[mcA896]

For me, mountain biking has become somewhat of a "lost cause". It no longer provides the enjoyment that it used to. Maybe I've exhausted my environment, and need to ride somewhere new, but I never just go out and ride for fun anymore. I'll usually end up going when a friend calls and asks, or if I need to run to the store. I can't get into a good groove when riding, where I am having alot of fun. I love this sport to death, but I need some inspiration here guys (and gals). Anything. Revive my mountain biking spirit.

 

[Changleen]

Sounds like someone needs a new bike. A really expensive one.

 

[TreeSaw]

I am not really able to ride outside anymore (32 weeks pregnant) and I am dying to hit the trails again! Maybe you need to take the winter off and road trip to some awesome rides in the spring?

 

[maxyedor]

take your gears off. Riding singlespeed will get you back into it, also try to seek out new trails and riding buddies.

 

[-dustin]

go for some road rides. some really long, flat, windy ones.

wait...TreeSaw's a girl?!

 

[skinny mike]

ride naked a few times. itll be something new and interesting and itll give your cheeks some color.

 

[TreeSaw]

go for some road rides. some really long, flat, windy ones.

wait...TreeSaw's a girl?!

LOL! yupper

 

[.:Jeenyus:.]

go for some road rides. some really long, flat, windy ones.

wait...TreeSaw's a girl?!

I really hope your kidding.

 

[-dustin]

i am. i have made it a personal mission to act surprised that each female member on RM is a girl.

 

[kidwoo]

For me, mountain biking has become somewhat of a "lost cause". It no longer provides the enjoyment that it used to. Maybe I've exhausted my environment, and need to ride somewhere new, but I never just go out and ride for fun anymore. I'll usually end up going when a friend calls and asks, or if I need to run to the store. I can't get into a good groove when riding, where I am having alot of fun. I love this sport to death, but I need some inspiration here guys (and gals). Anything. Revive my mountain biking spirit.

You should just start smoking a.ss loads of weed and quit going to school.

Remember.........video games are the REAL life training tool.

 

[JRB]

Sounds like someone has a case of the "Mondays".

 

[flatulant_man]

I am not really able to ride outside anymore (32 weeks pregnant) and I am dying to hit the trails again! Maybe you need to take the winter off and road trip to some awesome rides in the spring?

that's what always gets me in the riding mood again, taking a break. if you just lay off for a month or so, then get back on and ride the hardest possible trail, you will feel invigorated, i promise.

 

[sunny]

Sounds like someone has a case of the "Mondays".

LOL!! That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!!! And I hear it in my head in that stupid annoying tone!!

 

[dropsdon'tlikem]

try a different aspect of riding, if you are getting tired of hucks and gaps, give some street/park/dirt a try, and vice versa. Maybe some nice XC would do the trick, SS always adds an interesting element, maybe switch to road or bmx.

I have gone through seasonal burnout before as well, give yourself the winter, come back in the spring. I find very rarely does anyone completely give up riding bikes.

If you really cannot find motivation to ride, and aren't really having fun. stop. It's okay to put the bike down and move on.

 

[sunny]

For me, mountain biking has become somewhat of a "lost cause". It no longer provides the enjoyment that it used to.... I need some inspiration here guys (and gals). Anything. Revive my mountain biking spirit.

OK, so here's my suggestions to rekindle the flame:
1. Try something you never have before (like psycho-cross) :devil: ,
or
2. Teach someone else something you know.

When I started mtn biking, the guy who put me on the bike was right at the point of loosing that loving mtn bike feeling too. I began riding at the beginning of the summer, and was so thankful for his guidence and coaching! But by the end of the summer he was burned out, and didn't really feel like riding (he took some time off the bike, and eventually got back into it). BUT, in the mean time, the spark he created in me took off like wildfire, and has continued to spread. I'm thankful for those times when he met me for a ride even when he really didn't want to. On several different occasions he met me at the BMX track so that I could learn what it is to ride a berm and pump down the back side of a jump. I credit him with being a large part of the reason I'm here.

