I suffer from this as well at times.
It sounds a bit cliche, but I think two of the biggest problems are marketing and social media (which of course are often the same thing). It's easy to look at outdoor marketing/Instagram feeds/Youtube and see people doing extravagantly adventurous stuff in exotic places looking stuff, and forget that a) you don't have to be the first/fastest/longest, so don't try and make it into a competition, and b) you rarely see the less glamourous bits... even an overnight bikepacking trip needs a surprising amount of faff in getting stuff ready, planning, packing, travel, then unpacking, cleaning and sorting kit, recovering, catching up with the mundane stuff you didn't do because you were out enjoying yourself.
As others have said, planning to do something with someone else is a good way of making it actually happen. Planning together can be more enjoyable too - sometimes I'll use meeting in the pub to look at maps as an excuse to go for a drink together. And, yeah, clubs are a great way to meet people who want to do the same sort of thing.
Well it appears I share something in common with most on this thread. I've made matters worse now I've moved a bit further south. I really need to make a more serious effort to ride over this winter. I have the gear, I just need to do it.
Anyone here live near Congleton?
@stcolin I don't live near Congo, but I have friends from there, and I thought the MTB scene was really active? Haven't the local cheeky trails recently been made official or something.
Joining a club is definitely a path to staying active - gives you motivation to get as fit / faster than other people, and a regularly scheduled ride. I 100% know that I've got club mates to ride with on any Weds night or Sun morning all year round.
Another key thing for me is booking onto events. Having to train for something big is a good motivator for me. Already got a calendar of events for next year that I'm planning to enter when they come on sale. Trips can easiyl be cancelled or rescheduled, events can't.
Well, glad to to see at least I’m not alone! Might look at setting up a procrastinators lonely hearts club….. we could then spend time planning group activities that we never get around to doing 😂
Well, glad to to see at least I’m not alone!
Not at all.
Have you joined RLSCC if you're in Leamington?
They have rides nearly every day of the week depending on your level and interest.
presume you’re local kayak23?
I was a member but struggled with approach of one of the road groups. Might try the wed mtb group.
also a member of lantern rouge in Warwick.
I am full of ideas, and often time poor. I bought new Exposure lights last winter...haven't been out the boxes apart from to maintain battery charge. New mtb kit - tick, probably half a dozen or more items, between shorts, tops etc that have never been worn yet...
presume you’re local kayak23?
Yeah I'm Leamington too.
A lot of what you say resonates with me but currently It's work that is stopping me from getting out there.
I'm self-employed and am struggling with things lately. Things being earning enough money to pay my rents.
I've not heard of lantern Rouge as it goes. I don't ride road though, only mtb.
I also spend a lot of time looking at other people doing amazing things lately. Very briefly dabbled with bikepacking/paddleboardpacking at the tail end of the Summer and did a couple of camps.
Of course I spent a lot of my time looking at tents, sleeping mats, cookware etc, etc...
Much less time actually out there, sleeping in a ditch 😂
I'll get to it though.
It's just work for me at the moment is really, really stressing me out. Been working seven days for over 3 months now pretty much.
I have a couple of friends who do a lot of the weekday rides with RLSCC. Great blokes.
SirHC on here is one and they do seem to get some great rides in despite living in the Midlands.
Worth doing.
I would myself but yeah...work.
I guess if I'm honest I didn't speak up earlier just because at the moment I'm so stressed out and so lacking in time that I wouldn't be able to go out anyway.
more important things in life than bikes (despite what some here might think 😉)
Given how this post has gone might pop something else on this forum seeing if anyone else is local and we could meet up. In meantime might check out the local club again so thanks for that,
Actually got off my arse and at least did something! My own little adventure into Birmingham!
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/things-i-learnt-from-my-first-ever-gravel-bike-ride-today/
https://strava.app.link/ZJZohQLh5ub
Nice. One way and back on the train?
Where did you stop for cake? I keep planning to go to the borrow shop in the jewelry quarter as their doughnuts are supposed to be 👌
I know there's a few of us on STW from the Newcastle upon Tyne area. Any of you guys in the NMBC/mid-air crisis gang? Is it still going? Looked a long while ago at possibly joining up, but anxiety, depression, life, et al got in the way.
Buying stuff is the same. Start with a great idea of what to buy, then looking at the pros and cons, all the reviews, alternatives, and then I’m fed up and leave it for another day. End up never buying anything
I'm just the same. Ages agonising over the options when I know really any one of them would do fine, until I get sick of myself and get the one I was originally going to get anyway.
Yeah, got train back to tile hill as know easy to get bike on those. Mind you the ride from there to home was tough.
<span class="bbp-author-name">rOcKeTdOg </span>
sadly only cafe Nero at new street! Need to sort that better next time!
I know there’s a few of us on STW from the Newcastle upon Tyne area. Any of you guys in the NMBC/mid-air crisis gang? Is it still going? Looked a long while ago at possibly joining up, but anxiety, depression, life, et al got in the way.
Still going, on Facebook as NMBC.
Still going, on Facebook as NMBC.
Cheers @bikesandboots I'm not on FB so maybe why I hadn't seen anything
Well 8 months on from my OP, it’s past midnight and I’m reading my own posts on STW….
safe to say I’m even more bored with my life now!
I didn't see this post first time around
this summer I have mainly done eff all. this weeks achievements are dull dull dull. mon - thurs nothing. Zip . zilch. today I bought some blinds and a russian propaganda poster. thats my achievement for the week
I
Well 8 months on from my OP, it’s past midnight and I’m reading my own posts on STW….
safe to say I’m even more bored with my life now!
