiny bit.

Change it up, and totally ride for joy, with or without a computer, with or without caring about mileage, speed, or whatever.

[invsblwmn]

How about just doing a loop. Then maybe another in a couple of days or not. It took me almost a year to try riding after my accident. Only in the last couple of months, 2.75 years later, have I been riding a lot.

Feel the way the breeze hits your face, the sun warming your back, the power in your legs. Remember why you ride. The reasons are still there. Challenge yourself to go one block more each ride.

It comes back as you do. Feel free to reach out, we are here, understanding, and caring. Your time, your speed, your freedom. One more moment of peace with the wheels under you.

[sundial]

...why turn cycling into a chore that you have to do just so you can see a "better" number on your computer?

True words of wisdom, Oak.