Brian T.

When I first started riding, I loved it. Couldn't get enough. I even got some people at work into and made a good friend/ riding buddy out of it. I joined a local bike club and upgraded bike twice. I've been hit by a car and have had several close calls(who hasn't?)

HR started a competition at work called Tour de (work name).Runners, walkers, kayakers and bikers did the most miles they could in a week, tallied them up and turned them in at the beginning of the next week. Commuting, Mon. and Wed. night rides, Sun. morning rides, high heat and humidity just gave me the blahs.

I know, I know, STFU and ride. I will. Eventually.

slowandsteady

yes. It usually happens when I push too hard for weeks on end. Just go out and ride for the hell of it. Ride slow, see the scenery, have a conversation with a friend..just tool around.

yak

Mix it up! Get a mtn bike and ride the woods for a change of pace.

Inertianinja

Upgrade something on your bike!

Northwestrider

Sure, it has happened, but I get over it quickly. Sometimes the oddest type of ride will help to regain my enthusiasm. Such as a ride in heay rain ( I'm not joking ) or a late night ride on a quiet road with a clear sky.

Brian T.

I would love to, but with hours at work what they are......

I'll have to try that, the night ride, not a big fan of rain.

I am going to get back into it. I'm going to find some new routes to do, some new rides, too. That might have been part of the problem right there, same stuff all the time.

dynodonn 

I haven't yet, though I've reduced my mileage to the point of riding to work, shopping, or running errands, basically doing something out of necessity in order to keep the motivation level from hitting bottom.

xizangstan

I got a new girlfriend who took up nearly all my time, a couple months ago. I slacked off the bike riding, and suddenly realized I really missed the bike! So the new girlfriend sensed I needed to spend more time on my bike, and she asked me to go bike shopping with her. She is now riding with me - though she's just now getting started and is holding me back. But it's something we can do together (besides the other obvious things), and it is fun.

Also, I'm really, really in love with my vintage GT Xizang that I've had since new. I have a renewed interest in taking the bike on rides in as many different places as possible - just to say I've been there. I'm even buying little embroidered state patches to put on my rear rack bag and panniers, like a sea trunk used to have stickers all over it in our grandparent's era. Just a way of collecting memories.

commo_soulja

Luckily, so far I haven't gotten burnt out on riding. I chalk it up to variety, in where I ride and what I ride. Most days I ride on my mountain bike on the local trails sometimes to get my heart rate up and sustain it, sometimes to just spin and enjoy the outdoors. There are tons of trails out here that I can ride a different loop everytime and it'll be someplace I haven't ridden yet. Some days I commute to work which is about a 30km round trip. Other days, I'll ride to the local market and pick up groceries or head to the biergarten after work for a couple beers. Every once in a while I break out the Bianchi and hit to road for a couple of training kilometers. It's also nice to choose between six bikes in the garage to ride as each offers up a different riding position, capability and experience.

Lamabb

Normally after a hard long ride, i'll rest 3 days and by the 4th I'll be anxious to go riding.

bruce19

When I was 49 yrs. old I decided that my goal would be to ride my favorite route at 20 mph on my birthday the following June. During the winter (in CT) I rode my rollers at least 5 nights a week. Then, when the weather allowed, I got outside and rode that route 6 days a week, always riding as hard as I could to get closer to my goal. On my birthday I cranked that route like I never had before. And, when I finished the ride and did the math, I had done exactly 20 mph. But, I was so burned out that I put the bike away and didn't ride for 8 yrs. Just dreaded going out. Fortunately, when I was 58 I met a woman who wanted to begin cycling and asked for some advice. This got me back on the bike and I've re-discovered the pleasure of riding.

DataJunkie

I have historically had issues with burnouts. Now I am proactive and take rest days. I also took up running and that helps break up the routine.
I would listen to what your body or head is saying and act accordingly. Take a break, buy new stuff, dial it back a bit, try something different cyclingwise, swim, run, kayak, or....

chipcom 

Other than the obvious physical burn out from overdoing it, mental burn out can happen when you begin doing too much "keeping up with the Joneses" rather than just doing the things you love. Get back to the roots of what drew you to cycling and what made you love it so much in the beginning.

I've had to do that myself umpteen times over the years.

travelmama

Well put.

DataJunkie

Thanks

RWBlue01

Yes, and then I started swimming again this summer. The Bikinis kept me there most of the summer and now I am trying to get riding again.

Booger1

You can always just ride for fun.

Doohickie

This is the takeaway from this situation. Nothing wrong with taking a break. My commute more than doubled almost a year ago. I struggle at times to get excited about riding to work like I once did. But I still ride more than most people. If you ride for enjoyment, only ride when you want to. Take a break when you're not enjoying it. If you're really burned out, forbid yourself to ride for two weeks. I promise you, my friend, that two weeks will be an awful long time!

knobster

I get burned out sometimes and don't want to ride and what I end up doing to help myself is what Booger stated above. I just go out and explore. No route, no goals in mind other than to see what's down that road that I've never been down before. Maybe ride to the lake and see what's going on or ride to town and check out the local bike shop and maybe stop at the ice cream shop. This tends to get it back in my head that riding a bike is fun. My problem is then solved. For awhile.

Davey62

never

Brian T.

Going out Sunday. My riding buddy and I are going to the a bike trail and just gonna ride for the hell of it. And I am looking forward to it.

Artkansas 

Yeah, been through that cycle several times, most recently last winter where freezing temps, riding in the dark and dealing with ice all served to sap all the fun out of cycling. I commuted by bus more than once to avoid dealing with it.

My answer, to know that nothing lasts, and to persist. Take a short break and get back on the bike again.

lshaped

i struggled with this last summer- at the time i somehow had convinced myself that if i didn't ride 250 miles
a week i was worthless (probably a result of too much time on BF). i was tired all the time and near the end of
summer i was burned out. i decided i would dial back the mileage during winter, do some weight training
and when the whether go warmer would make sure i didn't ride for more than 3 days in a row without a rest day.
this helped alot and this summer has been the best i've had in years

rnorris

As some others have said, it helps to have a variety of other outdoor activities that you like to do to break up all the cycling miles, but it can be difficult to find time for them if you're on a stiff training schedule. I shift back and forth between cycling and running as my primary outdoor fun, and add skiing and hiking to it when I can.

Mr. Beanz

Can't say that I do! We Mix it up!

Tandem


Ride with the wife


I ride alone


I ride at night


We ride the flats


We ride in the mtns


And I ride in the dirt!