Breaking the Slump: How I Reignited My Cycling Motivation
Breaking the Cycling Slump: How I Reignited My Cycling Motivation
There’s nothing quite like training for a big event. The structure, the countdown, the long rides that actually mean something—it all gives your cycling a sharp edge. But when that edge dulls, things can get ugly fast.
One day you’re knocking out long training rides. The next, you’re staring at your bike and thinking, Not today. Maybe tomorrow. And “tomorrow” never shows up.
That’s not just a bad week. That’s a training slump. And yes, it happens to all of us—including stubborn long-distance cyclists like me.
My 2020 Texas Tour Slump (And Why It Scared Me)
In 2020, I was training for a cycling tour across Texas, scheduled for the kind of July heat that cooks your brain inside your helmet. I’d done long tours before, but this one mattered. I’d been training for months and was genuinely fired up.
Then, about three months before the tour, the wheels came off—mentally, not mechanically.
- My energy dropped.
- My motivation vanished.
- I started skipping rides for no good reason.
- When I did ride, I cut routes short and coasted through them.
- I told myself it was “just a phase.” It wasn’t.
Weeks went by like that. I knew I wasn’t just tired—I was stuck. And if I didn’t fix it, I was going to show up for that tour undertrained and miserable.
If you’re in that place right now, I get it. The good news? You absolutely can ride your way out of it. But you have to be blunt with yourself and willing to change things.
Why Cyclists Fall Into a Slump (The Real Reasons)
Most cyclists try to patch a slump with motivational quotes and guilt. That never lasts.
In my experience, slumps usually come from a mix of:
- Boredom: Same routes, same pace, same mileage, over and over.
- Mental fatigue: Life stress plus training stress is a nasty combo.
- Physical fatigue: Overtraining with not enough rest or fueling.
- Isolation: Always riding alone, with no social spark at all.
- Vague goals: “Ride more” is not a plan. It’s a wish.
Once I stopped pretending I just “lost my mojo” and started looking for the real causes, it got a lot easier to fix.
Tip #1: Change Your Routine Aggressively
If you ride the same three or four loops week after week, you’re basically inviting boredom to live on your handlebars. That was me. I knew every crack in the pavement, every mailbox, every turn. My brain checked out before I even clipped in.
The fix was simple but uncomfortable: I forced myself to change things.
- I rode new roads I’d been “saving for later.”
- I reversed my favorite loop just to make my brain pay attention again.
- I swapped a flat route for a hillier one, even when I didn’t feel like climbing.
- I added short sprint sections just to jolt my system.
The result? My rides actually felt like rides again, not chores.
Try this over the next two weeks:
- Pick one familiar loop and ride it backward.
- Create one “destination ride” per week—coffee shop, park, whatever gives the ride a purpose.
- Add three or four short efforts (30–60 seconds harder than normal) into an otherwise easy ride.
Cycling is supposed to wake your brain up. If your routes are boring, your motivation will be too.
Tip #2: Stop Riding Alone All the Time
I’m mostly a solo rider. I like the solitude, the thinking time, the steady rhythm. But when my slump hit, I realized something: too much solo time can trap you in your own head.
One day, I saw another cyclist up the road and decided to bridge the gap and sit on their wheel for a bit. We didn’t talk much. We just rode together for a few miles.
It changed everything. The ride suddenly felt like an event, not a chore.
Ways to inject a little human energy back into your riding:
- Join a local group ride once or twice a month.
- Invite a friend for the first 20–30 minutes of your long ride.
- When you see another cyclist, say hello and match pace for a short stretch.
You don’t need to become a social butterfly. Just don’t isolate yourself so much that your brain forgets cycling can be shared.
Tip #3: Take a Real Break (Without Guilt)
Here’s the part cyclists hate hearing: sometimes the best ride is no ride.
We’re terrible at rest. We treat days off like weakness. Meanwhile, our bodies and brains are waving giant red flags.
When my slump hit hard, I finally shut it down for a few days. No “just a short spin,” no guilt-text to my training log. I walked, I stretched, I ate real food, and I slept.
I usually find that three to four days completely off the bike is enough to reset my mind and legs. Any longer than that and I start to feel flat, but that short, sharp break works wonders.
Signs you might need to back off instead of pushing harder:
- You’re exhausted before the warm-up is over.
- You dread every ride, even the “easy” ones.
- Your sleep is trash and your mood is worse.
- Rides feel like obligations instead of choices.
Rest is not quitting. Rest is maintenance. And if you want to ride for years instead of months, you have to respect it.
I don’t buy gear to “treat myself.” I buy gear that keeps me riding longer, safer, and more consistently. These are tools that genuinely helped me stay on track when my motivation dipped.
