A Kick in the [Bike] Shorts

[tangentgirl]

I need one! I was doing great the first couple of weeks this year, riding almost every day, getting ready for a half century in March - my first long ride in a while.

Then it rained. A lot. After that I got back on, started riding with a little less mojo, but still rode. Then I got sick the weekend before last. Even less mojo. Then I got sick again last weekend (two in a row - not fair!) and next thing I knew, I haven't been on my bike in a week. Planning on riding tomorrow, and then I have to go on a business trip, and then it looks like rain again...help!

I just need a little extra motivation to a) get up early, b) ride even if i don't feel great (not when I'm completely sick, but, like, today, I'm recovering, would have been perfectly capable of going out for a spin) and c) head to a spin class when frogs and locusts are falling from the sky.

Will you help motivate me? Inspire me? Tell me your I-ride-to-work-uphill-both-ways-in-the-hail-and-thunder stories?

[Bike Chick]

Sometimes taking a little time off helps to motivate me. If I push too hard, I can get burned out fast and then it's not fun--it's something I "have" to do. Taking a break seems to do the trick. Sounds like you might need a few days' rest to get healthy too. If you keep pushing yourself, you may never get over your illness or, worse yet, get worse and miss more cycling days than necessary. Being sick always gets me bummed out too.

Hang in there. You will do fine on your 50-miler.

[smilingcat]

If you had a relapse and you've lost your mojo a bit, maybe a little break is what you really need.

As for stories... I've been hacking and coughing since last October and finally cleared about 2 weeks ago when we had all that rain in SoCal. Combination of clean air and not riding did the trick I think.

If you had a decent base conditioning, one week off will not affect you all that much (if any) .

And if you are worried about losing your conditioning, set up a trainer and ride indoors while we have the rain. Using a trainer can make a big difference in training. Someways its better because you don't have junk miles as you would on a road.

Smilingcat

[tangentgirl]

Y'know...trainer. I have one. Somewhere. Perhaps it is time to dig it out. Here I am counting down the days to the daylight savings time switch, when I could just chill with my trainer. Or warm, as the case may be. Thanks!

Alas, I'm trying to get my base conditioning right now.

[Karma007]

My remedy is usually a joyride somewhere. Low miles to the bookstore, or coffee shop. Less training than for fun. Often a ride to a favorite restaurant for lunch is a good motivator.

[Librarygirl]

Yes, I agree with Tofu, important to keep the fun factor. The promise of something nice to eat or drink at the end is quite motivating! And if halfway through, gives you some nice warming fuel to get back home again

Also, mixing things up a bit helps. If I'm feeling a bit so-so about hopping on the bike, I'll ride a different route, somewhere with nice scenery...also walking or running can be good to get you outdoors, but doing something different and I find once I'm out there, I think - Oh, this is so nice, now I want to get out here tomorrow and go for a ride!

Hope you get your health and mojo back soon!

Linda

[tangentgirl]

Health and mojo back! The break seems to have worked, rode a couple few times over the week and just finished a 35-miler. It's nice to ride again.