I bought a road bike, but in the end, I just stopped riding it…
- I tried researching ways to boost my motivation, but nothing really changed.
- I still hop on the bike sometimes, but I’m just not feeling it.
- Honestly, it just feels like too much trouble to ride.
At times like this, instead of forcing motivation, it’s better to first understand where you’re at.
What state am I in right now?
There’s no point in forcing myself to ride when I’m totally unmotivated…
But if I can get past this slump, I know the fun will come back.
Even if I blindly push through, another dip in motivation will come eventually.
The most important key to consistency is knowing your current state.
Forget about the future—how are things right now?
If you don’t face your present situation, there is no future progress.
We all know this, but it’s so easy to forget.
This article focuses only on looking at your current reality.
The Ultimate Excuse: “I Don’t Have Time”
Work is busy.
We all knew that before even starting.
Of course work is busy.
When it comes to quitting hobbies, this is the strongest excuse of all.
“I’m too busy with work.”
Nothing shuts people up faster than that.
And honestly, it convinces yourself, too.
I mean, without work, we can’t make a living.
It’s only natural to prioritize work.
If riding leaves me wiped out for Monday, that’s backwards.
I need proper rest so my job performance isn’t affected.
So yeah… let’s just sleep a bit more.
There’s nothing wrong with thinking that way.
Since it’s just a hobby, it should never interfere with work.
So of course, there will be times when you don’t ride.
There’s absolutely no need to force it.
Life is just busy in general.
Since I’m always busy with work, I have to do everything else on weekends.
Which means weekends end up busy, too.
Life isn’t just work.
If you have a family, there’s even more to do.
Your own hobbies get pushed to the back—that’s normal.
And that makes sense.
There’s so much more to do than just riding.
You might even have hobbies other than cycling.
You can’t spend all your time only on the bike.
So it can’t be helped.
That’s why you can’t ride.
There’s just not enough time.
In the end, I just don’t have the time.
If I had the time, I’d ride—but I don’t.
Even if I get an hour free, it’s barely enough to ride.
If I had a solid block of time, I’d ride.
With enough time, you can do anything.
But then I waste an hour watching short videos, yet somehow there’s no time for cycling.
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Because My Gear Cravings Are Already Satisfied
Buying it was enough.
Every time I look at my bike, I think it’s awesome.
Next, I’ll get some lightweight carbon wheels.
Yep, satisfied.
Even without riding, I feel satisfied.
Opening the box and pulling out a shiny new part—that thrill is unforgettable.
Whether I actually use it or not, that craving gets satisfied.
But soon enough, I want something new again.
If I get the latest carbon part, I’ll definitely get faster.
Not that I’ll ride.
All the accessories are already bought.
I’ve already collected the bike parts I wanted.
So then my eyes wander to helmets or shoes.
Up until now I only cared about bike parts, but there are tons of other accessories too.
I start buying sunglasses and cycling kit piece by piece.
New gear made me ride a bit more just to test it out, but only temporarily.
Soon enough, I had everything I needed.
With nothing left to test, I stopped riding again.
Without that spark, there’s no reason to ride.
I don’t know much about gear, and I don’t keep up with info.
Honestly, I’m not that interested in parts or accessories anyway.
So I don’t research them.
Which means I don’t know much about them.
So I don’t buy new stuff, and I lose motivation to ride.
Maybe that’s better than drowning in material desires.
But at the same time, I feel like I lost a reason to ride.
In the end, desire for new gear and motivation to ride are connected.
At the Core, It’s Actually a Tough Sport
It was tougher than I imagined.
Honestly, I thought it’d be easier.
Sure, the first time I rode, it felt way easier than a city bike.
It was super light—nothing like the bikes I knew.
But after a few rides, I got used to it.
And honestly, that initial excitement was gone.
Climbing hills is brutal.
Even in an easy gear, I barely move.
Turns out, my neighborhood has more hills than I thought.
That kills the mood to ride.
But that’s just how it is.
That first-time thrill doesn’t last forever—it never does.
Getting ready is a hassle.
Especially in winter.
Base layer, tights, mid-layer, windbreaker…
Head warmer, helmet, sunglasses.
Wrestle on the shoe covers…
I’m exhausted already.
And after all that, I only ride for an hour and a half.
Feels like all that prep wasn’t worth it.
Next time, I’ll only ride if I have a big block of time.
But that time never comes.
No goal.
I can’t ride fast anyway, and racing feels pointless.
When I do ride, it’s just casual cruising.
Taking it slow feels nice.
Not thinking about anything—just pedaling.
That’s the best part.
But after I get home, I don’t feel like going out again.
That’s because I don’t have a goal.
I always ride alone.
And honestly, it gets boring.
But joining a club or team feels intimidating.
Related article >>> [Leisurely Ride] — Staying Motivated Isn’t Easy（Japanese）
What It Takes to Keep Going
- To keep going, you need to manage yourself.
- If you let emotions take the wheel, consistency is hard.
- Even if it’s a hobby, going with the flow doesn’t keep it fun.
There’s a trick to keeping it up.