WTD - Mojo

[godivatrailrider]

I seem to have lost mine.
Anyone got any spare? - nothing too racey though. Just the enjoyment of riding, be it lanes, or trails.

I've still go 230 miles to do before the end of the year to hit my target, but I'm not over enthusiastic about getting out in the dark & cold. 2x 12milers a week should do it so not a massive chore.

[Dyffers]

I lost my mojo in January. After an unexpected 6 months of rebuilding the back of my house (still not finished) I've done 600 miles this year compared with 4000+ every previous year since 2006.

I've spent years motivating myself to do the psychologically tough winter miles to stay on top of fitness for the following year, so I know exactly how to fool myself into thinking I want to do it. This year none of my tricks are working, including entering some long events in the future to be fit enough to do them justice (I just DNSed the ones I entered this year).

Good luck finding your solution.

[faustus]

Do a bit more utility riding, and make it a habit (if you don't already). The kind of rides you don't need to prep or faff for, just hop on the bike and go. Also think of nice things to see, do or visit when out and about. I sometimes just have a nice view in mind I want to see, or a river or wood to visit, something fairly prosaic but actually quite pleasant and doable. Sounds like you have enough time to realistically meet the goal you set yourself, so don't overthink it or be too hard on yourself. I think this time of year is hard on the mojo, as days are short and it's basically winter conditions out, barring proper coldness.

Go and find a nice bridge over a stream or river, check the autumn colours in a wood, take a trip to a local farm shop or honesty box stall to pick up some nice/different food. Stuff like that; simple but nice. The mileage will take care of itself and won't feel much of an effort.

[Lazarus]

Just rule 5 people

I ocassuonally get bored of riding but I get bored of not riding after about 3 days.
IMHO getting yourself out is the hardest but once out its always good...ie the inertia to cycle can be high but , once overcome, joy follows. Just get out there.its not even that cold out.

[fatbikephil]

Faustus has hit the nail on the head so not much to add. Cycle commuting is a good way to get out but avoiding busy roads is key to making it enjoyable. If you can work out a route which is off road so much the better.

Plus... revel in deliberately going out when the trails are sodden and the weather is horrible as it is a laugh (in moderation). Just don't go out for too long and make sure you have good tyres and mudguards ( )

If you do get a nice day, try and grab it then you can appreciate autumnal colours / winter monochrome.

[godivatrailrider]

Do a bit more utility riding, and make it a habit (if you don't already). The kind of rides you don't need to prep or faff for, just hop on the bike and go. Also think of nice things to see, do or visit when out and about. I sometimes just have a nice view in mind I want to see, or a river or wood to visit, something fairly prosaic but actually quite pleasant and doable. Sounds like you have enough time to realistically meet the goal you set yourself, so don't overthink it or be too hard on yourself. I think this time of year is hard on the mojo, as days are short and it's basically winter conditions out, barring proper coldness.

Go and find a nice bridge over a stream or river, check the autumn colours in a wood, take a trip to a local farm shop or honesty box stall to pick up some nice/different food. Stuff like that; simple but nice. The mileage will take care of itself and won't feel much of an effort.

Lovely suggestions. Thank you.
Usually going and collecting BCQs is reason enough to get out... but I've collected all within a 50 mile radius.
But yes, a ride up to the top of High Vinnals or Bringewood in Mortimer Forest, just for the views sounds good. I do often stop and look over bridges, maybe get a train to Leominster and ride home a longer way....

[godivatrailrider]

Just rule 5 people

I ocassuonally get bored of riding but I get bored of not riding after about 3 days.
IMHO getting yourself out is the hardest but once out its always good...ie the inertia to cycle can be high but , once overcome, joy follows. Just get out there. It's not even that cold out.

All true. I think because I nearly always ride alone, motivation is sometimes low. But I usually prefer to ride alone....
Saying that I have foolishly put my name forward for the Abergavenny Winter Bivvy, for a bit of company.
I always say "I've never regretted going out for a ride, but I have regretted NOT going out for a ride"
I'll muddle through, I always do.

[godivatrailrider]

Faustus has hit the nail on the head so not much to add. Cycle commuting is a good way to get out but avoiding busy roads is key to making it enjoyable. If you can work out a route which is off road so much the better.

Plus... revel in deliberately going out when the trails are sodden and the weather is horrible as it is a laugh (in moderation). Just don't go out for too long and make sure you have good tyres and mudguards ( )

If you do get a nice day, try and grab it then you can appreciate autumnal colours / winter monochrome.

I WFH.

But I can arrange my day so I can cycle at lunch time for up to 2 hours ! Thus avoiding the worst of the dark nights .... I just need to start doing it !
I can avoid the worst of the gloop by sticking mostly to forestry fire road, though all the forests are much higher than the house so stiff climbing is always required. And keeping rides sub 2 hours reduces the likelihood of really cold feet.

[voodoo_simon]

Perhaps theme your rides?

