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Moving south from Stirling 8 years ago really put a big halt on everything for me - even though the Lakes is a good place to be, the lack of mates to go out with and other commitments that followed on just stopped it all. I was getting out occasionally, but not enough.
Then came injury, surgery... another injury...
Just trying to get back out now - arranged to go out with a mate every other weekend to fit in with family stuff, and hopefully that will spur me on to getting out on my own between times.
I still have a great time when I do get out, and I need to do more of it to rebuild fitness/strength and shift some pounds... so it's not a chore, just finding the hours that I need to dedicate to it is the issue. I need to get my time better organised as my wife wants me to take her out on the bikes once a week too!
Kronos, living in the lakes and not biking? Get yer finger oot man!
Riding my #Gravel bike way more than my MTB, you can just go out and do an hour, CBA with nightriding through mud all winter any more Also been doing longer rides home from work as I know I won't be able or CBA to go out later after kid's in bed.
Having said that had a solo night ride last night and it was great, dry trails, bright lights and headphones in.
I'm at the other end of the spectrum.
Having failed miserably to get out for most of the year (<400miles upto September) and several false starts commuting (50miles a day so you can see how pathetically few times I managed it!). I've met up with the Trolls again as TH is sort-of on my way home in the car.
2x a week for the past month and loving it! Actually looked down at my legs last night whilst spinning up a hill and didn't recognise them! Planning to make it to 3x a week once I've got enough fitness back to suffer at the back of the fast group!
Might even (shhhhhhh!) get the road bike out and re-join the local road club for some secret winter training.
Came back from biking in sunny, dusty climes September and the FS is still lying untouched in the bike bag. Headed down to Drumlanrig on the old 'winter' hardtail at the weeekend for the first ride since holiday and I AM CURED 🙂
I really struggled after doing far too much riding in 2016, i was commuting 198 miles a week and trying to do events at weekends to and covered 9000 miles which you would think would make me fit, but in the end i did too much and overtraining meant i gave myself depression of sorts, had no immune system and every time i tried to ride, my legs felt like lead so i barely rode from November 2016 through to August 2017 as i got frustrated with how quickly i lost fitness.
But the cloud started to lift and i tackled getting back on the bike in a few ways:
- Rode bikes purely for fun, bought a decent fat bike and rode the beautiful coastline near me, no Garmin and no worrying about distance.
- Bought a cheap Singlespeed CX bike, so i can ride from my door even if it just for an hour a mixture of road or bridleways and not worry about putting bike away dirty and just ride for fun.
- Entered a few challenging events next year, made sure i actually paid for them, not just say i'm going to do them.
- I talked about cycling at a few social get togethers and a couple of other guys from the village have bought mountain bikes, and seeing there enthusiasm as they are new to it and loving it has spurred me on.
I’ll be heading back north from Greece at the end of this month and I suspect that I’ll find it a real struggle to motivate myself to ride the usual winter slop, rather than the nice, steep limestone techy stuff that I’ve become all too used to here.
I am looking forward to getting out on my singlespeed again though, so hopefully that’ll give me some motivation over the winter.
I didn't ride a bike from the end of July to the end of September this summer. Family and holidays and work shit got in the way massively and I just couldn't find the motivation to get out. Started getting me down in September, so I gave myself a bit of a talking to, and seem to be rolling along nicely again now.
I did stop riding bikes completely between about 2000 and 2008 though, and I came back from that ok, so I'm not too worried by a couple of off months. Sometimes you just need a bit of a break...
I'm not finding much time to ride for 'fun'. but I still commute by bike so that keeps my base fitness levels OK
Have a mate that's moved to somewhere interesting so have done a couple of evening pootles near him, which is good. Used to have a regular evening pootle with a mate, haven't done that in a while now
BUT, i'm doing some bikepacking tomorrow, which makes me very excited!
I've become an in-door cyclist with the help of an Elite Direto smart trainer and Zwift.
I really CBA to go outside to ride, cold, dark, damp, slippy leaves, insane drivers (if I ride on the road), puddles and mud if I'm off road and the seemingly constantly soaked and cold leading foot.
