Post Race Funk - Who has had it before?

[Grinderz]

Has been a while since I have posted on this site, basically as a result of loosing all motivation around bikes after my 12 hour race.

Basically entered in my first 12 hour race 2 weekends ago, and placed really well – top 20 our of almost 100 riders.

I am very happy with the result, and glad that I finally jumped up from my usual 6-8 hour races to enter in a 12 hour.

Problem is, not long after the race my body crashed pretty hard – first time it has ever happened to me! Ended up needing a couple of days off work to recover (rehydration and heap of rest), and now even though I am physically fine, I still cant stand to look at my bike.

2 weeks and the bike is still covered in race dust. It hasnt moved at all. I also feel like I have lost a lot of my drive to keep wanting to push myself (exercise in general) – let alone jump back on my bike and go for a ride. I haven’t even attempted a commute into work on the daily, which is terrible given how expensive parking is in the city.

Has anyone else been through this before? Is this something that will pass? Feel like I am some real bad funk, its terrible!

[jrogs]

I have had this happen with running. What I did was get back to doing it for fun. Forget about racing and just have a good time. Then my passion comes back.

[MendonCycleSmith]

Racing is for those who prefer suffering and pushing beyond their limits physically, and emotionally, to going out and having a damn good time either by themselves, or with friends.

I'm in the later group, don't plan on racing, ever, and haven't lost the love yet.....

Sorry for your funk, maybe pop some Parliment Funkadelic in your head, and let the real funk, beat your funk into submission!

[jeffw-13]

Same thing happens to me except it usually passes after a few days.

[A1an]

Get back on the bike for a fun ride with friends. It will come back.

[53119]

i think it's a pretty natural that it happens whether you race or just an avid rider. for me, it's actually paying attention when it does happen so i don't end up burnt out or crashing. i think time off is a good thing.

is it racing or riding in general that you're funked up over? you mentioned it was your first 12hr. & could be just that and you're just trying to recover from all the effort. my go-to is a hike on trails. actually taking in the woods and at the same time looking at possible lines always works for me and by the time i'm done (sometimes i'll alternate ride/hike days) i can't wait to go get my bike!

[baker]

Yes, I've had this happen quite a few times over the years. I've done other things to keep fit during these periods (like running, hiking, and climbing). I've always come back to riding, but sometimes it has taken months.

I've regained my motivation by just getting out for "fun" rides, doing some night riding, or going for a ride with friends (something I don't do too often)...

[TobyGadd]

Yeah, I think that it's normal to be pretty beat after a hard race. If you go hard and give it your best effort, the emotional and physical toll can be pretty heavy.

Just go ride for fun, and you'll feel better. Admire the scenery, smell the flowers, take it easy. Might be best to go by yourself, so that you don't risk pushing hard with a buddy. Just do what feels good, and your body and mind will recover.

But if you don't get back on your bike, your mind will keep focusing on hardships of the the race--and it'll take forever to recover. So get out there and cruise around for fun ASAP!

[JoePAz]

Sounds like you need a short "Chill Ride" There is a local I follow on Strava. He does not race, but does do some monster rides and is quite fast. Typically rides 3-4 days a week and 75-100 miles for a typical ride. Every so often he does a "Chill Ride" which is less distance or less pace or both. Just to ride, but not push it. So like others have said do the same thing. Do a ride for fun at slowish pace or explore some new trails just to see where they go.

[ja001son]

Has been a while since I have posted on this site, basically as a result of loosing all motivation around bikes after my 12 hour race.

Basically entered in my first 12 hour race 2 weekends ago, and placed really well – top 20 our of almost 100 riders.

I am very happy with the result, and glad that I finally jumped up from my usual 6-8 hour races to enter in a 12 hour.

Problem is, not long after the race my body crashed pretty hard – first time it has ever happened to me! Ended up needing a couple of days off work to recover (rehydration and heap of rest), and now even though I am physically fine, I still cant stand to look at my bike.

2 weeks and the bike is still covered in race dust. It hasnt moved at all. I also feel like I have lost a lot of my drive to keep wanting to push myself (exercise in general) – let alone jump back on my bike and go for a ride. I haven’t even attempted a commute into work on the daily, which is terrible given how expensive parking is in the city.

