Topic: I just don't feel like riding

[Scott S]

 I feel sort of guilty about it. Like, I should be taking advantage of this beautiful day off by getting on the bike, but I just don't feel like riding.
 I bet I haven't been on the Triumph 4 or 5 times this year. I enjoyed it every time. But I just cannot convince myself to get geared up and get out there.

 I gave up project bikes a couple of years ago. Somehow, I found myself with two this year. I was quickly reminded why I stopped. One of them is basically done. In the past, I'd have it tagged and insured and be looking for the next vintage bike night to show it off. Nope....zero desire to do that.

 I hate letting stuff sit unfinished or unused. That brings its own kind of stress to me, whether real or imagined.

 I've always felt that "if it doesn't feel right, don't get on the bike". Motorcycles are dangerous and I choose to not half-ass it  (or "half-brain" it).
 There are some nice backroads within two minutes of my house. Minimal traffic, nice curves. I've been trying to convince myself for two weeks to get out there.

[Bailgang]

I can relate to that a bit. When gas prices went up I rode my Goldwing to work so long as no rain in the forecast rather than drive my truck but there was a day or 2 with no rain that I just didn't feel like it and drove instead.

[grcamna2]

Ah... choices 

[RAFster122s]

Depressive slump Scott...
Classic symptoms, loss of pleasure in things you used to enjoy.
Loss of motivation accompany those feelings...

[BomberMann650]

Totally relatable.

Spent the past couple of years living in a region with long, flat, straight roads, and cross winds.

Wasn't worth the tire wear.

[Terry in Australia]

Don’t worry about it, just get back to your bike riding and projects when you feel like it. I feel the same way about work, I’m sitting here at my desk, but all I’m thinking about right now is riding and working on my bikes……

[Dunk]

The past year or two I've rode more than in a long time, commuting every day there's not ice on the road aside from the occasional day I need my truck to move something big or heavy. I rarely go for "fun" rides anymore. I commute on the bike when it's 12* out in the morning and when it's 100* in the afternoon. I just don't feel it lately for anything other than commuting, at least solo. I've done a few rides if friends are going out and I'm invited, but to go out alone to kill a few hours... Not so much.

I'm probably less concerned with if it doesn't feel right than others. I've been down twice and don't give a damn anymore. Statistically I've got my downs done. Commuting I do sometimes do need to remind myself to pay attention and stay focused, so easy to go on autopilot for a while. Either way, I keep commuting and presumably will get back into more fun riding at some point. To be fair, when traffic is light there is a super fun highway interchange on my commute with three circles, a sweeper, and an S turn to another circle. Super fun for a lap or two on my commute.

[grcamna2]

The past year or two I've rode more than in a long time, commuting every day there's not ice on the road aside from the occasional day I need my truck to move something big or heavy. I rarely go for "fun" rides anymore. I commute on the bike when it's 12* out in the morning and when it's 100* in the afternoon. I just don't feel it lately for anything other than commuting, at least solo. I've done a few rides if friends are going out and I'm invited, but to go out alone to kill a few hours... Not so much.

I'm probably less concerned with if it doesn't feel right than others. I've been down twice and don't give a damn anymore. Statistically I've got my downs done. Commuting I do sometimes do need to remind myself to pay attention and stay focused, so easy to go on autopilot for a while. Either way, I keep commuting and presumably will get back into more fun riding at some point. To be fair, when traffic is light there is a super fun highway interchange on my commute with three circles, a sweeper, and an S turn to another circle. Super fun for a lap or two on my commute.

I've done mostly commuting on my bike but for the past couple years,traffic has made it difficult to spend any time on the road 'Enjoying' my rides.The light turns green,and these boneheads just sit there.. 
I do plan to go on long rides so I can get onto less traveled roads and enjoy a Good tour,or even a few green trails with my small Honda will help;to find myself behind automobiles on the road with drivers who don't seem to have a clue how to enjoy their driving and Increase Their Forward Momentum REALLY piss me off.
I need more Fun rides 

[Kelly E]

You can look at it from my point of view. I have stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosed in September 2015. My death certificate is signed but not dated. Procrastination is the enemy because every day I waste is a huge loss. None of us know how long we have left but when you know that the end is near it motivates you to get up and go do something. Any of us could die tomorrow, call your best buddy and ask him to go for a ride and lunch. Tell him how you are feeling and plan some more rides or some shop time together. That's what friends are for. Don't surrender to the depression, fight back.