I admit, I'm a real oddball case, but... maybe someone needs your inspiration...

Here I am lined up with the 9-year-olds at the BMX track, preparing myself for my first "gravity event" - 4X at Plattekill!

-sunny

 

[downhilldemon]

i love that pic. This huge adult racing this little kids! Life is great!

 

[rideagainst]

Anybody still have the "Where is the Love" movie from a while back. Watch that, then go ride some new trails and you'll be golden.

 

[JRogers]

that's what always gets me in the riding mood again.

Haha...I thought you were going to say "getting pregnant"

Anyway....
I suppose the only times I lose motivation to ride is when I don't do it enough. If I stop for a few weeks, it gets hard to get into it again. Once I start going out regularly and attacking the trails, I get right into it. I can't see how biking could become boring really. I ride the same freakin trails all the time. Maybe you should go out and crash really hard or something.

 

[DaveW]

Try snigle speeding for awhile.
Or maybe a biking holiday overseas, the European alps or down here in New Zealand or down in Bolivia or (my old stamping grounds) the Himalayas.......

 

[PatBranch]

I never get bored of it. I have a true singletrack mind. I don't ride as much as I want to because of school, ... . I am always thinking of mountain biking. Some of my bike videos I have watch 5 times a day for a week. Every second mountain biking is or relates to what I'm thinking.

Its probably because you aren't progressing. Try new tricks, go bigger, find new stuff, new lines,.... Today I decided to do a 1 handed 1 footer on my double. For 2 days I've been doing some somewhat solid top tube grabs. Then I want to get to seat grabs and then a no footed seat grabs.

 

[lovebunny]

. Maybe you should go out and crash really hard or something.

yup that definatly works. i want to ride soo fvcking bad i cant believe it

 

[urbaindk]

i love that pic. This huge adult racing this little kids! Life is great!

Me too. Everytime I go to the track it's exactly like that. What's worse is that those little kids always kick my ass around the track six ways to Sunday.

 

[Echo]

Another vote for trying singlespeed. You will either love it or quit mountain biking altogether

 

[TreeSaw]

that's what always gets me in the riding mood again, taking a break. if you just lay off for a month or so, then get back on and ride the hardest possible trail, you will feel invigorated, i promise.

That's what I am hoping for (fingers crossed)

 

[TreeSaw]

Another vote for trying singlespeed. You will either love it or quit mountain biking altogether

I am ready (well....almost) and will be joining the SS world this spring for sure neaky:

 

[Angus]

take your gears off. Riding singlespeed will get you back into it, also try to seek out new trails and riding buddies.

Also try riding your favorite at night in reverse

 

[tmx]

---Here I am lined up with the 9-year-olds at the BMX track, preparing myself for my first "gravity event" - 4X at Plattekill!

-sunny

talk about inspiration!!! this might be the coolest bike photo EVER. you totally rock and i thank you deeply for it.

 

[mcA896]

K, I've come to a conclusion.

I am going to not ride from this Sunday, untl Spring. I am going to concentrate on snowboarding all winter, and hit all of the places I always wanted to board. Much backcountry too.

Then, come spring, I am selling my DH bike, and building a singlespeed street hardtail. The simplicity of a singlespeed has a certain allure to it. Mmmm. Singlespeed street bike. Maybe I will build it up over winter, that way come spring I will be itching to ride it.

 

[Slugman]

BTW - Where are you riding and what style? Location says 'cape cod'... which is pretty damn flat. Yeah there are couple fun hills and a few built items in Otis, but road trips to new places always get me going.

DH bike on the cape?!? I think I know part of the problem...

 

[SkaredShtles]

I can't believe nobody has suggested this yet:

Head West. Move to Montana. Or Utah. Or Flagstaff. You'll very likely fall in love with mt biking all over again.

