Lost my love of cycling, how to get it back?

[User32269]

Hi. I gave up cycling for many years due initially to struggling to find time to get out and ride, but just sort of lost the love of it gradually.
You say you will soon be having a child? I'm an older father of 3 now, my oldest lad who's 8 was born when I was 42 and I got a bike when I got him his first one. Something just "clicked" and the love affair began again!
Even if you stick the bike in the shed now you will no doubt dust it off to go out with your child in the future. Just a warning though, you will still think you can hop on and knock off a quick 70 miler...reality is you will be in tears after 70 yards! So maybe best to focus on future fitness and still turn the pedals occasionally?
Now I love the bike even more as it provides perfect excuse to get away from fighting children!
Hope you keep the wheels turning.

 

[ColinJ]

I wanted to know if anyone else had given up cycling for a while and managed to get back their mojo??

I got very ill in 2012, which stopped me cycling for 8 months. It took a few months to start getting my strength back, and that was when I began thinking about cycling again. By the time I actually felt well enough to ride, my mojo was well and truly back!

Just go out for 15 minutes and no more, then see what you feel like.

That is a good suggestion. I think I have only ever abandoned rides once or twice after making that initial effort to go out. I have talked myself out of starting rides many times.

 

[buggi]

Sounds to me like you need an n+1. Something like The Guv'nor from Pashley. Something you can just ride with your normal clothes on so you can do things like nip to the shops on it or use it instead of the car for short journeys, going to the pub etc. You'll be surprised how many miles you clock up.

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

I'd try not to overthink it at this point. I only rode once last week, had some good weather too, but didn't particularly feel like riding. I always imagined - fondly thought - that I'd work my way up to fifty or a hundred mile rides, never have yet. I seem quite content to tootle around the local-ish area, not straying too far, a couple of hours, usually, no rush, just turning the pedals, taking this road, that road, whatever, having a look around.

I probably lack the motivation to go a whole lot further, but what I do works for me, I enjoy it and I feel fitter for it. But there's no rules, each to their own. I find that it's when I think that I have to do it that it becomes less of a pleasure. I'm getting a child seat so that I can take my grandson out with me next year! we're gonna have some fun! looking forward to that; you could do that later with the new baby (?), anything, or leave it for a bit and see how you feel.

Yeah, I know; no help whatsoever.

 

[Dave7]

The mountain bike idea sounds great but I fear that the only place to get on a MTB here is on a dedicated course that is full of hardened MTBers and I would look very stupid there.

8 months ago I bought a 27.5" wheel bike and changed the knobblies to thinner slicks..........that takes me down all sorts of cananl paths & gravel paths. I have found places on my own doorstep that I didn't know existed and had great pleasure from it.
I use the road bike more often than the mtb but it is great for a change........I do around 30/40 milers on it.

 

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

. The mountain bike idea sounds great but I fear that the only place to get on a MTB here is on a dedicated course that is full of hardened MTBers and I would look very stupid there.

Totally untrue. All of the trails here are ridden regularly by beginners in trainers and regularly by guys who wear full face helmets and call themselves "enduro"

I will go one step further and offer you the loan of a bike for a day to try it.

I wanted to know if anyone else had given up cycling for a while and managed to get back their mojo??

Yes. The answer for me was to step away from my club and the people pressuring me to ride and in particular race. I rode when I felt like it, otherwise it felt like a chore (ok the weather didn't help) It cost me a fortune in races I pre-paid for but there's always next year!

I bought a new bike, mapped out my favourite coffee stops and have returned to most of them, got soaked every time

 

[Globalti]

It's obvious to me that you're a lonely cyclist; you need a good cycling buddy who has a similar level or fitness and shares your interests.

