Giving up cycling?

Cressers

Has anyone had too for while? If so how did you cope? It's something I may have to conssider, though it won't be a sudden break, more a tapering off into 'utility' riding and maintaining that for as long as I'm able.

Pross

Gave up for 12 years after my first child was born. I didn't have the time to go out cycling for 3 or 4 hours and I've never been keen on getting kitted up for short rides. I coped quite easily most of the time but sat watching cycling on TV would give me withdrawal symptoms, especially on a nice summer's day. I also put on weight quite quickly!

Cressers

Well with me it's an unresolved 'gentleman's problem' , the fact that i'm getting too old for all this athletic malarky, and the fact that I don't find it any fun any more. Is it just a passing thing that will be cured by some time off the bike or is it something more?

Pross

Only you will be able to work that out. We are all different, I sometimes have to force myself out on the bike whilst others have to force themselves to take a day off.

Gazzaputt

Couldn't cope without it I don't think.

rick_chasey

I haven't cycled properly since June, since I got a job in London and lived with randomers for a while, who weren't keen on keeping my bike indoors (with nowhere else to keep it)

I bought myself a single/fixie (though it's just a road bike without gears) for London, which I'm taking up to London soon, since I now live with my GF. (it's being kept at the 'rents place till I can sort things out)


Not looking forward to the first few rides, especially in the cold. Can't wait for summer.

dilemna

When I was knocked down ten year ago I didn't cycle for about 18 month to 2 year due to my injuries, fear of being run down and just it not having the "innocence" it did before. I had been in scrapes before but nothing like being taken down that day over ten year ago now. I cycle again now but some thing was lost on that day so I don't enjoy it nearly as much but cycle more out of necessity than choice. Also to help keep fit but I run as well which has it's hazards - bloody dogs and their fecking owners plus feral kids.

Crapaud

Cressers wrote:

Well with me it's an unresolved 'gentleman's problem' , the fact that i'm getting too old for all this athletic malarky, and the fact that I don't find it any fun any more. Is it just a passing thing that will be cured by some time off the bike or is it something more?

The 'gentleman's prob' aside, how old is too old? I met an 80 year old in the Trossachs who regularly went out on the bike twice a week. There are at least 2 pensioners groups up here who meet up a couple of times a week for a tootle about. There are pensioners who audax.

Age isn't a barrier to cycling. If you're a racer / sportiver, TTer, maybe it's just time to think about changing what type of cycling you do once the 'gentlemans prob' has been dealt with. Something like the more leisurly and sociable CTC rides. One of the great things about cycling are that there are options that don't require athleticism.

jimmythecuckoo

I am moving house and my wife is soon to give birth to our first child...

not going to be much choice for me !

StillGoing

Been off for several months now following an op on the shoulder and a ganglion on the foot. Shoulder is now frozen so likely to have to be manipulated to free it up. I'm looking forward to that less than the prospect of regaining all the ground I've lost through not cycling.

pottssteve

There are three reasons why I can't give up cycling:

1. It gets me out of the house.

2. It gets me out of the house.

3. It gets me out of the house.


When I'm too old to cycle I'm getting an electric wheelchair.

Bobbinogs

...or a segway?

pottssteve

Bobbinogs wrote:

...or a segway?

Maybe, but I like a nice sit down....

sloboy

I had a gap of a couple of months May/June last year and also a bit of gentlemen's problem which was brought on by cycling. Based on what the consultant threatened to do if it happened again, I was taking it pretty easy and by so doing, greatly reducing the fun factor, which got me into a reducing viscious circle of reducing fitness, disappointing experience and reducing motivation.

Bottom came when I was out on my short, flat, easy spin 2 hr loop and blew up completely and had to crawl home. Since then, I've got a bit of a grip and I'm starting to exercise with a bit more enthusiasm and also get out on the MTB a bit more. It sound a bit geeky, but for the moment I'm riding with my HRM on the bars, so there's no risk of blowing up because I'm pacing based on speed rather than effort.

My conclusion is that there's no better exercise for me than cycling, and at 51 the only way is down so it's a question of getting on with it or getting old.

By the by - there are many really weird saddles out there (e.g. http://www.ismseat.com/products_racing.htm) including completely hornless ones. Apparently they take a bit of getting used to but may be worth some experimentation.

But to conclude - riding easy is ok, and has maybe 90% of the pleasure of thrashing it. However blowing is no fun whatsoever, so as your fitness drops away, you have to be ready to go slower. Do that, and the scenery's just as good, the air's just as fresh and the drivers are just as dangerous !

bobtbuilder

I had to miss 3 months this year (AUG-NOV) after tearing medial ligaments and cartillage playing rounders :oops: with my workmates.

It was an awful time, having only moved house in May and not knowing many people in my new area.

