Getting motivated.

The nights are turning, no they have turned dark, the clocks have gone back the weathers not so great, so how do we get ourselves to get out on our bikes?

Some people are in the mindset of being able to jump on their bikes no matter what, it’s a certain drive and passion for the sport that I’m somewhat jealous of. The biking season is over no matter your discipline it is very much the off season. There are no inspiring new videos from world cup rounds or tours to watch, Ok re-runs on Freecaster and You Tube can help and there are always sick videos like 3 Minute Gaps to watch but when it’s wet and cloudy and dark it can take some effort to get out on your bike.

This week I finished work at 3pm one day and realised the sun was shining and I had a couple of hours of daylight left to do something with. I also knew it was going to be muddy and there’s a lot of fun to be had getting absolutely filthy on the bike. I headed down to the Pump Track where there were a couple of school kids messing around on their way home then headed up to Ashton Court where I had the place to myself. It was the first time I’d been there when there wasn’t loads of other people and it was great not having to keep half an eye over my shoulder for better faster riders coming through. The ground was slick enough that to look at the brakes was to send you sideways on the corners, there were deep puddles and the tracks disappeared under layers of mud lain down off previous tires. I got home coated in mud and very glad I’d gone out however on other days when it’s not so sunny I can struggle to psyche myself up for it and I’m guessing from the emptiness of Ashton Court that day I’m not alone.

I try and keep in mind that it’s now winter and the weather can’t be guaranteed so if a decent day comes along you’ve got to jump on it, this still doesn’t always cut it when your warm and cosy in bed and have no reason to get up. Every ride I go on reminds me of how much fun can be had in the mud and wet of winter and thinking of previous rides can help inspire me to get out and have another one, on top of this I’m trying hard to improve my fitness to race next year and having taken a week out after my crash the other week I noticed how quickly I lost what I’d gained so I see every missed chance as a step backwards, and the fitter I am the more I‘ll enjoy the riding. In those terms I guess it’s easier for the pro riders as every time they don’t train one of the other riders will be and that can make seconds of difference on the competitive circuit, for the rest of us it’s just got to be a personal thing.

As the biking season closes the kayaking season begins so that takes up some of potential riding time and certainly takes up more of the time of the guys I usually go out with plus they work 9-5 jobs which means during the week it’s dark when they get home and none of us have good enough lights to go out in the dark, as much as it seems like a lot of fun. Getting out on your own is much easier in terms of organisation but much harder in terms of motivation.

(The rewards of getting out on your bike can be stunning views)

So what do we do to get ourselves out the door? Remember previous fun rides in the conditions you face, think of how much you’ll enjoy it and what you’ll lose by not going out. Watch the videos we have and stuff you can watch over the internet. Look to the people who inspire you and think of what they’d be doing.

Remember all it takes is to walk out the front door with your bike.
(Please leave any suggestions and ideas on how you keep motivated on the comments)