One ride could be old churches, another could be towers or pubs with funny names etc

Each year (well, the last two), I’ve bought a custom OS map of the area and tick of each square, good for those days I’m not sure where to ride or have a spare hour and don’t feel like riding but also don’t want to sit in

Keeping lights charged up, bikes clean and repair makes it easier to get out

Last week was my worst year for twenty years for sport, so determined this year to get out more. Probably more hill walking when the weather is poor and I’m returning to indoors bouldering too (although my local place is a victim of its own success - can get rather busy) to keep me out of mischief once a week

[fatbikephil]

I WFH.

But I can arrange my day so I can cycle at lunch time for up to 2 hours ! Thus avoiding the worst of the dark nights .... I just need to start doing it !
I can avoid the worst of the gloop by sticking mostly to forestry fire road, though all the forests are much higher than the house so stiff climbing is always required. And keeping rides sub 2 hours reduces the likelihood of really cold feet.

I find a bike ride after working from home is a good way to finish the day - exit home office, get gear on, ride bike, eat tea. I ended up riding every local circuit about a 100 times in 2020-22 but doing this through the changing seasons and weather was part of the fun.

[godivatrailrider]

Just done a 12 miler .... it's quite nice and relatively quiet at lunch time... 216 to do.
Probably wont get out this weekend, but maybe next week I can get 3 maybe 4 rides in M,W,F & Sat.
That'd make a decent dent in the total ..
Weather dependant.

[Mart]

Get yourself a plan for next year.
Enter a big event, one that will stretch you.
That has helped focus my mind and give purpose to my rides

[godivatrailrider]

Get yourself a plan for next year.
Enter a big event, one that will stretch you.
That has helped focus my mind and give purpose to my rides

Not really an event fella , WRT excepted, but that's not an event in the same way as other events.
I know they focus the mind. I think this is more 'regularity fatigue' ( I suspect I've just made that up) or just generic boredom.
I maybe need to go an ride somewhere different.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I lost mine some time ago - it coincided with a bout of depression following Shingles (a weird but not uncommon side effect I'm told). It ebbed and flowed a bit but one day while riding I suddenly realised that I no longer remembered what it was I liked so much about riding ... I knew that I did but I no longer knew why.

After 12 months I stopped worrying about it and I figure that if it comes back then I will welcome it with open arms. If it doesn't, then we had a good twenty odd years together.

[Alpinum]

Not really an event fella , WRT excepted, but that's not an event in the same way as other events.
I know they focus the mind. I think this is more 'regularity fatigue' ( I suspect I've just made that up) or just generic boredom.
I maybe need to go an ride somewhere different.

I make my own events. A 3 day ride, a one week trip, every couple of years a multi week trip. All of which sometimes too spontaneous to go out training before, so I try to make sure I'm always ready. Just for the fun of speed - not pure, raw speed but that feeling that you can cover ground and elevation with not too much effort.
Collecting tiles (Veloviewer) was a fun way to take me to places I otherwise had ignored.
Wanting to see the sunset from a hill.
Checking on my own heatmap to see if there's yet another bit of track I had not yet ridden, even if it's just 1 km.
Sometimes I visit places to marvel at a known group of old trees or in spring to see croci push through the snow.
Talking about snow, sometimes I just go out on a ride with a bivy or two because it's forecasted to be one of the coldest nights of the year.

And then suddenly the 'sometimes' feel natural and regular. I think it's a lovely way to spoil oneself.

Hope you get your's back.

[godivatrailrider]

I lost mine some time ago - it coincided with a bout of depression following Shingles (a weird but not uncommon side effect I'm told). It ebbed and flowed a bit but one day while riding I suddenly realised that I no longer remembered what it was I liked so much about riding ... I knew that I did but I no longer knew why.

After 12 months I stopped worrying about it and I figure that if it comes back then I will welcome it with open arms. If it doesn't, then we had a good twenty odd years together.

And has it? I'm guessing not by the last sentence. As you say, it does ebb & flo probably seasonally a sort of SAD related thing, it's easier to get out when the sun is out and it's warm... iirc that last happened in 2022!
I hope you do did it again Stu, there is a lot of joy to be had on a bicycle.

[godivatrailrider]

Not really an event fella , WRT excepted, but that's not an event in the same way as other events.
I know they focus the mind. I think this is more 'regularity fatigue' ( I suspect I've just made that up) or just generic boredom.
I maybe need to go an ride somewhere different.

I make my own events. A 3 day ride, a one week trip, every couple of years a multi week trip. All of which sometimes too spontaneous to go out training before, so I try to make sure I'm always ready. Just for the fun of speed - not pure, raw speed but that feeling that you can cover ground and elevation with not too much effort.
Collecting tiles (Veloviewer) was a fun way to take me to places I otherwise had ignored.
Wanting to see the sunset from a hill.
Checking on my own heatmap to see if there's yet another bit of track I had not yet ridden, even if it's just 1 km.
Sometimes I visit places to marvel at a known group of old trees or in spring to see croci push through the snow.
Talking about snow, sometimes I just go out on a ride with a bivy or two because it's forecasted to be one of the coldest nights of the year.

And then suddenly the 'sometimes' feel natural and regular. I think it's a lovely way to spoil oneself.

Hope you get your's back.

