Whats causes you to lose passion?

[iWiLRiDe]

I had a friend tell me that she went to a bike shop to pick up some parts, and maybe look at some new bikes.

Her experience at the shop was so bad, that she is thinking twice about getting back into riding. From my understanding, the shop made my friend feel belittled (my friend has been riding for 10 years, just stopped for the last 2 years due to injury) and was told that she wouldn't be getting her money's worth unless if she bought one of the nicer bikes that was wayyyyyy out of her price range.

I'm just curious, what others have experienced to cause them to lose passion and what they have done to overcome it?

[LIFECYCLE]

I wouldnt say that was passion if thats all it took to stop her from cycling if you dont mind me saying.I tend to lose interest when life gets too much sometimes,when those bad things happen but at the same time getting out on your bike when maybe you dont really feel like it can do you the world of good.Passion is just that,its not just an interest or hobby.

[53119]

Originally Posted by LIFECYCLE

I wouldnt say that was passion if thats all it took to stop her from cycling if you dont mind me saying.I tend to lose interest when life gets too much sometimes,when those bad things happen but at the same time getting out on your bike when maybe you dont really feel like it can do you the world of good.Passion is just that,its not just an interest or hobby.

+1 agreed. don't let a little bitter beer face stop you from drinking beer.

[iWiLRiDe]

My friend totally has quite a bit of passion for riding; in fact she's the person that got me into riding initially. She WANTS to ride, but a car injury has really limited the amount of time she can spend on a bike. This experience, on top of her injury, has made her think twice about spending money on something she is passionate about. My apologies if I made her seem like a person who's giving up on riding due to one persons(shop) action.

Also my goal was to find out what makes people lose passion (as we all know we can fall in love with mountain biking as fast as we fall out) . For some it's a job that takes them away from their bike, others it could be a bad experience with other riders or user groups.

I was just hoping to hear some awesome stories so that I can find/rekindle my passion as well.

Thanks in advance everyone, cheers!

[Frenzy808]

A bunch of us all lost our passion when some of us ended up with Girl Friends, Married, children. Our spouses tried riding MTB and Road but didn't like it. I only started getting back in it after, 4 years off. And yes, the newer bikes have bling better technology for the sport which is good. What brought back the passion was the fact that I got to buy newer parts for my old faithful bike, which brought out the youth again. The adventure of riding through the forest (feels like the movie "The Last of the Mohican", where you just one with nature. What a feeling! What is sad is not ridding with my posse and more.

[sxotty]

Lose: Break bones
Overcome: Heal bones

[coryell]

winter definately puts a hamper on things for me. I still feel passionate about cycling but sometimes require alote more motivation to get out and ride or hit the rollers during this time of year. during the winter i like to watch alote of cycling videos, read about cycling, and try to remind myself that i'm working towards my goals. so i don't know if passion is really lost so much as being temporarily suppressed. i really don't like winter...

[ozz]

I've had a few angry moments where I got p*ssed off about something MTB related and in a fit of frustration I swore I'd never get on another bike. Then a few minutes later I'll be thinking about where my next ride will be.

But after giving up cycling for four years due to an injury (and not knowing if I'd ever recover enough to ride again) I know now that I won't ever quit riding. How's that bumper sticker go - they can have my MTB when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

[justanotherbikegeek]

Ditto on winter. Nothing puts a damper on the will to ride like the freezing cold and grey.

[sportsaddict99]

Getting my stuff stolen craps on my passion. No job, no income, no replacement, no bueno.

[Shark]

Cold weather slows me down....

But the first ride of the new season always brings a smile, no matter how cold & out of shape I'm in.

[iWiLRiDe]

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone. It's getting cold up here and the days are getting shorter. I have a nightlight but it's just not my cup of tea. A lot of friends are getting out of the sport and I don't like riding by myself. Looks like I'm going to have to try to find more riding buddies and in more areas. It sounds like I gotta do some leg work if I'm going to make this work.

[BetterRide]

I find that I lose passion for a sport when it no longer challenges me and/or I stop progressing. When I moved to Steamboat Springs to coach the Winter Sports Club Snowboard team my passion for coaching grew but my passion for snowboarding started to fade. Steamboat gets great snow but lacks a lot of steep challenging terrain (it has some but to get there requires a time commitment that I just didn't have while coaching) so I wasn't challenged like I was in other ski towns that I lived in.

