UTMC

So this weekend was beautiful and perfect for hopping on the bike and going for a ride - the strangest thing happened - I didn't feel like it. *gasp* I even had a moment where I thought that maybe I should just sell my bike.

Over the last year or so my desire to ride has gone from wanting to ride daily to not caring if I hop on my bike at all. I'm thinking that it might have to do with an overwhelming amount of stress that I've had over the last year in pretty much all aspects of my life. Has this ever happened to anyone?

What did you do to get back into the groove?

Amanda

sweetpea wrote:Has this ever happened to anyone?

Yes.

I've ridden twice in the last 19 months.

I wrecked last year and got pretty banged up. Shook me up pretty good. So, I thought I'd take a break. I want to get back on, but I need to fix the bike first, or get another. When the time's right, I'll be back in the twisties.


This too shall pass.

Yes, absolutly. It's a fucked up cycle, riding helps stress, but when the stress gets to a certain point I can't focus well enough to ride well or enjoy it. Two of my wrecks have come forcing myself to get out the despite the lack of focus. Sherrie tells me to g have fun but sometimes even a casual ride can't clear the head from all the pending clutter of doom. Hang in there, don't sell the bike. The rift time will come.

Yes, that's called "depression." It happens when you're stressed the fuck out. You can be depressed wthout realizing it. It's OK, it happens to all of us.

I recommend getting a big, multiple-second hug or five, then going for a long-ass ride someplace you like to ride/have wanted to ride. Have a twinkie. When you're stressed out, you've got to make some time to take care of yourself. And after 60 or 70 consecutive miles, you WILL start to feel better about things.

I've thought about selling my bikes, all my music gear, giving up writing, etc. etc. when depressed. What has worked for me is FORCING myself to do things I know I enjoy. It's hard, but eventually you get into the groove and start feeling better.

And, if none of that works, remember that sometimes you just have to say "fuck it" and eat a bunch of candy.

That's funny... I was typing a reply, previewed it, saw Smashinator's post, deleted mine. He pretty much summed it all up right there:

smashinator wrote:Yes, that's called "depression." It happens when you're stressed the fuck out. You can be depressed wthout realizing it. It's OK, it happens to all of us.

There's a ton of truth there.

smashinator wrote:And, if none of that works, remember that sometimes you just have to say "fuck it" and eat a bunch of candy.

Occasionally though, you might have to say "fuck it" and eat some doctor prescribed candy.

Same with a lot of other forms of physical fitness, it stops being fun when you stop doing it. Getting back on the bike/bicycle/treadmill/rock gym/ice skates/clandestine kickboxing circuit can be more pain than joy when your body isn't used to it. Obviously you have to do it to do it, though, so I would be looking for reasons to ride in order to push past the question of why am I not riding.

there's a lot of truth there about the depression. i have dsythymia which is a form of depression where you basically operate just below the radar from where 'normal' people operate. days like this i think about calling my mother up and thanking her for the shitty genes lucky for her she's out of the country right now.

i guess that i didn't really think about being depressed on top of the dsythymia - i mean that's why i have to take "candy" every day, right? lol

and you're right - i should just suck it up and get my butt on the bike and ride. maybe that will bring back the enjoyment.

++smashinator.

Whatever the underlying cause of your lack of motivation, do not let it become a monster under your bed. Don't make it more than it is by focusing on it and having anxiety. Life isn't consistent and linear, it is only natural to have these kinds of ups and downs.

I have had the same feelings a few times. Not in the first year or so of riding (Honeymoon stage) but after that, sometimes I would have an expectation of wanting to ride but just not feeling it. And the predictable reactions, guilt, self-doubt, their tiny claws are not only for you. These are the kind of feelings that feed on attention, put them out of your mind and be happy.

Similar situations can arise with sexuality. Imagine that, sex and motorcycles having something in common

I get that not so hot feeling every once in a while. Sometimes the answer (for me anyway) is not to force myself. Sometimes the answer is to let the bike collect a little bit of dust, but to do it while I am doing something else really fun.
Making sure I go do something fun is the key part. If I let the bike collect dust, and sit around in a stupor, then I am never reminded of what fun feels like. On the other hand, if I let the bike collect dust and say, go for a surf, or go snowboarding, or go for a DRIVE with someone on some really nice, beautiful, twisty roads, then I'm reminded of what fun feels like, and what other things I could be doing to have that fun, and I am always reminded of my motorcycle. Then I go ride it.
Going for beautiful drives on twisty roads works especially well sometimes. If you've got someone to go with, it's nice and pleasant and enjoyable, and you've got the stereo and road snacks, but the entire time you'll be saying to yourself "God this road would be fucking GREAT on my motorcycle!"

