Struggling with motivation
Discussion
So last year i thought i was having a bad year compared to the previous year after id had a knee op, but it seems like my fitness had just dropped and all my mates were doing more and more riding. I've got a cycling trainer now, but i cant even get myself onto the TT. I put on 10 kilos over xmas and am trying to do a 5-2 diet to get back to a better weight otherwise i cant ride my carbon for being overweight ! 110 kilos! It just seems such a faff, getting the bike ready, putting on all the clothing, riding, servicing etc. Im sort of having ideas of getting another mx bike as that was less hassle to get out on tbh. I used to ride with mates but i feel bad for holding them up. ALl riding clubs seem to set off at 8 am - i mean how anti social? Any tips for getting motivated would be useful. Thanks.
Maybe a winter thing and your mojo will return in the spring weather? Early starts certainly don't appeal to me at this time of year, even once we're past the shortest day. From experience, if you don't maintain a modicum of cycling over mid-winter, for whatever reason, it really is hard to get going again. And the time overhead of winter dressing, washing, bike clean/maintenance means that short rides aren't that efficient but long rides are daunting. If you're on Strava, you can't expect to be setting PRs but you could forget history and look at improving times from 1.1.19 onwards. Or find some unridden segments (or devise your own) so you'll see some progress. If in a club, drop down to a lower group temporarily. I also find listening to podcasts makes time pass faster if I'm cycling solo. Music works for others.
Good luck1
Good luck1
Post-wedding and a couple of all-inclusives later I have put on 10kg so I know the feeling. I'm now actively trying to get back into a shape that is not round.
My turbo is a godsend. I'm just doing 30 minute training plans on Zwift as that's all I have time for after work during the week. I leave it set up and just have to put a pair of shorts and shoes on and off I go. My FTP is already the same as my peak last summer so that's working. Come the weekend I try to either get out with some mates or the local cycling club. They start at 9am and 9:30am if it's particularly cold. If it's raining though, I jump back on the turbo with one or two sessions a day.
This year I'm actively trying to stop the cycle of the past few years which was train for an Alps or Pyrenees trip then peter out. I flew it to Mallorca last month. I signed up for Liege Bastogne Liege in 10 weeks and two sportives between now and then to try and motivate me. In July I'm doing the Etape UK and planning a trip to Nice in September. I need constant goals to maintain motivation.
A big thing for me is the clocks changing and getting out after work for a 30-40km loop. My motivations increases significantly during BST.
My turbo is a godsend. I'm just doing 30 minute training plans on Zwift as that's all I have time for after work during the week. I leave it set up and just have to put a pair of shorts and shoes on and off I go. My FTP is already the same as my peak last summer so that's working. Come the weekend I try to either get out with some mates or the local cycling club. They start at 9am and 9:30am if it's particularly cold. If it's raining though, I jump back on the turbo with one or two sessions a day.
This year I'm actively trying to stop the cycle of the past few years which was train for an Alps or Pyrenees trip then peter out. I flew it to Mallorca last month. I signed up for Liege Bastogne Liege in 10 weeks and two sportives between now and then to try and motivate me. In July I'm doing the Etape UK and planning a trip to Nice in September. I need constant goals to maintain motivation.
A big thing for me is the clocks changing and getting out after work for a 30-40km loop. My motivations increases significantly during BST.
millen said:
Maybe a winter thing and your mojo will return in the spring weather? Early starts certainly don't appeal to me at this time of year, even once we're past the shortest day. From experience, if you don't maintain a modicum of cycling over mid-winter, for whatever reason, it really is hard to get going again. And the time overhead of winter dressing, washing, bike clean/maintenance means that short rides aren't that efficient but long rides are daunting. If you're on Strava, you can't expect to be setting PRs but you could forget history and look at improving times from 1.1.19 onwards. Or find some unridden segments (or devise your own) so you'll see some progress. If in a club, drop down to a lower group temporarily. I also find listening to podcasts makes time pass faster if I'm cycling solo. Music works for others.
Good luck1
Cheers for the input. Just went for 3 mile walk and habe a 4 day indoor cycle on trainingpeaks. Funnily enough I spent a week on a farm helping a mate out last week and lost half a stone doing that. Maybe I should do that more often Good luck1
. Walking and cycling indoors. And lower expectations I think are best direction for me. Always quite demotivating when you see your mate doing 80.miles of a Sunday in the ice cold! Dbl hard b
ds. Mark83 said:
Post-wedding and a couple of all-inclusives later I have put on 10kg so I know the feeling. I'm now actively trying to get back into a shape that is not round.
