Cycling Slump?

[shootingstar]

I'm in a minor slump in that I'm not cycling the tons of mileage since:

am in a new city and still even exploring its bike routes

cycling infrastructure outside its river path, is way more limited (than Vancouver where I lived before)

boring scenery. It's a big urban prairie city. (over 1 million people) Some areas have hardly any trees. In summer I'm told due to little rain, hills turn brown. How edifying.

But I just still ride..daily even though it's not far ..because I know if I don't when I return to VAncouver to visit in a few weeks, my body will be surprised..

I am a destination oriented cyclist..especially in this sprawling, flattish city. I don't like wandering on bike here without a map. Cars still rule alot around here.

Just tell yourself this: SEattle never gets too hot like other parts of north U.S.A. Doesn't have the heat/humidity of NYC for instance. So over time, your body will adjust.

[Roadtrip]

I think everyone experiences slumps, be it in our hobbies, or even desires to do things we normally enjoy... Sometimes its just change, other times it's the 'blues' or mild depression brought on by a variety of reasons.

Sometimes when things stop being fun, even tho physically we know the 'work' is needed, it can be hard to motivate oneself.

I used to love to play chess, but DH got frustrated as it wasn't 'fun' and refuses to play now... Guess I was a tad too rough on him

Shannon

[marni]

maybe you should try riding when you aren't impelled by commuting to work. Find a route for weekends and after work that will give you a one mile loop or a mile to some sort of reward, coffe shop, park, peaceful bench, scenic overlook whatever, an then the return trip. Try doing it once a week until you feel comfortable, or it starts to pale, then up the distance or frequency a bit, generally build up your length, strength and endurance, or try the hill, not for commuting, but just to measure your strength and capability. Think about baby steps for a while until you get the fit, the wheels, the gears all figured out and before you know it, you will be looking forward at riding as a pleasure, and not looking back at weight or condition then. Think of all the room you have to make positive progress now.

Good luck, sometimes just starting out is the hardest thing. Lay out your clothes and gear the night before, get up have a breakfast and a coffee and then go without thinking about it too much or letting yourself stop.

Its all about building a habit.

marni

[KnottedYet]

I haven't ridden regularly in months.

My all-rounder bike got damaged and I simply lost heart. I've ridden another bike (which lives 1,000 miles away) but not this one. I've been running instead.

Don't worry about it. Even though 2 miles is easily walked or ridden, don't let it bug you. If you'd rather ride the bus, ride the bus! No-one ever said you have to ride the bike just because you have a bike.

I only now (6 months later) worked up the intestinal fortitude and took my bike to the shop to be fixed. Talk about slow! I anticipate I'll be riding it again soon.

Wait until you feel like riding again. Then ride. Lots.

ETA: If you'd like to do a "TE Field Trip to meet VBC at a good bike shop", let us know. I'm sure we'd all be willing to peruse the bicycles and give you our opinions and cheer you on as you test ride a few! There's Montlake, and Counterbalance, and Free Range, and Recycled Cycles, and Cascade Bike Studio, and Velo, and...

[aquamoose32]

VeganBikeChick I love your name! Here is what I have been trying to tell my friends to get them into biking. Personally getting into some type of bike shape is the hardest part of biking. It is not the 70 mile ride I did last week that was the hardest, it was the 15 mile ride I did 5 years ago before I had really ridden much. One you are in shape my bike craves me, and I crave my bike. But it is when I have taken some time off that I just dont want to ride.

What gets me on my bike for miles and miles everyday is:
the fresh air
I'm outside
the speed
pretty flowers I dont see in cars
the fact that I rode and didn't waste gas didnt pollute the environment
that I burned a few extra calories
and that I moved my body
that I feel strong
that I love my bike so much it makes me feel free

Hope that helps

[Velocivixen]

How about walking to work? Taking 3 times longer than biking sounds like a drag. I wonder how long it would take you to walk there?
I find that if bike riding is a "chore" then I won't want to do it. I do it because it's fun. Maybe if you could search out (not sure about Seattle, so I can't recommend any place specific) some fun or interesting places to ride it would be a nice change to the "same old, same old" of going back and forth to work.
Don't give up, just make it fun. If you're new to the area maybe ask around. I think there are some flat places by the lake.

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks again, everyone. Big hugs to all of you for your advice!

I do see biking as a chore right now, and I want to enjoy it. I biked to and from work while living overseas, but it was relatively flat and I knew it was the only way I was getting to work - no bus there!

I might get out on the Sammamish River Trail on my day off. It would involve renting a car to tote my bike but my reward would be a nice beer from RedHook Brewery!

Part of my problem, too, is that I feel I have to go max speed, so that I can get it over with (as in hill climbing). It's not a race, it's a journey, I just have to keep reminding myself.

You gals have been so helpful and encouraging .