Speaking as someone with depression I'd say the OP is depressed. One of the characteristics of depression us loss of interest in doing the things you used to enjoy.
I hate to admit it, but I think ego is part of it. Going from veteran national level to overweight barely capable plodder.
I’ve never been here ever, cycling was my life.
?
Dare I say it the one advantage us plodders have over you hyper competitive types is that we can be relatively pleased by quite meagre achievements.
The trick is perhaps for you to "Re-baseline" your goals and expectations.
Audax.
You know you want to.
Set yourself some targets and (if no restrictions/lock down) get out there.
^^Not the craziest suggestion actually, even if you don't go Audaxing, could you set yourself some distance riding goals? Even within the constraints of Lockdown...
Maybe Do a century? then see if you can do a faster century, or a double? (might have to think about some specific training for that too)? Before you know it you're back to training with a specific goal, just not a racing based one...
Once you remove the need to compete with others all you really have is yourself, so try setting some personal challenges.
I find mileage based "self challenging" an engaging idea (not that I do enough), the little ego boost that comes from riding a bit further than you normally would. But it's really down to the individual, some people just love to climb, others go KOM hunting...
The main thing would be to focus your "competitive instinct" on an achievable challenge OP.
Sounds familiar. Didn’t race bit rode everywhere all of the time like a thing possessed. Didn’t even bother learning to drive until mid-thirties because cycling and walking consumed me.
I’ve had ‘real’ setbacks with injuries and disability. But since then I also turned from slender and fit to biffer and shit - so now it (cycling) feels mostly all uphill and horrible even without the reinjuries. Getting the other side of 2 x outsized sack of potatoes and fixing an injury would help me most of all.
When I was making (recent) progress, I found that riding short (4-5 mile) out of the saddle blasts helped most. For this I bought a single-speed hardtail (a few years ago) and that helped massively (began losing weight, rekindled the ‘feel of MTbing’ ... until I reinjured on the road bike and back to square one. Also the singlespeed died from rust. (I may instead convert the Longitude to singlespeed overwinter)
A simple singlespeed. Just like being a kid again. Ride until knackered then push. Repeat. Freewheel. Fun.
Currently can only gingerly bimble (riding bimgerly!) on touring bike. Have to walk uphills because of groin/ab injuries. I put the bikes away last week until next spring and now this week started to walk every day. Also began 5:2 Diet to start sorting my weight/BMI out. Will reconvene with bikes in April/May 2021 and see how we get along with me being just one sack of spuds.
If cash/time/space allows, get a really simple bike so it's ready to go in minutes and hang the kit on it. I've barely ridden other than my commute this autumn but then an offhand comment by my wife about how I've got enough kit in the garage to build a bike caused a singlespeed to appear... Been out for a quick (30 min - 1 hour) ride 3 days out of 4 since I built it. Waterproof kit means that I get in, hose/scrub the bike, jacket & shorts down and then hop in the shower. Takes less than 5 minutes to leave the house and 10 to get back to normal post ride.
Oldgit. Have a look at flying model gliders on the Downs. There are loads of people doing it and it gets you up onto the hills. I've even been known to strap a 4 foot plane onto my bike and ride over to the slopes. Evenings can be spent building models. It's a great hobby
Why did you stop?
You'll know all about what a commitment racing is. Something like cyclocross is ridiculously intensive for a 40 minute race - prep two bikes, pit equipment, cleaning, you even need a workforce. If you're doing trophy races then throw in some substantial travel with O/N stays - and that's all just for race day, never mind the training.
Of course it's all worth it ten times over because nothing beats bike racing, but it's still a substantial price to be paid - esp in the opportunity cost of doing other things, bike related or otherwise. Surely you can weigh up all of that time and supporting infrastructure of racing you're now free of and take some satisfaction in it?
Garry_Larger Interesting. I met a woman, the racing and training was getting really hard and I hadn't had a road win since 2013. It was an excuse to give up. It was meant to be for a while. But we did other things! We met on the rock and roll scene, we did that a lot and we both had paddleboards.
She hates that I don't do something that was part of my identity for over forty years and wants me to ride. And her dad who was a professional footballer simply can't believe I don't want to ride.
There has been a development. I went to the garage removed the dust sheets and gave the tyres a squeeze.
Racing at a high level can become an incredible chore. My son rode was with BC and raced at very high national standard but quit and very rarely touches a bike now. I think high end competition can put you off for a long time.
