how do you motivate yourself to go out and ride

[MrGrumpy]

I'm not sure if I'm getting my message across here or its some people don't see where I'm coming from so ill give you a scenario. It's a sat morning nice day, I've alread been cycling all week for my commute. I will go for a walk or going swimming or feed the ducks rather than cycling. I put this down to low motivation maybe it isn't? so I wanted some tips to make me cycle more. Things such as ensure gear is ready and bike in easy reach are great tips. Also a great tip to have a buddy to cycle with on weekends.

How far you cycling through the week, do you need to do anymore is what you do through the week enough ?? I don`t cycle much at weekends although starting to get my two eldest boys out on bikes now for some serious road miles at the weekends. Maybe don`t beat yourself up too much if you are already cycling through the week, that is more than some do even on here!

 

[Cuchilo]

You could also buy a bike which makes you want to clean it with your own "fluids". That'll motivate you.

Eeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

[morrisman]

You could also buy a bike which makes you want to clean it with your own "fluids". That'll motivate you.

I prefer to use baby wipes rather than pee.

 

[ColinJ]

This ... or a simpler version is to get some 'ride-buddies' ....

That was 'Plan A' but my riding partner moved to Spain! He has been back here for a couple of years, but I can see that he is pining for the sea, mountains and 300+ sunny days a year so he will be going away again soon.

 

[Fab Foodie]

That was 'Plan A' but my riding partner moved to Spain! He has been back here for a couple of years, but I can see that he is pining for the sea, mountains and 300+ sunny days a year so he will be going away again soon.

... and he's not prepeared to give all that up to cycle with you? Some 'buddy' eh ....

 

[ColinJ]

... and he's not prepeared to give all that up to cycle with you? Some 'buddy' eh ....

I am surprised that he has stuck it this long!

He moved from the mainland to Tenerife and told me many tales of cycling up the huge climb of Mt Teide, as used for winter training by many pro teams in recent years. I want to go and stay with him out there when I am fit enough to cope with a 34 km climb ascending 2,200 m!

 

[Mark1978]

I've only been riding for a couple of months now, and I only ride at the weekend (my commute is 50 miles each way - although im considering parking up further away and riding in, but i digress).

What motivates me to get out at the weekend when i could be lazing around at home watching Saturday Kitchen? Well I love planning to get out to places I've not been before. Ive been using RideWithGPS to plan routes of certain distances and have seen some lovely places really close to home that I didn't know existed. I've also got lost, and been taken over some very dubious tracks which can be fun (although being chased by a horse in a field wasn't all that!!) I also have a second hobby of photography, so I throw a camera in my pocket/bag and make sure i take a few snaps on every ride. I find it a lot easier to stop and take a picture on the bike than I ever do in the car.

The other motivation is that if i do a couple of hours of riding on a saturday, i dont feel quite as bad about having a cup of tea and a few biscuits in the evening

 

[Spinney]

it looks to me as though your asking people to give you advice to do something which you DONT ACTUALLY WANT TO DO,

I can understand where the OP is coming from - there are days when I know I'd enjoy a bike ride, but I just can't make the effort to get ready and go. On those kinds of day, when I do manage to make the effort, I usually enjoy the bike ride.

On other days, it's a struggle to get work done instead of going out on the bike (or posting on CycleChat!)

 

[Effyb4]

Shiny new bike does it for me