What inspires & motivate you to get onto the saddle
Discussion
Getting into the countryside and enjoying the views, savouring the fresh air, the gradually improving fitness, the satisfaction of blasting up a climb that used to intimidate you, the excitement when descending quickly, the liberty to consume as many calories as you want after a particularly long day in the saddle, the feeling of a warm shower after a cold and wet ride and more than anything the general feeling of satisfaction and calmness after a particularly gruelling ride.
Potatoes said:
I've lost my mojo somewhat over the past 3 months and have barely sat in the saddle.
What motivates you to get you out on your bike?
I spent nearly 7 months off my bikes between Oct 12 and May 13. Retiring from the Army, I ended up diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and haven't made the transition to civilian life very well. I found my biggest motivator was wanting to get off the drugs I was prescribed, and joining Strava (which I previously swore I wouldn't do) helped too. Now, I sign up for every challenge that comes up on Strava, and having something to add to discussions here in Pedal Powered, even if it's just some photos from a ride, helps too. Once you find your mojo again, hopefully, like mine, it'll come back even stronger than before. What motivates you to get you out on your bike?
SuperHangOn said:
I'm experiencing the opposite of the OP. Its too dark in the evening to nip out for a ride and I'm a bit lost without it. Will have to join gym to keep up the exercise which is not appealing at all...
Turbo trainers are great for maintaining or improving fitness when you can't get outside. If you have room to stick one in your garage/shed/spare room you can have a quality session with 45-60m.After pounding the roads and turbo the satisfaction I get from completing a sportive in a good time compared to my much more experienced mates on their more expensive bikes. I suppose being competitive gives me the extra push to work hard at it but overall this sums it up pretty darn well for me... 
nammynake said:
Getting into the countryside and enjoying the views, savouring the fresh air, the gradually improving fitness, the satisfaction of blasting up a climb that used to intimidate you, the excitement when descending quickly, the liberty to consume as many calories as you want after a particularly long day in the saddle, the feeling of a warm shower after a cold and wet ride and more than anything the general feeling of satisfaction and calmness after a particularly gruelling ride.
Thanks all, some really obvious reasons to get out!! I look at my slowly but absolutely definitely growing waist-line and am keen to get back out myself.
Completely agree with all of them and it can sometimes be easy to forget just why we do it (all of the above!). I look at my slowly but absolutely definitely growing waist-line and am keen to get back out myself.
Will absolutely get out in the next 5 days and if I don't make rugby training tomorrow night, well the bike will get a run out instead
Completely agree with all of them and it can sometimes be easy to forget just why we do it (all of the above!). I look at my slowly but absolutely definitely growing waist-line and am keen to get back out myself.
Will absolutely get out in the next 5 days and if I don't make rugby training tomorrow night, well the bike will get a run out instead
944fan said:
The big fat belly gets me on the bike.
100% this.I`d put on 18 lbs since leaving the Army in January 2012, happily though within 3 weeks of cycling again I`ve lost 5 lbs.
Tonight`s ride was utterly miserable, wet and cold. But I felt good once I`d done it.
I`m already looking at treating myself to a road bike in the spring if I can get to my target weight.
nammynake said:
Getting into the countryside and enjoying the views, savouring the fresh air, the gradually improving fitness, the satisfaction of blasting up a climb that used to intimidate you, the excitement when descending quickly, the liberty to consume as many calories as you want after a particularly long day in the saddle, the feeling of a warm shower after a cold and wet ride and more than anything the general feeling of satisfaction and calmness after a particularly gruelling ride.
Well put and to add by quoting Painkiller by Turin Brakes "Cycle on your bicycle, leave all the misery behind" Riding is my gym for the body and the woods are the church for my mind and soul.TedMaul said:
nammynake said:
Getting into the countryside and enjoying the views, savouring the fresh air, the gradually improving fitness, the satisfaction of blasting up a climb that used to intimidate you, the excitement when descending quickly, the liberty to consume as many calories as you want after a particularly long day in the saddle, the feeling of a warm shower after a cold and wet ride and more than anything the general feeling of satisfaction and calmness after a particularly gruelling ride.
Well put and to add by quoting Painkiller by Turin Brakes "Cycle on your bicycle, leave all the misery behind" Riding is my gym for the body and the woods are the church for my mind and soul.To get outside and get away from browsing the web and all the other electronic bulls
t were surrounded by, ironically. Only had my MTB around a fortnight(last time I owned a bike was 1985) and have just being doing road riding locally, mainly in the dark, which doesn't bother me. Hope I don't get sucked into all that Strava business and end up where I started
t were surrounded by, ironically. Only had my MTB around a fortnight(last time I owned a bike was 1985) and have just being doing road riding locally, mainly in the dark, which doesn't bother me. Hope I don't get sucked into all that Strava business and end up where I startedJimbo. said:
Not being a fat basted and the £35 saving a week in petrol.
What he said. We are going to Florida for NYE for a friends wedding and I am saving for that and every time I manage 5 days commuting on the bike, thats £38 saved Also, I'm currently at 92kg and I really want to get down to sub 90Kg and as a reward, I shall buy myself a new bike
In answer to the OP's post, what about an event as a target to help the motivation.
I have little or no enthusiasm for anything unless I'm training for an actual event. Manchester to London in June was good, but I'm a bit lost n what to do next year...
The lack of easily accessible routes since we moved to the beach - road riding is near suicidal, MTBing tracks aren't far but generally needs a car/van to get to - I'm doing localish "fitness" rides and the odd bit of MTBing. I used to ride several times a week. I miss the regular rides and it's annoying because I've finally got my MTB EXACTLY as I want it.
On the upside, I never miss a surf and am running, swimming and gyming a lot more.
On the upside, I never miss a surf and am running, swimming and gyming a lot more.
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