(explosion)
- You know what? Last night, I went to bed early
and I was really excited about getting out on my bike.
I set my alarm and I was ready for it.
But, when I woke up this morning,
I'm just not feeling it anymore.
- Yeah, a lot of people have that.
You know, when you end up falling out of love
with the one thing that you love doing.
- Yeah, that's kind of exactly how I feel.
There must be a way to fall back in love with cycling.
- I think you're right.
(funky keyboard music)
First of all, we need to find out why we've fallen
out of love with cycling.
- Hm. Maybe you've worked really hard
over the last few months and you've pushed it
on the bike, and you've stagnated.
And you've lost the love of it because,
well, that's just frustrating, isn't it?
- Yeah, or you've moved to a new place
and you've got rubbish roads
and you haven't got anyone to ride with.
Or you've been sick for a while,
there can be many things.
- Yeah, or is it just the fear of crashing?
Especially if you're racing, I mean, no one wants to crash.
- No, exactly.
- [Chris] The first thing you need to do
is highlight what it is that you've stopped loving
about riding your bike.
(funky music)
You know what, mate? I just can't do 350 watts
for half an hour today.
- Dude, stop taking it so seriously.
- Actually, that's a really good point.
Cycling doesn't have to be all about average power numbers,
lap this, interval that, TSS here.
It can just be good fun.
So, you could just head out the door,
ride as fast or as far as you feel like,
and, hey, why not even stop?
- Yeah, and group rides can be so much fun, also.
Get out with your mates, have a joke and just enjoy it.
After all, cycling is good fun.
- Yeah, and if you feel like racing them up the climb,
- Do it. - why not do that, as well?
- Race ya! I can't get it! (grunts)
(funky music)
- [Chris] I've often found it difficult
to stay motivated when riding by myself.
I know there are lots of people
who love riding by themselves.
That feeling of solitude can really help, for some,
to clear your mind after a difficult week at work.
But for most people, finding the motivation
to go for a long, or hard, ride by themselves is difficult.
If you have just moved and you don't know anybody
where you live, then it's pretty hard not
to end up riding by yourself.
So, if you are finding it hard work riding by yourself,
then that sounds like the perfect opportunity
to find a cycling club.
Almost every city will have a number
of different cycling clubs these days,
and if you can't decide on which one to join,
then why not try them all?
Most cycling clubs will be very happy
to have new people come and join.
But, it's often a good idea to drop someone
in the club a message before you do.
That way, you'll know when they meet,
and what their rides are like.
- So, stick with cycling.
It's a great way to meet friends,
go out on group rides, and enjoy the outdoors.
Soon you'll love it... again!
(funky music)
Why don't you try new things?
In cycling, there are loads of disciplines
to get your teeth stuck into.
- [Chris] Yeah. Cyclocross, track-racing.
Hey, there's even that weird thing
that people do called gravel-riding.
- Or mountain biking, or fixed-gear racing.
Loads of stuff for you to try out
and keep it nice and fresh.
- Yeah, the whole idea is to mix it up a little bit,
really, because if you spend your entire time
doing one discipline, it can get a little bit stale.
And it's also a really good thing to do,
to practise new skills on different terrains and surfaces.
- Agreed.
What are you getting your teeth stuck into, then, mate?
- I'm gonna go and join GMBN, I think.
- I'm gonna do a bit of Cyclocross.
- Oh!
- Or running! Should I do a bit of running?
- [Chris] Can't run from your problems.
(funky music)
You know what? I'm gonna take back my comment
about gravel riding because this is amazing.
Look at the view, and there's not a car in sight.
That makes it more fun, for me.
- Yeah, keep it fresh. Try all the disciplines,
After all, cycling's all about enjoyment.
So go out, and enjoy it.
- Yup, how 'bout we go and get some cake, there.
- Yeah, I might go mountain biking after lunch.
- Oh, yeah, I quite like that idea. Let's get something
to eat. - Let's do it.
(bicycle gears turning)
- So, Chris, do you feel a bit better about cycling?
Have you fallen back in love with it?
- You know what? I kind of enjoyed looking
at my cycling in a different way
and kind of seeing it as something I could do
with my mates for a bit of a laugh,
and not just, you know, power numbers and results.
- Yeah. So if you've fallen back into love with cycling,
then let us know in the comments below.
And, if you wanna see more videos
on mountain bikes, Cyclocross, or fixed-wheel,
then click down here.