I'd like to hear you views on cycling boredom

tyke1973

I've only recently started cycling after quitting the cigs.
Today I went out on a route of 35 miles. This is my longest so far. Like I say i'm only new.
Anyway, I have my music playing and the route was new to me, But I found myself bored after a while.
I'm using a mountain bike with road tyres at present with a view to getting a Triban 3 when funds permit.
But after today I'm really not sure about upgrading my bike, although I was fatiqued, it was the boredom that was the biggest challenge. How do you guys get round this?

Thanks in advance

StillGoing

Ditch the music, you don't need it and use your ears to listen for potential hazards from behind. Boredom? Concentrate on technique, enjoy the scenery and make an effort and you won't have time to get bored.

charlie_potatoes

Road Cycling may not be for you. I think that you need to be enjoying the exercise that you are doing otherwise it will just be another fad that will tail off.
At least you are going to find out before you invest more money.
How about changing your tyres and getting off road?

Agree with Philthy3 about the music.

pdsalmon

Plan a route that takes in somewhere nice for a stop off - cafe, park, nice village, town etc

Aim to get there, and look forward to a rest and a cake when you arrive.

On the way back home, look forward to sitting on your sofa when you arrive.

Secteur

Sounds like road cycling isn't for you!

I have never once felt bored on the bike - I love every second and that's the passion that roadies have.

By the way - music whilst riding? Are you serious?? Not sure where to even start on that one!

fizz

I dont ever get bored.

I'm out in country and there's loads to see, being on the bike I'm higher up than I would be in the car, so you can see more over hedges into the fields etc. I dont like to ride with music on, so theres the thrum on wheels on tarmac and the sound of the finely honed transmission.

There the sound of birdsong, Skylarks in the fields, You can sneak up on wildlife, so see plenty of rabbits and I've come across foxes and badgers in the winter when commuting home in the dark. I've seen buzzards as well. Swallows catching their meals on the wing and I've seen a bat or two as well.

Open your ears and your eyes, take in the world around you and if you live in the countryside like I am lucky enough to do, you wont be bored.

tyke1973

I live in the Lake District and to be honest, criminal as it sounds, I no longer notice the surroundings, i've had 40 years of it so the wow factor has long since gone. I don't think I could've done 35 miles without music really.
I'm going on Whinlatter trails next week, hopefully it will be more up my street.

p9uma

You live in the one of the most beautiful ace in the world, you have miles and miles of stunning country side on your doorstop to ride in.

You're bored!

I really don't know what to say!

dabber

TBh, if you aren't enjoying it... stop doing it. It's an optional activity.

gryfon23

You might get used to the length of time, it so new for you that it takes time to adjust. Going with another person can make the miles fly by.

If you are listening to music (and I often do) then it can be better to have it on a random shuffle. If you know your music and know which track is coming next then it can make the time seem longer, but on random, you are always surprised at what pops up. Well it works for me on cold damp winter slogs.

lc1981

Maybe riding in a group would help. Have you looked into local clubs? But as several people have said, perhaps it's just not for you. I've never been bored cycling but not everyone can enjoy every sport, and there's no shame in concluding that cycling isn't for you.

tyke1973

lc1981 wrote:

Maybe riding in a group would help. Have you looked into local clubs? But as several people have said, perhaps it's just not for you. I've never been bored cycling but not everyone can enjoy every sport, and there's no shame in concluding that cycling isn't for you.

Good reply, forums are littered with smart alecs usually

Raffles

To your average joe, a form exercise is often met with rolled eyes and sense of dread. When it comes to road cycling, be it with the club or solo, I just cant get enough of it. Headphones in your ears pumping out music on a ride can get very tiresome indeed, I have a little fm / mw radio walkman that I bring out with me on solo rides. I dont listen to chart music garbage, or bilge like radio 1. Instead I listen to radio 5 live as I go and thats one cool radio station, that mercifully doesnt play music. Either cycling does it for you or it doesnt, ditching the walkman would be a good start for you.

mattshrops

Not knocking anyone for doing it, its your choice, but it amazes me that some folks cant even walk down the road without the music on. As others have said never got bored on the bike, love being out, looking round,finding a new route,pushing on or just taking it easy. Its all good.

rolf_f

mattshrops wrote:

Not knocking anyone for doing it, its your choice, but it amazes me that some folks cant even walk down the road without the music on. As others have said never got bored on the bike, love being out, looking round,finding a new route,pushing on or just taking it easy. Its all good.

Have to say it depresses me that everything seems to need a musical accompaniement these days. Personally, after the Olympics I felt I'd like to go back in time and stab Vangelis to death repeatedly some time before he composed the Chariots of sodding Fire theme but never mind.