I was struggling to get out after an illness earlier this year, then remembered that, even when reluctant to ride you never ever regret it after, so I ignored the lazy sod inside and started again. Then I lazily drifted into just ticking over, so told myself I have to ride 3 times a week at least, and must focus on upping fitness ready for next Spring. 3 weeks into this latest regime and I keep coming back knackered from not much exertion, but I know in a few weeks I'll start to see the benefits. Sometimes you just have to ignore your lazy side, and being as I'm at the 'use it or lose it forever' age, I can't indulge the lazy git any more
I think Strava has killed it. My riding mates suddenly got too serious and pushed each section constantly rather than just getting out for a ride, chat and few beers like we used to. I saw it as a social thing, they turned it into an extension of the gym.
The eldest (7) was supposed to be up for a ride this morning, she changed her mind so we went to the cinema instead.
I do need to sort myself out, it's just tougher than normal this time of the year.
At 63 I'm aware that I have a finite amount of rides left and may have to scale down expectations, on the other hand every ride is a blessing even the shite ones ,it's all good- the worst rides make the best pub stories
It's a real struggle for me. Been out since the end of June with a back injury. Have been waiting for surgery but that is off now. Getting back into it slowly. Rode Llandegla last Sunday, 21 miles, 2500ft, and I was busted. My legs had given up with about 5/6 miles to go. It's going to take a long time building back up again and have lost touch with riding buddies.
I'm based in south Manchester, so not much riding around these parts. Can someone drag me out on Sunday please?
I think Strava has killed it. My riding mates suddenly got too serious and pushed each section constantly rather than just getting out for a ride, chat and few beers like we used to.
That's not Strava's fault.
I really don't like strava so I don't use.Life is simple .
Some days Im not able to kick myself out the door for a ride, usually on grey/damp days, when I then later beat myself up for not popping out for at least 30mins.
I can't remember the last time I kicked myself out for a ride and beat myself up for getting out, even if it was a gentle pootle rather than a zone 4/5 hill reps session... I always feel better for it.
Sounds like it was habitual and now you've fallen out of the habit. Its best to ease yourself back in. Just schedule in (say) 90mins easy of riding every sat morning for a month. The rest will probably follow from that and you'll back in the habit on the road to peak fitness again before you know it.
I'm lucky in that shortly after having my first spawn, we moved further from my work and the commuting miles now keep me fit.
It can be a struggle once you lose fitness, I know people that would like to come out but worry needlessly about holding other people up.
As someone else says up there, I've never ever regretted getting out on the bike (except when I've broken myself, and it wasn't the ride itself I regretted!)
Mr potatohead, I'm 62 and having to scale down my expectations too, but even though I don't go as far/fast as I used to I can still get a lot out of riding, not least that post-ride buzz that resets my mood for the better. While the return for the energy I put in is so good I'll keep going
I've periodically struggled to motivate myself to get out on the MTB throughout all my 23 years of riding!
I have some little tricks like getting my MTB out of the shed and putting it somewhere prominent in the house for a few days, which gives me a mini boost in motivation as I can see what I want to do.
It's so often linked to weather, time, family, pressures etc... but I don't think I've *ever* regretted going for a ride. 🙂
I'm based in south Manchester, so not much riding around these parts. Can someone drag me out on Sunday please?
Hi Colin, drop me a line if you wanna ride Rivi or somewhere.
I need to get back out after flu and complications.
this is the third year I've set myself a target of 3000, miles.. and this is starting to look like the third year I'm going to miss it.
Last year I was 110 miles short.
I'm currently at 2600 miles, so know it is more than achievable if I get off my arse and ride. But (and last night was a good example) I'm too easily distracted into sitting on the sofa with the kids, rather than getting all dressed up and going out into the cold/dark..
mildbore- I agree , I still ride and still enjoy it but just no longer expect to be fit without putting a fair amount of slog in as I'm sure you do too.I'd rather keep going than miss time trying to get fit again in spring
To be honest I have been struggling for a while! My initial excitement of getting my first FS got me out a lot, but then I started to dislike the bike and it became more of a drag, than fun.
