I'd like to hear you views on cycling boredom

Sesquepidilian

Try listening to audio books if the music is getting old. I mix between the two as the mood takes me.

B.M.R.

For me when I'm doing longer endurance training sessions where it's about the time on the bike at lower levels of effort, I use podcasts.
There are some good cycling based ones, but also podcasts about more or less anything you are interested in (i.e. I'm also a keen computer gamer so podcasts about this also are good).

I'm from the "only one earphone" camp though (and its only the ear closest to pavement), so my right ear (closest to traffic overtaking etc..) is still free, but because podcasts generally are just people talking you can hear more of the traffic anyway.

On shorter, more intense rides at TT pace or sprint workouts, I just find concentrating on what I'm doing stops me from getting bored.

I'm planning to get a Turbo for the winter, and plan to have my laptop in a position where I can see and hear it, and plow through DVDs and Sky Player movies, because Turbo training IS dull from what I understand!

But mostly on the road there's enough going on to keep me interested.

andy46

I don't get bored on the bike, I love it.

If your bored of riding the same roads stick the bike in the car. Within half an hour to an hour's drive you open up a whole new cycling world.

I did this yesterday and found some great riding on the moors, plenty of other cyclists out there too

chorlton chimp

Personally speaking I never get bored, although I am also a newbie. I tend to find when solo it gives me a lot of 'me' time. If you are riding on your own and you don't like your own company it's not the pastime for you I think.

I had a really rubbish ride over the xmas holidays, it was cold, wet and really windy and whichever way I turned the wind seemed to be in my face. I remember executing a 90 degree turn from one road to the next and the wind was, contrary to all laws of nature was still directly in my face. At that point I realised that for the preceding two hours I hadn't thought about work or any of the other cr@p that life throws up and all at once and for me, I 'got' cycling for the first time. It puts you in the moment, gives you something to do and little goals to conquer and targets to set and beat. Don't get me wrong, I still hated that ride but I got something out of it and I was never bored.

p9uma

tonye_n wrote:

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 shoot attitude. Take your superior sarcastic t'tude somewhere else.

Written without the slightest hint of irony. :P

verylonglegs

As already said it might not be for you as a pastime if you are having trouble with 35milers when you are so new to it, that rings alarm bells in all honesty. Have a think about what you are looking to get from your cycling as everyone has different attitudes and purposes. Personally route variation and ride type (ie, leisure, hard effort, with or without company) are important to me to keep it feeling fresh but I've been cycling for over 15yrs now. I also don't worry about average speed and training schedules, it turned it into a chore when I tried that, and I ride very little in the really horrible weather so I can sometimes end up with a prolonged break in the depths of winter which is probably good for me mentally too.

I've kind of made it sound I'm enduring cycling rather than enjoying it but that isn't so, really looking forward to taking the bike to the alps next year and I know I'll always cycle as long as the body lets me, I just needed to find out how to get the best out of it for me.

pride4ever

Find either someone to ride with or find the nastiest hills and descents, if your still bored after that your probably pursuing the wrong hobby.

CambsNewbie

I love looking around me as I cycle around. Cycle 99.9% in the country and love watching the seasons changing, the wildlife (almost crashed watching a hawk dive down and swoop on a mouse the other day) and just things like seeing how far they have progressed on a house I've been watching them build..

Also try not to do the same route two rides in a row and finally do things like see how far I can keep above a certain speed, strava is brilliant for motivating me to get out and see what I can do, seeing how far I can get up hills on the big ring, rides where I'm not allowed in the big ring, loads of stuff just to change it up.

JimboBrennan

I love a bit of 'me' time, so going for a nice long ride and thinking about everything and anything is incredibly meditative... so much so that I now find my stress levels rising inexorably if I haven't been out for a few days!

I couldn't do music on the bike, though I do regularly find myself humming along to whatever tune happens to pop in to my head, over the past few weeks there have been some incredibly random ones come up!

Maybe you should go at it a bit harder? I'm always feeling a bit knackered, then I get a second wind, then back to knackered... 2 or 3 hours just seems to fly by!!

CambsNewbie

JimboBrennan wrote:

I couldn't do music on the bike, though I do regularly find myself humming along to whatever tune happens to pop in to my head, over the past few weeks there have been some incredibly random ones come up!

