Winter Motivation Tips

What do you do to maintain some momentum and consistency during these short/cold/dark days?

A big part of why I ride is because, well, it's hard. But as I sit here contemplating a ride feeling tired and achey, but knowing it's the weekend and it's not pissing down that now is probably the time to suit up, but it's just too hard sometimes. It's going to be wet and cold and slippery, I have to get all of the gear on, then get it off at the end and clean it all, clean myself, clean my bike, etc.

I think half the issue is it's harder to get other people to ride, so it's that much easier to just sit solo at home and acquire more midsection girth, which is a vicious cycle.

As I type this I realize it probably belongs in the first world problems thread, and there's nothing to do but just hoist myself off the couch and ride. But it's tough.

Anyone want to ride on Sundays? The other issue is most of my buddies want to ride sat mornings but my daughter has hockey 8-9am which basically torpedoes that option. Lol

Drink more coffee ;-)

I can't get motivated until I've had at least two coffees so I'm not what you'd call an early bird...

If you're feeling tired and achy then that's a sign that you're not balancing energy output with recovery. Energy balance is something you need to consider across everything you do, including what your sleep patterns are like. If the motivation is low then it might be time to add some alternate activities into your routine or acquire some new riding partners. Having some different activities to focus on in the winter can help build the stoke for riding when the weather is better. Lastly, you can try changing your mindset around winter riding, look at it as a different challenge that requires a bit of a different skillset.

Posted by: SixZeroSixOne

Drink more coffee ;-)

I can't get motivated until I've had at least two coffees so I'm not what you'd call an early bird...

Lol you sound like my kinda person. Coffee is my main vice, other than buying bike parts. 

Posted by: syncro

If you're feeling tired and achy then that's a sign that you're not balancing energy output with recovery. Energy balance is something you need to consider across everything you do, including what your sleep patterns are like. If the motivation is low then it might be time to add some alternate activities into your routine or acquire some new riding partners. Having some different activities to focus on in the winter can help build the stoke for riding when the weather is better. Lastly, you can try changing your mindset around winter riding, look at it as a different challenge that requires a bit of a different skillset.

Yeah totally. I do a gym training program in the winter that runs 2x per week which just started, and that's part of it - it takes a few sessions for me to acclimatize to that. I end up feeling stronger and more mobile but it takes a bit. But, while it helps me physically it doesn't provide the same psychological benefits that riding does. 

I ended up going for just a simple ride today and I think there's two key points I need to remember:

1. Not every ride needs to be 1000+m of climbing followed by gnar. A 1 hour rip up to severed and down works wonders for my brain and it a much easier "bite" to chew.

2.  Along the lines of your suggestions about alternate activities - do more trail building- I did a Cypress dig day last month and it was fantastic. I think being in the forest and accomplishing tangible things gives a more similar benefit to my psyche that riding does. I'm going to keep doing that and try to get on some Seymour days as it my "local" trail system. 

But finding a couple new riding partners is on the list too, the guys I ride with in the summer just don't ride consistently in winter.

Posted by: Kenny

What do you do to maintain some momentum and consistency during these short/cold/dark days?

...

Anyone want to ride on Sundays? The other issue is most of my buddies want to ride sat mornings but my daughter has hockey 8-9am which basically torpedoes that option. Lol

Make your daughter quit hockey - problem solved.

If you're achy once in a while, pop an Advil.  In 1 to 1.5 hours a lot of the achy will go away.

Yeah I hear you for sure, today (my usual riding day) I succumbed to the excuses; chores to do, feel like I'm fighting something and a bit worn out. Better gear makes the winter rides nicer, but it's still a bunch more prep and clean up. Plus I feel more restricted on what to ride; some trails are best left alone when they're wet and the ones I'm still challenged on aren't really ideal for sessioning in slippery conditions. 

Sometimes what helps me is remembering that some of my best rides have come after reluctantly dragging myself to the trailhead. I'm also of an age where fitness declines faster, so I know if I take a week or two off I'll pay for it. And I know my summer riding will benefit from time in more challenging conditions. 

It's also helpful that my riding time is somewhat designated within the family schedule, so there's almost an expectation that I'll be out; it's not so much "do I want to ride" as "now is the time I get to ride". Plus my wife sometimes joins me and does a trail run, and it's harder to bail out when it's a joint activity.

i take the train for 2 hours to ticino on the southside of the alpes and ride there. 

usually much better weather and warmer than north of the Alpes, spring arrives there much earlier too

Currently with all the rain and the coming darkness I have a really hard time motivating myself to get out for a spin, even if it is only a few km on fire roads. I blew my motivation for pedalling during the summer, I guess, and I am probably still recovering mentally. The annoying thing is, this year I have a challenge going that needs me to daily spend time on a bike, the last few days have been 10 to 15 minutes of trackstands only.  

I guess tonight I set up my old indoor set-up and spin in front of the tv while watching cycling vids.

On the psychological aspect simply walking in the forest is good, look up Shinrin-Roku. You can also bring a hoe with you for good times clearing drains.

Zwift or MyWhoosh to keep some cardio going and wax up the skis

I ride for fun so I ride when I feel like it, and when I don't feel like it, I don't ride.

I try to listen to what my body and mind say. Usually it regulates itself: if I don't ride for a while I automatically build up stoke to go ride again. Inversely, when I ride too much, I lose the stoke.

It does correlate to the weather! I just don't enjoy riding in terrible conditions. I try to take bad winter weather as an opportunity to do other things. As long as I stay fit and get enough time outdoors, it's OK.

I take it as a time to be more consistent with my gym training which typically takes a back seat during riding season. For me at this time of year riding becomes opportunistic and sometimes that's only once maybe twice a week. I'm also less motivated when I have to wash so much kit after every ride. Riding just shifts into maintenance mode, it's good to let it lie fallow for a while and let the stoke recharge. Take an overseas riding trip if finances permit: the best way to break up BC winter.

I would recommend to embrace the winter and do xc skiing, especially skate style. It works well as an addition to biking.

Posted by: syncro

On the psychological aspect simply walking in the forest is good, look up Shinrin-Roku. You can also bring a hoe with you for good times clearing drains.

Just bought a hoe last week. Left it up on the trail in a hidey hole. Been up there a couple times hiking since and used it just like you said.