Help!

[Schmilliemoo]

Ok guys here's the deal.
I took delivery of my lovely new bike at the end of January. At the time I was dying of flu and I've been injured since. As a consequence I've yet to ride it.
For some reason now, despite my intentions I just can't bring myself to get on it. This is not like me, normally I'm all up for any challenge.
Have any of you ever been thru this and how did you kick your own ass and get over it.
Also do I need to do anything before I ride it considering it's never been outside.
Cheers guys x

 

[vickster]

Go ride with a friend

 

[JasonHolder]

Install strava

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Hm maybe I've posted this in the wrong bit

 

[DCLane]

Check it. Put an 'informal rides' message on here. Meet up and get some motivation.

 

[JasonHolder]

Great idea!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Do you like the bike you bought? If not then you're probably always going to struggle.

However if you do, then just set yourself realistic targets. Did you buy it online? If so it would have been 'flat pack', but this should just mean you need to straighten the bars, fits the pedals and set the saddle height.

Just decide on a day and then get the bike outside, do the above, get a feel for the bike, check the tyre pressures etc, and then if you don't feel like doing anything else put it away.

Then decide on a day that you're going to ride it, maybe just to the shops and back. Plan the journey in your mind, the route, the traffic, any potential obstacles etc, then on the day get out and do it.

Motivation can be a bugger to find, trust me! However, I always find that once I've made the effort and I'm out there I've never once regretted it. You will feel better for it, trust me.

Softly, softly, catchy monkey as a wise man once said.

 

[Schmilliemoo]

I love the bike and have cycled to work etc in the past. I've even competed at mountain biking but a long time ago.
I've taken it out but still haven't been on it. Maybe it's just not for me anymore.
I can't even sell it cause it's a c2w bike it's just an expensive ornament at the moment.
I was wondering if anyone had been thru a similar thing but it doesn't seem so, apologies

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Took me a while to go out on my road bike and was very apprehensive about riding it, I just did really short rides and slowly built up until I was confident on the bike.

 

[cyberknight]

Some one motivate me as well , or look after the kids !
This year is a wash out as i i have had to willingly spend more time with them as they want to play etc , give it 10 or so years when their both teenagers and only want me for cash .

 

[vickster]

Why can't you cycle? Due to injury? I got knocked off in mid Feb, suffered quite a nasty injury to my shin and was off the bike for a while but I managed 55 miles last Monday (and have had a few rides before then too). I am still sore and a bit nervous, especially when cars overtake close but it's getting better and am enjoying the being out on the bike. I have a place for Ride 100 in August which I am determined to do even though it'll be hard

Get out there with others and you'll soon get your mo-jo back

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Yes I tore my patella tendon which took about 8 weeks to rehabilitate. I'm told cycling will help cause it's direct up and down action if you know what I mean.
I'm physically very fit I've also just qualified for my sixth world karate championships so I'm not shy of hard work. The bike should really be a way to squeeze in more cv work, which is why I've bought it.
So far I've not even taken it around the local park never mind on a road.
Sorry to hear about your accident Vickster that sounds horrific. Sounds like you're well on the mend now.

 

[vickster]

Cheers. Getting there, slowly recovering from the surgery, having physio but very out of condition (as I am not very fit!)

What is it that is putting you off? That it's a new bike? Did you get a different type, a roadbike?
Now, go ride your bike

 

[screenman]

I find by encouraging people to just target a short ride say 15 minutes seems to work, anything longer and the excuses start coming. Once out for 15 they often make it longer, if not they have still done 15 minutes they would not have done otherwise.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi @Schmilliemoo I had a similar experience.
Got a new bike a few months ago, not a proper road bike but much more "road" than my other tanks, also much more expensive!
Rode it home from the shop, 4 miles, avoiding main roads, then kept it inside unused for at least 2 months: basically I was scared of my new steed!
Scared of the thinner tyres, the disk brakes, the unusual for me geometry.
Scared of dirtying it or damaging it
This could not carry on!
So I told myself to womantfu took Colombo - after the famous explorer Cristoforo Colombo, not the tv detective on a canal ride with the girls, promptly fell off, the spell was broken, the beast was tamed!
We are not long back from a 30 miler, got a QOM