Really Couln't Be Bothered

teulk

After itching to get out for a ride after not being able to due to shifts i get out and and really couldnt be bothered. I went out with the intention of doing 20miles (not that far really i supose) but no sooner had i hit the road i just didnt want to be there - i ended up only doing 10miles and that was a struggle, being in that frame of mind really seemed to make the ride hard and i wasn't even putting any real effort into it either. Now normally if i feel like i cant be bothered i just think to myself "im out now so i may as well just go and do the ride ive planned to do" but today i just couldnt motivate myself.

I guess im not the first who found it difficul to get motivated at one time or another so how do you get past it ?

chrisw12

Easy, set goals (or in technical jargon) or SMART targets.

For me personally I don't understand how anyone can put the hours needed into this sport just for the sake of it. For me there must be some sort of competitive element to motivate.

Have you got something you're aiming at?

teulk

Now i do enjoy the cycling, i think its great but i supose the main reason for doing it is to 1. lose a few pounds and to get fitter. I am going to be entering the 66mile northern rock cyclone in june with a few mates so i am kind of aiming for that too. One of the biggest problems it i have no one to ride with. The thing i find a bit of a chore is doing the same routes over and over again so really i need to find some new ones.

Frank the tank

I'm very similar to you teulk.

I agree with chrisw12, you have to set yourself some kind/any kind of goal/target that makes you have to go out and do a bit if you have any chance of succeeding. I've set myself a goal this summer. The problem not being a racer for me is, trying to find targets to aim at.

BeaconRuth

teulk wrote:

One of the biggest problems it i have no one to ride with. The thing i find a bit of a chore is doing the same routes over and over again so really i need to find some new ones.

Could you not join a club? Many people find that club rides transform their enjoyment and motivation.

Ruth

chrisw12

Riding with friends is over-rated (see the recent post I started on here.)

If you're bored with doing the same old routes you could throw money at the problem and buy one of the following:-

1) garmin gps with virtual pacer facility (eg edge or forerunner 305) Once I bought one of these, I love doing the same route over and over.
2) Ipod/mp3 device
3) Mtb and go and discover some more interesting off road routes.

BeaconRuth

chrisw12 wrote:

Riding with friends is over-rated (see the recent post I started on here.)

Not if you choose your friends carefully.

Ruth

doyler78

chrisw12 wrote:

Riding with friends is over-rated (see the recent post I started on here.)

If you're bored with doing the same old routes you could throw money at the problem and buy one of the following:-

1) garmin gps with virtual pacer facility (eg edge or forerunner 305) Once I bought one of these, I love doing the same route over and over.
2) Ipod/mp3 device
3) Mtb and go and discover some more interesting off road routes.

Surely the point of riding with others is that you ride with people with whom your goals are aligned. If they aren't then this is bound to be frustrating.

For me motivation just comes from targets I find on the road and that can be as simple as getting to the next fence/turn in the road/hill in the distance.

I plan my routes on one of the many route planning devices online. Occasionally I do get a bit lost but I always end up somewhere I know so I just keep going and I wouldn't mind a garmin 705 however I would rather have a powertap first.

I hate the idea of ipod/mp3 on the road as I just feel your ears are for listening to the traffic around you on the road however it's down to you how ride just my view on it.

teulk

Im going to getting a mountain bike (boardman comp or team) at the end of the month along with a bike rack for the car perhaps, hopefully that will lead to other things and break up the boredom of the same old routes. I think i need to start riding for enjoyment only and not because i feel i have to - after all the weight loss and fitness will still come and i should enjoy it more.

John Stevenson

teulk wrote:

the boredom of the same old routes.

Well here's a few more routes in your general area:

http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/country ... /city/4919

teulk

John Stevenson wrote:

teulk wrote:

the boredom of the same old routes.

Well here's a few more routes in your general area:

http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/country ... /city/4919

Thanks for that - thats great

SBezza

BeaconRuth wrote:

teulk wrote:

One of the biggest problems it i have no one to ride with. The thing i find a bit of a chore is doing the same routes over and over again so really i need to find some new ones.

Could you not join a club? Many people find that club rides transform their enjoyment and motivation.

Ruth

+1

The best thing I did for my riding enjoyment was to join my local cycling club. I have not only got massive amounts of fun out of riding again, with the social aspect of the club, but I have got stronger for it. I would never had thought a year ago, I would be doing road racing and time trials, and these are throughly enjoyable as well.