So yeah, I would give a nice long ride a shot, but if it REALLY doesn't fit, don't force it. Put the bike on the back burner and go do something else for a minute. Just don't make any snap decisions like selling it. Sometimes bike droughts last for a while, but if it ends and you've sold your bike, then you're gonna need extra candy.

What they said.

Hang in there, it gets better. I have to sometimes force myself to play guitar, like it's my duty.

i've been putting off ordering a new battery - and just did that this morning. so as soon as it gets here then i'll pop it in and take 'er for a spin.

gg - reminds me of my piano - haven't played it in a couple of years. i should probably give that a whirl as well.

thank you for the kind words and support

Sweetpea -- just let me/us know when you wanna go for a ride! We're just down the street!

--Jaeger

I haven't ridden my bike in a year (no, really).

I run the service department in a Ducati/Aprilia MV dealer and I haven't ridden any of the bikes we sell yet. Not one. Really. (not by choice though, because I have zero time)

So yeah, I know how you feel. Get the bike together and go for a ride, play your piano, get the cobwebs out, defeat the inertia. Showing up is half the battle here. I'm looking forward to taking out a SXV 550 or an RSV4 at some point this week, come hell or high water. The moto fun quotient in my life is seriously lacking at the moment, but not for long...

or just lunch... PM/AIM me.

Honestly, I've felt like that a lot this year too. It seems to be a case of different priorities, obligations, and yeah, depression.

Ride=good

i know what you mean. i'm going through a "dry spell" right now too. i haven't rode in months, bike's just collecting dust. i go out to the garage for something and see the bike sitting there- i just sigh then turn around and leave.

SidVicious wrote:i know what you mean. i'm going through a "dry spell" right now too. i haven't rode in months, bike's just collecting dust. i go out to the garage for something and see the bike sitting there- i just sigh then turn around and leave.

Same here. Makes me sad.

RexAddict wrote:Whatever the underlying cause of your lack of motivation, do not let it become a monster under your bed.

I know this monster... let me tell you about him if you don't know his M.O. already: He's a motherfucker. Once he gets under your bed, sometimes it's hard to get rid of him.

Soon he's no longer that scary thing waiting to grab your ankles when you get up to pee or throw a foot out from under the comforter because you've hot toes. No, he tries to be your friend, but he's no friend. He's out to ruin you.

Mr. MF Monster will leave the confines under the bed, with the dust bunnies and lost socks, and shrink in size in order to ride upon your shoulder, and climb up on you like a bed bug. But he's not there for transportation. He's there for persuasion. If you're lucky enough to have a do-gooder on your other shoulder that counters what MFM says, MFM will scoot behind your neck and kick do-gooder's ass to the ground. Lousy do-gooder... what does he know. Now it's just the two of you.

Then MFM will be quoting Garbage lyrics in your ear. The fucker will pull Jedi mind tricks on you, getting you to say:

You want to hear about my new obsession
I'm riding high on a deep depression
I'm only happy when it rains.

He'll remind you only of the bad times. Things that went wrong or are going wrong. Of monetary woes, of personal property problems, anything that will get you down more. He will get you to make things worse.

Lost interest is MFM's treasured goal. So go ahead: dismiss your passions, recreations, flights of fancy, etc. He'll win, and tell you that it's no loss to you. He can get you to the point of getting rid of your treasured possessions. He can get you to the point of being afraid to leave the house. Asshole monster, fuck you.

MFM will tell you that self medication in the way to go. So you pour money into brewers or distillers (or growers or home chemists). Temporary fix. Gives him a chance to nap. When you come out of it, the shit-head is right there, ready to give you more "advice".

Then you're listening to Mad Season and Alice in Chains songs (subject to your musical taste, of course) to search for that which breaks you down. Sometimes tears are necessary. MFM doesn't think so, of course, but he can't stop the "Wake Up" loop from playing in (my) headphones. Sometimes you may feel that a deep depression is a comfortable place to be. Neat experience and all. Drop right the fuck out of life itself and become unnoticed.

He can get you to the point of thinking of finality. We don't like to talk about that. Taboo. Bad. Unfortunate. Don't let him get that far. Don't let some figment of you imagination get you there.

Anywhere in this, you need help. Get help.

Originally I had started a post that I couldn't care less if I rode that lump of broken machinery in my garage again. And that it was sad, as riding a motorcycle was the only thing I personally had, for myself, only. Sure, family, house, whatever, but for me only, it was the bike. I don't have that now. MFM has talked me into having NOTHING. I can't even get myself to look at the fucking bike, or even venture out to the garage past the garbage cans. There's mold on the seat. I don't care. There's rust in the cylinder. I don't care. The gas in the tank is 16 months old. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care.

No one needs to know this other than the medical professionals that aren't returning my calls for help. Sorry 'bout the rant. By morning I'll revisit this post, do a calculation of 5 X 12oz X ABV = jibberish, and edit this post to nothing more than "Get Well".