There has been a development. I went to the garage removed the dust sheets and gave the tyres a squeeze.
Steady oldgit, you'll be gluing tubs next.
I'd at least try zwift to see if that stimulates things - the concept of racing a crit in complete safety is significant IMO. It's obv a simulation of racing and there's things it just can't begin to replicate, but it's still hugely fun, competitive, strategic, and as hard as real racing in terms of raw physiological effort.
I noticed a trail from Shoreham to the North Downs
That's the Downs Link, I think? It's quite scenic at first, but then is mostly fairly dull. Doable on a road bike for sure in the dry (doesn't get anywhere approaching 'technical' until the ND) but it may be a bit grim at the moment. There's lots of fairly quiet roads north of Brighton which I'd personally prefer to do at the moment
When it's a bit drier you should definitely investigate Stanmer just outside town. Lots of purpose built trails. Not great in the wet, but when it's a bit drier I'll be happy to show you about and lend you a bike if you want to "try-before-you-buy"?
Just go and explore.ride fir fun.must feel like a massive reach to get back racing.
I tried Zwift but one day I was giving it beans and one E Pooley breezed past me like I was standing still.
Maybe stating the obvious and hopefully this doesn't come across as patronising.....But you will have to train your brain to accept different but similar triggers. Competition with an end result drove you before and it can still drive you. The competition can be anything, to not age as fast, maintain your weight at reasonable levels, get to the top of/explore the nicest spots, improve/learn a different discipline/bike/sport. Whatever suits you but isn't the same as before!
Riding a bike doesn't have to be so result and/or metric driven. That's not to say they can't be used as an aid (Strava etc), just not the be all and end all.
Unrealistic and demoralising targets, without an eye on it taking longer than it would of in the past are not the best way to kickstart a new chapter!
old git, sounds like you ride road bikes. have you got a mountain bike? if you haven’t, get one. a 29+ or something far removed from a road bike.
my bad idea is that if you get something far enough removed from your norm, making comparisons of fitness or speed would be less relevant. i know someone who hated mtb but loved racing on the road. he now rides some weirdo bike from Jones and enjoys himself.
another thought, if you found a fast but not crazy and jump mad mtb group then you may enjoy the informal competition.
all that said, perhaps you don’t actually like riding bikes and they only provided a means to compete. now that’s gone you need to compete some other way.
time to press the submit button, i can feel myself rambling. oh, there’s an idea! take up hiking.
You need to get out with a few mates and make a day of it. Go somewhere decent. Finish off with a nice bit of grub and a pint.
Cycling alone is boring and it leaves you too much time to think about stuff that doesn't need or warrant that much thinking time. I've been out on solo rides and by the time I'm home I'm planning on drinking a carton of beer, quitting work and using my credit card to go "travelling" and possibly buying myself a killer gaming PC or new xbox. Wife and kids not included in that plan. Though I could get a second controller and invite them round for a Tekken tournament.
You need to get out with a few mates and make a day of it. Go somewhere decent. Finish off with a nice bit of grub and a pint.
Completely this... commit to showing up then just shoot the crap and have fun rounded off with a pint or whatever.
Is there a bit of your memory hanging on to the pain of training too much to allow you to consider enjoying riding again? I quit slalom canoeing competition after one too many injuries and leaving the sport completely. After a few years break, lots of fun now in sea touring and surf. I suppose the translation there might be that bikes are good and there are other ways to enjoy them than the same discipline you had before.
Get a singlespeed, or a BMX, flat pedals, just something completely different from what you used to race on. Something you ride rather than operate. A unicycle may be a step too far...
Very little maintenance, don't cost much, just leave it at the back door ready to go. You don't need to put on special bike clothes or ballet slippers. Just ride. Pick a destination and find the most interesting way there.
Cycling becomes more fun when it becomes not about beating people.
oldbloke. Yes that exactly.
When I was here on STW after it just started I was having fun. Even the 24's were fun with mates from home and on here.
But the racing took over and I found myself competitive again in my 50's. And I worked crazy hard to maintain that condition.
But when you're sat on your turbos in the garage instead of being out on the bike on a beautiful Sunday in summer, you know you've lost the plot.
My head is still in suffer mode.