My turbo is a godsend. I'm just doing 30 minute training plans on Zwift as that's all I have time for after work during the week. I leave it set up and just have to put a pair of shorts and shoes on and off I go. My FTP is already the same as my peak last summer so that's working. Come the weekend I try to either get out with some mates or the local cycling club. They start at 9am and 9:30am if it's particularly cold. If it's raining though, I jump back on the turbo with one or two sessions a day.
This year I'm actively trying to stop the cycle of the past few years which was train for an Alps or Pyrenees trip then peter out. I flew it to Mallorca last month. I signed up for Liege Bastogne Liege in 10 weeks and two sportives between now and then to try and motivate me. In July I'm doing the Etape UK and planning a trip to Nice in September. I need constant goals to maintain motivation.
A big thing for me is the clocks changing and getting out after work for a 30-40km loop. My motivations increases significantly during BST.
My ftp dropped from 270 to 240 which is a bit of a Bummer. My turbo is a godsend. I'm just doing 30 minute training plans on Zwift as that's all I have time for after work during the week. I leave it set up and just have to put a pair of shorts and shoes on and off I go. My FTP is already the same as my peak last summer so that's working. Come the weekend I try to either get out with some mates or the local cycling club. They start at 9am and 9:30am if it's particularly cold. If it's raining though, I jump back on the turbo with one or two sessions a day.
This year I'm actively trying to stop the cycle of the past few years which was train for an Alps or Pyrenees trip then peter out. I flew it to Mallorca last month. I signed up for Liege Bastogne Liege in 10 weeks and two sportives between now and then to try and motivate me. In July I'm doing the Etape UK and planning a trip to Nice in September. I need constant goals to maintain motivation.
A big thing for me is the clocks changing and getting out after work for a 30-40km loop. My motivations increases significantly during BST.
Yeah have heard mallorca. Is good for winter as are canaries Did tiede the other year.
Im Now too heavy for my carbon bike too which is the ultimate insult haha
Edited by PorkRind on Monday 11th February 21:07
Nobody can give you the magic pill to make you do something unfortunately. Sometimes, it's just a grind, especially in winter.
I find that consistency is key though. If you can commit to doing 'something' (doesn't have to be the bike, could be a walk/run/swim/park with the dog or kids) two or three times a week, and keep at it, results will come.
Stop comparing yourself to your mates too. By all means it's good to aspire to be able to keep up with / beat them, but micro-analysing your every ride or performance against them won't help with morale. I love Strava, but it took me a while to realise there'll always be someone better, faster, stronger... or just riding with the wind at their back on any given day. You're only really competing against yourself and every step forward is a gain. :-)
I find that consistency is key though. If you can commit to doing 'something' (doesn't have to be the bike, could be a walk/run/swim/park with the dog or kids) two or three times a week, and keep at it, results will come.
Stop comparing yourself to your mates too. By all means it's good to aspire to be able to keep up with / beat them, but micro-analysing your every ride or performance against them won't help with morale. I love Strava, but it took me a while to realise there'll always be someone better, faster, stronger... or just riding with the wind at their back on any given day. You're only really competing against yourself and every step forward is a gain. :-)
ShortShift811 said:
Stop comparing yourself to your mates too. By all means it's good to aspire to be able to keep up with / beat them, but micro-analysing your every ride or performance against them won't help with morale. I love Strava, but it took me a while to realise there'll always be someone better, faster, stronger... or just riding with the wind at their back on any given day. You're only really competing against yourself and every step forward is a gain. :-)
How about an interview with one of the very best coaches that the sport of cycling has ever seen, Rod Ellingworth
https://audioboom.com/posts/7169678-when-orla-met-...
https://audioboom.com/posts/7169780-when-orla-met-...
A nice piece about him from Le Tour last year https://chpt3.com/blogs/journal/well-done-mark
https://audioboom.com/posts/7169678-when-orla-met-...
https://audioboom.com/posts/7169780-when-orla-met-...
A nice piece about him from Le Tour last year https://chpt3.com/blogs/journal/well-done-mark
Does it have to be an all or nothing thing? It sounds as though popping out for a quick cycle round on a cheap bike or going for a few miles along a trail is out of the question, which seems very odd, given you're main desire seems to be to get fit again.
Do you really have to get dressed up like Chris Frome to go out for a bike ride?
Do you really have to get dressed up like Chris Frome to go out for a bike ride?
Try something different? Got a mountain bike?
I found myself chasing long rides and trying to go faster, get lighter, fitter etc. Then I had less time and got despondent. Dug my mountain bike out and remembered why I loved cycling. Once I got over the fact Sunday morning is 30 miles at most and not 60-70 but I'd had a bundle more fun along the way my road bike started to gather dust.
Just an idea..
Broke my collar bone November last year and it's been tough getting back out, the fact I can't get up the hills quite as quick at the moment doesn't seem to matter as much off road. I do have the road bike on a trainer with Zwift that I use when I can't get out but only ever for half hour or so as I find that soul destroying!
