Cycling UK Forum

I have a real problem in this respect. I love it when I'm out, it's just overcoming my initial reluctance. That, and looking for any feeble excuse (rain, wind etc...). Used to go out with a mate once or twice a week, but he stopped. Need someone to push this 54 year old. How do you do it?

Andy

It's really hard to get out sometimes, but I find new clothing or bike parts helps Not quite the answer you want really.

I do however ride to work a lot, so it is one way of ensuring I get exercise.

I agree motivation can be a problem.
For me its best overcome in 2 ways. But I guess everyone's different.
First by giving myself objectives. I set out a route using some software mapping I've got. Often I'll follow the route on the computer using Google earth. Look for landmarks, features etc. on the route. Anything to get me excited about actually cycling it.
Secondly I joined with the local CTC touring group. That gives me a Sunday morning commitment.

Hi Andy,

I empathise entirely with you. I used to commute by bike 17 miles each way, and now I'm retired I need an excuse to cycle now.

With more disposable income available, I've been able to treat myself and Bike to good gears and components, so the whole machine just sits there and stares at me waiting to get out and ride. It whimpers an moans at me, tugging at my conscience until I get my togs on and get out.

I tend to keep an eye on the weather forecasts to predict which days I can get out with the least hassle. 3 times a week is my aim, but often it's only twice. 30-50 miles is best for me. Any less, and I feel its a waist of time, much more and takes too much time out of my life. Give me 2 to 4 hours non-stop or perhaps a little longer with a lunch stop.

I ride alone generally, I prefer it that way. "Own boss/do what I like" sort of thing.

Have an aim. Have an obsession. Have a plan.

I did LEJOGLE a couple of years ago. www.lejogandback.blogspot.com and I'm doing a Grand Tour starting next month http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=11280

By having an aim, you make yourself get out to get the miles in and under your belt.

Good luck, and RIDE!

Mick F wrote:Have an aim. Have an obsession. Have a plan.

My experience is similar in some ways to MickF.

I commuted for years and there is nothing like it for getting you out an a bike (especially if your wife has the car so the bike is the only way to get to work.)

It's now nearly eleven years since I retired at the ripe old age of 52 and more money than I had ever had. I dumped all the commuting hacks and indulged myself with several new bikes. I spent several years campaigning as a CTC rep which meant getting out sometimes at short notice to all sorts of locations to see what was what. Through the campaigning I got involved with the mad obsession of "chevronning" - seeing how many ordnance survey steep hill chevrons you could ride up in a day. I also pushed the West Yorkshire highway authorities into relaunching the West Yorkshire Cycle Route .

I rode and re-rode bits of the WYCR and then did the complete circuit(approx 160 miles around the county boundary) in a day. We got the chevrons up to 72 in the day (130 hilly miles) and then - zap - out of the blue I found I had heart disease.

Do it now or you may never do it. Carpe diem.

Try entering a few local audaxes if any near to you. I find that if you have paid up in advance, even a paltry fee, is enough motivation to get you out.

Thanks for all thoughts. I do commute, but it's only 3 miles round trip. Cardiff CTC (my nearest) doesn't appear to exist any more, and there's only so much new kit you can buy - possibly why I'm considering buying another new bike!!
I did enter an audax last year (Glamorgan Gloom, and it nearly killed me), and one this year which I bottled out of (too windy). I've ridden just about all the roads within twenty miles, although I've no problem going over old routes.
Anyway, I'll check the forecast for tomorrow and make an effort to do a couple of hours before work.

Thanks.
Andy.

andydad1649 wrote:I have a real problem in this respect. I love it when I'm out, it's just overcoming my initial reluctance. That, and looking for any feeble excuse (rain, wind etc...). Used to go out with a mate once or twice a week, but he stopped. Need someone to push this 54 year old. How do you do it?

Andy

You don't need anyone, you need to get out and ride.
When you have the thought to go out for a ride that is what you do,after all that is what you want,right?
So the first thought is 'I want to go for a ride'.That is where you stop the thinking after that you begin the doing,no thinking about not going takes place,those thoughts are the negatives they're the ones that need stopping.They kill the riding.
So kill those thoughts as they enter the mind stop them dead,have a little laugh to yourself, see how ridiculas those thoughts are, then simply ride.

The weather,the time,the anything else you can think of,simply doesn't take place,the ride takes place.

Its a mind thing not a cycling thing.

Yes motivation can be difficult, in my early days, when I first found on myself on shifts, I found myself just going out, sometimes with no real objective. then realised I had to set objectives, go there to see that etc.

It is easier up here, we have so many mid-week venues where cyclists gather that the objective is easy.

If bored of roads in a 20 mile radius, extend your cycle to slightly further afield. If it is not practical to do so on the bike, why not try car, park and ride? Or train.

Another motivator for myself and my son is the CTC Cycle Quest, we can develop routes to answer the questions and often find ourselves on new routes even in local territory. Useful for those dank days of winter when it is just dull and the fields are all dull and brown and not very inspiring.

You say an Audax nearly killed you, why not go out and practise the distance, or build up to the distance, seeing your fitness and stamina improve so you can ride it another time with ease.?

Reinvent Cardiff CTC see if there are any others out who would join you?

i just think how much harder the sections standard rides will be if i don't go out.with one a month from may until august i need good preparation at my age!

I use a spreadsheet to record every ride.

The alarm bells start to ring when the mileage drops below 400 miles per month.
Such a potentially shameful situation needs urgent action.
e.g Yesterday I dashed out for two, one-hour rides, between the heavy rain showers.

Lack of miles causes me distress as a lifetime of built-up fitness ebbs away.
Once I'm out there, it's always, at-least, good and usually GREAT.

Obsessive-moi ? . . . . well probably!

Sociability is the key. Post for ride partners, here or elsewhere. Once you have a few riding mates you'll be fine.

If there is no local CTC there must be a whole load of people reading this in the same boat!

Another thing is to have everything ready for off. If you are in two minds about going out and you have to spend ages finding some gloves, then your tyres need pumping up and you cannot remember what you did with the track pump etc etc it will eventually start to rain and you will never get out.

oooh some good ideas here:

I think these are important
-Have a bike that you love to ride (doesnt have to be practical or expensive with ebay, just fun. Try not to do weekend ride on your commuter as its too much like work.)
-Make sure the bike and you are ready to go at short notice (note to self, give wifes bike an overhaul)
-Have routes ready to ride that suit a range of available time, prevailing winds etc
-Have some goals that match the routes

I think the goals ie motivation bit is the important one. What do you like about day rides? Work it out, and then plan routes to fit. eg my wife and i often would plan a ride that incorporated a stop at some historical place of interest. We'd use trains to lengthne our ability to get somewhere as well. When i sued to cylce without wife, i'd have seasonal goals, eg ride in 3 rides, do x miles, do a ride at x mph etc. By building in lots of goals, i could vary my aims throughout the year.

PS: If you commute by bike, give yourself a commuting holiday on thursday and friday. That way by the weekend you'll want to get on the bike and go.

andydad1649 wrote:Thanks for all thoughts. I do commute, but it's only 3 miles round trip.

You can always take a more scenic route home, turn the commute into a pleasure ride.