Comments on: How do you motivate yourself to ride?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:23:37 +0000

The extreme weather days are the ones that are automatically motivating to me. For instance, tomorrow is supposed to be -20F with wind chills of -35F or lower here. I sense a challenge! Insane? Perhaps a little, but I enjoy powering my own motating machine through the snow and ice (thank you Kenda Klondikes). Besides, driving my slip-sliding pickup just ruins my mood. I’d rather make tracks in the snow with my bicycle. I’ve ridden all winter so far except 1 day recently when I thought my bike route wasn’t safe (it would’ve been – doh!). Enjoy the ride.

By: michaelsicurello

michaelsicurello — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:20:30 +0000

Pedalocity: ped-al-oc-it-y – noun, adjective, verb.

1. the effect of pedaling.
2. a euphoric state of being.
3. the rate at which pedaling reduces one’s carbon footprint.
4. generating energy by expending energy.

Article here:

http://wellonearth.com/ws/articles/CURRENT/pedalocity.html

Michael

By: Steelisreal4130

Steelisreal4130 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:25:19 +0000

my car broke down and i didn’t fix it. i might have it looked at eventually, but for now its pushing on peddles for me!

By: James Wampler

James Wampler — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:58:37 +0000

Only owning one car. Even if I didn’t want to ride, on days my wife needs the car I just don’t have a choice. I never regret it once I am riding, but some days getting out the door is harder the others.

By: blitt

blitt — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:07:52 +0000

i ride around all day in chicago (i’m a dogwalker), and every year, i find it harder to stay motivated in the winter. it’s fun getting the bike(s) ready with a tune-up, fenders on, etc, but about this time of year i really start to drag. i’ve found that multiple websites, like this one, are nice to check in the mornings while i have my coffee, just to sort of remind myself that there’s SO many people also doing it, enjoying it, and discussing it. it helps get the blood flowing, and reminds me that bikes are fun, and when they cease to be fun, it’s often not the bike, or the weather, it’s usually one’s attitude/approach. once i decompress a bit, i find that stress begets stress, and if i can just take a step back, relax a bit and ride, it gets me back to why i’m riding a bike each day, year-round, all over.

(easier said than done some days, i realize)

By: chunkymonkeybiker

chunkymonkeybiker — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:17:02 +0000

After I ride to work I see my colleagues and can’t help but think that I have a “secret life” they will never understand.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:21:26 +0000

tom you really need to think about this now the buss it’s a crutch just a crutch, and no I don’t have a bus I live in a rural aria without a bus system within 40 miles not an option 13 mile commute no problem hills Ozark mountains rain carey 2 sets of riding cloths and one set of work cloths problem solved stay dry and have fun.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:13:34 +0000

Do you people not have busses? My choice is *never* between driving and riding, I *loathe* driving and don’t own a car I can take (wife needs it at home for stuff).

But the bus is warm and toasty, comes right by my house, and for nine miles I can read a book, listen to my iPod, see acquaintances.

The bike… I would need to pedal the bike through the wind and rain, and through the dark, make sure the light is charged up for the trip home, strip off wet sweaty clothes in a bathroom stall at work and then put them on again at the end of the day, face the hills at either end of the commute, start out cold then get hot up the hills.

Frankly, it’s HARD to get on the bike these days. The bus is *nice* !!

By: Cool Jimmy

Cool Jimmy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:01:24 +0000

It’s been a very cold winter up here in Edmonton, Canada. I commute to work 5 days a week and only missed one day, though the temps been hovering around -25C and as cold as -35C with the wind chill.

It’s a great workout, as the snow makes it tougher to pedal, and the bike freezes up, making it all seem like riding uphill.

There’s a real feeling of accomplishment, and it really is an adventure, scouting for the right lines to take on the road (to avoid bad ice/ruts,snow over ice) and working to stay upright on the trails. It’s easy to get motivated – I love it!

By: All-Weather-Heather

All-Weather-Heather — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:25:44 +0000

Well… I have to live up to my name with my coworkers. Also my electric bike makes the 20 mile commute easier. I’ve learned that the hardest part of the ride is putting on the rain gear, once I’m on the bike…I don’t want to get off. Reference the comment above about the “Girlie Men in their SUVs.”

Yes…I rode yesterday in 34 degree pouring rain. I was hoping it would ice over so I could test out my new stud tires. Fortuneately, most of my ride is not in traffic but a beautiful nature trail.