When an athlete I coach quits their sport I always ask why and that is one of the most common answers. Often as your near the top of a sport the learning curve gets really steep and it takes a lot of good coaching and hours of structured, focused practice to achieve a small gain. At this point many people (including me) seek a new challenge.

[ADDam]

Not riding.

If I don't ride for a few weeks, I just don't feel motivated to get back out. If I ride every few days, I'm stoked to get back out.

[otis24]

I'm like ADDam. If I'm consistant I'm good to go. If I skip more than a week I really have to work at getting back on the bike for that first ride.

[desertking]

For me it was my Mom having a stroke and me having to care for her 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. And when I was starting to get back into riding, a guy in a cadillac smashes my custom LITESPEED (fortunately for my body I was transporting it at the time). I went out and bought a Redline Flite and have been trying to get back to riding more then once a month, it's been hard but "I'll be back"!!!

[joshman108]

riding the same trails over and over because im too lazy to drive to the ones farther out

[T_E]

When I gain weight....

[tedsalt]

Had a $1k Trek 8000 rigid mtb that I loved. Rode the snot out of it. Had a $3k Ibis Mojo built and gave my Trek to my brother. Didn't like the geometry of the Ibis.

Years later, the Mojo is long gone, and I have my old Trek 8000 back. Starting to get back into it again ...

[jollybeggar]

Funny thing is I was just thinking about giving up riding this morning while out riding. I guess with winter coming on, the onset of S.A.D and feeling really wimpy this morning I felt passionless. I have a physically tough job and there are days when I just don't have the energy to turn the pedals. So when I find the time to ride but don't have the energy sometimes I just want to quit. But I know this feeling will pass, Sunday I'll get out and ride, it'll all be good.

[azoutside]

Originally Posted by iWiLRiDe

...Her experience at the shop was so bad, that she is thinking twice about getting back into riding. From my understanding, the shop made my friend feel belittled (my friend has been riding for 10 years, just stopped for the last 2 years due to injury) and was told that she wouldn't be getting her money's worth unless if she bought one of the nicer bikes that was wayyyyyy out of her price range...

Definitely don't let one shop's/person's negativity ruin your passion. It doesn't matter if you ride a rusted clunker or a ti dream machine, if you're racer-fit or couch-potato soft, tell your friend to get out there and put a smile on her face! I was out for 8 years, got busy, lazy, interested in other things. 2 years ago I remembered what I was missing and started riding again. I'm older and slower now, but still psyched every time I get on the bike.

[Vlad]

Been riding trails since 1989 or so, and BMX for longer. Just do what you like. Get out there when you feel like it, and give the bike a rest when you aren't feeling it. Cultivating other interests and hobbies is healthy, too. I'm very busy between work and school but still manage to get some sort of ride in at least a couple times a week.

[BetterRide]

I tell you what (in a redneck voice)! Breaking my foot and forcing a 6-8 week break from riding is really rekindling my passion. I need exercise, fresh air and singletrack! While I don't recommend getting hurt. Take a few weeks/months off and I will bet the passion returns quickly. If it doesn't no big deal, take up climbing, kiteboarding or kayaking. Those are the three sports that have taken the most out of my riding friends.

[roc865]

the only thing that causes me to lose passion or interest is the lack of access to trails and driving a ton of miles fighting traffic to get to an average trail.

[insanitylevel9]

i agree with aDDam. but about the way the shop acted, i would never go back there. i would find a new shop to go to and or just order online, hate when shops say your bike is not good enough. i get the fact that they got to make money and times are hard but they got to back off a little.

[zarr]

High Prices. Boooo .

[kapaso]

The Doc gave me some Viagra and it hasn't been a problem since.

[rafdog]

Nagging back injury....suckin the joy right outta me. If fact, I'll trade it for listening to 5 mins (or more) or useless b.s. from a jackleg or even someone pointing at my bike and laughing.

[hungryhead]

injuries

[BigSharks]

If you have a bad experience at a LBS (or any business), fill out a Better Business Bureau report online. It'll take 20 min, and within a few days you'll be contacted by the offending party hoping and praying for the chance to make it up to you.

