Send this Article to a FriendI'd dare say that no matter how long you've ridden - whether it's just a few months or since the first guy slapped a set of pedals on a wheel and rode it around the cave - everybody has been, or will be, bored with riding a bicycle.
I know, I know. This could never happen to you - you're a genuine hard *** cyclist. You ride uphill both ways, on gravel roads, in the snow, your veins bleed iron, your legs are made of steel, and your lungs function better than Lance Armstrong. You'd never get bored with cycling, it's in your blood.
Well, here's the deal, its human nature to get into ruts. Do something long enough and you get comfortable with consistency. It's why most people work at the same job for 30 years yet dread going to work each day. Beware of the rut, you'll get in one sooner or later and you'll get bored.
People ride the same roads or trails every time they get on their bike. They do the same long rides on the weekend with the same cycling groups. They sprint the same sections. Interestingly, if you do get bored, its not really that you're bored of cycling, you're bored with your routine.
My cycling buddies and I get bored from time to time, that's what inspired me to create this list - hopefully if you're surfing out there on the web you'll find this and it will stir your "cycling soul" a bit. Maybe it will even help break you out of your routines if you're already bored, or if before it's too late.
I got into cycling for the sense of exercise, and the freedom it provides - basically, so I'd never get into a rut. I'm hoping you don't either.
- 1.Plan a bike trip over a weekend. Don't pick a destination, just pick a direction.
- 2.Try a different bike for a while - go mountain biking, ride a fixed gear, anything but your regular bike.
- 3.Pick a route from RoadBikeJourney.com (blatant plug!!) that you haven't done before and do it by the end of the month.
- 4.Start bringing a camera with you whenever you ride. It's amazing how much photography forces you to see when you are on a bike ride.
- 5.Do a century - train (and do something) you've never done before - don't think about it, just sign up for one and go for it!
- 6.Join a riding club/attend a bike race (as a participant or just to view).
- 7.Start tracking all the roads you've ridden and the mileage you ride - buy a GPS to add some "new gadget" fun to the process.
- 8.Get your spouse or friend interested in riding - their excitement will rub off on you (plus you'll get a new bike buddy for rides)
- 9.If you don't have it already, get a Heart Rate Monitor and start logging your stats including the miles you've ridden (its amazing to see how motivated you can be when you start to see things in numbers)
- 10.Splurge and do one of those guided bike tours at a place you've never been. (You'll get to ride a new bike AND try somewhere new!)
P.S. Got something to add, add it below - this list is by no means complete!