 

[OGRipper]

Well call me a blasphemer but it's not the end of the world. If you don't enjoy riding anymore, don't ride. You'll know soon enough if you want to come back.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Well call me a blasphemer but it's not the end of the world. If you don't enjoy riding anymore, don't ride. You'll know soon enough if you want to come back.

Wise words from a wise man.

 

[dh girlie]

i am. i have made it a personal mission to act surprised that each female member on RM is a girl.

I'm not...and I don't ride bikes...

 

[TreeSaw]

K, I've come to a conclusion.

I am going to not ride from this Sunday, untl Spring. I am going to concentrate on snowboarding all winter, and hit all of the places I always wanted to board. Much backcountry too.

Then, come spring, I am selling my DH bike, and building a singlespeed street hardtail. The simplicity of a singlespeed has a certain allure to it. Mmmm. Singlespeed street bike. Maybe I will build it up over winter, that way come spring I will be itching to ride it.

Sounds like a good plan...building bikes up over the winter always makes me want to ride more and more!!!! Curious though...why sell the DH bike? You may still have a use/need for it come Spring time.

 

[golgiaparatus]

Sounds like someone has a case of the "Mondays".

"I believe someone could get their ass kicked for saying something like that."

 

[mcA896]

Sounds like a good plan...building bikes up over the winter always makes me want to ride more and more!!!! Curious though...why sell the DH bike? You may still have a use/need for it come Spring time.

Right now, DH isn't really a priority. I have raced a few times, and I loved it, but I just don't get to go to the mountains enough to make a DH bike worthwhile. I also would sell it to build up the hardtail. I can always buy a new DH rig, if I feel that one would be neccessary.

 

[PatBranch]

YOU'VE gone /iNsAnE/

 

[Spunger]

I just build more bikes and find what I like. I don't really like long distance stuff or just "riding" but if it's DH/DJ/BMX then I'm fine. I find myself building bikes (going on my 3rd one now) so I have one of each that's specific to what I want. Get a DH bike for DH, a XC'ish bike for that type of stuff, and a DJ/BMX/4x bike for that stuff. BMX was fun when I was younger, probably more fun now I'm older and there's MTB's that are ment for jumping and such. It makes a world of difference having the right gear and stuff (plus if you can afford it, some can, some can't).

But I agree. I got burnt out of the "having my girlfriend shuttle me to the top". I still love DH riding but want something else that I can just jump on the bike and go do.

I agree, I watch videos, browse the web, do whatever but for some odd-reason building bikes is fun to me. I love thinking of different specs to build to. I'm the same with electronics and cars and everything else as well so it might be built into me to build things.

Good luck though, if you stop riding you'll find something else, and if not you'll miss it. If it felt like a "chore" for you to do then it's probably the wrong sport. If you don't have fun doing it you should just stop as it'll make you hate it even more.

 

[spacemanspiff06]

OK here's what you do.
1 ride with other people always. esp. the friends that are always stoked to ride. it rubs off easy.
2 watch some kick ass videos. never not been in the mood to ride after a good vid.
3 hike your favorite trail, the whole time thinking 'how would i be rideing this?'
4 find some new trails. road trip if need be.
5 switch up your style a bit.
6 SS is good. better yet fully ridgid SS. still better add a fixed gear.
7 ride in the worst, non cold or thundering, weather you can. muddy or snowy is best. you gotta ride with friends for that one.
if you've still got the mondays, give it a little less then a month, then try all this over. if symptoms presist, might i suggest guitar, or snowboard.

 

[Biscuit]

I kinda went through this a while ago. I still loved riding, but I wasn't happy with my riding, I wasn't feeling agressive or getting the sheer thrill/stoke that used to last days after a ride.

So, I took time off.

I only lasted about two weeks. A younger kid who's parents are friends with my parents asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. I took him out and showed him some hard stuff and expanded his reality to what could really be done on a bike. He was super stoked.

I've been back in the saddle pinning and grinning it ever since.


Oh, and start climbing. Painfull grinding climbs are the best. They, for some reason, really make a ride enjoyable.