Am I losing interest with cycling?

HouseACA

Yesterday it a bright sunny early spring morning and I thought that it would be a good day for cycling.

However even though I thought it would be a good day for cycling, I didnt actually want to go out. Then I got a bit annoyed thinking that if I didnt want to cycle on a day like that, when would I want to cycle?

To put some perspective on it tho, I am not a weekend road warrior like some here, I go out for a 1-2 hr spin whenever the weathers ok and Ive got time. So sometimes it could be weeks at a time before Im out.

I bought a Trek 1.2 about 12months ago, my first road bike, and would be lucky to have put 300 miles on it. Sometimes I think I shouldve just got a good hybrid as I enjoy tow paths, parks and exploring the network of small roads that I'd never drive down. I also think its the having to get dressed up in the gear rather than just putting on a pair of trackies and going.

Maybe I'm just in one of those moods.

In the end I put on a pair of trainers and took a run around the park- and which my legs are feeling it today as I havent ran in months.

softlad

sounds like you should take up running instead....

deptfordmarmoset

softlad wrote:

sounds like you should take up running instead....

Or....

I get days when I really don't fancy going out in the drizzle or the cold. Being bad at doing cold, I've only done 150 miles in the last month. But unless I get soaking wet or I lose sensation in my toes from the cold more than 10 miles from home, I will always feel better for having gone for a ride. And you can only know this from getting on your bike and riding it. Try it before you put your bike up for sale and see if it works the same for you.

zanes

Why get worked up about it? Ride when you want to, not when you feel you should.

nasahapley

zanes wrote:

Why get worked up about it? Ride when you want to, not when you feel you should.

Yeah, don't worry about it. The combination of the weather and getting well into my fellrunning has meant that I haven't been out on the bike for more than three months now! Can't say I'm missing it too much right now either, but whenever we get the first proper spring weekend and I see loads of people out on their bikes, I know I'll be straight back out there, and I bet you will be too.

passout

Do something that gets you motivated - club run, new routes, MTBing, whatever....
If that fails, take up a new sport that does interest you.

Harry B

Don't force yourself to ride. If you do it will become a chore. You could try entering a sportif if you need motivation.

guinea

Give up and give me your bike for the turbo trainer. I'm bored of putting mine on before each sufferfest.

In all seriousness make yourself a goal you can get motivated about. Maybe a sportive, an alpine climb and a specific time for a 10 or 25 TT. Then work for it. Training without a reason is dull for most.

If you're not interested in the side of cycling, join a club, get social and do the miles with friends.

Heckler1974

+1 on having something to aim for, I have to have a specific event (sportif or whatever) or goal in mind or I'll happily couch surf into obesity.

Cressers

You'll feel the benefit of any training you do now when The Urge does come back in the spring and summer. I know how you feel, i think that it's an after-effect of the awful winter. Don't force yourself to do what you don't want to do, come back to it when you feel ready.

rbleightonbuzzard

+2 Set a 2010 target.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

I had/have exactly the same thing, im just hoping after ive been out for a few rides it'll go away.

STEFANOS4784

Same here, worst time of year, i hate getting cold worse than anything but not long now....

Barteos

Winter exposes the real strength of our motivation and makes us think about the reasons we cycle.

If you ride for fitness prepare for the events etc then you have to force yourself to go for a ride and do it regularly regardless the weather. I guarantee that in most of cases you'll have a great sense of achievement and a big smile on your face at the end of the ride.

However if you ride only for fun then sod it and do anything else that you enjoy doing.

Another problem is that riding a road bike without any fitness goals is just boring. Get a mountain bike if you want to enjoy yourself :-)

blackpanther

Youre obviously never going to enjoy cycling, its a chore and a pain not to metnion the guilt trip every time you think of the trek sitting in the garage shed or hallway.


The best option is clearly to let me take it away and ride it for you, youll feel better knowing its doing what it wants to do. :twisted:

gbs

HouseACA wrote:

t.

I bought a Trek 1.2 about 12months ago, my first road bike, and would be lucky to have put 300 miles on it. Sometimes I think I shouldve just got a good hybrid as I enjoy tow paths, parks and exploring the network of small roads that I'd never drive down. I also think its the having to get dressed up in the gear rather than just putting on a pair of trackies and going.

Well, if you are around 6feet tall I would be happy to consider a swap - yr Trek for a Marin hybrid, cost £700 sept 08, VGC.

Anonymous

I wouldn't fret about it.

It's cold, even if it's not wet or snowing. Wait a couple of weeks until spring is really setting in and see if you feel more like getting out and about on a bike then.

Alain Quay

I too am shocked to say I have lost interest in cycling.

I have been a 365 days a year cyclist for years. But the ice and cold have got me in the
habit of walking to work and running instead.

When I walk to work and observe cylists, cycle commuting looks so dangerous.

I see it as a sabbatical from cycling, and will give it rbeak for a while then start again.

By the way, I have learned that I weigh at least half a stone less from running, as opposed to cycling

raymc

I too have taken to running instead of cycling at the moment. Consistent poor weather, state of roads etc. However I see running as the tough miles to make the cycling all the more enjoyable when the weather finally improves.

Went out for a run couple of days ago, beautiful sunny day, Upon my return went out on the bike, freezing cold, biting wind not much to like really. But the weather will eventually improve, sun on your arms etc, then your appetite will return.

Until then don't beat yourself up about it!

Cressers

I don't know if this could be a practical suggestion in your case, but have you considered cycling to work?

Bunneh

Sounds like lack of motivation to me. Sometimes you just have to do it without thinking about it first. I'm up at 6am most mornings, there's nothing more satisfying than having 3 hours fly by and it's still only 9am.

When it's cold I just wrap up. I don't wear lycra, I look like a bag of mash potato so I just wear a fleece I got from work, pair of what I call scrote tracksuit bottoms which are lined, throw my thick insulated gloves, a rucksack with my gear and just go. Helmet gets disregarded and I wear one a beany and a mask over my face el bandito!

Lack of motivation can be overcome if you have somewhere to go. If you're just riding for the sake of riding it can be dull, but if you're going to a family member's house or to a cycle shop somewhere it adds that added impotus (sp). I found that after riding to my dad's house every other day, or to PC World/Geoff Smiths/brother's house I got fitter and the training rides became a lot easier.

As for running instead of cycling and more weight loss, I suspect that's muscle loss. Muscle apparently weighs more than fat. When you cycle you use the upper part of your legs and develop large muscles. Running, whilst still excellent exercise uses different muscles and you lose some muscle in your upper leg. That's my none educated guess anyway