Get on the bike. Ride. It's in your soul. Lackadaisical as a ride may get, it still stirs the soul. Keep the soul moving.

Sometimes taking a break from what you think you *should* be doing is a good thing.

Oft times depression is fed by the series of things you *should* be doing; what you should be, what you should feel, what you should care about ... so knock the *should* in the arse and do something different.

Cliche as it sounds: do something nice for someone, do something unfettered, do something silly. Hold the door open for an elderly person, smile at an infant, splash in a puddle.

These are not suggestions that will magically propel you out of depression, but they are things to do that will take you closer to seeing the other end of the spectrum.

And most of all: take a breath before you do anything. Take two. Take ten. Step away from the bottle, from the gun, from the bike. Breathe.

And then do it again -- breathe.

Deep breathing and sunshine (Vitamin D) are good for depression.

not doing it just because you should be doing it is just the proof that when you did it and will do it you will and did because you wanted to and enjoyed it.
so not feeling like doing it is just the sign that you want to do it the rest of the time, and don't do it just becasue that's what you're expected to be doing.
my head hurts.

sometimes it's worth not doing it jsut to feel like doing it again. been there done that, except that I never stopped doing it for practical reason but sometimes, I just hate riding the bike. it's just that I'd hate to drive the car for twice as long as I hate riding the bike

I'm feeling a little depressed. Sometimes just being aware of it helps.
Sometimes it doesn't.

I took 3-4 days off from riding due to being in a funk.

I'd gone out riding last week with Ghost while he was in town and, for no apparent reason, botched up every turn I made, made a ton of mistakes, and had an altogether frustrating ride.

After that, I used the purchase of TFB's new car as an excuse to whine and cry and avoid the rain for a few days, when in reality it's just stress that made me leave my boots off for a few.

After a few days, it went away. And I think the few days in the car made me want to ride even more, or if nothing else, appreciate the motorbike even more.

Do you have a wrench? A collection of detailing supplies? A personalization, modification, customization you've been envisioning?

I find wrenching on the bike almost as awesome as riding. As long as the wrenching is voluntary, not "damn, this stupid problem needs to be addressed again".

If you've got some cash, even surfing ebay and searchallcraigs.com to find some parts sometimes helps. Just saying "fuck it" and clicking the Buy It Now button has been known to stir my soul a bit. You get a bit of giddyness while thinking, "when this part shows up in the mail i'll be able to do that thing i've wanted to do for a while". Then you get a bit excited every time you go to the mailbox. This is particularly helpful during the winter months when riding isn't much of an option anyway...

Good Luck. 2009 has been a scary year around here and has had me questioning this silly hobby on several occasions. But moto culture has several outlets that aren't strictly riding the bike. Art is always an option as well. Draw a picture of your dream bike, write an article about riding/not riding, write a song about what you're feeling, design a T-shirt, whatever your talent may be...

We're here for ya. We Are The Good Guys.

problemaddict wrote:Just saying "fuck it" and clicking the Buy It Now button has been known to stir my soul a bit.

When the going gets tough, the tough go SHOPPING!


Good advice though. Kind of goes with GeekGrls suggestion of random acts of kindness, just to your loyal steed. No obligation, no strings, just moto-lurve.

I've been thinking about making a few mods on my bike - this might be a good time to take care of that. So I'll get to buy a couple of new things and focus on something constructive. Shopping - check. Work on my bike - check.

I'm feeling a bit better today actually - think I'm going to go ahead and schedule my next tattoo as well. Shopping - check. Work on me - check.

I really appreciate all of the advice and input from everyone.

Really - thank you so much!!!!

Tattoo therapy works well for me too. At this rate I'll be full sleeved in no time!

Like others have mentioned sometimes it is good to just take some time off. I haven't ridden any of my bikes in over two weeks, and I don't really mind at all. I average over 15k a year and don't feel I have anything to prove by pounding superslab going to work looking like an astronaut. After all I am making truck payments too so I might as well use that some. The weather has started to get shitty out here and I just don't have the motivation to gear up for a 15 minute commute, I am sure that will pass. In retrospect living in a snowbelt area does have the advantage that you area forced to take time off from riding, if you don't have that you can burn out. I have never really thought of cashing out, even with my KTM that I only get out a few times a year. Good luck with the funk, getting back into riding when you are ready will make all of this talk seem silly.

blah, blah, blah... didn't bother reading the above posts.....

You should sell the bike....AND GET A NEW BIKE!!!!!

depression HA I have craters and crevasses, sometimes it fixes itself usally I have to do something silly and then i look back an go WTF....


So....suck it up play with the dogues.....buy a new bike....worlds probs fixed... NEXT!!!

so were you nekkid when you wrote that?