What motivates you?

My motivation is simple... to get better. Ride faster, wheelie longer, jump further, ride longer, etc. And the only way that happens is by getting on the bike and pedaling. Being off the bike for a couple weeks and then getting back on usually turns up the motivation a couple notches because I realize that I’ve gotten worse not better.
 
Patrick said:
update your OS + app. it is very sensitive to change.
what do you run zwift on?
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i'm the wrong person to ask about motivation - without any event on the schedule, there is no
"responsibility" to get the time in. even at my 'just suck less' level, i felt more compelled to go with a target event.
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I run it on my 2017 macbook. I do need to update my OS so maybe that's the issue?
 
I like riding bikes because it’s fun! Did the gym thing in addition to mountain biking starting in my first year of college and lasted less than a decade. Eventually lost interest in lifting weights as it’s not fun. I somehow let life get in the way and took many years off from mountain biking. Got back into it in my mid 40s and never looked back. This website and overall camaraderie in the biking community is a big motivator. Things like the BIYF contest helps motivate me to peddle on pavement when the trails are too soft; otherwise, I look forward to any day I can hit the trails. I usually ride 35-40 minutes late in the day as a work break. BIYF contest forces me to ride an hour now; thus, motivation.
Basic concept, if the type of exercise the person is doing is fun, they will want to keep doing it. Hopefully people can find Zwift or Peloton sessions fun if they don’t want to ride outside. Some of my friends post some interesting pics from their Zwift sessions. I took an hour ride on the road to the trailhead this past weekend to get to the trailhead. My motivation was mountain biking, not the road ride to and from High Mountain. Everyone should find an exercise they enjoy and hopefully can stick with it.
 
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shrpshtr325 said:
if you go by historical records for @Patrick it has to be a marathon . . . . :rolleyes:
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i was actually gearing up for a good short track last year with all the Glenn meet-ups.
we got in some good days with Jim too (late 2019?) - i didn't feel terrible on those rides around the outskirts of wildcat.
 
Riding with others motivates me and going to different parks. Fortunately I'm able to do this, otherwise it would be harder for me to ride regularly every month of the year. I don't need to worry bout fitness because I'm a bad mofo.

The most important thing to bring on a ride...Your buddies. Amirite @Mitch
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Mahnken said:
The pandemic really threw my game off. I started 2020 off great (actually started December 2019), training for a bunch of races on the 2020 schedule. Then covid hit, races got cancelled, and eventually my job (operating room nurse, as needed) decided saving money was better than appropriate staffing and really cut down on my hours (I'm there about once a week now, I might start picking up shifts sticking vaccines in people's arms soon just to get out of the house). Being home with the kids all day everyday really started taking it's toll on me, it's mentally exhausting. Stay at home parents really don't get the credit they deserve, it's the hardest job I've ever had to do. Eventually towards the end of the year I was lucky if I dragged myself out of the house once a week for exercise and I gained 20 pounds from where I was a year ago. Most of my races are all back on the schedule now and at this point I really need to get back at it. I should've started up a training plan back in November, but it took a new years resolution (I really hate new years resolutions) to get me going. Since the new year started I've managed to do something (bike or run) everyday, keeping that streak going is helping to nudge me out the door when I don't feel like it. Getting vaccinated helped improve things too because now I'll feel more comfortable at the races. And after my second dose I'll finally feel comfortable to get back to the pool at the gym. My bigger races are in May (way over yonder xterra) and June (eagleman 70.3, half ironman). My mental state is getting better day by day, I really think there was a bit of depression creeping in. Not sure I'll be in the shape for these races that I would've been had covid never hit, which sucks, but I've gotta try and get there. I guess that's keeping me motivated.
I cancelled zwift for the same reasons. I hated all the updates and resetting the computer all the time. Seemed like it never wanted to just work. I use trainerroad now, it just works.
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I agree. The pandemic has put a damper on my motivation for sure. Most times if I can get home and get a workout in right after work and before dealing with the kids then I'm ok. It's after a long day of work and dealing with the family that I'm finding it harder to get motivated. I just need to push myself out the door and get going. I have never regretted getting on the bike once I'm there. It's getting to the point of throwing the leg over the bike that's the hard part.
 