[insanitylevel9]

Originally Posted by BigSharks

If you have a bad experience at a LBS (or any business), fill out a Better Business Bureau report online. It'll take 20 min, and within a few days you'll be contacted by the offending party hoping and praying for the chance to make it up to you.

that's awesome i never knew that

[chuckie33]

Originally Posted by otis24

I'm like ADDam. If I'm consistant I'm good to go. If I skip more than a week I really have to work at getting back on the bike for that first ride.

Same here. Weather has been incredibly bad spare a few days for the last two months raining almost every day. Not riding for so long, I had a tough time getting back out there. Rode for the first time in at least two months today and got the passion right back.

[freerider619]

My riding partner moved away, so I pretty much rode by myself for a while, but eventually it got boring. That was years ago, Now I have different riding friends. XC friends, AM friends, and the DH friends. So depending on what I feel like riding, I get my choice.

[Zillon]

Broken parts in the fall.

Last year I broke a spoke every week of October until one ride wiped out 3-4 spokes in one shot, that ride ruined the rear wheel.

This year I blew out the TST cartridge on the Marz Marathon SL on my Trek - I promptly decided then and there I was building a new 29er. Put the Trek back to stock, sold it last week and put a Reba 29er SL on order for the Niner EMD frame I bought as well.

What gives me passion? Riding a singlespeed. It's biking zen.

[jmeldrum26]

this thread kills the passion for me

[bigpedaler]

I lost passion one time...2005, when I was heavily commuting, trying to break some threshold of fitness; I was too focused on the numbers, and not enough on the ride. I was ready to quit riding...then I broke my R wrist in a little crack-up with a car. Four weeks off the bike, 2 days of that time on a miserable stationary trainer, and I told myself to get back into the 'Zen' aspect of it, just enjoy the experience.

I haven't looked back

[lidarman]

"I have this this friend who had a story...."

That would make me lose passion also. When my friend has stories to tell...and not me.

Sounds like the beginning of a therapist session...

[Rev Bubba]

Cold is the big damper. Yeah, I can dress for it but I just don't want to. The muscles never seem to loosen up when the temperature drops. I would much rather ride in 90 degrees and humidity than 30 degrees and dry.

In winter I ski.

I was going to say overly technical equipment but really, I like reading about all the new stuff and have more bikes then I need so I can't say that kills the passion.

Having my wife get mad at me because I ride too much kind of kills the passion too but I just let her quite her job and stay home so I don't think that will be an issue in the future.

I just have to get through winter. Actually, I just have to get back on skis. That is a whole other passion.

[Toff]

For me its cold weather.

I have much better cold weather gear this year but I still dislike it intensely.

[razin cane]

cold weather is a damper, 4 sure, but if u got the proper gear, polar paw gloves, good warm shoes, etc, u can deal with it. in the winter, i tend to ride the flat gravel paths. i know, B-O-R-I-N-G!! but i like riding year round, and yes, i 2 love the 90 degrees weather, too, wish it was here year round!!

[nachomc]

I refuse to road ride in the cold. Never lose the passion for mtb.

[Garthhog]

Injuries, and my wife telling me I am spending too much time riding when I've only been out an average of 3 times per week. Makes me want to buy a case of beer, then sit on the couch and drink all of it to demonstrate what the alternative is...

[njbiker66]

Some times its my best friend. He just *****s and moans the hole ride my legs hert and I can't breath. He is a little guy just about 150lbs. He has the great bikes so its not like he is on a huffy. The worst part is that he always has a time limit on when he has to be home. his wife drives me nuts.

[William_Cannon]

El Nino (constant fall rain)
End of Daylight Savings Time (no $ for a light setup)

[Dion]

Cars ruined my road cycling passion. Road riding is fun, but I HATE riding among cars, and the roads are not really suited for both. I was getting buzzed a lot, people yelling stuff at me (for no reason, and I mean that) and plus I got t-boned by a guy doing a last-minute turn-in to a parking lot.

At least I have MTB to fall back on, but I feel for those who don't have trails nearby. MTB keeps me far away from cars - which I like.

Flatland BMX requires MAJOR patience. It may take 2-3 years before you can actually pull a trick that you've been working on and that can be frustrating. I don't flatland as much as I used to because I just can't slate out 4-5 hours a day to ride in a parking lot.

