Losing the mojo...

[Andy in Germany]

Time was, the commute to and from work/college was the highlight of my day, but now I've changed job I've found I see the ride as a chore: I even started to ride to the nearest tram stop instead of going as far as practical by bike then catching the tram for the last bit.

The strange thing is the route hasn't changed much in the last few years, in fact both times I changed I was still pretty much following the same way but it got a bit shorter, and some of the nastier and hillier bits of road were removed. The current route is mostly a gentle climb in, so requires very little work to get back.

Strange then, that the return journey is the chore.

The bit I really don't like is a section of shared use cycle path giving out to a shopping centre. I have no idea why I don't like it as it's a bit like cycling through a park, there's nothing especially dangerous and it takes a couple of minutes to traverse. Maybe the large numbers of people puts me on edge.

I suspect it is just that I'm going through the city now instead of fields, but I can't do much about that for the next eight months until my contract ends.

Anyone else lose the fun factor? Hpw do you get it back?

 

[biggs682]

Yep I loose some of my mojo from time to time for no reason at all .

Recently instead of getting up and going out for a pre work ride I have rolled over and snoozed .

Hoping it comes back soon ....

 

[Illaveago]

Classic symptoms of pining for another bike !

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Classic symptoms of pining for another bike !

Classic symptoms of getting older !

 

[MikeG]

Give it up for a while. Cycle just for fun, when you feel like it. I bet you go back to commuting by bike when you realise that all commuting is bad, but commuting by bike is less bad than all the other ways.

 

[bluenotebob]

I agree with all of the above.

I lost the will to cycle for most of July & August. I decided last week that I'd try again - I went out and did two back-to-back 60km rides, loved every second of it … but now I've lost it again. Weird - but it doesn't worry me.

 

[subaqua]

I agree with all of the above.

I lost the will to cycle for most of July & August. I decided last week that I'd try again - I went out and did two back-to-back 60km rides, loved every second of it … but now I've lost it again. Weird - but it doesn't worry me.

was the heat and pollution in July that did for me.

 

[Threevok]

Commuting isn't so bad for me.

It's the weekend riding I have lost the mojo for - mostly down to health issues though

 

[Julia9054]

I suspect it is just that I'm going through the city now instead of fields, but I can't do much about that for the next eight months until my contract ends.

It will definitely be this.

Anyone else lose the fun factor? Hpw do you get it back?

My Aftershoks Bluetooth headphones and listening to my favourite downloaded radio programme helps.
Just gearing up to going into school to eyeball my classroom after several weeks off, write lists and shuffle bits of paper before school starts officially on Monday. It helps that the sun is shining.

 

[Alan O]

Like the other things I enjoy, cycling just isn't a "must do" for me. I go cycling when I feel like it, and do other things when I feel more like doing those. I think it's very important for us to only do the things we like when we're actually enjoying them - otherwise we lose a pleasure and gain a chore.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I find I start to dislike my commute into work when I'm trying to deflect away from things that aren't right at work, it's the not the drive, it's the motivation to go to work, because that's what I'm not enjoying.

 

[helston90]

I find I get very bored of doing the same old route when commuting, when you're riding the same roads over and over again it takes the edge off.
Read a bike mag, watch some GCN videos, go for some pleasure rides in the opposite direction to your commute and it'll return.
It happens to us all occasionally.

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

My commute became a grind, same roads, same hazards same awful weather. Then I got ran over, carried on for a year or so but with nagging doubts then had a couple of very near misses on the same roundabout that if hadn't spotted coming would have killed me. Then I started worrying at night about the commute which killed any joy on the bike and I virtually stopped for a year.
Couple of months ago decide to get the bike out and ride simply for fun, and I've rediscovered my love of it. Did my first 100+ mile ride for years last week and other than a sore bum I loved every minute. Take a break and remember why you like cycling, it's fun.

 

[Rooster1]

I lose my mojo on a daily basis. After I've commuted to work, gone out for an hour at lunch, I say to myself I won't ride tomorrow as I ache and I can't be bothered. Then I wake up and decide I am up for it all over again. I've done 3500 miles and 150,000 feet thus far in 2018.

 

[Globalti]

The answer is to vary your rides, make them shorter so less tiring, use the car or train to explore new areas or do linear rides and generally try to make rides more interesting with cafes and visits to touristy places. It works for me.