Has anyone else been through this before? Is this something that will pass? Feel like I am some real bad funk, its terrible!

Crap like this is what keeps me from competitive kayaking, people always ask me why I dont do the water safari. Because it would ruin the sport for me.

[kaydub]

Has been a while since I have posted on this site, basically as a result of loosing all motivation around bikes after my 12 hour race.

Basically entered in my first 12 hour race 2 weekends ago, and placed really well – top 20 our of almost 100 riders.

I am very happy with the result, and glad that I finally jumped up from my usual 6-8 hour races to enter in a 12 hour.

Problem is, not long after the race my body crashed pretty hard – first time it has ever happened to me! Ended up needing a couple of days off work to recover (rehydration and heap of rest), and now even though I am physically fine, I still cant stand to look at my bike.

2 weeks and the bike is still covered in race dust. It hasnt moved at all. I also feel like I have lost a lot of my drive to keep wanting to push myself (exercise in general) – let alone jump back on my bike and go for a ride. I haven’t even attempted a commute into work on the daily, which is terrible given how expensive parking is in the city.

Has anyone else been through this before? Is this something that will pass? Feel like I am some real bad funk, its terrible!

Your brain is associating your bike/riding with the pain that came from the 12 hour ride and it wants nothing to do with it at the moment! As others have suggested get out and create some positive associations with riding, and do it soon.

[breckenridge]

I used to feel the same when I'd race xc 10 years ago. Since I've gotten back into MTBing recently I haven't raced and so far have found it more enjoyable overall. I like to ride for fun and fitness, not to get stressed out about. That's what work is for

[monolith]

Yes, I've had this happen quite a few times over the years. I've done other things to keep fit during these periods (like running, hiking, and climbing). I've always come back to riding, but sometimes it has taken months.

I've regained my motivation by just getting out for "fun" rides, doing some night riding, or going for a ride with friends (something I don't do too often)...

Agreed 100%.

For me, I've raced at the elite level (nationally), and find after a season I simply lack any motivation to ride. This past winter I suffered from depression as well, which compounded things (although I'm not certain whether it was the cause or an effect of the lack of riding...)

I look at my riding motivation like a Camel's hump - throughout the racing season, the motivation is slowly bled dry, and I end up racing just because I'm committed. over winter (or any downtime) I like to think I'm slowly refilling the motivation hump.

Sometimes it takes days, other times months - I haven't been on a MTB properly since March, haven't owned a MTB since May, and I'm only just starting to get the urge to ride back. The best thing I've found is not to rush it - you'll feel when it's the right time to get back into things.

Whether that's more racing, or just social/fun riding is up to you.

[MOJO K]

Go out on a different bike...fixie or trials or something a little tangent to your usual trail riding habits.

[PinkGorillaCycles]

Get on your bike and go play. Don't think about distance, speed, heart rate, etc... Get a buddy and go ride around town and and find cool features.

[Jayem]

Racing is for those who prefer suffering and pushing beyond their limits physically, and emotionally, to going out and having a damn good time either by themselves, or with friends.

I'm in the later group, don't plan on racing, ever, and haven't lost the love yet.....

Sorry for your funk, maybe pop some Parliment Funkadelic in your head, and let the real funk, beat your funk into submission!

I think racing is fundamentally a social interaction, whether it's about socializing or proving superiority, it involves that element. Plenty of people push it on their own without racing, and plenty of people socialize without racing, but I'd say that racing is fundamentally social. If you are in riding just for "racing", you'll end up empty because you never capitalized on the social aspects and realized the "why". Remember how bikes were sold before "all mountain" and "trail", they were sold primarily based on cross country racing. The nicest and most expensive bikes were cross country bikes. Magazines and dealers all perpetuated the idea that if you wanted to be a "serious" mountain biker, you had to be a cross country racer and be training for a race. How many times have people asked you (especially people OUTSIDE of the sport), do you race? So many people have bought into this and it's what all the marketing pointed towards. It's still out there to some extent due this.

I think the main point is that physical fitness and enjoyment in the pursuit thereof, is not mutual with socializing. It's nice when they meet and you kill two birds with one stone, but sometimes you gotta sit back and be honest with yourself in your racing motivations.