Anyway, don't get bullied by those who seem to think that listening to music on bike is the sort of behaviour only a mass murderer would indulge in. I'll admit that I used to be of that view until I discovered that there is a volume control. I sometimes listen to Radio 4 ( :oops: ) on the bike but my mobile phone is incapable of playing it at a volume that allows it to drown out any traffic noise at all. Do listen to music if you must but make sure the volume is such that you can only hear it when cars are not about.

But otherwise I am a bit puzzled by the OPs boredom. Mostly I just think about stuff. If I was more entrepreneurial I would have invented loads of stuff whilst cycling by now. As it is, probably civilisation will soon grind to a halt because nobody thinks anymore. They are just always listening to music!

declan1

I get extremely bored, so I go for a cycle. I get back from the cycle, and instantly get bored again.

Crankbrother

There's a hill near to bowness on windermire with a 38% stretch on it ... Try that and see if you're still bored ...

If I can find the garmin ride i'll post it for you ...

satnavsteve

Have to say it depresses me that everything seems to need a musical accompaniement these days.

Couldn't agree more. Especially on the BBC.

Anyway, cycling and boredom? Never suffered from it. But then I started cycling as a "therapy" from a stressful job so it has always been something I look forward to, and now I'm addicted.

Doesn't sound like its your thing.

hstiles

You need a cycling 'buddy'. A bit of company and a bit of subconscious competition can make a ride much more challenging and enjoyable. Your local cycling club is a good starting point, followed by the skyride social cycling website.

rsands

love cycling, its a pure bug. definately would recommend group riding...alot more fun

Raffles

My next ride with the club is on Tuesday evening..................and I cant wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

desweller

At work or at home there is always noise and something demanding my attention. It wears me out. I love being able to switch off on the bike. I can think about whatever I want, whenever I want. Or I can just indulge in the countryside (Cotswolds) and bowl along.

So no, I don't get bored.

raymondo60

DesWeller wrote:

At work or at home there is always noise and something demanding my attention. It wears me out. I love being able to switch off on the bike. I can think about whatever I want, whenever I want. Or I can just indulge in the countryside (Cotswolds) and bowl along.

So no, I don't get bored.

+1 - one (of the many) benefits of cycling is that it enables one to get away from all the 'stuff' that clutters up the mind. I've had some of my best ideas while riding a bike, for business, for songs and writing etc. I also treat cycling as a form of 'meditation' at times, especially when commuting, and there's the chance to concentrate on how one is performing on the bike, the physical feeling of riding a bike. Its the best therapy ever if you're into it...

ben@31

Every time I try to do a different route, a change of scenery and explore. One week I'll go east, the next I'll go west, this week I'm going to cycle south.

I deliberately cycle on country backroads that I never drive down, mostly so there's no other traffic when I'm out cycling. Sometimes I've had the entire road to myself.

When I've cycled with a friend and talked all the way around the loop, the miles fly by.

tonye_n

philthy3 wrote:

Ditch the music, you don't need it and use your ears to listen for potential hazards from behind. Boredom? Concentrate on technique, enjoy the scenery and make an effort and you won't have time to get bored.

+1
All that needs to be said about this really.

nikgibson_1

Have you got the strava app on your phone, I find that if I set up segments on my common route then it makes the ride more interesting as I always want to try and beat my previous times. Also once you have segments set up then you could also check your time against others who also ride your route.

Bordersroadie

Yeah, I know what you mean about getting bored on a bike ride. I usually take some juggling balls with me to give me something to do, or if it's a really long ride, a crossword or Sudoku book, these usually see me through, I don't know how I'd cope with the sheer boredom otherwise.

giropaul

I'd guess that many here are fairly new to serious cycling (say 5 years or less), so I can understand the enthusiasm. After 30 years or so in an area I do get the "same old roads" feeling occasionally though, so I've some empathy with the OP.

Personally I find that going out in company, having a purpose to the ride (meeting others at a cafe at a set time say), and sometimes just putting a bike in the car and going somewhere attractive or different all help. A chill-out ride along a track or trail works well for me as well.

tonye_n

Bordersroadie wrote:

Yeah, I know what you mean about getting bored on a bike ride. I usually take some juggling balls with me to give me something to do, or if it's a really long ride, a crossword or Sudoku book, these usually see me through, I don't know how I'd cope with the sheer boredom otherwise.

:roll: that's just shit attitude. Take your superior sarcastic t'tude somewhere else.

bykerbloke91

Like has been said by a few, I'm addicted to cycling!

The open roads, the adrenaline rush from conquering hills and descending the other side, the scenery.. Boredom doesn't even enter the equation.

Even by reading posts/watching videos on cycling I just can't wait for the next ride.

Valy

Road cycling can get a bit monotonous at times sure, but that rarely happens - maybe it is not your thing. You should try cycling on dirtroads/paths/trails - that should be a lot more exciting.