When you're tired of cycling

[HLaB]

Ive never reached the tired of cycling stage myself but I'd guess the OP should take a break and after a while they'll feel they are missing out on cycling. The longest break I've had was 5week after my bowel cancer op and before the resultant chemo. The nurses were telling me after the op it'd be 6 weeks at least before I could even think about the bike. After 2 weeks I was feeling fit and missing cycling though! Just before chemo I saw the oncologist, who told me I "should already be back on the bike" 🤦‍♂️ He didn't need to tell me twice. The only benefit of that forced period off the bike it made me 99% certain that the only reason I'm still here is because I'm cycling fit!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You don’t stop cycling because you have grown old, you grow old because you stop cycling.

 

[esoxlucius]

You don’t stop cycling because you have grown old, you grow old because you stop cycling.

I find riding the bike, and the wife, in equal measure, though definitely not at the same time, keeps old age at bay, lol.

 

[Ianonabike]

Thank you for all the replies. I don't see myself stopping altogether, especially as when I do go out, I'm usually glad I did. It's just that that's not translating into continued enthusiasm. Guess I'll just take it day by day and not worry about it too much. Not that I am, I was just curious about other people's experiences.

 

[Ian H]

Remember, it's a hobby, not a religion.

Ye gods! Burn the heretic!

 

[Milzy]

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?

You must be burnt out. When you’re ready you’ll swing your leg over. If you never want to then your hormones aren’t right.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Samuel Johnson enjoyed a ride I hear.

He was actually a 2nd Cat racer, Samuel Pepys was a 3rd but Shakespeare could not get out of the 4th's, just didn't have the sprint....

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

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.

+1 for a break. An overuse back injury has forced me to take 3 or 4 short breaks off the bike in the last 12 months. I kind of knew I had an unhealthy relationship in terms of not having had a proper break from riding in the last 10 years, but actually forcing myself to stop has been a good thing. It has also allowed me to accept I can do other things, if I don't feel like cycling on a given day then I won't. Previously I would have forced myself to no matter what.

 

[wafter]

It's been lumpy for me. Had a bike as a kid but didn't do much of consequence other than rolling around the village.

Got into it a lot more at uni for utilty and leisure, then fell out of it once back home afterwards as the surrounding roads were much less inviting.

Pretty much repeated this trend when I moved back to the city with my now-ex, although it took me a while to really get into it, then fell off the wagon again when that relationship went pear-shaped and I ended up back at home... although at least by this time I'd recognised the mental / physical benefits of being in the saddle so made more of an effort to stay on it.

Now I'm back in the city and riding more than I ever have - even if I lose my mojo I expect I'll always ride to some extent as it's by far the least-worst way to get about around here.

If you've lost interest you could try something new (different routes / terrain), maybe try to factor in some utility stuff (shops, commuting) as this gets you out regardless of how you feel about it.. or maybe just give it a break, try something totally different and leave its future in the lap of the gods..?