Keep motivated

Kallaen

Hey,

I'm in desperately need of motivation to keep cycling through this winter. I'm a road cyclist, who is trying to get commuting but have been struggling with some things to get it right. Since the temperature has lowered I can't seem to get the clothing right. This trying out and a bad mentality, with it's ups and downs, have done that I've lost my motivation to get out cycling.

Normally I would take the bike out for one or twice a week in the winter months just to keep my legs prepared for the season to come and beside that I'm always doing some running and a bit of strength training, which I can do all year without need for much motivation. But this year I would really like to start commuting (18,7 miles one-way) or keep bicycling 4-5 days a week.
It all started with my road bike being stolen and I had no bike for 3-4 weeks. Since that happened, even though I've bought a new road bike, which I really fancy, I can't get out on the bike as much as I would like to.
Every single day, whatever I'm in school or on the train, I'm day dreaming about being out on my new shiny bike, riding for miles and miles...! But ... it just ain't happening. :S

How do I find my edge getting motivated for cycling?

davis

It's probably temporary. Sometimes your enthusiasm ebbs a bit now and then.

As for the weather, the usual advice is to dress for the temperature. I ignore the rain when deciding what to wear. The general idea is that you should wear layers, and the "right amount" of clothing is the amount that lets you feel a bit cold when you walk out your front door.

Merino wool is pretty good as a practical, non-smelly, temperature-stabilising layer.

Oh, and mudguards. Mudguards, mudguards, mudguards.
That said, your distance is a healthy commute.

gsvbagpuss

If the commute is too long, can you drive part and bike the rest? I've got 15 miles to go, but have been building it up from 7 to 10 miles e/w. It's probably a banning offence to mention this dean a bike forum(,) but it's worked for me building up to the longer ride

Do you have a favourite ride? Go do that, don't think of commuting and enjoy the ride. The motivation will come back

Kallaen

davis wrote:

As for the weather, the usual advice is to dress for the temperature. I ignore the rain when deciding what to wear. The general idea is that you should wear layers, and the "right amount" of clothing is the amount that lets you feel a bit cold when you walk out your front door.

Merino wool is pretty good as a practical, non-smelly, temperature-stabilising layer.

Thanks for that advice - dressing up without thinking of the rain. I've got a DHB merino baselayer but I find it too hot at the moment, especially with a Giordana Fusion jacket on top of that. Awaiting some knickers from the UK, since I think that my winter gear is still too hot.
Probably need a long sleeved jersey and a windproof vest I can have in my bag pocket for when it's too windy/cold, or taking it on when in headwind and taking it off when I've got tailwind.

GSVBagpuss wrote:

If the commute is too long, can you drive part and bike the rest? I've got 15 miles to go, but have been building it up from 7 to 10 miles e/w. It's probably a banning offence to mention this dean a bike forum(,) but it's worked for me building up to the longer ride

I can't take a car, but train stops are on my commuter route. And I'm thinking about doing some of the commute and take the train or bike in, train home.

GSVBagpuss wrote:

Do you have a favourite ride? Go do that, don't think of commuting and enjoy the ride. The motivation will come back

I did just that this morning, stood up at 5.10 am and did a 1 hour ride before leaving to catch the train for school.
I'll keep doing some small or bigger rides to see if I can keep up the motivation even though the weather is turning colder and more windy.

0scar

I've extended my route by 6km each way to incorporate some more interesting roads. That way I have something to look forward to, or if I really can't be bothered I take the direct route and it feels like a short cut! I'm not sure how useful that is if your ride is already quite lengthy.

Do you have access to a shower at the other end? I usually pack/ lay out my stuff the night before, wake and go asap and have a shower at work. After a while it just become something you do, rather than a decision each morning to ride instead of taking the train

jonnyboy77

Not sure how helpful this is, but I only ever leave out my cycling gear the night before so that in the morning I instinctively dress ready to cycle, once dressed in shorts etc it's the only option! Then I grab my work clothes and hop on the bike.

- Jon

Kallaen

0scar wrote:

Do you have access to a shower at the other end? I usually pack/ lay out my stuff the night before, wake and go asap and have a shower at work. After a while it just become something you do, rather than a decision each morning to ride instead of taking the train

No, shower at the school and only a little box where I can put my cycling gear and changing clothes. Which means that my cycling gear will be sweaty when I take it on for the return trip - not fun, but I can't hang it up since it smells very badly and I don't want all my gear to be out on a open toilet where everybody can come and go.

I take a shower before I leave from home and prepare everything the day before. Which means putting my change cloth and laptop in my backpack and taking all the needed cycling gear ready to pick up.

I think my metabolism is freaking out. Got problems with body temperature, with hands and feet freezing must of the day. Even though I try hard to stay hydrated and eat well - but that could also be the problem

Bordersroadie

It's a good thread, this. Motivation is hard on a cold, damp, dark morning! The advice above is key I think, about laying out your cycling gear the night before (or more accurately, chucked in a pile on the floor!). That's what I do. Shower the night before, sleep, wake, dress in cycling gear, grab a banana and a glass of water, grab the pre-packed bag, get on the bike and ride. Before I've even woken up properly, I'm on the bike. After the first mile I'm congratulating myself on having done it again!

Like many things in life, the hard bit is geting started and it's never as bad as it seems once you're going!

I'm lucky that I can dry my cycling gear in front of a fire at work. Maybe you could just take a spare dry base layer - virtually no added weight and once you've cycled the first mile you'll be starting to sweat and getting warmed up.

I think Davis had good advice too, dress so that when you get out the front door you fee a little too cold. A windproof of some sort is a must. I use a cheap windproof gilet that usually comes off once I'm warm, and it folds down to nothing in my back pocket.

The good thing is that motivation for the ride home is not really needed, because either I ride home or I stay at work!

Bordersroadie

Oh, Davis, I also agree with mudguards, mudguards, mudguards. I recently made an extended flap on the front one (out of the thin side of a Flash Liquid bottle) that extends down to 50mm off the ground, and it has made a tremendous difference - my feet stay dry even through the deepest puddles and my bottom bracket, chainset and front mech are no longer caked with mud.

It's all these little things added together (also like good lighting for my rural commute) that make it easier to be motivated because the task of commuting is made less unpleasant by each thing.

So the way I would approach it is to figure out what things about your commute you find uncomfortable or the things that erode your motivation to get out on the bike in the morning, and then ask yourself, for each thing, "What can I do to make that thing either a non-issue or reduce the problem it causes me?"

Kallaen

Bordersroadie wrote:

I'm lucky that I can dry my cycling gear in front of a fire at work. Maybe you could just take a spare dry base layer - virtually no added weight and once you've cycled the first mile you'll be starting to sweat and getting warmed up.

I think Davis had good advice too, dress so that when you get out the front door you fee a little too cold. A windproof of some sort is a must. I use a cheap windproof gilet that usually comes off once I'm warm, and it folds down to nothing in my back pocket.

The good thing is that motivation for the ride home is not really needed, because either I ride home or I stay at work!

Really some good advice! I'm definitely getting some extra baselayer I can change for the home trip and a windproof gilet. Home trip is a necessity - not letting the bike standing on a open school during night time, that's for sure!

Bordersroadie wrote:

So the way I would approach it is to figure out what things about your commute you find uncomfortable or the things that erode your motivation to get out on the bike in the morning, and then ask yourself, for each thing, "What can I do to make that thing either a non-issue or reduce the problem it causes me?"

Good one too! Will keep that in mind.