[Blurr]

Has been a while since I have posted on this site, basically as a result of loosing all motivation around bikes after my 12 hour race.

Basically entered in my first 12 hour race 2 weekends ago, and placed really well – top 20 our of almost 100 riders.

I am very happy with the result, and glad that I finally jumped up from my usual 6-8 hour races to enter in a 12 hour.

Problem is, not long after the race my body crashed pretty hard – first time it has ever happened to me! Ended up needing a couple of days off work to recover (rehydration and heap of rest), and now even though I am physically fine, I still cant stand to look at my bike.

2 weeks and the bike is still covered in race dust. It hasnt moved at all. I also feel like I have lost a lot of my drive to keep wanting to push myself (exercise in general) – let alone jump back on my bike and go for a ride. I haven’t even attempted a commute into work on the daily, which is terrible given how expensive parking is in the city.

Has anyone else been through this before? Is this something that will pass? Feel like I am some real bad funk, its terrible!

Yea my first and only race, was way to hot, I got sunstroke and felt bazaar the next two days, and ended up with white noise in my ears which was very loud and lasted for months, I didnt even want to look at my bike for about a week.
About two weeks later I got back to it, and slowly worked my way back in, I forgot about ever wanting to race, why would I want to do something that can kill my passion again?
It was a good thing, I dont push myself as hard now, I am more aware of how my body is feeling and I have no problem calling it quits when I feel myself reaching my limit, passion engaged and having fun!!!

[Cormac]

I got into this sport for fun. I entered a TT just to check it out and realized racing isn't for me. It was fun, but I could see getting to the point where I'd train and train and train and push myself way to hard in races. With the only possible outcome being that I'd lose all interest in the sport. I don't want that to happen. I even was getting to that point just riding on my own. I'd push myself and kinda race myself. Well my times on the local trails anyway. Then one day I said to myself "why am I killing myself?" From that day on I've gotten back into it just for fun. I take breaks when I need em, never push to hard and have a hell of a good time in the process!

As others have said, take a day or 2 and do some rides just for fun either alone or with friends, whichever you prefer. You'll remember why you fell in love with riding in the first place!

[kubikeman]

Something similar happened to me about a month ago. I was on a ride and we pushed ourselves to go further than we ever have, about 30 miles. I was super happy when I got home and went about my usual post ride routine (shower, eat... etc.). By about 7 PM (got home from riding mid-afternoon), I crashed. I never felt like that before. I fell asleep and nothing could wake me. My fiance was actually a bit worried. The next day didn't get any better. I was sore, and lethargic. Lesson learned though. Looking back I should have eaten more food and taken in more liquids. It didn't deter me from riding again though. Grab a riding buddy and find some new trails to explore, that way it won't be a boring ride. Just relax, if you were that into riding two weeks ago, the passion will come back

[timk125]

Go ride your favorite trail and take it easy. Stop and look at the scenery. It'll come back.

[Grinderz]

Thanks for the advice guys. I managed to convince a non-riding friend to come out geocaching on the bikes last weekend. Was good to get back out again, and because we were too busy looking for geocaches/talking about the one we just found, I didnt really spend that much time thinking about the riding itself and just sat on whatever pace my friend set.

I still dont have 'the drive' to want to go out and smash down a heap of hours this coming weekend, but I am thinking I might start going for a casual ride in the late afternoons when it is much cooler and see where I end up.

It is getting close to the festive season, and there are no more local races on until next year. I guess there really is no need to keep pushing the intensity if I am still getting on the bike a couple of times per week, right?

Not too sure if I will start riding into work again for a while though. It is getting really hot really early on in the mornings (usually on the bike at 6am). It used to be dark when I would first jump on, and I would be at work showering just before 7am. Now it is already sun up at 6am, and I am working up a sweat only a few mins into my morning ride. This results to me feeling rather crappy for the first few hours at work, instead of awake and refreshed like I am used to. I think this is something that has contributed to my ride 'funk', as the hotter it is, the more of a chore it feels to push through the heat.

Since I dont plan on getting on the bike any earlier than 6 to ride on sun up (technically dont start work till 8am), I think late afternoon rides might be better. Sun doesnt go down until 7pm.

Will see how I go. Late arvo rides does mean I will be limited to the tracks I can access before dark.