When you're tired of cycling

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Dan Lotus

Über Member
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.
 
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Vantage

Carbon fibre... LMAO!!!
I definitely get this , although I suspect your long distance tours are probably longer than anything I've done.
Way of the Roses 165 miles. That's the only multi night tour I've done and that was with my dad. Don't like touring alone.
I suspect practically everyone here has done more touring than me. I'm a lightweight 🤣
 
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