Motavational problems

James Annan <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Keep going!

And bear in mind that a few years ago Simon Mason took up cycling just for a one-off long distance
challenge, he wasn't going to start doing it regularly or anything...:-)

(at least, that's how I remember it)

That's right, James. I decided to commute as well when I was forced
to sometimes work the "unsociable" hours of 0830-1630 to avoid the
traffic. When I went back onto full time shifts I had enjoyed it so
much that I kept it up (except for nights). Best thing I ever did.

I may have also expressed the wish that I did not want to mutate into "full roadie mode" and I've so
far eschewed the bibtights, cleats and helmets, but I do have full cycling gear now and have
recently shed the rucksack that I used to carry, so maybe in a few more years ... Simon

Lee said:

Just wondered how you regulars motivate yourselves - or is it just a habit?

As well as all the other useful advice in the thread, is it possible that you could vary your route
a little? If I use the same route day after day I get bored very quickly.

My basic commute is 5 miles each way along a main road. I can vary this to about 6 miles using the
back streets, 9 miles using more country lanes and then up to 13 miles if I am just plain silly[1].

John T.
[1] I am silly about twice a week Remove the singers of Spam before replying

jacobxray said:

when i can't be arsed riding, i don't force myself, i drive in.

it only takes 1 morning of being sat in traffic jams bored stupid, to remember why i prefer
to ride.

the next few days after i take special pleasure out of flying past all the jams, wind in my
hair etc.

sadly also if i feel demotivated, i buy a present for my bike, some new kit always makes me want
to ride my bike more.

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

I've been commuting since spring and loved it. To keep myself going thru the winter I've doshed out
on some Lumi lights, which make it a pleasure to ride in the dark and am getting a fixie together (
just waiting for goldtec to deliver )

After spending that much I can't not ride in.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

"Andy P" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee" wrote

Quoted message said:

Just wondered how you regulars motivate yourselves - or is it just a

habit?

Working out a few different routes might help. Longer but more scenic

might

Quoted message said:

be better. Or try pushing it hard and getting a buzz from the exercise. Maybe get one of those
cycle computer things to see how fast you go or a heart rate monitor to watch your fitness
progress.

I got a cycle computer which I use to log my progress which is interesting, however it does kinda
make me always want to beat my time/speeds so I am pushing most of the time - might ignore the cycle
log for a few weeks, at the moment it seems I am riding to better myself!

Quoted message said:

Do you just ride to work or do you ride recreationally as well? It must

be

Quoted message said:

easier to start commuting if you already ride for enjoyment rather than jumping straight into it
from scratch.

I just ride to work at the moment, i jumped straight in doing this. Previously I hadnt really ridden
since a very young age. It was hard at first, now less so. My legs dont seem to ache as much and I
am not really out of breath at the end of the run (is this me getting fitter?).

"John Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lee said:

Just wondered how you regulars motivate yourselves - or is it just a

habit?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As well as all the other useful advice in the thread, is it possible that you could vary your
route a little? If I use the same route day after day I get bored very quickly.

My basic commute is 5 miles each way along a main road. I can vary this to about 6 miles using the
back streets, 9 miles using more country lanes and then up to 13 miles if I am just plain
silly[1].

John T.
[1] I am silly about twice a week Remove the singers of Spam before replying

hmmm... the "vary route" idea seems a good one, ill have to deviate from my normal route at some
point and see how i get on... thing is, im not 100% sure where I will end up LOL

Lee said:

Hi all,

As some of you will know I am a new commuter (although Ive been doing it for nearly 2 months now)!

This morning was hard. I REALLY couldnt be bothered to ride in ! I did anyway but found it hard.

Can you remember why it felt so hard? Was the "i can't be bothered" feeling with you for all
the journey?

Quoted message said:

I need some ideas on how to motivate myself

A nice bike which is a joy to ride.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I suspect one of the reasons why I felt a lack of motivation is that its fairly dark in a morning
now - although by the time i leave the house its brighter (bout 7.25ish). The mist/fog probably
didnt help much either!

Just wondered how you regulars motivate yourselves - or is it just a habit?

It's habit , plus the routine of getting up, getting dressed (shorts, jersey and socks) cup of tea
(coffee for partner),eating brekkie, making sandwiches for kids, getting bike out of shed and
bringing it round to front of house, shoes on, clip small seat-bag to saddle. Put
windproof/showerproof jacket , keys, overshoes and phone into jersey pockets. Get out of house and
jump on bike. Don't think about anything else! During the last week I've had the long sleeve base
layer on. If the temp drops a bit more the windproof jacket goes on for a few miles, then I roll it
up and pop it back in the jersey pocket. On mondays a backpack goes into work with shirts and
undies. On friday it comes back. The car isn't an alternative for me but saving £30 a week on train
fares certainly is. Last week ( monday) I felt like you as I looked out the office window as the
rain pelted down and an easterly wind swept across London. But I considered the other options ...
sweaty, rain soaked tube and train passengers and the 2x £3.50 train tickets !! Five minutes later I
had the overshoes and jacket on being blown home by the wind.