Glad I'm not the only one! I get odd lines from songs stuck in my head and find myself just repeating a line or two over and over again. Sometimes it can be a song I've no idea why it's stuck in my head, and sometimes not even a song I particularly like and that is annoying! Then the more I try to stop it the more I do it!

The human brain is indeed a weird and wonderful thing!

p9uma

CambsNewbie wrote:

JimboBrennan wrote:

I couldn't do music on the bike, though I do regularly find myself humming along to whatever tune happens to pop in to my head, over the past few weeks there have been some incredibly random ones come up!

Glad I'm not the only one! I get odd lines from songs stuck in my head and find myself just repeating a line or two over and over again. Sometimes it can be a song I've no idea why it's stuck in my head, and sometimes not even a song I particularly like and that is annoying! Then the more I try to stop it the more I do it!

The human brain is indeed a weird and wonderful thing!

I do this too, and on my motorbike as well. I think it's called head radio, term coined by Neil Peart I think.

de_sisti

p9uma wrote:

....... term coined by Neil Peart I think.

Is that Neil Peart from the midlands, who did the etape in 2000?

dw300

If you're bored, then you aren't going fast enough. I'm not talking about an absolute speed, i'm talking about pushing your limits. If you're doing this then your brain should be more than occupied balancing your level of effort on that knife-edge between feeling like Merckx himself, or dying on your ass and blowing up. Heck, sometimes you've got to blow up on purpose, just out of curiosity and exploring your limits.

You're also riding a mountain bike on the road. The difference between that and a road bike is like the difference between a Land Rover and sports car.

slowbike

tyke1973 wrote:

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

I know what you mean - I've been out on solo "training" rides and sometimes have to really be strict with myself so I don't cut it short.

Unlike a lot of those above I don't get elated at just riding around the countryside - yes I enjoy a good view, but when you've seen that view time and time again it can dull the edge somewhat!

With a lack of enthusiasm for my surroundings it's the "Can I really be bothered" feeling thats the worst for me. I then have to concentrate on thinking about something else - and once I'm away in that world I can cycle on for ages!

The other motivation is the statistics - with full GPS/Map/HR/Cadence I'm spoilt for choice on what I can target - overall speed, HR, Intervals, steady cadence ... that's enough to give the mind something to concentrate on too.

As for upgrading the bike - I never used to ride much before I got my roadie -I had a cheapo hybrid - even with 23mm slicks it was slow ... because it was hard work for little gain I didn't enjoy riding it ... the road bike is (or at least feels) far more efficient and hard work pays significantly in terms of speed gained. And it's "just" an entry level machine ...

robz400

Never been bored on my bike. Had times of hating it, wondering what the hell i'm doing, wondering why I'm putting myself through so my pain but never bored...

I almost always listen to music and always ride pretty hard and find that the exercise itself is enough to keep me more than interested. I've recently started riding with my girlfriend and as such have had a few rides at much slower speeds and discovered that cycling can be pleasurable and relaxing as well as an exciting way of inflicting pain and suffering :-) :-)

Only got off my bike 2 hours ago and already looking forwarded to riding home!

snoopsmydogg

Haven't suffered boredom on a ride, have came to the point where I just want to be home but that in itself has kept me going.

99% of the time i will listen to music when i'm out on my own, partly to give me something to ride to and partly to get rid of the wind noise. With the volume kept low enough you can still hear traffic coming.

If i'm out with friends then no music as the banter is enough.

OP if you are having issues then why not try getting a riding partner and if thats not enough you could always sell the bike and go to the gym where you could watch telly and train at the same time

navrig

Fix an iPhone to the handlebars and watch a video or two?





Only kidding.

Ditch the music, enjoy the scenery and use the time to sort out life's problems.

Find some riding buddies.

il_principe

I never get bored on the bike. If you find yourself getting bored then set down some targets - sprint for a sign, push harder on a climb, stay out of the saddle until you reach that post over there, etc etc etc. If you're working hard you won't feel bored...

rick_chasey

If you're bored when you cycle it might be the wrong sport for you.

Frank the tank

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.

All of this.

Especially the music bit, alright on a turbo on the road a definate no no. I struggle to hear vehicles as it is when the wind whistles past ya lug holes never mind having ear phones in.

snoopsmydogg

Frank the tank wrote:

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.

All of this.

Especially the music bit, alright on a turbo on the road a definate no no. I struggle to hear vehicles as it is when the wind whistles past ya lug holes never mind having ear phones in.

music too loud?

