Anyone retired from cycling?

SCR Pedro

Has anyone here decided cycling wasn't for them, for whatever reason, and decided to retire?

Do you miss it? Go out every once in a while?

lakesluddite

Not sure you're going to get that many affirmatives on this forum!? :shock:

sloppyschleckonds

Andy Schleck?

SCR Pedro

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Andy Schleck?

Reckon he's on this forum? What's amusing is that I am about ready to retire for more or less the same reasons as he has.

VmanF3

I doubt that I'll ever quit riding, but I occasionally feel like retiring from being a cyclist; burning the Lycra, selling the bikes and buying a Pashley town bike and just use it as transport. I get a little fed up of the attitude towards cyclists and how some cyclists behave. Some people in head to toe Lycra need to have a good long look at themselves.

Then there is the group thing...just visiting LMNH sometimes makes me question whether I want to be associated with beardy hipsters on fixies...

I love the fact it's more popular than ever, but some 'cyclists' just need to calm the heck down.

lesfirth

I retired from cycling fifty years ago. I was 18 then. I was too old for junior races and had to be with big lads in 2/3rd cat races and I found it hard. At the end of an evening training run ( some of you will know it- hazel grove, brickworks, whalley bridge, chapel, hayfield, glossop and back to belle vue) I had been dropped by the group way back and I was knackered. I sat on a form at the side of the road near Mottram and decided that was it, I was not good enough .I did not have what it took.

After riding bikes since I was about 5, I was an ex cyclist. I sold my bikes and found that there were parts of life I had not seen. There were girls and pubs. I never though again about cycling. I was too busy. Odd times over the years I had a go on a bike again but after 10 min the legs and lungs had forgotten what to do.

I rediscovered bikes again 4 years ago when I decided to become fit again and I persevered till my legs and lungs remembered what to do. I now love it again. Do I regret giving up all those years ago? Some ways yes and some ways no but I wish I had rediscovered it a bit sooner.

jgsi

lesfirth wrote:

I retired from cycling fifty years ago. I was 18 then. I was too old for junior races and had to be with big lads in 2/3rd cat races and I found it hard. At the end of an evening training run ( some of you will know it- hazel grove, brickworks, whalley bridge, chapel, hayfield, glossop and back to belle vue) I had been dropped by the group way back and I was knackered. I sat on a form at the side of the road near Mottram and decided that was it, I was not good enough .I did not have what it took.

After riding bikes since I was about 5, I was an ex cyclist. I sold my bikes and found that there were parts of life I had not seen. There were girls and pubs. I never though again about cycling. I was too busy. Odd times over the years I had a go on a bike again but after 10 min the legs and lungs had forgotten what to do.

I rediscovered bikes again 4 years ago when I decided to become fit again and I persevered till my legs and lungs remembered what to do. I now love it again. Do I regret giving up all those years ago? Some ways yes and some ways no but I wish I had rediscovered it a bit sooner.

Struck a chord that did... very similar.although joining up also stuffed the cycling.... then re entered the world of 'pain' in 2006 and entered TLI , LVRC races from 2009. Those guys who did stick at it are still there monstering the places in races.
I'm happy where I am... and hope to be still riding, probably not racing in my 70s... 80s with the Lord willing.

d_o_g

SCR Pedro wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Andy Schleck?

Reckon he's on this forum? What's amusing is that I am about ready to retire for more or less the same reasons as he has.

Knee injury, or want to spend time with family?

pastryboy

I've never been "bitten by the bug" and gone full on lycra or anything like that.

Just to and from work, fixed gear bike to save on maintenance, baggy shorts and that's it. I like to think I'm in the middle ground.

Being faster than eveyone else whilst not being in the [perceived] lycra lout clique is the best bit.

byke68

I'm with Pastryboy on this one except for the fixie (got rid of the Giant Bowery), ride to work some days, no lycra, no cycling shoes or helmet (sometimes), just go fast when I feel like it/need to.

SCR Pedro

D O G wrote:

SCR Pedro wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Andy Schleck?

Reckon he's on this forum? What's amusing is that I am about ready to retire for more or less the same reasons as he has.

Knee injury, or want to spend time with family?

Knee, and motivation. I did 100km on Sunday, and kept asking myself why I was bothering.

Phil_D

Me.

Five kids, three under two. It's impossible to fit it in, even commuting.

I live in hope.

bianchimoon

madasahattersly?

team47b

Most of the BB krew?

buccal

I have been contemplating it for a while.

Wiped out by a pothole in June and now 4 months off the bike and more importantly off work (self employed).

With a wife and family to support it's something I could have done without.

Most of me is desperate to get back on for both my physical and mental health.

However, part of me knows that I really really can't afford to go through a similar injury again.

Probably will know after the first few weeks back commuting. Would be a shame to chuck it as it's been a massive part of my life.

kingstonian

Until I was 19 I raced a lot, then a nasty foot injury stopped my racing career.

Last year, 21 years later, I had a knee op and as part of my recuperation was recommended by my surgeon to give cycling a go. That gave me the bug again and in June this year my custom steel bike arrived.

I'm still building up my cycling fitness, but love being out on a bike again.

ravenvrider

Retired from racing back in 95...threw bikes in shed and did not touch them for 5 years.

Then returned in 2000 for one event after 14 weeks training then bikes back in shed..


Rode a few summer Sundays the odd year from the on until.

2012 forced into commuting 3 stone overweight.

2013 broke my back on mtb...3 months off.

Still commuting but had an off 2 weeks ago..apex diesel wet road..

Kinda makes you wonder.

shockedsoshocked

Not retired, took a hiatus shall we say. University and getting smashed by a car coincided with going on the drink. 2 years and about 4 stone later time to get back. Massively regret not touching a bike in this time as all the nights out don't add up to the enjoyment of riding and racing.

damocles10

I hit a low point when I raced, putting in 20/25 hours a week took it's toll and I was ready to throw it all in....eight years later I'm still on the bike and enjoying every moment. I guess riding is part of my DNA now.

Crapaud

I didn't deliberately retire, but when I lost my commute 8 years ago my fitness plummeted. I'd built cycling into my life, but a driving job where my workplace was parked outside the front door put paid to that. I couldn't get motivated to go out just for a ride.

I did do a couple of shorter audaxes, but it was slow and painful; training just took up too much time.

I'm now 2 stone heavier - the fattest I've ever been.

Went out for the first time on Wednesday for a gentle, flat 10 miler - I want to get rid of the flab - and was surprised just how much I enjoyed it.

Aside from being motivated by the lard, a couple of aquaintances invited me to join them on a LeJog next year which appeals to me, so I'll need to start getting fit now if I decide to go.

Time will tell whether I'm back or not.