Motivation!

flyer

Or should I say lack of it!

I am 50 and started cycling 4 years ago, lost 4 stone and felt great doing about 100-150 miles a week.

Then BANG......................the cold winter of 2009 hit and I became a coutch potato and put 10ibs in weight on.

I am now pretty unfit having only done the odd 30-40 miles every other week.

I did 30 miles yesterday and 40 today, a bit tough but comfortable. However still unfit.

I need to get back in the groove any tips on sorting me out appreciated, and before you say it....................I know get out on your bike and get the miles in.

Thats what I used to do, now if it looks like rain I have a glass of wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Flyer

Mettan

flyer wrote:

I need to get back in the groove any tips on sorting me out appreciated, and before you say it....................I know get out on your bike and get the miles in.

Might be an idea to sign up for a Charity ride or Sportive? - gives you something to aim for this summer. Also, a Garmin or bike computer can add a bit of fun to your riding.

kingrollo

Join www.dailymile.com - and start logging some miles !

dg74

welcome to the club. The forum mods should start a forum for people like us!

amaferanga

Pull up your shirt to expose your belly and look in the mirror

Robbie1958

I know exactly how you feel. But i liken it to hibernation and it's supposed to get warmer over the next week. there is something about feeling the warmth of the sun on your back that kinda wakes us up.

like someone else said looking in the mirror always helps, it makes me wonder why god didn't make everyone as good looking as me.....not

ilm_zero7

its not just the weather - its cycling alone for me, you feel the odd niggle when thinking about going out:
oh, is that a cloud? it might rain, or my stomach just rumbled, or my knee clicked -............... no you need some other bugger knocking on the door at the pre-arranged time who you dont want to let down and vice versa

out here it me against the machine - how I miss UK cycling,,,,, so its not the sun..

maxandpaddy

I know the feeling,

1, Sign up for a sportive.

2, Find a Cycle Buddie.

3, Join a Cycle Club.

4, And if you cant do it for your self do it for Charity.

Barteos

Get a mountain bike. It's more fun

ilm_zero7

Barteos
blasphemy!

gareth2134

Mettan wrote:

flyer wrote:

I need to get back in the groove any tips on sorting me out appreciated, and before you say it....................I know get out on your bike and get the miles in.

Might be an idea to sign up for a Charity ride or Sportive? - gives you something to aim for this summer. Also, a Garmin or bike computer can add a bit of fun to your riding.

Couldn't think of a better way to get motivated than entering into an event. You can spend your time training for it recording your efforts and then once you do the even you will probs wan't to do another and so on.

Also could I suggest getting some rollers for your bike for the winter. If your down about last winter then your going to be at squar 1 after the next winter to at least it givies you something to keep ticking along.

Goodluck.
P.s monitor your wine intake and if you feel theirs room for it to be cut down then do that as It's one less source of calories to shed your weight. Don't completely cut it out though you still have to enjoy your living and if your diets are to strict you stop enjoying everything.

nferrar

Yeah cycling alone too often demotivates me to, after a while any slight excuse and I'll stay in whereas if I've arranged a ride with someone I'll go out (unless a thunderstorm hits ). Events provide useful goals but for me they only help motivate me doing the harder training rather than just getting out on the bike (I've a 100km sportive this weekend but haven't done more than a 60km ride this year so far ).

nochekmate

If your boss at work is as crap as mine then that provides all the motivation one needs! I get out at lunchtime and often dream of never coming back - I look on it as therapy.

hugo15

I find that I need a goal otherwise my training just plods along. For me this is entering a couple of sportives each year, but it could also be a reward (new bike stuff??) when you do X many miles in Y months.

I also find that since I found some cycling buddies my enjoyment and motivation has massively increased, and I now go out on days when it would have previously been too cold/too wind/too wet/insert other excuse.

Good Luck!

Grazzio

Try looking at Twitter,

I follow all sorts of pro riders , cycling mags and brands, all the news topics and feeds from the pro's gets me motivated.

lance is on there also Brad wiggins, russ downing, UCI, Cycling weekly.

alsorts!

Ands

I have long-term goals and short-term goals. The short-term goals motivate me week by week. I just make them up as I go along - they're small & achieveable. E.g. The first time I rode a local hill it took me 4min 28. I set a target of under 4 mins, which I did on the 4th attempt. I have a couple of short steep climbs nearby that I had been riding in my 27 sprocket. I set a target of doing them in my 25. They're all random little goals but they keep me going, and help keep me focused on my long-term goals.

Good luck.

Crapaud

Barteos wrote:

Get a mountain bike. It's more fun