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RENPHO Solar Smart Scale — I use this to track my weight and body composition. Watching the numbers trend in the right direction is a huge mental boost when training feels slow.
Check the RENPHO Solar Smart Scale on Amazon -
Garmin Varia Smart Brake Light — Feeling visible in traffic makes it easier to actually get out the door. When I know drivers can see me, I’m a lot more willing to ride at dawn or dusk.
See the Garmin Varia brake light on Amazon -
Castelli Endurance 3 Bib Shorts — Comfort is motivation. The more comfortable the saddle area, the less excuse you have to bail on a long ride.
View Castelli Endurance 3 Bib Shorts on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support my writing and riding.
If you’re serious about breaking your slump and leveling up your riding, these are higher-end upgrades that can make your bike feel “new” again—mentally and physically.
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Premium Helmet (Giro Helios Spherical) — Light, well-ventilated, and confidence-inspiring.
Giro Helios Spherical on Amazon -
Comfort Saddle for Older Riders — A good saddle can turn “I don’t feel like riding” into “I might as well go.”
See a popular comfort saddle on Amazon -
Suspension Seatpost (Cane Creek eeSilk+) — Smoothing out rough roads is one of the fastest ways to reduce fatigue on long rides.
Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost on Amazon -
High-Lumen Headlight & Smart Taillight — A bright front light and smart rear light make early-morning or late-evening rides feel safer and more doable.
High-lumen headlight on Amazon | Garmin Varia smart taillight
Tip #4: Give Your Training a Clear Purpose Again
Slumps love vague goals. “Ride more.” “Get fitter.” “Lose some weight.” None of that is specific enough to drag you out the door when you don’t feel like riding.
What helped me was rebuilding my structure on paper. I stopped guessing and started planning.
Here’s a simple reset you can do:
- Pick a date. A charity ride, local event, or your own personal “big ride” two or three months out.
- Set weekly targets. Total miles or hours, and one ride per week that’s “non-negotiable.”
- Add one focus each week. Hills, cadence, steady endurance, or just staying relaxed.
If you’re an older cyclist like me, structure is your best friend. You don’t have to train like a racer, but you do need to know what you’re building toward.
Tip #5: Accept the Hard Truths of Cycling After 60
Let’s be honest: as we age, motivation has more enemies.
- Recovery takes longer.
- Injuries linger.
- Sleep isn’t always great.
- Weather hits harder.
But older cyclists also have a big advantage: we know how to show up even when we don’t “feel like it.” We’ve lived through enough hard seasons to know that feelings don’t get the final say.
If you’re over 60 and stuck in a slump, you’re not broken. You’re just at a point where your body and mind are asking you to adjust the way you train.
Dial the ego down. Dial the consistency up.
Rediscovering the Joy (Without Lying to Yourself)
When I finally came out of that 2020 slump, it wasn’t because a switch flipped in my head. It was because I made specific changes:
- I changed my routes so my brain had something new to process.
- I shared a few miles with other riders instead of hiding in my own little bubble.
- I took a few days off the bike and let my body catch up.
- I gave myself a clear plan and a real target again.
- I invested in a few pieces of gear that made riding more comfortable and more fun.
None of that was magic. It was just honest, practical problem-solving.
If you’re in a slump right now, you don’t need to beat yourself up or sell your bike. You just need to change some variables.
Cycling is supposed to be hard sometimes. But it’s also supposed to be fun. The road ahead isn’t going anywhere. When you’re ready, it’ll be waiting for you.
FAQs: Cycling Slumps and Motivation
How long does a typical cycling slump last?
There’s no fixed timeline. I’ve had slumps that lasted a week and others that tried to hang around for a month. The difference was how quickly I changed something: routes, goals, rest, or gear. If you keep doing the same thing and hoping your motivation magically returns, it can drag on for a long time.
Should I force myself to ride through a slump?
Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. If you’re just mentally flat but physically fine, a short, easy ride can help. If you’re exhausted, irritated, and dragging on every pedal stroke, you’re probably better off with two to four days off the bike to reset.
Is it normal for older cyclists to have more frequent slumps?
Yes. As we age, stress, recovery, health issues, and life responsibilities all pile up. But that doesn’t mean you’re done. It just means you need smarter training, better recovery, and a more honest approach to goal-setting.
Can new gear really help with motivation?
It shouldn’t be your only strategy, but yes—the right gear can absolutely help. A more comfortable saddle, better shorts, a visibility upgrade, or a smart scale that shows your progress can all nudge you back onto the bike when your brain wants to quit.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That helps support this site and my long-distance riding at no extra cost to you.
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