And go and buy a gravel bike and the OS maps for your area and work out some mixed tarmac/off road routes, especially taking you to places of interest that you won't be able to see on a satnav.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Maybe buy/borrow a utility bike (hybrid, MTB) and hop on it for a trip to the local shops or chippy or whatever. Don't pigeonhole cycling as a goal orientated , uniform wearing, sport for physical gain or athletic activity but just as a normal part of your normal life that you can do for normal things in your normal clothes just instead of the bus or car.

You mention being emotionally low. I and many others on here have spoken about being mentally low to very depressed and genuinely ill. To a wo/man we have said how much of a positive effect even a little bit of cycling had on bringing us up from the bottom of ourselves.

 

[stephec]

I would think the majority of guys ease back on their sport/hobby during this period in their lives.
It's a time of change in lifestyle, a time to reconsider priorities, enjoy the new calls on your time .
Life goes on and in due course you will find time and inclination to get back on the bike.

This is exactly what I was going to say, I stopped completely for about five years when I had kids.

@Irishrich how about turning it the other way round and giving yourself a pat on the back for recognising your responsibilities and taking them on?

Don't sweat about it, enjoy your kids while they're young as they grow up far quicker than you think, I've lost count of the number of people who can't believe my lad has left school this year.

Is it exercising in general, or just cycling you don't fancy?

Why not try something different like swimming or running, and when you fell like it your bike will always be there.

 

[samsbike]

I think everything works in cycles of indeterminate length (no pun intended). Having a first children is both scary and exciting and I would suggest that you now have other priorities. No big deal that's just taking more time. As you find more time I am sure your mojo will return, just don't beat yourself up. Keep all the kit and stuff you will use it (as an aside I have kept all my motorcycle gear and stare wistfully at it all the time)

I have an ambition to do audax but am coming around to the reality that at this point in my life I am more of a coach audaxer and really only cycle to commute as the kids activities take over.

In summary be kind to yourself and remember the past is no guarantee of the future lol

 

[50000tears]

Best advice I would give is not to overthink it. A lot of times for me the thought of going out demotivates me and I keep pushing it back to "maybe late". I operate best when I don't think on it and just get changed and go. I guarantee that within 5 minutes of getting out the door and down the road and I happy and focused on the ride.

What I will say as well, is that by not going out you end up in a spiral when the reasons not go become overwhelming and you become more used to just staying on the couch. I don't like the me that does that, and from your post I am guessing you feel the same.

So don't think about going out, just go.

 

[sbeqs]

Sometimes I can't be bothered.
I never go as far as some of the other riders on here, but if I'm not 'feeling it' I just go for a spin, a couple of miles and see how it goes.

I'm fairly new to the cycling lark, and any little knockback puts me off until I can fix it.

But gosh, I enjoy it when I'm out and about.

Best of luck.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I took up cycling as a hobby and to get fit 4 years ago, since then I've been out on my road bike almost every week 2-3 times clocking up around 100 miles each week. I loved cycling either on my own for 30-40 miles or with my club on longer rides. I was getting so into it that I had every piece of kit and spent thousands on bikes, clothing, wheels, turbo trainer and alot more which is a major investment when you're an average joe. Since the start of the summer something must have clicked in my head and I just couldn't be bothered going out cycling at the weekend after a long week at work. It used to be my release but now I can't push myself to get up early, put on my kit and go out for a couple of hours. This has lead to a deterioration in my health, weight gain and low self esteem. There probably isn't much anyone can suggest except get back out on the bike but I wanted to know if anyone else had given up cycling for a while and managed to get back their mojo??

Did you over do it? Its possible that you did to much and you just needed some time off the bike, theres a good chance that the mojo will come back when your ready to ride again. Some years ago I hit a bad patch in my life, I walked away from my job and also stopped cycling, about 6 months later I wanted a Sunday out and joined the local club ride and I've been doing Sunday rides since, most of the time I'll do 3 Sunday rides then have a Sunday off.

 

[Gasman]

Make your cycling fun again:

Buy a recumbent!!

 

[uclown2002]

It doesn't matter what advice you get on this thread as the motivation must come from within.

'If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse'.