Have you tired buying things ?. Im in pretty much the same boat, and its been about 3 years, though in truth after the Autism diagnosis its been 10 years.
So I make do with planning a future that probably isnt* going to come to fruition, and buying stuff. Forks, bikes stuff, expensive woodworking machinery .
.
* I say probably isn't, but it might 🙂 So happy to plan for that time.
And buy stuff for it.
I'm a big dreamer so I suffer from this. I actually do quite a lot but it never satisfied me because I'm always looking for something bigger. It's not a sustainable mindset.
I find the biggest restrictions are time and leaving the house, once I have both of these the rest is easy and straight forward enough.
I often do mini or micro adventures, just single nights either walking or biking. But I have always wanted to do something a little bigger just to test myself, so this year I ended up walking the WHW. I completed it and loved it, now I want to do something similar but on the bike.
I think having dreams and ideas are needed even if you don't act upon on them all. I fell into the trap that everything has to be big and adventurous, it doesn't.
But I still continue to squeeze as many in as I can, but getting the foot out the door is still the hardest obstacle to overcome...
Nearly 12 months on…..I’m still doing **** all, other than reading STW forum more and even sadder reading one of my own posts 😮🙄
@rockbus sorry to hear that. I'm going for a ride in 5min. If you are in north notts- unlikely I realise- you are welcome to join me.
Make a list of all the stuff that's stopping you going for a rider right now. Chuck It in the bin/ burn it.
Immediately Put your kit on and go for a spin round the block. Then as you have got your kit on, might as well go for a longer ride. Or go back and sort
When you get back see if you can join a club and sort a ride for next week. Or put a post on here looking for ride buddies in your area.
Book a block of time to do any ride next week. Sort some stuff that's stopping you getting out. One thing a day. Then you can go as there are less reasons stopping you, you will have earned it.
Last year this was me
Commit to doing stuff with mates.
Last year I planned to go bike packing in Wales on my own. The forecast was horrible, I did something else instead.
This year at least one mate has agreed to join me.
I’m unlikely to back out if it rains this year!
The forecast was crap. My mate showed up, but had to go home ill. I did the ride, it was an experience. Bits were ace, bits were crap. I'm glad I went. I might have chickened out if my mate hadn't committed to it. Thanks at @whydot :-)
I've got a night ride booked next Thurs with a mate. I'm won't night ride on my own, it will be fun.
Good luck!
Mayonnaise on chips, how continental of you.
Mayonnaise on chips, how continental of you
Bows :-)
I love mayo on chips and pulp fiction. To the extent I've had chips every time I've been in Holland 😀
This thread just happens to pop back to the top when I've spent the whole of Saturday morning sitting on my arse in front of YouTube.
Doing stuff is overrated anyway.
The OP's situation resonates with me. I have a shed "full of dreams". This, in conjuction with other things in my life has lead me to explore if I have undiagnosed ADHD.
Took up running.
solves the buying unnecessary kit problem. Doesn’t really solve can’t be bothered getting off my arse problem.
Immediately Put your kit on and go for a spin round the block. Then as you have got your kit on, might as well go for a longer ride. Or go back and sort
Thanks. Other than a couple of trundles on my e-commuter t'other week I've just been for my first ride in about a year. 25km trundle around the local lanes. Not only am I really fat I'm also rather unfit. Need to make this a regular thing again.
First step - put the phone down. Keep it down. Get used to that first.
To the extent I’ve had chips every time I’ve been in Holland
When I first had chips in Amsterdam, they came with a little fork. 'My God I thought, these people are civilized'.
Resorted to finding friends while out riding, like these guys today
All the usual group seem to have dropped by the wayside, maybe it's my deodorant?
Let’s face it, 2023 has been really hard to maintain enthusiasm because it’s been such a washout.
Yes, the chips in holland were lovely, with the mayo, but even better with pindasaus
And 2023 would be such a washout, had it not been for the prolonged dry spells which prevent the mushrooms growin beyond pygmy proportions
Also Im in the middle of doing something mildly important, so Im watching this thread instead/in anger
Possibly because so many things I try to do have failed miserably that I no longer have the faith to try anything
I gave my head a shake and went for a pedal. It's actually warm and sunny which helps. I was determined to mope around being moody all day but I actually enjoyed it a bit. So annoying.
Before covid I was out and/or away at every opportunity. After the lockdowns I seemed to vegetate and not get back into it so kicked myself up the ar$e, got a gravel bike (change as a good as rest) and started having mini adventures by train (I live on the Settle and Carlisle line so loads to go at). We are of the age that my wife found other less physical interests - we always used to do stuff together (we met while caving, and have biked all over the World). She got into sheepdog training big style (ie we now have land, sheep and dogs) and ain't coming back.
Over the last year I've had great fun every weekend - until a month ago when I popped a disc which has halted that fun which is maddening. I'm 58, and physically regaining fitness after a layoff is noticeably harder than when younger; it's a bit scary having an enforced layoff in case I can't get going again...
Well managed to get out and try the new local trails with my son today so that’s a small win and something to build on
What did you think of the Newbold Comyn trails?
onewheelgood
I thought they were really good, impressed with what they’ve done.
bit repetitive having to reclimb same route back up but can’t really complain having something like that on the door step.
just need to use it more!