Getting (Re)started

Dan Smernicki

Hi,
Does anybody have any thoughts about the best way to get restarted after Christmas and New Year? I've been making plans to get out there since the middle of November, but the evil combination of colds, flu, christmas, new year, work and general crappy weather have thwarted me, and left me feeling a bit despondent... I swear that my bike is giving me dirty looks every time I walk past it.
Does anyone have any thoughts about how to find the joy again?
Dan

peanut

I had the same problem and was piling on the weight The bad weather has put me off going out on the bike so in desperation I joined my local gym. What a revelation. I wish I'd done it years ago.
IWith the Wellness Company's Technogym equipment we have at the Crewkerne Aqua centre you can program your own workout programs into the exercise bikes and monitor everything you do every visit. You get a bluetooth key which you plug into whatever you are using.

In a 30 minute workout I raise my heart rate to 140bpm +for 20 minutes and have a right good sweat. Its a far better workout than I could ever achieve on the bike and its all done in the warm with music lol. I've started to put together some rides from my local bike training routes so I can do them on the exercise bike.
check out your local gym Mine also has spinning bikes and they really are brilliant.

Now I can go out on a bike ride when the weather is conducive but I'm not losing any fitness waiting for the better weather and lighter evenings

ChrisLS

...Dan, ride that bike, the joy will come back. If it doesn't, don't worry, have a rest from it, don't be down on yourself it will only make it worse and then ride when you are ready, you'll be a lot fresher for the rest...

georgee

get on that centurians game, should make you do at least one 100 by close of Jan...

ColinJ

Hi Dan. It might sound a bit odd to suggest walking as a way of getting back on the bike, but I think it might be a good start for you. It's one of the things that I've been doing to keep my legs working over the festering period .

I haven't ridden on the road for nearly a month because my back tyre is worn out and I've had problems finding a suitable replacement. Also, the weather has been so poor that I haven't really wanted to be riding outdoors - I cycle for pleasure, not because I have to. I've done a few turbo trainer sessions but mainly what I've done is to put my walking boots on and charge over the local hills a few times a week. The main thing for me is that I can wait for a break in the rain and be out of the house in less than 5 minutes. I've got ready for rides a few times only to call them off again because the weather has turned in the meantime.

You've been ill and are feeling down. Just getting outdoors and 'power-walking' will help lift your spirits, and if you put enough effort in will help your fitness too. Sooner or later you'd be out on a walk, the sun would come out and you'd think to yourself "hey, I'd rather be on my bike!", at which point your motivation problem would have been sorted out and you could go home and saddle up!

HungryCol

I'm reading In Search for Robert Millar and this is great at keeping the motivation up. I'm also managing to commute to work on the less crappy days.