Hoping the new bike will bring the fun part back.
Just coming out of that spell, my year so far has been - start unfit, ride loads and get fit, sign up for alpine holiday, back injury, lose all fitness in 10 weeks off the bike, couple of weeks to get some strength back, come back from holiday slightly fit, lose interest and fitness, now interest has sparked again.
Ordered wheels for my favourite bike two months ago, never spotted they were centre lock before ordering and left them sitting. This week I ordered parts for it and have fitted them as soon as each part arrives. Cannot wait to get it out tomorrow now!
So try ordering some new parts to see if working on it will re-ignite your interest.
Or take a break and don't beat yourself up.
I've been struggling for a couple of years back and foot pain caused to flog the shand 🙁 went mtb but still had issues but not as bad. Took up jogging had back and ankle issues still, struggling to run over five minutes in the end. turns out it's all related to muscles in my calf, five weeks of physio and I ran 10 km pain free for first time in years.
All set for a ride and then unfortunately cut through the tendons in the end of my index finger 🙁 so now fit to ride but I can't aahh.. Hopefully when I'm healed the bike ride will be pain free touch wood.
Glad I appear sorted gutted about the shand tho 🙁
Yep, one piddly 3 mile ride on the mtb and one 5 mile commute during which I was nearly killed to death in the last 2 months, and not much more in the 2 before that.
I've just been busy with other things, work, motor club commitments, watching rallies, putting new oil tank in, weddings, being knackered after work etc etc etc
A stone heavier than this time 2 years ago, two new bikes in the shed hardly ridden, and little motivation to ride at the moment, despite having replaced my car with a van primarily for easier biking..........
Last big commitment/busy weekend this weekend then hoping to get back at it.
This afternoon I bunked off work early, rode straight from work to local trails so didn't get bogged down in home stuff, bit knackered after a good ride last night so went and worked on a trail thats unrideable in the summer, cleared logs, sticks and scraped off deep leaves so I could find the proper line. Took about an hour or so then rode it 3 times, made me happy so rode some other stuff till I had no legs then went for a pint.
If you're struggling for riding motivation try some trail maintenance, building or just looking for new bits to ride or things practice on, rather than banging out same miles for the sake of it.
If you're struggling for riding motivation try some trail maintenance, building or just looking for new bits to ride or things practice on, rather than banging out same miles for the sake of it.
This is what works for me.
Yep always this time of year, last mountain bike ride was the end of September and completely put me off. The trails were a complete mud bath weather was awful road my hard tail for the first time in ages by the end of it I had a bad back and a stiff neck.
So i thought screw this I will get a road bike, borrowed one from my father in-law and been on it once with a mate, enjoyed it a lot more than expected so signed up to cycle to work scheme to get my own. Just been told it could be 2 months until I get my vouchers. Now cant get motivated to do go out on the road bike I am borrowing thinking maybe a cx bike is more my style.
I think my main problem is I tell myself I should be out riding but if I try to make myself ride I ride even less. Sometimes I think you can over do it. The weather and mud doesn't help either.
Also im bored of my local trails done them to death so planning a trip to coed y brenin for a change of scenery.
I'm struggling to find motivation. Always do this time of year due to work commitments (Teaching). I find I'm exhausted after work and at weekends. The only real motivation I have it to keep my fitness up. It dropped a little in September after a lovely summer of no work, good sleep, lots of long rides and then only finding time for 1 ride a week. Now i find I'd rather have a lay in till 10 then spend an hour on the turbo and have an early lunch.
I'm struggling with energy. My riding always tails off from October and picks up a bit at Christmas, but this autumn has been particularly shit. Had a cold and awful jet lag for 2 weeks, and it's rained almost every day for 2 months. I was so tired a few weeks ago that my legs were buzzing. Had 10 days off the bike and feel a bit better, but I'm less fit and have the autumn blues.
OP I've ridden very little this year, mix of work, injury and other priorities.
I'm just getting stuck back in. A really good bunch of people to ride with means I'm getting motivated again and also some merciless Mick taking for my lack of fitness is putting me on a mission to get it back!
