Ever feel like quitting?

[KSH]

Good morning, all...

I'm just sort of wondering- do you ever have days when you just want to throw your bike off of a bridge?

I mean, sometimes I wonder why I continue road cycling... Dumb Barbies in people carriers, idiotic pedestrians, punctures?

I'm in a bad mood today, anyway, but I sometimes wish I'd stayed on a swim team. I've recently had a couple of close calls in the past week (some of it me, admittedly) and there are very few routes (like 2) that I can take.

How do you overcome bad attitude?

Well, for me... it's all about doing what's fun.

For example, I know that if I rode all the time, I would drop it all together.

So, I train for tri's. I get to swim, run (BLAH!), and ride. I always have something different to do, and that keeps me interested. Then, if there is a day that I don't FEEL like exercising, I don't.

I also make sure that I ride with groups, and when I was riding more last summer, I made sure that I did 1 no drop ride a week, and rode for the fun of it. No worrying about speed...just riding and chatting.

Maybe just take a few days off the bike, and then get back to it. Or, maybe try to supplement your time with some swim days (look for masters swimming in your town).

Best of luck!

[Dianyla]

Dianyla- Some of us from the Bay Area (women) are doing the STP in two days. We're planning to stop in Vader (Good food, I hear from Sloe Joe). So...if you want to join us please do! Then you won't have to train so hard! I've done STP twice and always done it in two days. Enjoy the scenery and all the other cyclists!

I just might do that. I remember Vader (albeit very hazily) and it looked like a good place to stop. The problem with stopping in Centralia besides the hordes is that the first 10 miles of Day Two are some mildly icky hills by Napavine. And what really killed me last year is that I had been training for months to be prepared to do it in 2 days. A few weeks before the event some work stuff popped up and I had to be on a plane to Chicago that Sunday morning - so I had to rapidly change plans to do the 1-day ride instead.

[lovemybike]

I totally get where you are all coming from. I have been riding for weeks now, and everything seems to be going wrong. My bike is out of sync, gears and all are messing up, my Local Bike Shop is my least favorite place on earth these days, and now, my knee...it's still messed up. I wanted to just leave my bike on the side of the hill Sunday and walk the 7 miles that were left. I was so fed up that I offered to sell my bike to a friend (after it's tuned up and ready to ride). By Monday, my bike was gone, this friend was out riding my bike, and I was sitting at home...by 11:00 that night I was sad...I missed my bike.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, if your getting frustrated, and thinking of quitting, just give it a rest. Put the bike up and come back to it later. DOn't do anything harsh like quit or sell your bike...take a break...it'll come back to you.


As for me, my bike is most likely sold, but I am already looking for a new one, and can't wait to ride again...and it was like 2 days ago.

I know this makes me sound like a complete dumby...but there is a whole book about this bike and the size and all that. Turns out it was too big for me anyway, and selling it was a great thing.

[seagrape]

All the suggestions were great, thanks!

I actually just came back from a break I had gone back to swimming (I, too, have an attention span of like a nanosecond), but it's rather pricy long term (and a long trip, too. I will reconsider it, actually).

I think that I'm 1. stressed from work and life in general (who isn't?); 2. PMSing ;3. perhaps overtraining a bit.

I just get frustrated living in suburban sprawl- that's basically a building site- which is peppered with idiotic drivers. And I'm afraid. I hear of so many accidents and broken bones related to cycling that it worries me.

But, maybe I'll train for a du?

Hmmm.... I'm off for a run, now.

Thanks everyone!!

Oh, and I might even check out that mtb group in Florida- thanks for the suggestion! (and, Bouncy, I'm glad that you're doing well in NC!)

[MomOnBike]

I have found that keeping my expectations low keeps my attitude positive. (Gee, I did SO MUCH better than I thought I would today. I must be really wonderful.) This, of course, can be taken too far...

YMMV, of course.

[Kathi]

Seagrape,

I wish I had a choice about whether I should ride, ski etc. I'm 1 week post op from ACL surgery so my choices right now are what time of day I do my PT.

My knee is very stiff, just got out of the immobilizer. I had hoped to ride the trainer today but my OS says I can't ride the trainer until I get some range of motion. To top it off its very grey today, raining and snowing.

