Lost that cycling loving feeling ...
10-04-19, 02:14 PM
#26
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In my youth I was a competitive athlete. Went to college on a football scholarship (QB) and also played baseball (SS). When I began cycling in my 30's I was filled with that competitive testosterone. Up until last year. at age 72, I was so focused on being faster, stronger, better, that I wasn't enjoying riding. But, mid way through the season something changed. When my Saturday club ride started getting over 40 miles I just said no. That's not what I want to do. I enjoy my little TTs and my 25-35 mi. rides I can ride them hard or I can focus on playing with gear selection or different cadence when climbing. And, I can ride and particularly climb at my pace rather than the group pace. I stopped caring about how others saw me as a cyclist. I started enjoying being on the bike. This year for my 73 birthday my gf bought me a CAAD12 and with that bike and a new attitude I have been having more fun than I've had in years. The strange thing is that I'm also riding with "souplesse" as the French say. In my youth I was stronger but I've never been better.
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10-04-19, 11:35 PM
#28
Portland Fred
This.
Like you, I used to work hard, consistently topping 10K miles per year. I climbed 15k feet every Saturday one year.
And the day after the best ride of my life,
I realized I'd turned cycling into a job. Sure it was a rush getting invited to race on teams where the next oldest guy was 10 years younger than me, but ultimately it wasn't worth it.
I decided to quit training forever. Watching that speed I'd worked years to achieve melt off stung at first, but it was definitely the right decision.
I'm a ghost of my former self, but I love cycling as much or more than I ever did. When your only objective is to have a great time, it's a lot easier to succeed.
Like you, I used to work hard, consistently topping 10K miles per year. I climbed 15k feet every Saturday one year.
And the day after the best ride of my life,
I realized I'd turned cycling into a job. Sure it was a rush getting invited to race on teams where the next oldest guy was 10 years younger than me, but ultimately it wasn't worth it.
I decided to quit training forever. Watching that speed I'd worked years to achieve melt off stung at first, but it was definitely the right decision.
I'm a ghost of my former self, but I love cycling as much or more than I ever did. When your only objective is to have a great time, it's a lot easier to succeed.
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10-05-19, 11:17 AM
#29
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Try a different kind of riding.
If you don’t already mountain bike, try it.
If you don’t already mountain bike, try it.
10-05-19, 01:54 PM
#30
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What others said: new bike, new roads, new groups, new discipline(s)!
Everyone is different, but personally, taking up gravel and keeping a single speed helps me break the rut. Gravel is just different enough to be interesting, and the single speed keeps me honest and makes me appreciate geared bikes for hills, headwinds, etc.
Having a regular training partner or riding buddy can be good, too. It's hard to say 'no' to a ride when it's a nice day and your riding buddy is insisting that you go out.
Everyone is different, but personally, taking up gravel and keeping a single speed helps me break the rut. Gravel is just different enough to be interesting, and the single speed keeps me honest and makes me appreciate geared bikes for hills, headwinds, etc.
Having a regular training partner or riding buddy can be good, too. It's hard to say 'no' to a ride when it's a nice day and your riding buddy is insisting that you go out.
10-05-19, 04:30 PM
#31
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Get rid of the computer/strava, whatever, ride withoutkillingyourself, smellthe air, short or long, wet or dry, fast or slow. Just ride.
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10-06-19, 07:17 AM
#32
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Throw a hammer through your TV screen. Physically cut the cable leading to your house. Break the WiFi box. Squeeze the life out of your 'smart'... I mean... stupid phone in a vise. Let the air out of all of your car tires. Clean your bike really good. Take components off and clean them. Caress them and give 'em a big fat juicy smooch when no one is looking (personally, I don't care and kiss and hug my bicycles even if people watch). You'll love your bike, then! C'mon... man (or chica)... bike riding is fun so get the fun back into your rides!
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10-06-19, 07:58 AM
#34
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Give yourself a break and let nature take its course. Everyone gets burned out every once in a while.
10-06-19, 08:04 AM
#35
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Whenever I feel like you do I usually just convince myself to do a 2-4 mile casual ride just because I have nothing else to do. I tell myself that it's no biggee and I'll be home in 15 minutes anyway. Sometimes those short rides are great for the soul.
10-06-19, 10:40 AM
#36
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I'll echo what everyone else has said. Take break. Or look in to doing some different kind of riding such as cyclecross or mountain biking. Maybe start going out for rides without any timing devices and just ride for the fun of it. Good luck. I hope your enjoyment of cycling comes back.
10-06-19, 11:15 AM
#37
Senior Member
Schedule yourself - you're doing about 1,500 mi a yr now so, ride 12-13 mi... every 3 days. Just take a minute to put it on your phone's calendar going out for years. Don't let anyone screw with it and make sure it's everyone else and not you that must work around it. Little enough to ask, right... an hour or so of a quality exercise every 3 days? Then, you have something to look forward to, which falls on different days every consecutive week but at the same time is very easy to calculate.
10-09-19, 07:32 AM
#38
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This.
Like you, I used to work hard, consistently topping 10K miles per year. I climbed 15k feet every Saturday one year.
And the day after the best ride of my life,
I realized I'd turned cycling into a job. Sure it was a rush getting invited to race on teams where the next oldest guy was 10 years younger than me, but ultimately it wasn't worth it.
I decided to quit training forever. Watching that speed I'd worked years to achieve melt off stung at first, but it was definitely the right decision.
I'm a ghost of my former self, but I love cycling as much or more than I ever did. When your only objective is to have a great time, it's a lot easier to succeed.
Like you, I used to work hard, consistently topping 10K miles per year. I climbed 15k feet every Saturday one year.
And the day after the best ride of my life,
I realized I'd turned cycling into a job. Sure it was a rush getting invited to race on teams where the next oldest guy was 10 years younger than me, but ultimately it wasn't worth it.
I decided to quit training forever. Watching that speed I'd worked years to achieve melt off stung at first, but it was definitely the right decision.
I'm a ghost of my former self, but I love cycling as much or more than I ever did. When your only objective is to have a great time, it's a lot easier to succeed.
