My motivation has got up and gone!
Discussion
TwistingMyMelon said:
I don't mind running a motivation encouragement course at mine if you want?
It involves spending a week with me and our 2 x teenagers (with attitude) , 1 x mental toddler , 2 x dogs (1 x angry terrier and 1 x mad collie) , 2 x cats (one of which is the devil in disguise) plus 1 x misses who indulges in odd episodes of "the mental". Let me tell you after a week you will be beating the door down to get to a bike just to get away from all of the above.....at least that's my excuse!
I'll take the woofers, but you can keep the rest!! It involves spending a week with me and our 2 x teenagers (with attitude) , 1 x mental toddler , 2 x dogs (1 x angry terrier and 1 x mad collie) , 2 x cats (one of which is the devil in disguise) plus 1 x misses who indulges in odd episodes of "the mental". Let me tell you after a week you will be beating the door down to get to a bike just to get away from all of the above.....at least that's my excuse!
Johno said:
Chronic workload, lots of work travel, loads of hours etc and was still managing 150kms plus a week. Then the light went, the rides home at 9pm etc were becoming a drag, work etc ... Weekends full etc...
Then when it all calmed down 10 days ago I get a stinking cold. Still coughing a lot but getting back on bike tomorrow. However the motivation took a real turn for the worse.
I'm sure in the morning there'll be a question when the early morning 2 degrees hits .... Hoping I MTFU and get out.
Made sure the bed to shed as described earlier was easy this morning.... Then when it all calmed down 10 days ago I get a stinking cold. Still coughing a lot but getting back on bike tomorrow. However the motivation took a real turn for the worse.
I'm sure in the morning there'll be a question when the early morning 2 degrees hits .... Hoping I MTFU and get out.
The headwind, the snotathon of a ride, the lack of real power, breathlessness, coughing, blocked roads and then being nearly wiped out by a van head on (in the Netherlands in a safe as houses cycle lane) meant the motivation was rekindled this morning.
Unbelievable really, but I'm almost looking forward to riding home. Not quite, but nearly..... However I'm almost certain I'm going to build a winter/commuting bike as the best one looks awful with temporary mudgaurds for the winter and suffered in last years weather, another winter and it's be expensive on parts again.
Also finally hatched a plan to get my expensive MTB out of the shed and in use, on the beaches, where sand racing here is very popular there's some quick mods which will give me a different pursuit to follow then just the long winter rides on the road bike.
Anything decent for the MTB is over an hours drive away, otherwise it's dull. At least the beach riding will be different.
Saturday was a struggle. Had intended an all day off road but the overwhelming NEED for rest (been RIDICULOUSLY busy at work) outdid the urge for a ride. Went out yesterday but cut short due to the shoe issue (felt dodgy not being able to get off in a hurry!!)
Last winter after I stopped commuting (moved near to work) I dropped from about 950+ miles a month to very little. Wish I hadn't as in spring it took a considerable amount of time to get used to it again.
As OP, once I'm out it's glorious..............ONCE I'm out. I will not ride in the pissing rain or freezing cold again though. ZERO enjoyment.
Last winter after I stopped commuting (moved near to work) I dropped from about 950+ miles a month to very little. Wish I hadn't as in spring it took a considerable amount of time to get used to it again.
As OP, once I'm out it's glorious..............ONCE I'm out. I will not ride in the pissing rain or freezing cold again though. ZERO enjoyment.
Gruffy said:
I have the same struggle and I'm sure most riders do this time of year.
One small trick is to get everything lined up the night before to make the 'bed to shed' part as easy as possible. Then, in the morning, do it on auto-pilot. Often I'd be 20 minutes into my ride without really any awareness of what happened but by then I'm into it, like you say.
I can't get much shorter! I live in a flat and to get to the sofa, I have to go past the bikes!One small trick is to get everything lined up the night before to make the 'bed to shed' part as easy as possible. Then, in the morning, do it on auto-pilot. Often I'd be 20 minutes into my ride without really any awareness of what happened but by then I'm into it, like you say.
Suffering myself, Autumn is the problem for me. I go from 2 rides a week to 3 times a month due to a lack of daylight - couple that with a touch of SAD and the usual gloom, slop and 60 min cleaning mission at the end of every MTB ride and the air-con'd Gym or a couple of beers and some heavy carbs starts to look very appealing next to it.
Took a 25k XC spin yesterday, had a laugh but it was so cold! At 6.5c, I should be used to it by now, it'll be 3c within weeks and lucky to break freezing for most of Dec and Jan.
Took a 25k XC spin yesterday, had a laugh but it was so cold! At 6.5c, I should be used to it by now, it'll be 3c within weeks and lucky to break freezing for most of Dec and Jan.
What about Cyclocross racing?
Haven't tried it myself yet, but currently looking at cheap 2016 CX bikes & will be joining the local league. It will definately give me the motivation to get out and keep my fitness levels up.
Also see if you can find some rides that will really challenge you, the type that if you didn't train you would struggle. I've signed upto an 88 miler this weekend, the distance is no problem but the fear of 7,500ft of climbing, has had me out at the weekends hunting down hills.
Haven't tried it myself yet, but currently looking at cheap 2016 CX bikes & will be joining the local league. It will definately give me the motivation to get out and keep my fitness levels up.
Also see if you can find some rides that will really challenge you, the type that if you didn't train you would struggle. I've signed upto an 88 miler this weekend, the distance is no problem but the fear of 7,500ft of climbing, has had me out at the weekends hunting down hills.
Experiencing the opposite! I'm putting it down to setting myself a new challenge for October, to run every day. I've stopped and started running probably a dozen times in the last 15 years, usually the aim was to get up to 10 miles distance, perhaps half marathon, which for me was close to 2 hours. But I never ran every day, I would always have 3 days recovery, sometimes more.
So this time, my aim was to run a mile a day, and maintain my 100 miles a week cycling. The beauty of the run is it can take as little as 10 minutes, getting ready takes no time and even if it is pissing it down, it is not hard to get out and do it. I've done a few longer runs, up to 2.25 miles, skirted the edge of the Downs, found some new paths to explore. The cycling seems to be benefitting too, my average speed is up, I feel more able to give it the beans more often, those little bumps at the end of a ride where you plonk your butt back on the seat and spin up, I feel I can stomp up them...
So this time, my aim was to run a mile a day, and maintain my 100 miles a week cycling. The beauty of the run is it can take as little as 10 minutes, getting ready takes no time and even if it is pissing it down, it is not hard to get out and do it. I've done a few longer runs, up to 2.25 miles, skirted the edge of the Downs, found some new paths to explore. The cycling seems to be benefitting too, my average speed is up, I feel more able to give it the beans more often, those little bumps at the end of a ride where you plonk your butt back on the seat and spin up, I feel I can stomp up them...
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