I had to considerably reduce the amount of time I spent on a bike about eight years ago. Carpal tunnel and shoulder issues put a stop to 10 000km a year which I'd been doing for decades. I carried on with running, swimming, X-C/rando skiing, walking and took up rock and roll dancing. I gave up racing in anything a 55 but have continued all the disciplines.
An operation sorted the carpal tunnel and the shoulder slowly improved to the point I felt comfortable on a bike again, especially an MTB, so I've started riding more again. But cycle touring has been replaced by long-distance walks; no damned cars and Madame enjoys it more.
I tried Zwift but one day I was giving it beans and one E Pooley breezed past me like I was standing still.
I used to be able to make her suffer on hills!
Was her first year on the bike mind, she'd now leave me for dead in the first 20m.
Have you tried engaging willing riders you meet in short bits of competetition like climbing a hill etc?
You could just try and pretend you are racing other riders so you get that 'Yes I won' feeling of course they won't know they lost so its a win win!
This thread crossed my mind at the weekend even though it was pissing down and blowing a gale, it is just great on days like that to get off of a road bike and onto an MTB and get out in the wilds. I have stopped uploading rides to training peaks and don't monitor zones (I still have a garmin for navigation but that is all I use it for).
The other thing I do now is i take a camera and quite often just stop and photograph anything. Lots of interesting fungi around to snap this weekend. If you stop frequently for taking pics and looking for things to snap it is not just a bike ride.
Get a fat bike, full on excuse not to be caining it everywhere
Get a gravel bike and some os maps and go explore the local area. Take the focus off the actual bike bit.
Build something that isn't a race bike. A single speed mtb, a surly fat bike, a fixed gear tourer(!) or maybe a rigid 90's mtb from ebay.
Or if you're near the downs, take up paragliding.
Oops another double post.
Depression is the answer.
OP have you ridden yet
Get an ebike. Riding a pedal bike isn't much fun for 90% of the time. An ebike is fun to ride all the time.
As an even oldergit, I have a suggestion.
Racing, training, two things that suck the fun out of cycling. Lose the mentality if you want to enjoy riding your bike.
Get an ordinary bike, one that's upright with mudguards, low maintenance, one that you can leave out the back of your house ready for use. Something that doesn't need you to get dressed up in special cycling gear and ballet slippers.
Dare I suggest a single speed?
I get the most fun from the wrong bike in the wrong place, eg rod brake bike single speed roadster on a 200km day ride in the mountains, or doing sections of the HT550 on my 3 speed roadster.
Just go for a ride on quiet roads and tracks and visit places. Stop, look around, breathe.
Then do it again.
Once you stop being a racer and become a person on a bike, you're cured. 🙂
Try indoor climbing. That and proper walks. I’m not training but I like a brisk walk. Oh and don’t go back to training fueling either. I have gained errrr 2kg!!! (Sorry)
@TiRed - me too. I have stopped with the obsession of weight vs performance vs TSS vs CTL ..... yawn. It can almost become a disorder, I am back to just enjoying riding like I did when I was a kid.
OP - don’t beat yourself up about it.
I used to ski race to international level. These days I barely go skiing and when I do I simply don’t enjoy it like I did. Ive now come to the conclusion that was a period in my life. I have fantastic memories from it, and I can’t replicate those feelings so it’s better to have loved and lost, rather than never to have loved at all
But it has taken me many years to come to that conclusion and in that time I’ve probably put myself through lots of mental turmoil trying to convince myself it’s still as good as it was
Loads love it but its a bit marmite.
TBH nothing would get me out in the rain better than the alternative being Zwift….
… in fact…. see you later.
I use Zwift a lot for training and this years races and TT’s have been great for lockdown / IRL race replacement. You can get tardy though, I went out Sunday in the rain deliberately for a recovery ride and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Oldgit
I am in Portslade/Hangleton. When I first got here, I bought an OS map and went over it in a highlighter for all the bridal ways to try and work out where everything was and how it linked up. You are more than welcome to borrow it when I find it again?
I have been doing a similar thing. I have the loop up to around 4 hours at the moment and am still looking to expand it.
Can I suggest, when the feeling takes you, a nice night time ride.
I try and do a few Friday Night Rides to the Coast every year.
They are mildly challenging if only for the sleep deprivation element, the riding is no drop conversational pace and it’s fun!
The bonus for you is that on at least two of the rides you’ll be at home when it finishes!
