Wileyrat

That's it, I'm out of motivation, and it's been a couple of weeks now. The thing is, it's prime time in Tucson right now and I'm missing some good riding days.

Hopefully it's like in the movie "Tincup" and all I have is the riding equivalent of the shanks. I should be riding more than one day a week right now.

bulldog1935

fronts blow dust through, and that demotivates everybody.
I've reached the point now that the only time I feel right is when I get off a bike (ok, in those last few miles before I get off the bike, too).
May look for that feeling again.
It's an improved state of health and consciousness.

Plus, the way I eat, I have to burn the calories.

gracehowler

Just be thankful you are not in a cold place, it's a balmy 29 outside here in Western CO today!
Ride on!
R&J

RonH

Go do something you definitely do not like for a few days (golf, tennis, bowling, etc) and them re-think bike riding.

Darth Lefty 

Calm down, get a hold of yourself

FBinNY 

Riding isn't some kind of obligation. If you want to you'll ride, if you don't want to you won't, and maybe take up some other activity. Who knows, maybe you'll come back to cycling later on.

So, do what suits you now, and what suits you later.

ColonelSanders

You may not have the right bike to motivate you, so go bike shopping.

Wildwood 

Fly to Seattle = cold wet damp w/ groady roads & bike lanes. Very short days (condolences to more northern climes) Easy to excuse reduced saddle time.

OR, just go for an easy ride. If you don't push too hard it can be a blast.

1989Pre 

When this happens to me, I just remind myself that I own the bicycle.., not vice versa: If I want to let it rest against the wall until the year 2000, I feel entitled to that and am perfectly ok with it.
Don't second-guess yourself. I don't think there is such a thing as laziness: I think we have ambivalence, sometimes, and the hidden reasons we refrain from activities we love are sometimes good reasons (we need to focus on other things or put some balance in our lives).
If you really want to ride, give yourself a "dream task": When you lay down at night, for ten minutes, repeat something simple in your mind, like: "I want to have a dream that will give me the motivation to ride".

B. Carfree

What? You're suggesting apostasy. There's consequences to such behavior, you know.

Snuts

The first step is admitting you have a problem........


O hell that was just a joke.

By starting a thread, you will find out you are not alone. And how others feel about their own ups and downs.

Our weather is not conducive to safe, enjoyable bike riding here (northwestern Ontario). I will be on the forum, and watching YouTubes until I need to ride.

But, I'm thinking you got out.


-Snuts-

Daspydyr 

DANNNNNGGGG! You are starting to look like Jabba the Hut, cool!

jppe

I can relate and am in a similar situation. However I've been enjoying my other favorite past time and have been playing golf Monday-Friday. Cycling has taken a backseat but that's okay for now. It's been a little bit of a mental challenge to find more motivation after the cross country ride but sooner or later something new an different will light a new flame.

Do you have other interests that you're enjoying??

I'm really jealous of Tucson....in fact I mentioned to one of my golf buddies today that we looked at housing in the Marana area last year but didn't close the deal. With the new grand kids it's really nice being close by to where we live now.

I'd be perfectly happy being a snowbird if it came down to it.

canklecat

I just remind myself of how many delicious imperial stouts, porters and Scottish ales I can drink without needing larger pants by burning off some calories en route to the pub, and back home.

FBinNY 

Yep,

It's so many miles per Pizza.

OldTryGuy

If riding your bicycle is not required to pay the bills, what the heck does it matter. Ride or not, enjoy what you have because there are millions of others who would love to be where you are.

47p2

When I'm unmotivated and the weather is crap here in Scotland I just think of all the hard work/effort I've put into getting where I am. I know if I don't go for a cycle for a week or two I will loose that 'edge' I have built up over the past few months and it will take me forever to get back to where I am at the present time. The temperature the past couple of weeks here have been down to as low as 20°F so not exactly inviting but I'm determined this year not to let things slip and hopefully keep a reasonable level of fitness for next spring.

The last two days the temperature has rocketed up to 55°F and it's now raining which makes cycling even less inviting than in the frost. I never went out yesterday but decided to do a 22 mile ride today between showers. I wasn't looking forward to it, but once out I felt good and by the time I returned home I felt great. Now that I've been fed, watered, and now tucked in bed I feel awesome, yet I know if I hadn't went out today I would now be feeling miserable and annoyed at myself for not making the effort.

Hope you get your mojo back soon, there's nothing better for mind, body and soul than a bicycle ride to blow the cobwebs away

Wileyrat

Thanks for the replies.

I'll hit the gym tomorrow to get my strength work in for the week, and jump on one of the bikes this weekend.

Next week is a new week.

47p2

Good on you

rumrunn6

tough luck. motivation is highly personal & no one can give it to you. not for exercise. it's not like a sales job. except there is payback for performance. meaning, you get to buy something for the bike or yourself, you can post pictures here, you can share your ride for others to consider, some ppl will appreciate it while others might jab at it. either way, it's more fun than chatting about how you don't ride

Rollfast

You are just riding in the wrong place.

BobbyG

This may sound silly but pick a coffee shop at a distance that makes sense. Ride to coffee shop and drink coffee. Repeat. Pretty soon your body will equate your bike ride with that caffein boost.

downtube42

As my elder friend Neal asked me one day, "what do you think this is, a practice life?"

Rollfast

Then again, you only die once, do it right?


Oh, nevermind. remember that you don't meet any new people at home, unless they have pamphlets or want your money.


(It's okay if they have thin mints)

Wileyrat

Been thinking about it. The problem might be as simple as this time of the year the bike usually goes with me to work, and I hit one of the mups on the way home. That way I don't go home, lose the daylight and motivation.

For some reason I haven't been doing that yet this year, I think it's time to bring back my winter cycling habits.

At least that's what I'm telling myself tonight.