[nathan bay]

Relationships, cigarettes, burnout, depression, hunting season.

[LHdave]

Originally Posted by BigSharks

If you have a bad experience at a LBS (or any business), fill out a Better Business Bureau report online. It'll take 20 min, and within a few days you'll be contacted by the offending party hoping and praying for the chance to make it up to you.

What??!! for making someone have a bad day This is what is wrong with people these days...lets some stuff roll off your back for goodness sakes. She didn't get ripped off or anything, just got offended which is apparently enough to change her direction in life....I might quit driving today 'cause someone honked at me

[rancidmeat1]

Injuries. They don't stop the passion but they make it impossible to pursue it. I dislocated my knee and was out for 2 months. I found myself fantasizing about not just ridding, but running or walking without a limp. It gave me incredible motivation once it healed tho.

[006_007]

Snow arrives in the mountains and it is time to ski. I guess my skiing passion overruns my biking passion.

The other thing I have been noticing is the cooler technology I have on my bikes, the less interested I am overall with the industry as there is nothing that I really want to ride/spend money on.

I dont find injuries kill my riding passion - just make it so I cant for a bit.......

[LMN]

People jamming on ride.

Nothing makes me lose my enthusiasm for a ride like plans falling through.

[insanitylevel9]

Originally Posted by LMN

People jamming on ride.

Nothing makes me lose my enthusiasm for a ride like plans falling through.

i hate that you get all excited and then o sorry man i got a track meet maybe next weekend or to much school stuff. then i just go alone and listen to music and just go slow and take my time and enjoy the sights. which is not the worst i just glad to be on a bike.

[lacticacidbath]

lots of stuff here that i didn't read, but I never really have had any time staying motivated. then again I'm like a 31 year old ADD puppy, so that might have something to do with it. some things to think about:
1. as I got older, and had kids and "real" jobs I still have time to ride, but on a pretty tight and sporadic schedule. Lucky to live in a place with great riding right out of town. I'd pretty much give up on the "I don't like to ride alone" idea. I ride solo 9/10 rides. It's like "oh sh!t, I have two hours to kill, i'm gonna ride!" If you're always relying on other people to keep you motivated you will end up disappointed, slow and fat.

2. Night riding absolutely rules. even solo. its skeeery, but make lots of noise and you should be fine. ride trails you're familiar with and I even aim for trails with good cell phone reception in case I get all wrapped up in a tree. wife or friend always knows what trails i'm riding and what time I should be back. Mountain Lions are terrifying, that's for sure.

3. Your friend got bummed out by a dude at a shop? tell her to go to a shop where they value her business. Or sorta sounds like she wants a way out of riding. alot of older people i know are taking up golf. check it out. lets face it, no one goes mountain biking because it's easy. anything that always leaves you bloody, sweaty and exhausted just plain isn't for everyone.

[nagatahawk]

Originally Posted by BigSharks

If you have a bad experience at a LBS (or any business), fill out a Better Business Bureau report online. It'll take 20 min, and within a few days you'll be contacted by the offending party hoping and praying for the chance to make it up to you.

My local BMW dealer jacked me for $110 to replace a head light bulb. I can do it in 2 minutes flat! I reported their asses to the Better Business Bureau. it took 9 month but I got a full refund from the dealer. I drive a Toyota now!! f bmers!

[nagatahawk]

Compression fracture to neck and back, concussion, helo ride to the ER, ICU, then neck brace for 12 weeks. At this time I was thinking about giving this up for photography. I even bought a new camera!
muscles had totally degenerated from the hospital stay. started walking to try to stop the muscle degeneration. Cast off then rode around the block. then two blocks etc. started to get reinspired, totally updated my bike, forks, wheels, rotors, cranckset, derailuer, seat, pedals. Crashed again and sprained my ribs out again for 2 months. took an advance mt. biking course, and a jumping clinic. sprained my ankle. Test rode a Turner 5 spot with the bad ankle. Wow! nice bike! will ride this week end on my road bike to test the ankle.

It took a couple of bike purchases, but I now have two favorite bike shops that I go to. there are several others that are out of my area that I like too.