[Terry in Australia]

Well said Kelly. A guy I worked with had a stroke on Thursday and they turned off his life support on Friday, he was 7 years younger than me. Don’t make excuses not to ride, invent reasons why you should go for a ride.

[CycleRanger]

I feel sort of guilty about it. Like, I should be taking advantage of this beautiful day off by getting on the bike, but I just don't feel like riding.
 I bet I haven't been on the Triumph 4 or 5 times this year. I enjoyed it every time. But I just cannot convince myself to get geared up and get out there.

 I gave up project bikes a couple of years ago. Somehow, I found myself with two this year. I was quickly reminded why I stopped. One of them is basically done. In the past, I'd have it tagged and insured and be looking for the next vintage bike night to show it off. Nope....zero desire to do that.

 I hate letting stuff sit unfinished or unused. That brings its own kind of stress to me, whether real or imagined.

 I've always felt that "if it doesn't feel right, don't get on the bike". Motorcycles are dangerous and I choose to not half-ass it  (or "half-brain" it).
 There are some nice backroads within two minutes of my house. Minimal traffic, nice curves. I've been trying to convince myself for two weeks to get out there.

I can relate to all of this.
I have two bikes that need restored and another ready to sell. Just can't overcome the inertia and it bothers me.
Having literally the hottest summer on record here in central Texas isn't helping inspire me to ride or go out to the shop either.
I had a couple of very close friends pass away last year, and as others point out it's made me very aware that our time here is precious and limited.

[Terry in Australia]

I feel sort of guilty about it. Like, I should be taking advantage of this beautiful day off by getting on the bike, but I just don't feel like riding.
 I bet I haven't been on the Triumph 4 or 5 times this year. I enjoyed it every time. But I just cannot convince myself to get geared up and get out there.

 I gave up project bikes a couple of years ago. Somehow, I found myself with two this year. I was quickly reminded why I stopped. One of them is basically done. In the past, I'd have it tagged and insured and be looking for the next vintage bike night to show it off. Nope....zero desire to do that.

 I hate letting stuff sit unfinished or unused. That brings its own kind of stress to me, whether real or imagined.

 I've always felt that "if it doesn't feel right, don't get on the bike". Motorcycles are dangerous and I choose to not half-ass it  (or "half-brain" it).
 There are some nice backroads within two minutes of my house. Minimal traffic, nice curves. I've been trying to convince myself for two weeks to get out there.

I can relate to all of this.
I have two bikes that need restored and another ready to sell. Just can't overcome the inertia and it bothers me.
Having literally the hottest summer on record here in central Texas isn't helping inspire me to ride or go out to the shop either.
I had a couple of very close friends pass away last year, and as others point out it's made me very aware that our time here is precious and limited.

I think that stinking hot weather gives you a pass mate, I've really enjoyed all of my rides this year, and while I'm really looking forward to summer, I will definitely not be riding on days over 90. Of course there's no harm twirling spanners on those days, especially in a shady spot with a cold drink.

[jgger]

I think Kelly nailed it!  Great attitude, Kelly that's what will keep you going. I'll turn 70 at the end of this month and have just gotten back on the bike after a 40 year hiatus and I'm riding every chance I get. I knew I was going to miss about 4 to 6 weeks because of an upcoming surgery and I'm already planning future rides around that. Went for my pre-op covid test and it came back positive, so I'm quarantined and have to reschedule.....oh well that gives me more summertime to ride while I wait for an available slot to go under the knife. Plus the wife and kids planned a shindig for my birthday and since I won't be recovering at that time I won't be moving around like a 70 year old man that I am!

I get being burned out on something, I'm just at the opposite end of the spectrum from you Scott. Bikes aren't  everything in the world, so take a brake and find something, don't just sit and rust. If you want to get a lift, find a young high school or Jr high kid and teach him what you know about either cars or bikes. I can pretty much guarantee you will get more out of it than he will. Being retired and not having to be in the hunt has a tendency to take the drive out of it all. Like Kelly eluded to, do something because rust kills!

[WhyNot2]

I get it too. I'm recovering from rotator cuff surgery. Arm and shoulder hurt like h3ll.

I have 2 bikes tagged and insured to ride. 2 bikes needing just minimal work to have them tagged and insured. 4 more to be rebuilt.