I was out a while back with music playing and hear two cyclists coming up behind me chatting away.

slowbike

Rick Chasey wrote:

If you're bored when you cycle it might be the wrong sport for you.

That's only been said a dozen times this thread ... have you really got nothing better to contribute - or are you just bored?!

feelgoodlost

I think you've got to want to cycle in the first place - Not just because it's something you think you should be doing.

I never get bored when I'm out. I find that I can spur myself on to improve on a previous ride and see how hard I can push myself. Am I going to make it home if I've only been cycling for an hour and I already feel knackered? I'm 30 miles out from home and I have no other way of getting back other than to phone a friend or just keep going. I know it's been worth it when I get home and feel great for it. Yeah, I probably need to lie down for an hour but the sense of achievement makes it all worth while for me.

I don't listen to music but I can see why others might. I used to listen to music in my job all day. I play guitar and used to be in a band - I think I've just got tired ears from constantly listening/playing music.

Going out with a friend or two can be a good way to pass the time. You could be talking throughout the whole ride and before you know it you've done 40 miles! I do enjoy going out on my own, it's great to be able to get out and away from day to day stuff. It's great for just thinking about things and coming up with ideas.

Find something that you're passionate about. If it's not cycling then it's no big deal. There's plenty of other hobbies to get into.

JimboBrennan

p9uma wrote:

CambsNewbie wrote:

JimboBrennan wrote:

I couldn't do music on the bike, though I do regularly find myself humming along to whatever tune happens to pop in to my head, over the past few weeks there have been some incredibly random ones come up!

Glad I'm not the only one! I get odd lines from songs stuck in my head and find myself just repeating a line or two over and over again. Sometimes it can be a song I've no idea why it's stuck in my head, and sometimes not even a song I particularly like and that is annoying! Then the more I try to stop it the more I do it!

The human brain is indeed a weird and wonderful thing!

I do this too, and on my motorbike as well. I think it's called head radio, term coined by Neil Peart I think.

Good to know I'm not the only mental one... though it gets worse, my mrs broke the radio in the car and after a few weeks I found I was hearing an imaginary talksport argument in my head!

Now, where did I put the number for that psychiatrist?!

Rushmore

Buy an Xbox?

Teddy Westside

Rushmore wrote:

Buy an Xbox?

Don't forget, you'd need a dynamo to power it and the TV.

BowtomePhil

We all get bored in different ways, Gyms bore me, Cricket bores me. I haven't been bored on the bike yet, even after doing the same route 10 times in a row. I do look for new routes, but I like others tend to be thinking of other things and swearing at the wind and that takes my mind of being bored.

As others have said, if road cycling bores you, try a mountain bike in the woods, I enjoy that as much as road cycling. Sometimes though keeping fit is boring.

With cycling I hate it when it is windy, but if it is windy against me when I am start off, I know I will have an easier and quicker journey home, so some slowness for a fast ride home.

StillGoing

I don't mind the rain or cold but I hate the wind. I try and set out with it in my face in order to have it at my back coming home, but whoever controls it seems to turn it around so it's still in my face!

CambsNewbie

p9uma wrote:

CambsNewbie wrote:

JimboBrennan wrote:

I couldn't do music on the bike, though I do regularly find myself humming along to whatever tune happens to pop in to my head, over the past few weeks there have been some incredibly random ones come up!

Glad I'm not the only one! I get odd lines from songs stuck in my head and find myself just repeating a line or two over and over again. Sometimes it can be a song I've no idea why it's stuck in my head, and sometimes not even a song I particularly like and that is annoying! Then the more I try to stop it the more I do it!

The human brain is indeed a weird and wonderful thing!

I do this too, and on my motorbike as well. I think it's called head radio, term coined by Neil Peart I think.

Wanted to kill myself this morning.. Last song on the radio before I walked the dog was Ricky Martin Living la Vida Loca. Out on the bike.. What's going round and round my head? "she's into superstition..."

After about 20 mins of this was close to riding head-on into an on-coming lorry. It offered sweet release from the misery I was in! Luckily sanity kicked in at the last minute!

Epic Lolzzz

Ignore the music police, sometimes you hit on a song that practically drags you up a hill. Best advice for you is blag a cycling partner from somewhere. I go with a work mate and deciding on new routes and talking about new bike gear and training for charity rides is great fun.