JimN said:
If you didn't have Zwift, would you have just added a layer and gone out to ride?
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That would have upped my chances of being more successful, but I probably would have bagged in and sat on the couch and had a beer. But now I'm not drinking so I sleep.
 
stb222 said:
Motivation shifts overtime, from chasing miles, to hours, an event; but at some point, everything becomes old. Adding TM to my rides has been motivating the last few years.

@Norm pretty much sums it up with the decision to ride is made well before standing at the door. There are sometimes when I get up to ride and see it is pouring or some kinda of other undesirable condition and I go back to sleep.

I don't know what hours your job has, but it would seem like it is a "9-5" situation. Since I had kids, riding in the evening adds a ton of stress, simply from a family perspective. At some point you are running out the door to ride, kid is screaming, you didn't clean up the dishes, insert 20 other things it could be. This stress is all on top of you had a shit day at work, and now you are waiting until 7 or 8 pm to ride? Ugh.

It took a long time to get used to, but morning routines make my riding WAY more consistent. Assuming your kid stays asleep... But work is generally quiet, you dont have a pile of shit to clean up before you go out and you are only limited by actually getting out of bed. Sure it is the coldest part of the day, dark, etc, but roads are less travelled, trails are empty and you can just zone out and ride....
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Yea morning rides are out. I'm up at 5 and out the door by 6 to start work after 7. I wish I had that window in the morning but not possible teaching.
 
goldsbar said:
Slightly different view. There's nothing wrong with getting a little lazy in the winter or whenever if it just means you'll come out more enthused in the spring. I've become more like Lance over the last few years and ride fairly full on all year. Not sure that's good. I blame Zwift. Previously I did some riding and have all the stories around near zero degree commutes and MTB rides, but it was never nearly as much as the summer. Mixed it up more with skiing, running, heavy bag, jump rope, whatever, though definitely lost fitness. Just make sure you do something - even walking or light hiking - so it's part of your routine and you'll recover fitness rapidly when you start again.
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Yea that's where my mind goes too. I had a pretty lackluster ride at Wildcat last week so part of me was saying maybe skipping this night ride will make my ride at Wildcat today a bit better. There's so many ways to justify the laziness...
 
pooriggy said:
Riding with others motivates me and going to different parks. Fortunately I'm able to do this, otherwise it would be harder for me to ride regularly every month of the year. I don't need to worry bout fitness because I'm a bad mofo.

The most important thing to bring on a ride...Your buddies. Amirite @Mitch
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I completely agree. Unfortunately I ride 80% of the time solo...
 
Magic said:
CX Nationals. MonsterCX. Tour Divide.
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My response was sarcastic. Usually I have a whole calendar of goal events but not lately with everything going on. I still have Mohican 100 on the list but that's still too far out for last night's ride to mean anything.
 
xc62701 said:
That would have upped my chances of being more successful, but I probably would have bagged in and sat on the couch and had a beer. But now I'm not drinking so I sleep.
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Then you should fix your shitty laptop so you can Zwift next time!

xc62701 said:
Unfortunately I ride 80% of the time solo...
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Same, but hit me up anytime. We like the same kind of trails.
 
xc62701 said:
Yea morning rides are out. I'm up at 5 and out the door by 6 to start work after 7. I wish I had that window in the morning but not possible teaching.
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Oof, 2 hours between up and at work is rough. Can you fit in a ride between work and going home?
 
Get out and ride period. Don’t let yourself down because your health is the most important thing. We all have responsibilities which can drag us down, so you need to pick yourself up. Go ride. The chemicals released during exercise helps fight disease, weight gain, and depression.....go ride your fucking bike. I learned this the hard way.
 
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