I found myself chasing long rides and trying to go faster, get lighter, fitter etc. Then I had less time and got despondent. Dug my mountain bike out and remembered why I loved cycling. Once I got over the fact Sunday morning is 30 miles at most and not 60-70 but I'd had a bundle more fun along the way my road bike started to gather dust.
Just an idea..
Broke my collar bone November last year and it's been tough getting back out, the fact I can't get up the hills quite as quick at the moment doesn't seem to matter as much off road. I do have the road bike on a trainer with Zwift that I use when I can't get out but only ever for half hour or so as I find that soul destroying!
I used to lack a bit of turbo trainer motivation as it did seem a faff to come in from work, get the trainer out, take the wheel off the bike, set it up properly on the 'on-wheel' trainer, connect to garmin, get the fan out etc etc. However now I have a dedicated set up at home where the bike lives over the winter sat on the Neo and with the added motivation of Zwift training and races, it's like a different ball game. Now I just grab some bib tights and hop on, really does make it more enjoyable so if you can have something like that it may help it seem less of a faff.
There's also the issue with losing fitness and losing motivation, but once it starts coming back, you'll want to get out more
There's also the issue with losing fitness and losing motivation, but once it starts coming back, you'll want to get out more
Edited by ChrisMCoupe on Tuesday 12th February 14:44
I haven't been out on my bike since November. I just don't fancy getting cold and wet.
So my turbo trainer has had quite a bit of use. For me, I find that doing a structured work out for a set time and recording the figures keeps my motivation up. Just set yourself a regular and repeatable goal and do several sessions a week. When you're bursting through the figures, then raise the target levels.
I find that pedalling away, listening to the radio, watching the figures and doing the mental maths to make sure I'm on track, keeps me going for the session.
Automatically recording the figures to Strava provides the day to day motivation and check.
Make achievable sessions, make them regular, record the sessions, check progress. Turn the music up!
So my turbo trainer has had quite a bit of use. For me, I find that doing a structured work out for a set time and recording the figures keeps my motivation up. Just set yourself a regular and repeatable goal and do several sessions a week. When you're bursting through the figures, then raise the target levels.
I find that pedalling away, listening to the radio, watching the figures and doing the mental maths to make sure I'm on track, keeps me going for the session.
Automatically recording the figures to Strava provides the day to day motivation and check.
Make achievable sessions, make them regular, record the sessions, check progress. Turn the music up!
Like you OP I’ve had a crap start to 2019, loads of excuses (ill, weather, busy, too dark) but reality couldn’t be arsed.
Only just started to get back into it, what’s made the difference for me is a new winter bike, new direct drive turbo, coupled with Zwift so able to leave my summer bike permanently on the trainer and I’ve found I think I’ll go for a half hour ride, once on half hour becomes an hour or if like yesterday found myself on a climb which I couldn’t leave and actually took 50minutes!
Only just started to get back into it, what’s made the difference for me is a new winter bike, new direct drive turbo, coupled with Zwift so able to leave my summer bike permanently on the trainer and I’ve found I think I’ll go for a half hour ride, once on half hour becomes an hour or if like yesterday found myself on a climb which I couldn’t leave and actually took 50minutes!
Much like others in here I've had a crap start too.
Newborn baby and wife going into hospital has only allowed me to do 2.5 hrs on the turbo so far this year.
Already put on about 4/5kg and I'd hate to think what my power has dropped to.
Not really struggling with motivation but more finding the time to actually do anything.
Newborn baby and wife going into hospital has only allowed me to do 2.5 hrs on the turbo so far this year.
Already put on about 4/5kg and I'd hate to think what my power has dropped to.
Not really struggling with motivation but more finding the time to actually do anything.
That's inspiring I always seem to be keen to buy new kit to try and cajoul myself into getting back into it. Is it a tacx trainer thats got direct drive and you fit a cassette to the drive axel? It seems quite expensive though right, 599 or sowmthing like that. Still, would simulate the terrain better than my std tacx thingy.
PorkRind said:
That's inspiring I always seem to be keen to buy new kit to try and cajoul myself into getting back into it. Is it a tacx trainer thats got direct drive and you fit a cassette to the drive axel? It seems quite expensive though right, 599 or sowmthing like that. Still, would simulate the terrain better than my std tacx thingy.
I was coming from an old dumb turbo mind so perhaps if you have a smart trainer having it always ready to go may help.As someone once said to me about Winter blues and riding; "don't fret; you've had all summer riding in the great outdoors, in the sun, fresh air in shorts and T shirt, now it's s
t outside and you're having to ride in the confines of the utility room, no wonder you're not getting the same enjoyment out of it"Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff