I have been using my bicycle to go backward and forward to work going on three years now. I would have never thought I would go this long. It’s not because I can’t get a ride. My wife always tries to drive me in fear of me getting hit by a car. Well, I did get clipped twice this year by a car. It is scary but it is just in my spirit now to do it. I have come accustomed to riding in many situations. I will share what I do to stay focused while commuter bike riding.
The Wake-Up…
Sometimes you wake up saying I don’t feel like riding this thing this morning. I try to tell myself that it is no more than I did yesterday. And believe me, I probably said the same thing the morning before. But that is when I reach deep and say to myself I’m not sore or in pain so what the heck.
Then I start thinking about how guilty I will feel because I was just being lazy. Now I will admit 2 1/2 years ago it wasn’t that easy to just make myself ride like this. But after so long it just becomes part of your life and the body feels like a part of that bike.
The morning ride has become my way of energizing myself for the workday. In fact, after I get to work I do a 20- minute workout consisting of pushups, situps, and some core workouts every morning. You will find by doing this your body just gets stronger and it makes it much easier to jump on every morning.
Where I live is in Oklahoma where we have the craziest weather ever. This past year and this year it was really cold and then sometimes warm and even hot. That’s what I have to deal with because I ride even in the winter as long as it is no snow or ice.
I think I got stopped maybe 3 times this past winter. We have high winds that usually come from the North in the winters keeping it around 10 to 25 degrees. I usually can’t hang right around the 15-degree mark only because my hands can’t take it.
The only way I can focus during these times is to turn it into a battle between me and nature and I don’t like to lose. Sometimes the wind actually encourages me to ride so that I can see just how easy I can get through it. I usually end up beat down but that is how I focus on the idea to keep on pedaling.
Beating the Clock
This is another tactic I use to keep me focused on riding every day. I try to see if I knocked off some time on the route I ride or did it take me longer. This way it becomes something that you just get used to doing and it has a way of getting you on the bike again to see where you stand.
Are you crazy…
This the reaction I get from some people when it is 15 degrees and the wind is blowing 10 to mph but I am still riding. But really I am just a competitor and have been all my life from my basketball days. It just makes you feel good to be 57 years old like I am and can still ride my heart out and don’t let anything but harsh nature stop me.
I have developed a breathing rhythm that that seems to make my ride less tiresome. I breathe in through my mouth then take about two strokes and exhale out of my mouth. This seems to give me more power & stamina for some reason. This to also helps me focus on my ride because before I know it I’m where I’m going.
But the truth of the matter is, to stay focused on anything we do we must have a desire to do it. This is why I always say if you are going to ride a bike find out how it makes you feel good or why you want to do it. There are plenty of things that can supply this feeling.
It could be you like where you ride, who you ride with, what it makes you feel like after you ride, how you physically look being in shape, the functions you plan and how you plan them on the bikes, trying different things like tandem bike riding and the list goes on and on. These are the things that will keep you focused on riding.
And when you do find that desire, you won’t have any problem mounting that bike each and every time. Once you start you won’t have a problem to Keep On Pedaling!
Thank you for taking the time out to read my adventure of how I stay focused riding. I hope that someone will get encouraged and will find that cycling will not only provide you pleasure but will be good for your health at the same time.
Please feel free to leave any comments or questions in the comment section.
Awesome article.
The commute in the U K where I am can be quite cold this time of year on the bike.
Tell me about it. I live in Oklahoma where I have been dealing with 10 & 15-degree weather with a North wind. But that is why you must have a passion for riding your bike. That is how you overcome that dilemma along with wearing the proper gear. I wrote a post on staying warm previously and here is the link to it. https://cyclingforfunwithron.com/staying-warm-on-a-bike-ride Thanks for visiting and give the cold a run for its money from time to time.
Great information and ideas for those of you who are crazy enough, or dedicated enough, to ride in the freezing cold! I like summer rides and autumn is nice, but no matter how hard I try I can’t bring myself to brave the cold and the wind (Pennsylvania). All the best to you ….especially in the winter 🙂
LOL. Thank you, Maria. I am one of the rare breeds when it comes to that. But at least you are getting out there and having fun with it. But if you ever want to get out and try the cold ride take a look at this article on how to stay warm while riding and it might help you out. Happy pedaling this year and thanks for visiting.
Hello there,
I an an avid cycler and I don’t have problems when it comes to riding my bike.
Last year I’ve purchased a very nice Cross bicycle and I am addicted to it.
Thanks for those great tips, I will share it with my lazy friends 🙂
LOL. Keep on pedaling my friend. Thank you for stopping in.