I want my cycling mojo back!

[ny biker]

As much as I love riding, I think there has always been something of the "MUST-HAVE-GOAL" mindset related to it.

For me a goal is to ride through Lower Marlboro and stop to enjoy the scenery of the Patuxent River near that cute old customs house at least twice this year.

Another goal is to ride again down that lovely lane in Thurmont that I discovered last October. The one that ran alongside the creek.

[tealtreak]

This thread is very interesting in light of a recent conversation I had about coaching track. "In my day" the first two weeks of practice were horror- because we did not do year round conditioning. Now, the kids condition year round and often choose one sport early. Some do fabulously well, but many lose their fire, or get burnt out entirely...... A break from anything (for whatever reason) may be a good thing!

[Catrin]

I can tell you how I achieved that--by taking my cycling computer off my bike and othewise not tracking miles, speed or etc. Sometimes I miss having a big mileage goal (and meeting it), tracking my progress, etc., but it was something I ended up trading off for a bit of extra sanity. Granted, some of the things that forced that change have, themselves, since changed, and it might be time to for me to revisit more specific goals and the means by which to track them, but I don't regret taking a big step back at the time. Bodies change, lives change, interests change, goals change. In my mind, strong are the flexible.

So, go with what feels good, body mind and spirit. God knows you're kicking butt with your current routine. I see no reason for you to rock that boat unless and until you're ready to.

Good advice Indy, and that is exactly what I've been trying to do. I started the wild gym work as a way to take care of imbalances and to hopefully help prevent future bike injuries, but it became something else along the way. I WILL ride this summer, but in a different way than I've tried before. I like the idea of just simply removing my bike computer and heart rate monitor. That in and of itself changes the focus. Part of me says that I need the computer to have an idea of speed and cadence - but quite frankly I don't use it for shifting as some do. It is a way of keeping track...and probably helps to keep me in that part of my head that I need to get out of. I was pretty successful in doing that during my first riding season when I was trying to ride 10,000 miles in my first year

For me a goal is to ride through Lower Marlboro and stop to enjoy the scenery of the Patuxent River near that cute old customs house at least twice this year.

Another goal is to ride again down that lovely lane in Thurmont that I discovered last October. The one that ran alongside the creek.

Ooooh NY Biker, I LIKE your goals. Nothing wrong with changing the nature of goals

[Blueberry]

On the computer issue - I like to track mileage for lots of reasons (maintenance) and heartrate (to see how I'm doing, generally). It's often the case that I don't want to see those things on a ride, though - on those days, I put my computer somewhere I can't see it. I forget it's there 'til later, but I still have my data. Works for me, but might not work for everyone (if you're the type of person who couldn't "not look").

Just an idea!

My motivation is lesser right now too. I'm trying to build back up fitness now that my thyroid levels are some better and I feel some better. That's a very long term, discouraging thing to do - exercise just isn't fun right now at the levels I push myself to.

[tulip]

Maybe looking at it a different way, instead of focusing on fitness goals (taking off the computer is very freeing):

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...s-8422706.html

[malkin]

My cycling mojo took off when my shoveling mojo kicked in to action.

[goldfinch]

Maybe looking at it a different way, instead of focusing on fitness goals (taking off the computer is very freeing):

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...s-8422706.html

I like this: It's "like taking a little bit of Prozac and a little bit of Ritalin."

[Catrin]

Maybe looking at it a different way, instead of focusing on fitness goals (taking off the computer is very freeing):

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...s-8422706.html

Nice article! There is something so freeing about riding that seems to go beyond simple endorphin release, for sure.

My cycling mojo took off when my shoveling mojo kicked in to action.

LOL Malkin, mine would have certainly left by then if she wasn't already on vacation

[roguedog]

this was an awesome read. thanks, tulip.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...s-8422706.html

[Catrin]

I've a wireless computer for my bike, and I always use my hydration pack. Any reason why it wouldn't work to keep it in a front pocket? It would stay dry and enable me to gather the information I want - but not be able to check it while riding