I probably won't be riding, except for the trainer, again until early June at the earliest.

So my message to you is to appreciate that you have choices to help keep your life in balance.

[seagrape]

"So my message to you is to appreciate that you have choices to help keep your life in balance"


True- so very true!

Peace and love and all that good stuff...

[yellow]

I seem to have a short attention span when it comes to life, which may explain my Google issues, but I digress. I worry that this is just another phase and I will lose interest. (I have a history of phases)

Oh, BH, I share this condition. We'll have to get together at LRRH to discuss our phases. Lesseee....running, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, resort skiing...all pretty much past tense (for now anyhow). Current phase includes XC (skate) skiing, road cycling, and mt biking. A friend said to me just yesterday that he was waiting to see what my next phase would bring.

On topic, I seem to always hit a "wall" after a certain amount of time on a bike. I distinctly remember a moment last year where I wanted to throw my bike off of a bridge into a river. I got over it and I now love my bike again. For now!

[CorsairMac]

I thought of this thread this morning - it was 20 degrees colder today than Tues when I rode last and I surely did Not want to climb on the bike. But then I thought of this thread, and thought of all the responses and knew if I would just start, the ride would be fine. And it was, and it wasn't as cold - at least per my computer - as the weather channel said it was.

So once again TE gals: thanks for all your invisible support ROFL I just realized this is like an 18-hour board, its lifts and supports me without any visible lines!

[LBTC]

Well, I feel as if I already quit and I'm having trouble figuring out how to get started again. And not just cycling, almost all things to do with exercise.

It's not only attitude, but I am sure an attitude adjustment would help...

4 weeks ago I started a new job, in a city 4 hours from my house and home. This was pretty much in the middle of winter after having to quit my winter exercise activity - kickboxing - in order to help my DH with the renovations to the house that got us more money on the sale that we think is in the bag now. I've very graciously been taken in by a friend and co-worker who used to live where I lived and moved here 8 months ago or so. It's a 2 bedroom apartment that's a 10 minute walk from work. At least I'm walking every day and using the stairs unless I'm carrying groceries.

Because of the fabulous location, and the fact that DH and I only have on car so far, I am carless in the city. I do have my old mtb here, but so far, it's a hassle to get out on the bike. We keep meaning to put it in the cramped storage room downstairs, but I haven't gotten a key for it yet...and taking it down and up the elevator wasn't a lot of fun. Besides the roads are still pretty schmutzy and the trails are still icy/snowy/muddy. I don't know how much longer we have to wait here to get out training, but it's not like I'm feeling like being out there yet, anyway.

I mean, part of me is itching to get out and ride....but part of me (the loud part) is such a spent sack of nothing after another long hard day at the new job that's very serious and challenging and different, and after looking for a house on my lunch break, and trying to coordinate with my DH way up north as he works on getting the house sold....and and and. It feels like one long excuse.

Panic sets in when I realize that I actually am registered in the Test of Metal in mid-June, especially when the house offers have dates of May 12 for possession. OMG How on earth am I ever going to be in shape for that race???

On the plus side, once I actually have a routine, a home, my bikes, more time, etc, there are several groups from the office that ride both mtb and road, so eventually I'll have lots of opportunities to ride, but I know I'll find myself in terrible shape trying to keep up to the group!

Tonight I was supposed to ride up to a gym that I have a free 7 day pass to, and do a good solid workout to try to kickstart me, but the house dealings had me going straight through until 9:00. I'm spent.

I found time to read the forum tonight, though, and I'm much more inspired to find the time to get out there and ride. Maybe tomorrow I'll ride to the gym for my workout. Or to the bike store first to get a good lock!

Good luck with your own difficulties. It will all pass in time. And you and your bike will be fabulous friends again soon

Namaste,
~T~

[Lise]

Hi, T,

Hang in there. I've ridden only once since last fall, and I really don't enjoy the gym. But I've gotten out and run in the cold and the wet this winter, and it's helped me feel like I haven't completely dropped the ball on being an athlete. With decent shoes and some wicking clothes, I can run in almost any weather. And even a 20 min run gives me hope. I'm not running a lot--between 2-4 miles, 2-3 times a week, but it's holding the line for me.

I went to your website--what wonderful pictures!

Take care, Lise