cant find the motivation or energy

foo-fighter
foo-fighter Posts: 113
edited May 2011 in Road beginners
I'm still pretty new to all this and seem to be struggling to find the motivation or energy to go out on a ride, i want to go out almost every day but im always tired by the time i get in from work (mentaly more than physicaly), today is a good example of what im getting at . Iwent out to work at 3.45 am this morning and finished just before 2 this afternoon , i came home with the intention of going out for an afternoon ride but i just cant seem to get in to the mindset of going out. On my days off im fine but not work days. Anyone got any ideas what i can do to try and kick myself in to gear?

Thanks

Comments

  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    JFDI
  • -steves-
    -steves- Posts: 99
    As the man says above ^^^ Once you have been out and done it, you will feel better for it :lol:
  • saintdracula
    saintdracula Posts: 232
    SLEEP AND EAT MORE AND DO MORE STRETCHING

    EDIT: and drink more olive oil. A tablespoon in the morning...although half of the table spoon I dipped wholemeal bread in. MOAR FAT YES
  • rbleightonbuzzard
    rbleightonbuzzard Posts: 116
    Try not to 'over' think it. Have your stuff ready to go for when you get home and don't ask yourself the question.

    Well it works for me.
    http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/2829 ... achine.jpg
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Can you cycle to work?

    I find that on low motivation days or when the weather's bad I go mountain biking instead. I use less energy than on the road bike. You go slower on the mtb so don't notice the wind as much either.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • boggybrn
    boggybrn Posts: 29
    Often the hardest bit is getting your kit on and dragging the bike out of the garage. Once out and riding then you are liekly to feel much better.

    Try to make a deal with yourself that you can only decide if you're too tired after you have been riding for 10 minutes. So whatever you feel like get out on the bike, and then if you still don't feel up to it then go back home.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Another thing is that the bike(s) should always be ready to ride with no outstanding work needed to slow things down.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • foo-fighter
    foo-fighter Posts: 113
    some good suggestions in there i think tomorrow i will come home and just go straight out after getting changed so i dont have time to doubt going out. It could be easier if i had someone to ride with but i always go alone as none of my friends are realy into cycling,anyone here from the Reading area??
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    Try and join a club?, or start training for something specific, that can get the motivation going.
  • MattJPaul
    MattJPaul Posts: 95
    It is tough to motivate yourself after work when you're tired; I would always change into my kit as soon as I got home, crucially BEFORE I sat down and the temptation to not move again kicked in.

    So, pretty much what you said, get changed before the doubt can creep in and the biscuit tin comes out.
  • Dmak
    Dmak Posts: 445
    If you can motivate yourself to simply get into your cycling gear, you'll go out. You'd look bloody silly if you didn't!
  • richard205
    richard205 Posts: 51
    Danowat has already said it, but look for events in your area and then set one of them as a goal.

    Dont have to go to the extreme that i did and sign up for a 100miler but within 6 weeks i'd got myself into a condition where pushing 50-60 miles and not feeling like i was a fish out of water.

    I really enjoyed the event, and also that i could actually do a 100 miler without suffering too much.

    Its difficult, i know as i slipped back into the same lull before christmas. Demoralised at work, personal pressures and it being bloody freezing brought things to a stop

    Getting back on the bike hurt. A lot.
    But now although time is at a premium and a big shift in lifestyle, i enjoy the few hours on the bike. So another day of monotony at work and signed myself up for another 100miler.. :lol:

    Works for me. But the club route will also help. Thats my next avenue..

    Richard
    Its Italian, its carbon.....and some lanky tool rides it.
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    I know how you feel.

    I am pretty much off the bike just now as I am doing two jobs with a 40 mile commute between them and am permanently knackered.

    I did text a few friends one Friday night and said "who wants to go out for a ride tomorrow?" I got replies that made me do it. It was fantastic! Felt rusty but very good to be on the bike.

    Honestly, once you are on the bike, you wonder what all the fuss was about.

    One more tip in the current weather: ride out with the wind behind you. By the time you have to turn back into it, you're ready for it and, anyway, you've no choice! (Normally, the tactic is to do the opposite, but if your morale is already fragile, these headwinds could send you home before you get started.

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    You have some lovely country side out side of Reading. I rode from London to Wantage last year (a few times) and the ride from Reading to Wantage over the Downs and through Blewbury is good challenging (but not impossible) ride.

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