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Yeah I used to think nothing of going out for hours in the driving rain and cold. I’d like to get back to that mentality though. Just need a kick up the arse and Marry Poppins to come round and sort my shit out at home.
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In short, I just want time to ride my bike but my whole world has slowly, almost without me noticing over the last few years, become one where that is the one thing I never have time for.
@lowbrows cheers - good to know I’m not the only one stuck in a rut. Hope you shake yourself out of it too!
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As with everything it’s more complicated than that. I’m very much the breadwinner but she sacrificed a fair bit when the kids were born etc so it’s her turn to be career focused and build things back up. The difference is that she was solely looking after the kids back then, whereas I’m now doing that and working.
We had a brilliant nanny for a bit but she went on maternity leave about six months ago which has made life incredibly difficult again.
All first world problems, but ones that I think will put me in an early grave at this rate.
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Yeah the mission idea is a good one. I wanted to put some races in the diary but I think the pressure of that and how far off race pace I am would make that counterproductive.
Losing the cycling commute has been a huge part of all this I think. Used to be out every day come rain / snow / shine. I think I’ve just become a bit soft and the commute time has just been filled with increasing work demands (as it has for a lot of people as everyone knows you’re at home and ‘available’).
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The nature of my wife’s job means she’s basically MIA from 8am - 10pm and so I’m trying to do a seriously demanding job myself and do all the childcare.
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No! I’ve got meetings for the next few hours, then the dentist, then pick the kids up, then feed, bath and get them to bed, then do another million hours of work. Shit excuses I know.
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Harpenden (Herts). Please feel free to drop by at 6am with a megaphone. Would be greatly appreciated.
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Yeah, could try banging some spds on the hard tail and go for a long slow ride. I’ve never really used mtbs for that (more downhill / jumping) so might be a good change of pace
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Yeah have done a bit of pootling here and there on the mtb but my joy on those bikes comes from jumping / park riding and with my back still being pretty delicate I’ve had to just stick to rolling around and not really doing anything nuts.
I think I just need someone to come round and slap me.
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In a total mojo black hole at the moment. I’ve had a really bad run since Easter where a year or so of lockdowns and looking after three young kids during the day then working all night (no more than four hours’ sleep) finally took its toll. Had a series of illnesses (basically just pure exhaustion / burnout) then a serious back injury (getting one of the little ones out of the bath, but caused by crouching over kitchen table on a little laptop for hundreds of hours a month during the lockdowns).
I’ve gone from being a competitive time triallist and FTPing around 360 to barely being able to turn a pedal and being 15kg heavier.
I know I just need to get back on the bike and start again, but I can’t seem to do it. I’ve been so consistently on the bike for so many years that I’ve always been building or tapering, but now I’ve got such a mountain to climb I can’t seem to just start. I’m so out of the habit of fitting training into the day that it now seems alien and too much (on top of kids / work etc).
Anyone got any tips that have helped for just shaking yourself out of this kind of slump? Not being on the bike is ruining my mental health, but I just can’t seem to put my kit on and get the fuck on with it.
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This is such a stupid thing to say (assuming you’re being serious)
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Going to be a horrendous 15 mins if he keeps going
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The Beach Boys walk into a bar.
“Round?”
“Round.”
“Get a round.”
“I’ll get a round.”
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Yeah, they’ve put out a good few albums now! Anything involving Thomas von Wachenfeldt is going to be ace - have you heard his album The Interpreter? Might even prefer it to the Wombbath releases!
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Cheers! It’s a DMR OiOi - been pretty bullet proof to date
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Few recent snaps of Scout.
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This is proving to be a fun combination of bikes for the ageing bmxer
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Awesome photos Will! Right in the mood!
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This seems like a job for an Omnium Mini Max or something. I love that your throwing a custom Parlee at it, and will be following with great interest!
That said, looking at the brakes and rims I’m a teeny bit concerned at the thought of you and your cat going down a mountain pass in the rain fully laden.
Regardless, cat pics are essential. Need to get a feel for this guy’s lust for life.
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Jesus that’s depressing. I’ve had a very similar experience with the police on this type of thing and unfortunately (having exhausted all the avenues) something I just had to make peace with and not let it keep me up at night in a rage. Really sorry to hear this and hope you’re on the mend.
LFGSS
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of fixed gear and single-speed cyclists.
Yeah trying to find maternity cover is impossible. No one (understandably) wants a job where it can be for a month or a year or forever with no guarantees. You’re totally at the mercy of the person on maternity leave (which is the way it of course has to be), but it means we’re in limbo for what seems like an eternity.