Dragging myself back to riding not just hoarding bikes and getting fat....

[vtwinvince]

I'm lucky that I'm retired, and have enough time for wrenching and riding. I get some funny looks from fellow cyclists on my rides, as I'm usually campaigning something from the last century.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Life has many other distractions, an old house, the demands of my other half , mostly related to said house.. several cars, also in varying states of project..

For a minute I thought someone had hacked my account...

Married, 3 kids (2 in school, one who won't get off his arse because he "needs a year off after finishing school"), wife who thinks the house (which is brick and tile, solid, clean and not that old) is a never ending project of making change$ for the sake of making change$, two muscle cars that I'm restoring that I never have time to work on. Self employed. Elderly parents that need stuff done... and so it goes.

How have others managed to cement a shift back into making reality the dream like state of a mint sauce strip, actually riding?

See that list of things above? That's how I've "managed" - I had no choice. All those things combined have led to my diet not being flash and my stress levels being next level. A recent blood pressure scare led me to the doctor and my blood test results were sweet. No seriously, they were great except for blood sugars - my blood is sweet. Sugar levels were high.

I'm pre-diabetic, about 8kg overweight and I'm the poster boy for hypertension.

I have changed my diet, cut out snacking between meals and after dinner, unhealthy snacks have gone, and the biggie - I'm riding mid week again.

I used to ride 12 hours a week before kids came along. Now I ride 3, being once a weekend.

I've upped that to a good weekend ride of 3 hours, and a couple of 1.5 hour rides during the week.

I don't need any more bikes, and I could cull the herd as well. But I don't care about that - I'm more about getting on the damn things and wearing out the tyres.

I guess this is a weird post, but I suspect others here would understand the situation and maybe hearing from others might help motivate and instill a positive shift.. if you've a procrastination mindset, or had depression then you would be reading this nodding or smiling maybe?

If I nodded any more I'd be one of those nodding dogs on the parcel shelf of a 1960's Chevrolet Impala.

Its a strange ramble , sorry, maybe it will resonate with someone and give us both a boot up the backside...

Boot up the backside? Sure. Piss off and go for a ride you whinger!

Seriously, good luck with it all. Life can be complex and challenging, like Ferris Bueller said "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

We're a long time dead, and life is short. Make the most of it.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I've had a similar reflection, and a similar context and come to a number of conclusions:

1) I do what I do for me, and no-one else. I'm too old now to worry about what anyone else thinks.
2) As a middle aged chap, life gets in the way. That's OK. I have other priorities than riding every weekend.
3) I needed to sell some stuff that I just didn't need. But I made sure I held on to a few bits that I just couldn't part with.
4) I am a fair weather cyclist. That means less riding in the autumn/winter and more in the spring/summer
5) I really enjoy tinkering, building, fettling - and that can be done year round.
6) Physical exercise is not just good for physical health - it is the best tonic for your wellbeing in general, but that's not limited to cycling.

Set yourself some short term goals, make them achievable. Get those endorphins pumping from hitting your targets.

This. Do you have a newsletter I might subscribe to?

Seriously, those are wise words.

There is often only so much we can do for ourselves, but we should still give those things a red hot go.

 

[widowmaker]

For a minute I thought someone had hacked my account...

Married, 3 kids (2 in school, one who won't get off his arse because he "needs a year off after finishing school"), wife who thinks the house (which is brick and tile, solid, clean and not that old) is a never ending project of making change$ for the sake of making change$, two muscle cars that I'm restoring that I never have time to work on. Self employed. Elderly parents that need stuff done... and so it goes.



See that list of things above? That's how I've "managed" - I had no choice. All those things combined have led to my diet not being flash and my stress levels being next level. A recent blood pressure scare led me to the doctor and my blood test results were sweet. No seriously, they were great except for blood sugars - my blood is sweet. Sugar levels were high.

I'm pre-diabetic, about 8kg overweight and I'm the poster boy for hypertension.

I have changed my diet, cut out snacking between meals and after dinner, unhealthy snacks have gone, and the biggie - I'm riding mid week again.

I used to ride 12 hours a week before kids came along. Now I ride 3, being once a weekend.

I've upped that to a good weekend ride of 3 hours, and a couple of 1.5 hour rides during the week.

I don't need any more bikes, and I could cull the herd as well. But I don't care about that - I'm more about getting on the damn things and wearing out the tyres.



If I nodded any more I'd be one of those nodding dogs on the parcel shelf of a 1960's Chevrolet Impala.



Boot up the backside? Sure. Piss off and go for a ride you whinger!

Seriously, good luck with it all. Life can be complex and challenging, like Ferris Bueller said "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

We're a long time dead, and life is short. Make the most of it.

That uncannily like my situation

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

That uncannily like my situation

I'm sure there's many more of us!

And the rugby league team I follow hasn't had a win all season thus far. Sigh...

 

[widowmaker]

I follow Football, different sport but similar current team form.

 

[Mkane]

Get out and ride.

5 or so years ago we layed down the tandem at 50 mph. Kinda banged up, both of us. During the lowside I didn’t let go of the drops and my dominant hand paid the price. Ground 3 fingers into hamburg. Got lucky and the premier hand surgeon in the country took care of me. 200 stiches and a bit of steel.
Still have 5 fingers, 3 without knuckles.

Took years to get back on. Then we have heart issues. Three stents and back to normal sort of.

Having a ball on the mtn bike again.

 

[enigma]

Really appreciate this thread caught a few responses, and a lot of positivity enjoyed my end.
I needed it, I have managed to get out a couple times this week, this morning in the sun, mostly gentle canal, but it’s a start.
Despite carrying a spare ( Chinese non folding steel bead variety ) tyre or two round me waist, was pleasantly surprised at basic muscle and body reaction to an hour and half ride which is longer than any in a very long time.
So yeah fat bloke on a retro Kona, in his new shirt, leaning against a lock gate the hill full of such being the thing his home is most famous for probably … because he shared and found a little inspiration… magic.
Maybe next week I will take a bike that actually has thumbies.
Thankyou all.
P.s pleasantly surprised also my shadow looked the sort of shape I was riding past these locks twenty years ago.

 

[widowmaker]

Sun, Kona, Canal what's not to like

 

[Gtpulse]

Nice one! Looks like a great place for a ride.