How to find cycling mojo

[Monark]

I was in the same boat... the road team I ride with has become far too serious and competitive. I just moved back onto the MTB... feeling much better now... no pressure and the love for riding is back.

[Brick_Top]

So one of my riding buds has lost his mojo with respect to cycling. 

 

I am not 100% sure why, as he is not cycling so can not shoot the breeze on the ride. 

 

Coming of TOGH and a rather wet winter its not been lekker booty calls every ride. 

 

Is time away the best option, he has been riding for 5 years constantly and never really taken more than 3 weeks off. 

 

Main reason I ride my bike is the mates. 

 

Any help, previous experience or suggestions appreciated.

 

Fav.JPG

 

Learn to love back wheel (Manuals/Wheelies etc)  learning new skills keeps the riding fun and exciting, instead of bleeding from the eyes and clocking km's every time you out on the bike. 

[Zatek]

Had the same here. Was competetive and hit a 2 year bad luck on the bike, depression, sickness and some operations.

 

Started MTB but only worked for 2 months. Starting to get into road cycling only now.

 

I would say give it some time and maybe watching All for 1 from Orica Green edge might help

[J∆kk∆ls]

Ride something different. 

 

This year I road a ...

 

• Penny Farthing which I absolutely hated but laughed my ass off trying to get it right.
• Enduro 29er full sus. Bloody hell I want mountains in my life!!! 
• Bullitt Courier Bike for a new part-time job. Tricky as hell but once you get to speed it feels like a tank. My legs hurt again for the first time in a long time. 

[Headshot]

Although this answer is serious, from a personal perspective this is very possibly the reason.  It's a textbook symptom - hopefully it's not this and he just doesn't like you anymore or he's popping round to one of your houses whilst you are riding

Everyone is different of course, but I've never completely lost my urge to ride my bike even when I've been quite clinically depressed. What I have found is that exercise and in particular riding my bike is a massive mood enhancer. The endorphins released are natural anti-depressants. 

[Odinson]

I’m also in a bit of a slump. I still absolutely love riding, but the schlep of having to pack all my gear, put the bike in the car, drive an hour, cycle, repack, drive back and unpack just really demotivates me.

 

There are no decent riding spots near my place, so I always have to spend at least 40 min driving somewhere and that sucks balls.

[lechatnoir]

I’m also in a bit of a slump. I still absolutely love riding, but the schlep of having to pack all my gear, put the bike in the car, drive an hour, cycle, repack, drive back and unpack just really demotivates me.

 

There are no decent riding spots near my place, so I always have to spend at least 40 min driving somewhere and that sucks balls.

 

yup... had the same thing with my mtb... damn thing was an accusation each time i walked into the garage... did 82km on it in a year... now it's over at Duane's and I'm thrilled. will have to be content with the tar...

[J∆kk∆ls]

Cycling has quite literally been my saviour over the past year. Working freelance from home means that I get little human interaction and living in a new country means I don't my mates I can grab a beer with after work.

 

Cycling has been there when I was feeling depressed and lonely and even on rainy days I would gear up and go for a country ride as riding in the rain makes me happy. When there are other people that want to ride along it is even better and I don't care if I have to slow down should I be faster. Plotting along at 25kmh chatting with someone is the reason I got into this. Every now again I latch on to a group and help out in the wind all hammering quietly with a mutual understanding. Then join them for a coffee or simply wave thanks as we part ways. 

 

And if I'm lucky there is that moment on a ride where the light is perfect and legs feel great which sparks the mojo that keeps the love of cycle alive.