(Money, money, money). Also motivation needed, 90 degree temps, with heat index of 110, 112.

I will be turning 66 at the end of the month, and right now I'm skeerd for myself, of not riding again.

I'm just ushing as I'm am fat and lazy, cause I sit in the hot azz garage and look at the sh1t I need to do, and just say dayyyyyum, I need to get this crap going.

Buttt.....!!!!!!

[Stev-o]

Hey Scott...sorry to hear this and hate to say it, but it does sound like depression.   Or, are there any new activities that you prefer to do instead?

With this summer heat, I dont like working on vehicles in the garage but I still try to get out at least once a week for a ride, followed by a couple cold beers!

Good luck to ya...

[Scott S]

 Thanks guys. I appreciate the thoughts and concern. I'm not depressed....just not interested in these things at the moment.
 I did the air cooled VW thing for years; then it got old. Vintage bikes were fun for quite a while. Now...not as much.
 I find myself taking the Plymouth downtown to have a beer with the wife, instead of bike night on the same night. That sort of thing.

 I LOVED projects for a while. Learning about new stuff, chasing down parts, hitting the swap meets and junkyards, seeing grimy parts shine again, etc. Then, it got frustrating.

 One thing do do loathe is seeing stuff gather dust and deteriorate from not being used. I think everyone here knows that a sitting bike (or old car) is not a happy bike.

[seanbarney41]

The reason fun stuff gets old is because you have stopped learning.  You have reached a high enough level of riding and wrenching that new achievements seem very difficult or costly. 

[ofreen]

One thing do do loathe is seeing stuff gather dust and deteriorate from not being used. I think everyone here knows that a sitting bike (or old car) is not a happy bike.

Once in a while I get to the point where I get tired of having so much stuff, and go through a purge.  I am not sure why I need 3 jeeps, or three pickups.  So far I can justify 4 motorcycles to myself because they each fill a different niche.  And I have enough project vehicles that I am nor sure I am going to live long enough to see them all done.  These are what are called First World problems.

[HondaMan]

You can look at it from my point of view. I have stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosed in September 2015. My death certificate is signed but not dated. Procrastination is the enemy because every day I waste is a huge loss. None of us know how long we have left but when you know that the end is near it motivates you to get up and go do something. Any of us could die tomorrow, call your best buddy and ask him to go for a ride and lunch. Tell him how you are feeling and plan some more rides or some shop time together. That's what friends are for. Don't surrender to the depression, fight back.

I completely get you, Kelley E: I was both blessed and lucky at Stage 3 to find someone who had the courage to 'go in wide' and take it all out, now 20+ years ago. I missed almost 5 years of riding afterwards, but it caused me to not miss a minute of life since.

[Scott S]

 Got the Triumph out a couple of times this week. Bike night on Thursday and a Sunday afternoon ride through the country.
 Like I said, it's always fun when I convince myself to go.  I even got in a decent shakedown run on the XS650.

[Kelly E]

Your Triumph is a great looking bike and looks fun to ride.

[grcamna2]

Got the Triumph out a couple of times this week. Bike night on Thursday and a Sunday afternoon ride through the country.
 Like I said, it's always fun when I convince myself to go.  I even got in a decent shakedown run on the XS650.

  I'm glad you did Scott.

[PeWe]

The feeling for riding can comeback when riding on a nice curvy, maybe remote country road without bad drivers Relaxed pace, not speeding. (Only a little with free sight)

Sun is shining, still not very hot and birds are singing together with the bike.

A stop at a cafe, restaurant for a small meal will do good too.
At that stop people that comment the old CB, talking about their memories.

[WhyNot2]

The feeling for riding can comeback when riding on a nice curvy, maybe remote country road without bad drivers Relaxed pace, not speeding. (Only a little with free sight)

Sun is shining, still not very hot and birds are singing together with the bike.

A stop at a cafe, restaurant for a small meal will do good too.
At that stop people that comment the old CB, talking about their memories.

Reading what you typed made me feel like I was actually riding. That is the kind of ride I'd like to find around here.

[Terry in Australia]

I haven't felt like riding for the last 3 weekends. Of course it's been pissing down rain, and possibly snowing for the last 3 weekends, so I'm hoping for sunny skies and dry roads tomorrow. No biggie, summer is coming!