Lost the love?

I’ve not ridden in about 18 months. Work, family and a lack of motivation and fitness being the main reasons. I often think about going out but never do. Not sure if I’ll start again but I’m actually okay with that.

Been there in the past, back into it a bit now, riding every week but I’m still not fully committed…but I go miserable if I haven’t got out for a few weeks.

A few things I’ve done (which others have rightly suggested)

– do something different. I took up running, both trail and road (but prefer trail, road is more convenient). It’s hard at first, but once you pace yourself it’s fantastic. Almost the same as riding, without the nonsense before, during and after. Do have a few walks with the riding buddy over winter, however that’s more social than anything, but still good.

– ride on your own. During lockdowns I started doing more longer, solo rides and really appreciated them more. My riding group was all about the pace, however they’re slowly catching up with enjoying the journey instead. But sometimes, a gentle solo ride with just you and the outside.

– it’s been a horrendous winter. The trail bike has barely turned a wheel for months. If I rode it, the bike would be caked, I’d be caked and the trails would end up ruined. For me a gravel bike was a game changer for winter…not saying you should get one, but I’ve come to terms with not being able to ride trails 365 days a year, and it’s certainly more enjoyable.

Also don’t sell your kit, because the market is horrendous for sellers at the moment…plus when the suns out, the ground is dusty and the birds are tweeting, you might actually fancy going for a spin, even if it’s solo and with Strava only on to log your miles.

you sound tired, it’s been a long wet winter and with time pressures all over the place we all just need a bit of time to do nothing and recharge.  You also have a lot of worry about dirty cars, flats etc which can’t help and add an extra level of time and burden.

Dont know what sort of riding you do but for me I get stuck in a bit of a motivation rut when I’ve been riding the same stuff for a while.  An E-bike made it more fun for solo riding as I always think I’m going to get a few trails in even if i get bored after an hour, whereas to ride the analogue I couldn’t get motivation for pedalling for an hour with where i live.

I’m lucky enough that I dont have to rely on my fitness coming from biking though.  Be careful with too much layoff, as that 1st ride back may be miserable.

I comes to us all I guess, that I want to ride but cant pull the socks on.

Dont let it get inside your head too much. As a rider of not much skill or fitness my journey from hospital bed in ICU to doing gravel spotives has been tough.

Its not always fun and depression and other mental “states” can upset well intended plans.

Faffing helps me, a good clean of the bike, “adjusting things”, clean washed kit on all help to prepeare the mind for me at least.

Happy trails

We had a few lads like that in our group, they all got ebikes. Then i ended up as the only one without an ebike and, well. Now i’m an ebike **** as well, but we’re out every week again and mental health is back on the way up.

Been going through some tough times recently, physically and mentally and I can’t seem to bring myself to get out on the MTB any more.

Apologies if this had been mentioned above .

I have been through the ringer a bit recently with a recurrence of ptsd. During this period I’ve had no desire to ride the bike, or do a lot of other things I enjoy – just dog tired and not enjoying things.

What has rekindled the enthusiasm is seeing a psychologist and sorting out the underlying problem. Yes better weather helps etc but if you’re suffering with poor mental health get that sorted and the rest will follow.

Good luck

Thanks everyone. I’ve decided to take a bit of a break from biking.

Maybe it’s a weather thing, maybe a life thing. Not sure for how long, I’ve got a few ok bikes, so if the urge takes me I may head out, but I’ve packed them and the kit away for a while. Bit of an “out of sight, out of mind” scenario, so I don’t feel guilty about not using them, but since a bit of a break the riding buddies have stopped calling too.

Thanks for all the advice.

Sometimes I feel like I’m just going through the motions on the bike, that’s where having a single speed bike makes a difference, there is no where to hide and get a great ride if only for an hour or two. I’m lucky though that I can ride from my front door.

When you’re ready, just go out on your own for a bit. Put some tunes on. When the endorphins kick in to a great track it’s really quite a thing. Off the bike I find weights give me a little buzz, squats and deadlifts and some abs to warm up. Keeps the legs strong for when you’re ready as well.

Yes been there, I’ve loved bikes all my life but I lost the love for 5 years during a time when I needed high levels of mental and physical energy to negotiate a mid life career change but now things have settled down I’m unexpectedly back with a vengeance!

Walking as a replacement for biking worked for me as it brought fresh air, friends, family, exercise, adventures and solitude, all of which biking gave me. Turns out walking is a bit cheaper than biking too. And through the 5 years my friends didn’t pester me for a ride but they never gave up on me, dropping the odd seed now and again, so when the mercury went through the roof last year and the trails were dry I bit their offer of a gentle local loop and got the bug back.

It’s completely normal to feel like you do when you’re having to channel your spare energy into something else. And nothing wrong with selling some bikes (leave one just in case lol).

Me a bit…..

Got unfit.  All my injuries are catching up with me. Plus miss the mtb from the door.

Doing more road n gravel but fitness is most definitely not there

Back doing a bit but just cant find that spark.

Most of my rides are solo these days, I shy away from any silly risks but still have great rides. I have taken up running too, you can do it from the door and I see/feel more gains with less faff.

I’ve not been biking for a few weeks, I’m itching to head out and will be on Monday.