Quoted message said:

I am quite happy that i "forced" myself to ride, and i do feel better for it now, but this was my
first REAL morning of "i cant be bothered".

2 months is still quite a short time and you're bound to feel like that sometimes. For me it's also
a challenge, it's kinda like trying to beat that "i can't be bothered" feeling, if you know what I
mean. It's so easy to use the alternative ( car/train/motorbike).

davep

Quoted message said:

Lee

Lee said:

I got a cycle computer which I use to log my progress which is interesting, however it does kinda
make me always want to beat my time/speeds so I am pushing most of the time - might ignore the
cycle log for a few weeks, at the moment it seems I am riding to better myself!

You could try setting yourself longer-term goals so that you don't have to push yourself daily, and
can afford to ease up from time to time if you're feeling lousy or it's a windy day etc.

I got a computer last January, and set myself the target of being an average 0.5 mph faster over
this year than I was last year. At the moment I'm 0.7 mph up, but that's currently taking a bit of a
hit with the colder weather we've recently had.

Every now and again I have a blast and try and beat my top speed or improve my best time for the
journey, but that can have an overall negative effect cos it completely knackers me :-)

"davep" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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SNIP!

Quoted message said:

2 months is still quite a short time and you're bound to feel like that sometimes. For me it's
also a challenge, it's kinda like trying to beat that "i can't

be

Quoted message said:

bothered" feeling, if you know what I mean. It's so easy to use the alternative (
car/train/motorbike).

davep

Yes that is my main motivation at the moment - i want to prove to myself and to say "told you so" to
all the people that sais - he'll never stick it ;-)

"Russell Fulker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You could try setting yourself longer-term goals so that you don't have to push yourself daily,
and can afford to ease up from time to time if you're feeling lousy or it's a windy day etc.

I got a computer last January, and set myself the target of being an average 0.5 mph faster over
this year than I was last year. At the moment I'm 0.7 mph up, but that's currently taking a bit of
a hit with the colder weather we've recently had.

Every now and again I have a blast and try and beat my top speed or improve my best time for the
journey, but that can have an overall negative effect cos it completely knackers me :-)

Well my long term goal was to do my commute in 30 mins (my best time currently is 35mins - just
over, which is good to say i started out at 45!) - but yeah, think i will start to take some
relaxing commutes every now and again :-)

Lee said:

Yes that is my main motivation at the moment - i want to prove to myself and to say "told you so"
to all the people that sais - he'll never stick it ;-)

Hi Lee

I'm going to be brutally honest here. You often say, perhaps jokingly, that you've had a heavy night
and so didn't feel like riding on any particular day. Presumably you get my point.

I feel I can get away with saying this as I border on the alcoholic - maybe a mild dissomania - at
times. I love red wine far too much so know what it is like trying to drag oneself out of bed after
a bad (good?) night at any time of day (too often mid-afternoon for me).

If I'm incorrect and insulting you here, Lee. I offer my apologies. My excuse, naturally, is my
bottle of red wine ;-)

Regards, good luck and carry on commuting, mate. You know it's worth it. James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

"James Hodson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Lee

I'm going to be brutally honest here. You often say, perhaps jokingly, that you've had a heavy
night and so didn't feel like riding on any particular day. Presumably you get my point.

I feel I can get away with saying this as I border on the alcoholic - maybe a mild dissomania - at
times. I love red wine far too much so know what it is like trying to drag oneself out of bed
after a bad (good?) night at any time of day (too often mid-afternoon for me).

If I'm incorrect and insulting you here, Lee. I offer my apologies. My excuse, naturally, is my
bottle of red wine ;-)

Regards, good luck and carry on commuting, mate. You know it's worth it. James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

HI james

To be fair, i drink VERY little in the week, maybe 2 glasses of wine!?

Maybe you are confusing me with another Lee? But yeah, I could understand it if I was a heavy
drinker ;-)

I know its worth it, and I am going to buy a new bike soon - cant wait!

Cheers

Lee

Lee said:

To be fair, i drink VERY little in the week, maybe 2 glasses of wine!?

Maybe you are confusing me with another Lee? But yeah, I could understand it if I was a heavy
drinker ;-)

I know its worth it, and I am going to buy a new bike soon - cant wait!

Hi Lee

I was really speaking about myself as much as anyone else. Wine & [censored]: increases the desire but
takes away the performance.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

"James Hodson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hi Lee

I was really speaking about myself as much as anyone else. Wine & [censored]: increases the desire but
takes away the performance.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

Well, i dont really drink, dont smoke...

theres a song in there somewhere :-D

Lee