Losing interest, to a terminal level :-(

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Happened to me last year. Couple of months early on battling fatigue(still don't know the cause) a dodgy knee, a crash, lots of overtime and being honest, a bout of depression + insomnia. Riding a bike really felt forced, rather than doing it because I love it. I took the opportunity to sell some bikes and re-evaluate what I needed new ones to be capable of.

It was hard to get back on again, but it just happened for me. I'm now the leanest I've ever been and probably the fittest...

 

[Racing roadkill]

Find a social riding group, go and find some nice routes, break the rides down, with as many stops as you like. Once riding becomes a chore, it's a slippery slope. Have a break from riding for a week or two, then see how you feel.

 

[steveindenmark]

Speccy, by any standards the weather has been crap. It really doesnt help anyones sense off well being when we dont see the sun for weeks.

Ive never been a racer, it would bore me to death. I have always been a tourer and the bike is just a form of transport. Maybe you just need to change your angle at which you approach cycling.

If you do that, thinning down your stable of bikes is a natural progression and not a bad thing.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ditch the computer/GPS/Strava downloads and just ride the bike. There doesn't have to be a purpose to every ride- remind yourself what the simple pleasure of just riding the bike feels like without looking at the digits on your handlebars every couple of minutes.

And maybe wait for better weather, or at least warmer rain.

This.
And find a like minded riding buddy. Ride for fun, for chat, for cake and beer.
Enjoy walking, that's great too.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I haven't read all the posts so if it has been said already then tough luck

Why don't you buy another bike with the money that you are getting from your other stuff. Find something that you like and go for it. I sometimes buy things for the bike and that motivates me to get out..... usually tyres...... I love new tyres my guess is that you need something to spicy up your cycling, maybe something very different like this

 

[mustang1]

I haven't cycled for 10 weeks apart from 1 week of full week commuting. There have been a change of circumstances, plus rain and wind is a pita.

I'm not giving up though and think when the sun is out, then we want to see you out there on your bike! For now, have an extended break. (Ps two bikes are enough).

Edit: typos. (But why do I not check typos before I post?l

 

[ianrauk]

I sometimes buy things for the bike and that motivates me to get out..... usually tyres...... I love new tyres

Weirdo

 

[Karlt]

Wind has been doing my cycling head in all this last year. My commute home is mostly south but with enough bits that should be fast that are W-SW to really turn it into a slog. Thinking of putting some touring tyres on the Eclipse (has quite wide clearances compared with the newer Triban) and using the TPT (it goes within 100m of both home and work) as it's more sheltered. And flatter.

 

[MichaelW2]

You may need to break the routine. Consider another activity such as kayaking, or yoga or whatever.
You may find that cycling fades to a background utility transport role, but that is OK.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

@speccy1 I haven't read the whole thread but, for what they're worth, here are my thoughts.

My motivation to cycle alway goes up and down a bit. I mean, it's bound to; there are so many variables. Weather, time available, family, other hobbies and everything else that life conspires to throw our way. My solution to this is simple. Don't worry about it. Howling wing and freezing fog? No thanks! I only cycle to avoid weighing too huge a number. I'm not racing anymore. I'm luck to get out one night a week.
This night riding has stoked the motivational fires for me slightly this year. A modern light has blown new interest into old routes.

Many people have mentioned mountain biking. I agree, it is that different, whilst still cycling, it might help your interest flare again. You say you are no good at it? Maybe you are trying the wrong sort of mountain biking? It doesn't all have to be gnarly descents and pulling air off the doubles! You are in/near Dartmoor! Throw some waterproofs and a small stove into a backpack and off you go. I used to live down there and some of my best memories are of my brother and I riding the Puffing Billy (as an example) or the endless bridle paths around Princetown and then a pint in the Plume of Feathers.

My bro still lives down there, I'm sure he would jump at the chance of a bit of a ride on the moors. He loves it up there and knows it very well if you fancy a bit of an explore.

Don't sell everything. I have always returned to cycling in the end.

 

[briantrumpet]

I need enthusiasm though, unfortunately it`s missing........................

I've found it hard-going too for the past few months in the UK - I think it's even harder when you live in an area that affords loads of potentially lovely routes, but the weather drags you down. And yes, it really has been dragging down-weather: record lows of sunshine down here (a total of about 60 hours over the two months of November and December, I think).

Give it time, grab a nice day when it comes around, and have pootle with a camera (looking for nice shots always stops me worrying about 'average speed' or any other performance rubbish), and let warm air and sunshine caress your body. Maybe you might enjoy a slightly different relationship with your bike from the one you've had.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Funny thing with our hobbies is there everything to us until one day you think fook it..
You'd have had to take a baseball bat to me to stop me playing golf..snow frost wind rain enything i was always playing..then in november 09 i threw my clubs in the van after a normal round and said to myself ' thats it'..not played since..clubs are packed away as i may go play again but i dont think i will.

cycling
i love MTB and XC ,its far more absorbing,you are constantly aware of what your bike is doing and the focus on where you are going etc is great,plus its usualy in nice woodland surroundings.
you dont have to do extreme mtb, just enjoy the views and the excersing..

my road biking is a warm 15°c + days only..i realy dont get the head down and just pedal for hrs, if that was all there was id take up golf..

as said give the bikes a break and wait till spring..

 

[Brandane]

record lows of sunshine down here (a total of about 60 hours over the two months of November and December, I think).

An average of one hour per day? Luxury, my friend; luxury. That sounds like a good summer in these parts. Honestly, it's been so wet, grey, and windy in recent years (even in "summer") that I feel like a Siberian night shift worker. If moving to somewhere sunnier was a realistic option, I'd be off tomorrow. Now there's a way to ignite your cycling mojo....

 

[briantrumpet]

An average of one hour per day? Luxury, my friend; luxury. That sounds like a good summer in these parts. Honestly, it's been so wet, grey, and windy in recent years (even in "summer") that I feel like a Siberian night shift worker. If moving to somewhere sunnier was a realistic option, I'd be off tomorrow. Now there's a way to ignite your cycling mojo....

I'm not sure where they found the 60 hours total, TBH. I could only remember a couple of days with any direct sun in two months. My mojo has indeed been affected by spending rather a lot of time in a far far sunnier French clime - one that in 2014 got almost exactly 600 hours more sunshine than SW England, and that tempts you out rather than tempting you to stay in and have another cup of coffee.

 

[Mile195]

+1 for weather/short days. I found that when I first got my motorbike licence, the first couple of years no day was too wet or cold for "going for a blast". Now I'm afraid those days are long gone and while I still love going out motorcycling I only love it when the weather is nice. I don't mourn those days. I just have better things to do when it's 1 degree outside. The motorbike probably prefers it in the garage too. However, when the first great weekend of the spring appears I just find myself thinking that I want to get out on it.

I think you'll find the same with cycling. Hang up the gloves, sell a couple of bikes and go and do something else for a couple of months. As soon as the sun comes back out you'll probably just "fancy a ride".

I have to cycle because that's how I get to work, and while I do feel good for it once I get to work, there is little joy in the actual trip. I'm not doing a lot of "leisure riding" right now, since there'd be no joy in that either. I think there are a lot of regular cyclists who are probably feeling quite similar to you at the moment, to a greater or lesser extent so I shouldn't be concerned about it. It's just winter blues!