[LWright]

Chronic Depression, along with Type One Diabetes and Sleep Apnea.
Just plain kills any passion, have to work hard to overcome it.
Biking is better than drugs if I can just do it.
Always a downer to keep hearing the same old "bikes do not belong on singletrack" crap.

[Mr Pink57]

I broke my wrist pretty bad (plate and 7 screws) and that put my out for about 5 weeks. I sat around doing nothing during this time, but then I bought a road bike SS which they said I could ride, this helped keep my passion.

And on LBS' they are a crapshoot, most of the people who work there are just looking at getting their next paycheck; some with commission as she could see. All I get from them these days is small things like fenders, gloves, hats, and socks. If there is a sale I'll pick up something bigger.

pink

[ThePinkBarron]

Originally Posted by nagatahawk

My local BMW dealer jacked me for $110 to replace a head light bulb. I can do it in 2 minutes flat! I reported their asses to the Better Business Bureau. it took 9 month but I got a full refund from the dealer. I drive a Toyota now!! f bmers!

So now you pay $150 for floormats? Apples and Oranges my friend.

I dont lose passion, if I did I would likely die, I have to stay in shape and be healthy or it would land me in the hospital. Riding is my way out of all of those things, not only physically in the sense that it keeps me out of it. But mentally in the sense that it is my release from all of the stress and BS that I put up with daily with drs and hospitals, etc. Having CF doesnt slow me down any,

[Patsaysjack]

The waiting is the hardest part.

[DiRt DeViL]

injuries, work, significant other, kids, lack of bike funds

[razin cane]

ah, yea, the lbs.......they r ok, in my sxperience, but a whole lot nicer when u buy the bike from there. they put my mail order outcast 2 gether to me, last xmas, then i bought some upgrades, like stem, bars, seatpost, grips, etc. it was all good, they were pretty nice. but, soon as the nice weather came back, and they were selling bikes, when i came in a few times, for flats, small parts 4 the bike, all of a sudden, they looked at me like i was a plate of 2 day old left overs!!! wait till it gets cold, and im the only customer they have in a weeks time, since i ride all year, they will be eating outta my hands again.

[roc865]

today it barely reached 53 degrees. i hate cold and anything under 60 degrees without sun and my ass is indoors reading or playing bass.

[clarkenstein]

i don't mind the cold at all - in fact the winter is one of my favorite times to ride. i lose passion when i get frustrated with time - and not having any of it. a child, switching jobs, having a busy career, and loss of light during the winter generally puts everything under a pile of suck.

also, when i am exhausted from work/family, its sometimes tough to go out and really abuse myself. sometimes i just need some sleep. also, because of my schedule, i ride alone 99% of the time. just went to a DS race alone on halloween - met some good folks and had a great time tho.

to get over it, i'll pick something - like an event/bike festival/trail maintenace to schedule something. that helps give something to look forward to. i'll also schedule a day out at a freeride park or something so i change up my riding a little. doing some DH/FR, without even going big, will get all cylinders firing again.

[XCFred]

Mechanical issues. Last night on my ride my front brake was dragging and screeching horribly, and somehow my rear derailleur cable had gotten corroded and was causing horrible shifting and tons of ghost shifts. And my grips started sliding all around. And my cleats are worn out.

It seems like this sport is a never-ending drain on my wallet. There is always something worn out or something that needs to be fixed. Kinda kills the fun sometimes...

[jason3559]

1. Loosing fitness and balance because of life/work
2. Trouble finding like minded riding buddies or consistent riders
3. Cost of parts/bikes
4. Humidity
5. 4+ consecutive rides breaking parts

[conbon]

My riding buddy went off to college, so now I have to ride alone. I just bought a new bike, its been sunny, dry, and about 60 degrees the last couple days, and I haven't had school....I should be out there riding my ass off in these perfect conditions, but in the last 2 days I've done a 2 mile loop and just given up. I lack motivation when I ride alone. Tomorrow I'm going back to my local trail and I'm gonna do the whole big loop this time....I hope.

[The Diesel]

When my friends all go race the TMBRA circuit every weekend and i cant go drink beer and ride with them because i have to work every weekend.

Also, when i stopped feeling like im progressing. Last year i dropped weight, then gained it over the winter, this year iv gotten alot stronger but cant seem to drop the weight. kills my mood to ride.

