showlow

Something weird is happening. For maybe the first time in 15 yrs I just sorta don't feel like riding. Been absorbed in projects around the house and working on them instead of going riding w/ my free time. Usually I would feel real antsy and be worrying that I'm getting soft. But, instead I just feel apathetic.

Anyone else gone through this? What did you do?

tntyz

My lull lasted a couple of years as I got involved in some big projects at work. What brought me out of it? A really nice new bike. It was a slight stretch financially and more bike than I "deserved", but it definitely got my interest recharged.

Fahrenheit531 

It has happened on occasion.
What did I do? I didn't ride.

wolfchild

If you're not into it mentally then don't do it. Nothing wrong with taking a little break from riding....It's better to take a break than to ride aimlessly without a purpose and not enjoy it.

Barry2 

I get there from time to time.
I tell myself "tough luck.. go ride anyway"

I enjoy the ride and I've never returned from the ride wishing I'd not gone !

Barry

tdonline

I don't have a car, I mainly ride for transportation. With working from home 100% and few social/volunteering engagements, I don't have places to ride to. I live in downtown area so shops and restaurants are within walking distance. Occasionally I contrive an errand like going to an Asian market 11 miles away or satisfy a food craving that isn't available in my neighborhood.

It's a beautiful Sunday and I'm struggling to get myself out there on the bike.

IGH_Only

That kind of logic makes way too much sense for this world.

Troul 

but but but what if the purpose to one's riding is to ride aimlessly & enjoys its??

Flip Flop Rider

that's me

crankholio

Sometimes I enjoy working on my bikes more than riding, so I do that. There's always something I can tweak or change. Of course this can come with its own set of problems.

Troul 

I'm lug into that category too.

Mulberry20

I don’t enjoy getting dressed for riding when it gets colder out but eventually I do.

rosefarts

I raced for about a decade. Quit racing and soon began supporting myself with a pedi-cab. After that, I went full stop.

I poured myself into rock climbing and eventually got married and went back to school (so I didn't need to ride a trike for money).

A month or so before my first kid was born, I got a nice bike and started riding again, it was about a 10 year break. I didn't miss the time I didn't ride but I sure missed not being as fast as I once was. He's 3 now and I've also got a 1 year old, I simply can't ride a lot now. I stay fit enough to enjoy it but not so fit that I need to train to keep it up. 4 (7 if you count my wife) bikes in the garage.

I like riding and I really like wrenching too. A week or three off the bike is still ok.

DeadGrandpa

I have two possible physical reasons for not "feeling like riding": 1) Age related loss of testosterone, and 2) lack of caffeine. Also, I find in general that the longer I go without riding, my desire to ride decreases. Conversely, the more I ride, the more I want to ride from day to day. During a lull in riding, at some point I just have to get on the bike and go. There's been a few times when I didn't particularly feel like riding. There have been zero times when I regretted having gone riding when I got home.

If one or two above don't apply, we'll just say that you have a "Psychological Block" resisting your inner desire to ride, and you will need therapy to overcome this block. Your prescribed therapy should be to to ride whatever length ride you consider your "short ride" to be. Repeat 4-5 times weekly. Increase the mileage the next week, and I predict that if you continue for a month or two, you will be out of your slump. Ooooh, if the weather turns cold, just layer up and ride. Adverse riding conditions will increase your feeling of being "bona fide". After six months of this therapy, buy yourself a nicer bike, feel guilty about it and ride more to justify spending the money. This method is guaranteed.

Chris!

When I dont want to get out on my road bike ill mountain bike. Or if I don't feel like riding at all ill take a hike. Or sometimes ill just walk the dog. If your not doing something that makes you happy you should be doing something else.

Troul 

i'll weld up something if I don't feel like riding. Some days I'll do both. Multiple times.

DreamRider85

Maybe look into an Elliptigo. Perhaps you just an alternative to everyday riding and need to mix it up.

Ilbiker

Just went through a 12 day stretch of not riding, it was crazy busy at work. Meh, I survived. Rode today and enjoyed it like I didn’t miss a day. Just roll with and don’t stress out. I see the same thing even more often with runners. “I didn’t run five days this week and now I’m losing fitness”. I’ve seen this I don’t how many times over my years of running. Even during race training, if I felt I needed/wanted an extra rest day, I took it and adjusted. The world kept turning and the sun still rose.

rsbob 

Been there. Felt like I hit a wall. I joined a cycling club with riders of similar ability, strength and looking for 50+ mile rides. Made a bunch of good friends, looked forward to seeing them every week, and worked to stay fit in the meanwhile to do longer pulls. Also developed a competitive thing with a couple of buddies and race up and down hills or do sprints to a landmark. Ended going to a couple of weddings, Saturday night get togethers, etc. made some good friends with similar values and looked forward to seeing them on the weekends.

Later I broke up cycling with spending one day hiking the mountains and the next day cycle, just to break things up. Much later I got a mtn bike and was hooked to the thrill, skill building and good times with new friends.

so hopefully you can find something in the rambling above. Now I road, mtn bike and hike

Det

Best I've found for me is to just use minimal gear, and not the full-on street-competition-with-yourself ones. Doesn't matter if I'm alone, long as I'm getting a workout, it's a lot of fun.

Pop N Wood

Hopefully my riding mojo will return once I get a new hip next year. Post ride pain has a way of damping your enthusiasm for the next one.

As for not feeling like riding, try breaking up the monotony with say a fun ride, something like a slow cruise out around the neighborhood, something different from your normal "training" ride.

Used to do that when I worked out a lot. Would tell myself I was going in for a light workout. Often times that turned into the best workout.

tkamd73 

Usually feel that way around November in Wisconsin.
Tim

Flip Flop Rider

stop riding for a while. See if you miss it

fujidon

Couldn't agree more

Steve B.

A lot of people, especially those who live in regions that are affected by winter with cold temp's and snow, tend to ramp up their cycling in the spring and continue thru the summer months, then start to burn out a bit in early fall. I see this for myself every year and It's now the season to do "fun" rides, I.E., less distance, easier pace, drive to someplace different. Or take a day or two off. It's 65 degrees and sunny this morning and I'm not likely going to get out, too tired after 4 straight and hard days on the bike.

I had a friend that moved from the metro NYC area to St. George, Utah, where it would get to 120 degrees in the summer. He had to learn to reverse his seasons, ramp up during October into the winter when it was comfortable, then scale back in the summer. It was a hard transition for him initially.