Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Which was an obviously humorous reply. Are we to take it that humour is not a given?
When you're tired of cycling
- Thread starter Ianonabike
- Start date
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Which was an obviously humorous reply. Are we to take it that humour is not a given?
Psamathe
Über Member
For me it's not so much cycling I get a bit bored with it's over familiarity with my local roads.
I might go out cycling maybe 4 days a week, circular routes starting/ending at home. So over the years local roads have become very familiar, even for time of year, time of week (ie Wed afternoon traffic often a lot quieter). I know exactly what is round the next corner, in fact what is round every corner and rides can become a bit "going through the motions" more about exercise than enjoying being out.
However, few years back I start riding a tadpole recumbent and that put new interest in my rides. No idea why 'cos exactly the same roads, corners, etc. These days I find a change of cycle can have a real boost in enthusiasm eg yesterday I went for a ride on my DF-upright and it was really fun (same roads).
Weird thing is I have a good bike carrier on car roof that's quick and easy to use and tadpole recumbent quickly folds and fits inside car easily but for some reason have a real mental block about putting cycle in/on car and driving somewhere different. Maybe because I regard cycling as environmentally "good" so the idea of burning petrol for a ride grates too much for me to do it - which is daft as many of my rides are recreational rather than utility (shopping, etc.)
I might go out cycling maybe 4 days a week, circular routes starting/ending at home. So over the years local roads have become very familiar, even for time of year, time of week (ie Wed afternoon traffic often a lot quieter). I know exactly what is round the next corner, in fact what is round every corner and rides can become a bit "going through the motions" more about exercise than enjoying being out.
However, few years back I start riding a tadpole recumbent and that put new interest in my rides. No idea why 'cos exactly the same roads, corners, etc. These days I find a change of cycle can have a real boost in enthusiasm eg yesterday I went for a ride on my DF-upright and it was really fun (same roads).
Weird thing is I have a good bike carrier on car roof that's quick and easy to use and tadpole recumbent quickly folds and fits inside car easily but for some reason have a real mental block about putting cycle in/on car and driving somewhere different. Maybe because I regard cycling as environmentally "good" so the idea of burning petrol for a ride grates too much for me to do it - which is daft as many of my rides are recreational rather than utility (shopping, etc.)
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I'm a bit that way too - I have done it a few times, but with over 1100 rides recorded on Strava, I wouldn't need to take my socks off to count the number where I have driven somewhere in order to ride.
But there are enough roads around the Vale of Glamorgan that I haven't really got bored with riding them yet.
If you cycle from home no matter where you live and even if you reverse routes, change it up etc after a while you're riding same sections 100 times over which is boring no question. The easiest solution is if able is to put bike in car and drive out somewhere new for the day.
The premium solution is to jet off somewhere warm and cycling friendly, although this as a remedy to losing cycling mojo might seem a bit extreme. I jet off several times a year because I enjoy it anyway, the riding somewhere new and warm etc is the Brucey Bonus.
Both my recommendations you don't want to do so fair enough but they work for me. Only issue I find is I get home after a great trip and immediately want to go again!
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Another option for some of us is train and bike combo. It's my favourite and opens up lots of options:
Cycle out, train back.
Train out, cycle back.
Train out, cycle a loop and train back.
Train out, cycle to another station, train back.
Much cheaper and greener than running a car.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
I live 25 quite boring and hilly miles from my favourite riding area, the Brecon Beacons. At my age and level of fitness adding 50 hard miles to the 40 or so I like to do is a complete no-no and so I have no feelings of guilt over popping the bike in the car and driving the 25 miles up to my sister's house, or even further, to ride on relatively quiet roads in beautiful countryside. I could do the 50 miles by train but that would add a lot of time and hassle to a recreation ride.
Indeed, assuming reasonable and accessible train services although I drive an EV so I'd say greener than diesel engine train.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
Sadly I don't even have that excuse as the train line has recently been electrified!
Vantage
Carbon fibre... LMAO!!!
- Location
- Behind everyone else, Bolton
I started losing the will after my first long distance tour. Coming back to the same old roads felt so boring.
That was about 4-5 yrs ago I think and I've reached the stage where I never go on 'rides' anymore. The bike gets me about to college, appointments, family visits etc but riding just for the pleasure of it? Gone. Can't see that ever changing, especially with the ridiculous amount of drivers about these days.
That was about 4-5 yrs ago I think and I've reached the stage where I never go on 'rides' anymore. The bike gets me about to college, appointments, family visits etc but riding just for the pleasure of it? Gone. Can't see that ever changing, especially with the ridiculous amount of drivers about these days.
To be honest, I have no guilt over using a train or a plane for that matter. I "do my bit" for the enviroment etc within reason but unless the entire world goes off grid and lives in a cave then the inconsequential amount we may contributute to global warming etc is a minute, barely measureable fraction of what industry does. Yes yes, it all adds up etc but here in the real world it's all a compromise anyway.
So, I'm jetting off next week and I will feel nothing but smug and happy I'm getting away to the warmth and excellent roads of Mallorca.
Brandane
The Costa Clyde rain magnet.
That's my solution too, even though I do have a car. Take the car and you always have to end your ride where you started, at the car. I live close to a train station with an hourly service to Glasgow. I buy a return ticket to whatever station along the line, and then go for a ride (usually planned so I ride WITH the wind). I can finish at any station on the line (or any other line for that matter), or ride home, depending on how much I am enjoying (or not!) the ride.
Brandane
The Costa Clyde rain magnet.
I can understand that. I was away cycling in Normandy for a week in September, it was pretty much cycling heaven. Then I came home to the lack of facilities (which we shouldn't really need in an ideal world, but I digress....), the aggression, the entitled drivers, the hatred of cyclists, the volume of traffic, the shocking state of the roads, the even worse state of what cycle paths we do have, and the general air of "nobody on the road gives a sh1t about anyone else".... And then there is the weather!
I haven't got a train!
It would be most of day ride for me just to ride to my nearest station and back.
In Scotland, you also have the advantage of being able to book bikes on the long distance buses.
In theory, I can carry a bike as luggage on a coach, but it is down to there being room, and the driver's discretion. You can't guarantee it, and some drivers are really rude and unhelpful.
I definitely get this , although I suspect your long distance tours are probably longer than anything I've done.
Before my accident, I was supposed fit and rode as often as possible, even in the dark and in nearly all weather conditions.
Since recovering, I find I can still motivate myself and really enjoy cycle touring, or weekend cycle breaks from a fixed base. For some reason, I struggle to find the motivation to just do regular ten or twenty miles locally just for exercise.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
About 20 years ago Cardiff Bus started a very early bus service with a multi bike trailer attached to take cyclists from Cardiff to Brecon via Abergavenny on a Sunday. Not sure why it stopped, probably lack of demand or Covid.