Will look into veloviewer if still available. Rides tend to be better if there's a purpose (BCQ for example) trig bagging maybe....

[whitestone]

Veloviewer is still available and is still actively maintained. A tenner a year for full access to analysis of your data.

[MuddyPete]

I've still go 230 miles to do before the end of the year to hit my target, but I'm not over enthusiastic about getting out in the dark & cold. 2x 12milers a week should do it so not a massive chore.

Putting a target on something enjoyable can be motivating, or can turn it into a chore, as you say.

Try ditching the target (we all know you can do it ) and just ride around aimlessly: it's liberating!

Jesse Richman (top surf dude, family man and all-round lovely bloke) was asked once if he's an adrenaline junkie. He replied "No, I'm a flow-junkie", whether that's out on the waves or railing a series of berms on his MTB.

https://youtu.be/bc1ARFn6xZI?feature=shared

I mostly WFH: I just C2WFH beforehand.

Just have more fun .

[RIP]

As Faustus says, definitely utility cycling gets your mojo going - free, fun, fast, fitness - four F's. Fresh-air - five. I would neither walk nor drive round our town. So that's a ride pretty much every day straight off the bat.

For longer rides, I'd've given up years ago if I simply 'went for a ride'. I agree with Voodoo about a 'theme', although the word 'theme' makes it sound a little too contrived and cheesey somehow.

Contrived? I can't talk - quarries, mines, industrial remains, compass/trig points etc, gigs, random railway station start points, weird map features, curious folk customs, cafe/pub tours, churches/chapels, go and find the UK's oldest tree, or just have a 'no plan or route' theme and see what happens; have done 'em all. Do a bit of research beforehand and follow-up afterwards. As well as 'the ride' all this extra stuff keeps your brain and sense of curiosity alive, along with learning something new and usually meeting interesting people. Mojo sorted.

'Mileage targets' etc do nothing for my mojo though. 'Target'? Sounds like a corporate mission statement to me, leveraging the synergy of our core competencies in a target-oriented results-centric paradigm. Too mechanistic, almost drudgery so no mojo involved - not quite the correct words maybe.

Used this photo already in the 'Welsh mines telly' thread but it randomly illustrates my point. This discovery was awe-inspiring, exciting, thought-provoking and a learning exercise. 'The ride' there was fun, with great people, but engendered none of those four descriptive mojo words I'm afraid.

[RIP]

Saying that I have foolishly put my name forward for the Abergavenny Winter Bivvy

Will be plenty of 'themes' on that ride

I'll muddle through, I always do.

[MuddyPete]

Used this photo already in the 'Welsh mines telly' thread but it randomly illustrates my point. This discovery was awe-inspiring, exciting, thought-provoking and a learning exercise. 'The ride' there was fun, with great people, but engendered none of those four descriptive words I'm afraid.

Indeed!
It could be titled "How I Spent My Weekend With a Couple of Pensioners"

[RIP]

Indeed!
It could be titled "How I Spent My Weekend With a Couple of Pensioners"

There's always something to learn from our elders

[PeddarsWayJason]

I find that entering events helps my mojo. I work for myself and am always short of time, so it's easy to start putting riding back to "another day". If there's something coming up, I tend to give myself a bit of a slap and get organised to go out more regularly as I hate turning up to an event knowing I could've been better prepared.
If it's been a busy week I sometimes feel "I can't really be bothered" before I go out on a ride, but I always think "I actually really needed this" once I'm out there. The more I ride, the more I want to ride, so getting out of that rut by forcing yourself out there is the hardest but most important step.

[godivatrailrider]

Great advice folks, thank you all for taking the time to respond.
Having a goal to aim for does help me. In 2024 it's 2024 miles, which is almost exactly 40 miles a week (ok 38.92 for the pedants ) , which is doable for me, and it makes me get out knowing that if I leave it a week or two without going out, I have to do more per week later on. And it has to be weekly as if I do it monthly (168 miles a month) it's too easy to give a ride a miss then it just gets worse ... miss a month and you're up to 184 miles a month needed.
I enjoy BCQ (British Cycle Quest) as it gives me a reason to ride which is always better. Only problem is I've done the reasonably local ones. It's a shame there aren't multiple versions of it. Maybe I should think about that .... or get Reg to pick a number of points /POI within a 40 mile circle of Ludlow......
The Squares on Veloviewer might be good though I can't really seem to get it to work... do I need to be a paid up Strava member? I've paid the £10 for Veloviewer but can only see 25 squares. Not keen on forking out for Strava
I'm thinking of maybe Trig Bagging ... but I'm not sure how many have public access.

Having a reason to ride is certainly the answer.

I'm not an event person really, though I've done loads, Mayhem, HONC, Rough Ride, SSUK, SSEC & SSWC etc.

I'm planning to do a route based on Marcher Castles ride (seems inappropriately named as it visits few castles) https://www.cyclinguk.org/routes/marche ... full-route
I live in Ludlow and the route passes through the town so I'll jump on it there.... should be a good 4 day Bikepacking route.

Anyway ... I'm down to 178 miles to get ...and hoping to get a few more tomorrow.