Really looked forward to getting back on the bike in November, and did enjoy first few rides. Have totally fallen out out love with riding since Crimbo though. I now only go out when my riding buddy suggests it, and then really only enjoy the banter with him rather than the actual cycling. Feels really strange as I've never suffered this before. :?

bompington

Haven't been on the Rusty Raleigh since early November, mostly due to the weather - I'm pretty inured to cold and a certain amount of snow and ice, but after a series of offs at the start of last winter, I'm a bit more disinclined to go out in it. Been out for a few dog-walking rides on the mtb, but even that's quite hard in 18" of snow (first few weeks), or on sheet ice (the rest of the winter). Now 58 days with snow in my back garden, but mostly gone now with epic rain & thaw at the weekend, so here's hoping.
One problem this winter which has been a bit new is that the early snowfalls were so heavy that the roads have had big banks of snow at the sides, narrowing most of them quite considerably - and leaving you without much option of diving for the verge if things are tight.

But all this is actually a bit irrelevant, because actually it's Bompette II who has taken a lot of my cycling time, most of which has always been commuting, and I made the choice to give that up when she was born - family life simply means that sometimes you have to make choices you would prefer not to.
It helps that, despite my liking for hanging around here bantering with real cyclists, I don't consider myself to be one, or at least I don't see my identity as "cyclist" (if any sport / hobby gets that, it's "climber", which I really don't do a lot of these days, simply because I've spent a lot more of my life doing it).
It's ruinous for my fitness, for sure, but better for my well-being overall, because in the end I get more satisfaction out of being in a relationship, and family, where I aim to give more than I get.

Still, if anyone knows of a training plan for the Etape C where I can get my time down from 4 1/2 hours to 4 without actually doing any cycling, let me know...

rick_chasey

bompington wrote:

Haven't been on the Rusty Raleigh since early November, mostly due to the weather - I'm pretty inured to cold and a certain amount of snow and ice, but after a series of offs at the start of last winter, I'm a bit more disinclined to go out in it. Been out for a few dog-walking rides on the mtb, but even that's quite hard in 18" of snow (first few weeks), or on sheet ice (the rest of the winter). Now 58 days with snow in my back garden, but mostly gone now with epic rain & thaw at the weekend, so here's hoping.
One problem this winter which has been a bit new is that the early snowfalls were so heavy that the roads have had big banks of snow at the sides, narrowing most of them quite considerably - and leaving you without much option of diving for the verge if things are tight.

But all this is actually a bit irrelevant, because actually it's Bompette II who has taken a lot of my cycling time, most of which has always been commuting, and I made the choice to give that up when she was born - family life simply means that sometimes you have to make choices you would prefer not to.
It helps that, despite my liking for hanging around here bantering with real cyclists, I don't consider myself to be one, or at least I don't see my identity as "cyclist" (if any sport / hobby gets that, it's "climber", which I really don't do a lot of these days, simply because I've spent a lot more of my life doing it).
It's ruinous for my fitness, for sure, but better for my well-being overall, because in the end I get more satisfaction out of being in a relationship, and family, where I aim to give more than I get.

Still, if anyone knows of a training plan for the Etape C where I can get my time down from 4 1/2 hours to 4 without actually doing any cycling, let me know...

Amphetemines, and lots of them. :P

Cressers

Eat plenty of Spannish meat...

bompington

Rick Chasey wrote:

Amphetemines, and lots of them. :P

I found some coffee the other day that was labelled as strength 6 on a scale of 1 to 5, maybe a couple of mugs of that...

and as for Spanish meat, all the chorizo I've eaten this year has got a lot to do with the problem...

TLDNMCL

Off the bike for almost 11 months now - just been told today that I am ok to get back on it

It probably helps that two of the doctors at my local surgery are sports nuts, one of them being an accomlished marathon runner, and the surgery nurse's family are all bike fans!

Had a catalogue of injuries and ilnesses which have kept me from riding, and my (lack of) fitness is no doubt going to come as a shock. Belly is bigger than it has been for years, my breathing is nothing like as clear as before, and my legs have returned to pipe-cleaner proportions; that said I'm confident that by summer, normal service will have resumed.

So giving up? No.
A change of riding type, terrain or intensity - maybe.

Good luck, and explore the alternatives if riding with a conventional saddle is out of the question.

753forme

Took ages to get back after my accident - can relate to dilemma's post. I feel that your priorities change as we go through life - I don't want to train hard and race anymore - after the health issues I'm just happy to ride and enjoy the company/scenery. One day I'll probably not be able to do it anymore so I want to while I can. Commuting to work also saves about £80 a month in petrol. But if its pissing down or icy then I don't ride. Do what you feel like but don't flog yourself to do something you don't want to - that's too much like work!!

Drysuitdiver

22 years is a fairish gap i imagine.

stopped at 16, when i started work- after riding to school everyday since i was 7, and got collected from home by a van , i morphed into the driver doing the collecting etc and just never got the chance. I bought a bike 10 years ago and rode it home from the shop. then it gently rusted away till september this year when I decided enough was enough and i needed to stop spending 90 minutes each way to do a 3 mile journey :shock:

I got the old rust bucket out, gave it a good clean and service and started to use it. it lasted a month before i got something a bit lighter and nicer to ride.

so glad I started back. never felt fitter and its clearing all the crud out of my lungs after 20 years of smoking