[bluecruz]

itb,piriformis,knee cap irration,
fixing up house,
not having great health insurance temporarly

getting them all fixed.i miss riding the tech trails of the n.east

[nolejer]

It pretty much sums up what i feel as well, i get too lazy to go out in the cold. Well maybe not lazy but just shivering knowing "i have to" when i don't have to do nothing at all.

[ExpertCrasher]

For me the cold weather actually helps keep it alive. When spring rolls around and the local trails open up after the thaw, I get a fresh reminder of why I love bikes so much.

I experience diminished passion in the wake of reading/hearing stupid arguments over wheel size, gearing, pedals, brand affiliation, suspension design, etc.

[mrclortho]

Originally Posted by BigSharks

If you have a bad experience at a LBS (or any business), fill out a Better Business Bureau report online. It'll take 20 min, and within a few days you'll be contacted by the offending party hoping and praying for the chance to make it up to you.

Unless it is Bike Barn in Houston (Katy) Texas. They could give a rat's ass about anyone unless you have greenbacks in your pockets and a lot of them. I tried the whole reporting and even contacting the GM of the store. They refused to acknowledge my existence after botching up a fork install. It was my first upgrade and really did put a damper on my 'passion' until I found another LBS that is really great.

[mrclortho]

Luck, pure and simple.

I bust my arse on the local and somewhat boring trails so that I can be in shape for the big weekend rides. The last two weekend rides for me ended up with me getting so darn sick after we arrived that I sat in a lawn chair for two days and the other ride rewarded me with a broken elbow in the first two miles. This after months of training.

[komekomegaijin]

Bike maintenance makes me lose a small percentage of passion...

When I know my bike needs some work but I have to wait for good weather to clean the bike on the footpath as my apartment is too small to work on it inside. I want to ride in all seasons and all weather but if it's wet I can't ride cause I can't bring the wet bike back in the apartment and then the next day I have to clean it, but again, can't. So, it's only fair weather riding for me

[zarr]

Originally Posted by komekomegaijin

Bike maintenance makes me lose a small percentage of passion...

When I know my bike needs some work but I have to wait for good weather to clean the bike on the footpath as my apartment is too small to work on it inside. I want to ride in all seasons and all weather but if it's wet I can't ride cause I can't bring the wet bike back in the apartment and then the next day I have to clean it, but again, can't. So, it's only fair weather riding for me

Remember: Your bike is more important than anything else. Tell your apartment to make room...or get out.

[komekomegaijin]

You know, zarr, you're probably right...

But it doesn't stop me riding altogether - I do the best I can....

[mnm]

heh, well basically having two bikes stolen with in a years time, after my first bike was stolen, i was really into it and it was basically impossible for me to stop riding so i still had good hopes and went out and got another one with in a weeks time, a trek hard tail, rode it for a while, then upgraded fork and some components, sadly it was stolen with in a weeks time after the upgrade. That completely obliterated the MTB hobby on me, i hated the fact that my bike was stolen and had no other hopes of getting back at all, i felt like crap and financially could not afford to get another bike after spending a crap load on the trek hard tail, now after three years i am getting back into it as i just missed it too much and this time i WILL get the chance to keep my bike for a LONG time

[Nithius]

lets face it, no one goes mountain biking because it's easy. anything that always leaves you bloody, sweaty and exhausted just plain isn't for everyone.

[zarr]

Originally Posted by komekomegaijin

You know, zarr, you're probably right...

But it doesn't stop me riding altogether - I do the best I can....

Yeah... ...I guess you gotta show your apartment a little love too.

[Dion]

I know a lot of you guys are saying "cold" but I can't stand extreme heat, conversely. I live in a valley in California (San Jose, Ca.), and the summer temps can get up to 115. It's dry, baking heat and I just can't ride in that stuff. At least with cold you can bundle-up. I pretty much got the base-layer thing down with hot weather (using two layers to wick sweat away from the body onto the second layer), but finding a strange cancer mole on my face after riding in the summer is not on my agenda.

I started to ride at dusk when the heat wasn't so bad, but that's usually the time I have to work, so I didn't ride much in the super hot weather this summer. Sometimes I'd escape to my hometown of Santa Cruz, where it's not so hot and the trails are awesome.