Well, I put a shout out to some riding buddies this weekend, but ultimately, I couldn't make the times when they were available. I still dug the MTB out and went for a ride though, and was glad I did, even though I had to dig really deep on the way home and I'm feeling it today!
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Climbing up towards the woods, I was treated to a lovely view of a snow capped Ben Lomond....brrr, Winter is Coming!
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I must admit that I was taking it a bit easy as the trails were buried under leaves, hiding the teflon coated roots of death.
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In all the years of riding these woods, I've never been to this bit, and was quite lost at this point. I'd taken a new track that was revealed by the vegetation dying back. It led up into a stand of forestry, but I veered away from the main track when I spotted a bunch of tents and some blokes wandering around them. I've seen Deliverance....
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Nowt much to say about this, other than it just makes me smile every time I stop here.
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From the end of the trail, I've got a 15 mile road ride back home. Some sort of energy drink before tackling that is a given. 😛
I made the effort, and even though I'm not so keen on riding solo nowadays, I still had a grand day out. I was really hurting on the long drag home, and was pretty much useless for the rest of the day, but I'm so glad I made the effort.
I have my lights charged now and am going to try and get out for a night ride this week.
Guid stuff.
Finally got out on the cx bike yesterday, 40 miles off road and I was blowing out my arse for most of it and a sore post-operation shoulder as well but it was a lovely day and the start of trying to regain some fitness.
Beagleboy - Member
Well, I put a shout out to some riding buddies this weekend, but ultimately, I couldn't make the times when they were available
well played beagy, glad you got out. You didn't miss much anyway 🙂
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Big thanks to chakaping for taking me around Rivington for a quick blast. Was very wet and quite muddy in places, but very enjoyable sliding around on the bike again. Has reminded me why I need to get out more.
I always struggle at this time of the year, the change of seasons tends to get me frustrated with the lack of light, cold, wet, mud & reality of acceptance that this will be the case for the next 4/5 months.
However, I made myself go out yesterday afternoon & actually had a nice time. Now I have an HT i'm enjoying the local stuff a lot more & it's much easier to ride nearer the limits.
In fact, i'm enjoying it so much i'm going to treat myself to a new Sherpa Ti as a celebration for getting a new job too. Will encourage me to put some extra training this winter as i'm heading up a new age category & stand a decent chance a winning a lot next year 😆
Yeah IainC, I saw you guys exiting Hermitage Woods just as I was beginning the climb. It takes me an hour to get through there and would have meant a painfully early alarm clock setting for a Sunday morning, if I was to get through there in time to meet up at 9am!
I figured Dumyat would be too muddy, so stayed lower and played in the woods. Still mighty greasy in places and I felt particularly guilty as I churned and slid along 'Love Child'.
It did the job though, and I'm feeling a wee bit more enthusiastic again!
^^^ You should have shouted at us ! Shaz was working in the afternoon so we had to be back down sharpish. It was extremely muddy on the way up - we took the low path up. As it was getting busy we came down the thistle trail from the style, which was a new one for me - was great fun, if pretty wet...
Probably been 18 months since my MTB has seen the light of day. Mojo isn't just dull it may be extinguished.
A combination of long commutes and living in a crap area for MTB (North of Cambridge) has lead to busy weekends, a lack of energy and no real motivation for the mud riding days of old. I do miss it though, getting the itch and have some reasonably free weekends in the next month or so, perhaps it's time to break the fast.
I'm struggling to find my riding mojo a tad at the mo - we've had just a wet, soggy summer and I'm struggling to find the motivation to ride in even worse conditions. Made worse by the dark nights. I'm not sure that I actually enjoy night riding that much either - I treated myself to a better light but it's still not that much fun.
I'm going to try and take the DH bike out this week to see if that reignites things a bit as I've ridden the trail bike loads.
Failing that, I'll try and get back into running this winter to keep my fitness up.
I went for a walk yesterday as the ground around here, I met a local lad I know who was out riding, covered in shite and grinning from ear to ear, despite the small matter have having lost one leg below the knee in a motorbike crash