A very interesting thread indeed.
*I haven't read every single post though.
I got into cycling properly when I moved to a new area for work, and road cycling suddenly became much more attractive - this was some 18 years ago.
About 9 years ago a friend gave me a trial for TrainerRoad - that was something I loved for probably 6-7 years, and did plan after plan after plan, loved hitting the targets, completing the plans, and seeing the benefits out on the road.
I forget exactly when (Maybe 2022), but it probably coincided with a first mental health situation (Which was a tricky to deal with) for me, but in the spring of one year, I just started to feel down, possibly the catalyst was work not being ideal, and for the rest of the year, the summer, I cycled mostly outdoors, but didn't have the same desire to do it that I had done for all the previous years, confusing times.
Come the autumn I really struggled - work had a movember 'move for movember' or some such charity thing, so I committed to riding (indoors mainly) 660km, which I managed to do.
Then December came, and I stopped. I thought I would feel like it again in January, but did not, and in fact it was not until April I think, that I got back on the bike.
In the meantime, I had lost all of that saddle familiarity that you get from riding regularly, and also put on a ton of weight comparatively, and also my power had plummeted.
I started out very slowly, built things up over time, and touch wood, I seem to have been motivated since.
I discovered Rouvy last December, which I am way more of a fan of than I ever thought I would be.
The videos of sunnier countries, and amazing climbs really does motivate me, and although I do well to finish in the top half, I really really enjoy the races, and find I can push myself much more than in a training session - no great surprise I suppose.
I bought into Rouvy so much, I even forked out for a brand new trainer, so I could use the virtual gears, which I personally find really useful.
Indoor training for me works really well, I wfh a lot, so I can fit a workout in before work, during a longer lunch, or after work without any fear of not being back home in time for whatever.
I think I saw someone on here (maybe even the op) say that their local roads are all very familiar to them now, and in that respect I feel the same - additionally to make them less appealing to me, I've been cycling in Spain and Italy this year, and where I rode the roads were phenomenal, the motorists in the main are very accommodating, and the weather was fabulous - and that's before we get onto the food and drink.
I'm someone who adores riding in hot weather, in just shorts and a ss jersey, it feels so freeing, and amazing, it's probably one of the very best things I can ever do, and if I'm being honest, those opportunities in this country are pretty rare for it to be one of those days, and when I am not working.
I also found on the last holiday to Tuscany, I really enjoy LONG climbs, even though I'm not that fast, and then as a reward, enjoy the corresponding descent, even with rim brakes!
For those reasons, I have been struggling to ride outside here, and even to get out with my club.
I haven't analysed that too much in recent months, or thought about how I could get myself out there with them, other than simply signing up, but that is probably what I need to do - especially if I see a few friends on a ride, that often motivates me to get out there.
Like others on here, I have THE perfect vehicle to put the bike in, and drive somewhere to ride new routes, and yet whilst I did it in Italy, I have never really done it here, other than for family rides where we put all the bikes in and go to the new forest or something, but I should do really.
It's a van based vehicle, so I'd even have room to put the bike inside, and sleep on a little mattress beside it if I wanted to.
I suppose then you have complications with toilet requirements, washing facilities, food and drink etc etc
Just to add, I talked some it through, in a fashion, on the old Bikeradar forum, and had a ton of helpful replies and direct messages, so I'd say posting on here is definitely a good step forwards.
