When you're tired of cycling

[PaulSB]

I find mudguards cause the drive train to get dirtier.

Rather than spraying up your back the water goes all over your bike.

You need better mudguards. Mine keep me and the bike clean and dry.

Kinesis Fend Off Road Bike Mudguards | Merlin Cycles https://share.google/P52EoChBMgHbFzsS0

 

[mickle]

I cannot begin to convey how deeply frustrated I am that since contracting leukaemia two+ years ago I don't have the energy to ride my bike more than a couple of miles. Its very unlikely that I'll ever get back to the (not particularly great) fitness i had before my diagnosis.

Enjoy it while you still have it.

 

[katiewlx]

I'm currently just not feeling it; I don't know why. I haven't had an accident, and the roads around me haven't become any worse. I've been cycling all my life without really thinking about it much. I used to go out practically every day; now I'm down to maybe twice a week.

Have you gone through a phase where you just weren't feeling it? If so, did you power through it, or give in and take a sabbatical?

absolutely, I wouldnt say all the time as such but my mood for cycling ebbs and flows at various rates across the year, not for any particular reason Ive ever pinpointed, alot of it can be more to do with how Im mentally feeling about everything, how stressed I am, not just cycling in particular, and sometimes I just need some time away from the bike to recharge my passion & energy for it.

and for me certainly Ive learnt kind of not to push through it so much, as I tended to find it made it worse for me as I started to associate bad feelings with the cycling, like I was going out just to ride because I felt I had to keep riding, and they werent fun rides, they were often slow & sluggish, I didnt enjoy them, and then I was beating myself up for then not riding as well, which made it feel worse.

whereas if I kind of take a step back, give myself the permission if you like to step off the bike for a while, might be days, might be weeks, then I find I actually recharge for it quickly, way more quickly than if tried to keep forcing it.

and just to hit the old you never regret a ride thing as a myth, I was in one of my got to keep riding phases forcing it through at the time, it had rained all day, but cleared late afternoon, middle of November so I was already pushing it with available daylight left. I could have just canned it said never mind theres always tomorrow, but I forced myself to go out, and I wasnt enjoying it much, but got about 10miles in, the roads were greasy and muddy, and I didnt really see the lip of tarmac on the bit of road Id fallen into following, maybe an old pothole repair or something, and I just glanced the front wheel on it as the lip crossed the line I was riding, and the front just instantly washed away and I was down and my knee took the worst impact as I kind of skidded on it, my shoulder took the rest and my hand got bashed between the bars and the road.

so Im 10miles from home, its cold, wet, getting dark, my knee is covered in road rash and bleeding, my shoulder hurts like hell, and my hand really hurts. oh and nobody knows Im out here in the middle of nowhere, and theres no come rescue me option either.

fortunately the only damage to the bike was the shifter, , and just needed to be bashed back into line, I could easily have broken the mech hanger off, but so I had to ride it home as best I could, fortunately adrenaline does mask pain quite well, though it doesnt keep you warm when your not riding at normal speed.

and then I was off the bike for about 3 weeks, fortunately hadnt broken anything just bruised alot and my knee was a mess for a while, so yes you can absolutely regret going on a ride.

that experience taught me a number of things, but the main one being, dont force it, theres always another ride you can do.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Mudguards and mudflaps are your friend

I have those as well; still get spray.

 

[Ianonabike]

Returning to this thread to say I appear to have my mojo back.

 

[the_mikey]

Like I said, you're doing something seriously wrong. Like climbing hills that are wayyyy too big for you and riding with guys who are wayyyy to fast for you! Lol.

Seriously though, I've never had saddle sores but I've had situations in the past where my arse just ached like mad. Then I was recommended the charge spoon and that saddle was a game changer for me.

The Charge spoon is much celebrated but it's basically a generic saddle that's sold under many different brand names , even expensive ones. So you might find the same saddle design sold as WTB, Madison, Giant, Velo, Fabric and many others.

 

[Homers Double]

Then you are tired of life

That’s a pointless reply to a serious question.

I get this way sometimes as it’s miserable getting up at 6am to grind out a Cragg Vale loop before work in the dark.

Sometimes I try and arrange my days so I do the mundane at 6am and when it’s warm and sunny at 3pm, go for a ride. It’s a massive difference.

And possibly if you can, try a cycling holiday. It might give you an aim and cheer you up?

 

[Drago]

When I was commuting I had a reason to cycle. Sure, id grumble about hauling my pert and shapely ass out of bed at 4am to cycle through frigid -8 celsius air for 9 miles. However, once I was a mile in, warmed up, lungs and heart pumping like an Olympus jet engine id be loving every second of the adventure.

Now im a man of leisure and live within an easy walk of most places I need to regularly visit I do t have that built in necessity to ride. I still ride butnits less frequent and for shorter mileages, and like Mickle im slowly losing the capacity to grind out the time and distance, albeit for different reasons.

Conversely, im almost 58 but by 9am on a Monday morning I've done more exercise than the average 25 year old does jn a week so im still ahead of the game, just not as far ahead as my ego would like.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I get this way sometimes as it’s miserable getting up at 6am to grind out a Cragg Vale loop before work in the dark.

And possibly if you can, try a cycling holiday. It might give you an aim and cheer you up?

I am not the one who needs cheering up. 😂

 

[Binky]

Then you are tired of life

That's just nonsense. Lots of people go through phases where a certain sport or hobby becomes less appealing, it hardly means they are tired of life.

If a certain activity is no longer fun, take a break and do something else. The spark may be reignited later.

 

[Brandane]

The spark may be reignited later

And if not, it's no big deal. You have moved on to other things.
I think (or hope) that MtM's comment re being tired of life was tongue in cheek. If not, then he has an unhealthy commitment/obsession with cycling and not enough other interests!

 

[postman]

I am itching to get out,but i always put the bike away in November anyway.But my chances of spending hours out are now nearly zero, zilch.I never thought how much time would go in to caring for my f.i.l.It eats up my days.

 

[PaulSB]

And if not, it's no big deal. You have moved on to other things.
I think (or hope) that MtM's comment re being tired of life was tongue in cheek. If not, then he has an unhealthy commitment/obsession with cycling and not enough other interests!

Of course it was tongue in cheek, it shouldn't be taken other way.

On the other hand if he was tired of London that would be completely understandable 😁

 

[Moodyman]

That’s a pointless reply to a serious question.

I get this way sometimes as it’s miserable getting up at 6am to grind out a Cragg Vale loop before work in the dark.

Sometimes I try and arrange my days so I do the mundane at 6am and when it’s warm and sunny at 3pm, go for a ride. It’s a massive difference.

And possibly if you can, try a cycling holiday. It might give you an aim and cheer you up?

You might have missed his intended humour. It’s a play on the famous Samuel Johnson quote: “If you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life”.

 

[Binky]

Of course it was tongue in cheek, it shouldn't be taken other way.

On the other hand if he was tired of London that would be completely understandable 😁

Sadly sores should not be the normal experience of cycling. If you’re getting pain something is seriously wrong.

Which was a reply to an obviously humerous comment about having the worlds gnarliest saddle sore so assuming humour is not a given.