When you're tired of cycling

[Vapin' Joe]

Consider maybe using a cycle as daily transport perhaps?

If you've lost your mojo that would absolutely destroy it.

Sometimes you just need a break, the bike will still be there when you feel like riding again. Remember, it's a hobby, not a religion.

 

[Oldhippy]

It's daily transport for me.

 

[Oldhippy]

Cycle travelogues can be very inspiring I find.

 

[numbnuts]

It all started last year when I became ill and only used the trike once.
Then this year started and it was cold, when it warmed up I gave the trike a quick service
and took it for a ride, that was 20th June..........not been out since, done quite a bit of
walking so keeping fit still.
In a nutshell I think I have got old, I don't feel like going out anymore and mixing socially
and just happy to be on my own.

 

[freiston]

I've got no option if I need to get anywhere, don't like the bus and taxi's are TFD so it's a bike or trike for me

Same here - trouble is that there's not often that I need to get anywhere and then when I do, I often have to think where and how to lock it up. Not needing to get anywhere doesn't just affect cycling but getting out generally - if you've got no reason and no (available and willing) companion, it's hard to make it happen.

Back on to OP, I often get the doldrums - My friends don't cycle, the need for utility cycling is low (I do about 16-20 miles a week utility cycling - short rides over two or three days usually). I've got favourite routes and they're favourite for good reason - avoiding busy roads, don't need to cycle 5+ miles to get out of town (I live on the edge of town so it's pretty much one direction otherwise busy roads and/or to the other side of the city). But when you do them by yourself just for the sake of it, the same routes over and over again can lack appeal (even though in actuality, they are really lovely rides).

Part of the problem is that the less you ride, the harder it becomes to get out, and the less fit you become, the more your options are limited, making it even harder to get out.

I like to make a couple or more overnighters a year - planned (inasmuch as when and possibly where and possibly for how many nights) and scheduled into the calendar. Then as the date approaches, I frequently find the fear of not being up to it is enough to get me out and on the bike in preparation.

 

[esoxlucius]

The only thing that would probably prevent me getting out eventually would be age. I'm 57 now. Will I still be out and about when I'm 65, 70, even older?

Thankfully the signs I see on my journeys are promising as I see older riders all the time. Most are understandably slow, but crikey you get the odd veteran who can't half travel.

Health permitting I hope that's me one day.

 

[albion]

Stuck in a rut? A change is good as a rest.

I made the decision to abandon day rides for 20 or so miles of pottering around.
That worked well, myself discovering new best local routes for low traffic relaxation. Finding 3 dry sunny hours per day is often viable too, if you can flex.
And the local routes being flatter I now do about 3 hours, 6 days a week at near 200 miles all in.

One thing I also soon noticed is that those longer day rides probably gave me low blood sugar and its varied side effects.
Take it easy and do your own thing. Intense exercise is certainly an overrated addiction.

 

[mustang1]

I have this once or twice a year. But its not because I'm tired of cycling, but just because I fancy a natural break. Wait, that doesn't really help does it. Ok try this....

If you don't want to ride, then don't! Unless of course you have to get somewhere and the roads, trains, buses all suck.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I stopped riding for 40 years from my early 20s when I got involved in too many other sports and something had to give so cycling has not been a huge part in my life. I took it up again 15 years ago pre-retirement and really enjoy riding 3/4 times a week but from time to time have stopped for a few months, usually through illness or injury and miss it until I get back to it.
I haven't ridden for amost four months due to cancer treatment, but that has now stopped and this time I just can't seem to get the motivation back to ride, especially after missing the best riding months. I hope I'm not giving up but there always seems something else to do.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

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?

I think that if you are not a commuter or an utilitarian cyclist you do very well to go out twice a week.
Personally, I never had the feeling of not feeling it, because I mainly commute to work or cycle for utilitarian purposes.
I don't run a car by choice, the bus (that I get free btw) is a faff, cycling to me is freedom, I don't mind the weather.
I used to do loads of leisure cycling too, but during Covid I couldn't cycle for a year because of injury.
I discovered gardening, so now the gardening takes priority over the leisure cycling, but I don't hesitate to jump on my bike to go places.
I guess that if you don't need to cycle you could get bored of it, in that case I would suggest another activity that doesn't bore you.
You can still post on CC if you stop cycling

 

[Brandane]

It all started last year when I became ill and only used the trike once.
Then this year started and it was cold, when it warmed up I gave the trike a quick service
and took it for a ride, that was 20th June..........not been out since, done quite a bit of
walking so keeping fit still.
In a nutshell I think I have got old, I don't feel like going out anymore and mixing socially
and just happy to be on my own.

Nothing wrong with that, as long as you are happy with it. I am quite happy in my own company too, although I also enjoy the company of others (with quite a lot of exceptions 😅)...

 

[numbnuts]

Nothing wrong with that, as long as you are happy with it. I am quite happy in my own company too, although I also enjoy the company of others (with quite a lot of exceptions 😅)...

The only trouble is I feel guilty for not using my trike, MTB and my road bike and my kayak has not been used for at least 4 years now
but I would regret if I sold them. I do feel that old age has overtaken me all of a sudden (coming up to 75 next month) and it frightens
me to think I'm and old fart now and it's all done hill from now on.

 

[All uphill]

I'm not a cyclist, but I do enjoy riding a bike. I also walk and use trains for a bit of variety.

Getting rid of the car was the one best things I ever did for my mental and physical health.

 

[geocycle]

Then you are tired of life

Samuel Johnson enjoyed a ride I hear.


I try and do different things as others suggest. I have a daily commute that follows one of three routes depending on weather and time. My weekend ride on a different bike goes from the house to one of three different areas, it’s always geat to discover new routes. I sometimes throw in a train assist linear route to add interest and very occasionally drive to extend my range.

 

[esoxlucius]

The only trouble is I feel guilty for not using my trike, MTB and my road bike and my kayak has not been used for at least 4 years now
but I would regret if I sold them. I do feel that old age has overtaken me all of a sudden (coming up to 75 next month) and it frightens
me to think I'm and old fart now and it's all done hill from now on.

I mentioned in an earlier post about having a constant "spring in my step". Both my physical and mental health are great and cycling plays a huge part in both of those elements. I feel great at this time in my life.

If you just resign yourself to the fact that you're getting older and exercise becomes an ever diminishing factor in your life, then your physical and maybe mental health will deteriorate too.

I hope when i'm your age I can fight against the feelings you have and continue being active to a ripe old age.

I wish you luck moving forward and hope you can find a new lease of life to get you in the swing again.