Losing your mojo

Stopped riding fixed for three months while I waited for my fort to arrive from London to Perth. Was racing around on a roadie for two of those months. Fort arrives, such excite etc.

Bomb it down the work commute route, 38.9kph/24mph/122rpm (according to GPS) after a sloping hill and I stop my legs to "freewheel" through an intersection...forgot I was riding fixed. All the drivers around me must have been trying to figure out how I managed to front flip while the bike was in motion. Elbow, knee, upper back and thigh scraped up, lycra, helmet and handlebar tape a write off.

Good thing the 4WD hung back a bit behind me otherwise I would've been flattened. Can't say I have the best confidence on fixed anymore, just a tad shaken after that.

Hope you're ok.

I've had that happen to me before after riding a freewheel exclusively for a while and it's a horrible feeling. That's without being flipped off the bike!

Heal up and the confidence will return, slowly, but surely.

Sounds painful.

I did the trying to freewheel front flip first time I rode fixed and it put me off for ages but it was worth persevering. Now only do it if I try to do something else while riding like reach for a water bottle or zip up my jacket etc.

@TTM @M_V Cheers guys, slowly getting back into it, did a few km's to see if the deep scrape can hold up to repetitive motion. Took it real slow and got used to the motion of skids and slowing. I'll have to figure out a quieter commute as some of the roads I use here in Perth are pretty tight and don't leave much room for error - comfortable enough on a roadie but not on a track bike.

Healing up fast, and at least rock climbing isn't too affected by the scrapes. Bike seems ok, although got a clicking from my (Phil!) hubs...looks like one of the bearings has been knocked slightly and the inside sleeve is a bit loose. Still works though, and no frame cracks!

Now to spend my healing time procrastinating on the "stylish cycling kit" thread for replacement kit.

It can help to ride different bikes. Despite getting a bit of shit for riding my Batavus (its a departure from my uberTi gear) it's helped keep my interest in cycling. One coaster brake is all it has and I love it. I wonder if I'll come to shift some of the ti stuff...
#confuzzled

^what the fuck^

^^double-raks cruising aaallll day boyyyz!

#threadkiller

It's true although you don't have to jump the shark and get a cargo bike. After riding around fixed for a while I forget how fun my road bike is so switch over, then a while later will swap back to riding fixed and again will have forgotten how much fun it is.

Apart from at the moment where I'm riding around my winter bike everywhere because mudguards.

If anyone finds my mojo, please return it.

I think I left mine in the maternity ward of kings college hospital, three and a half years ago.

@mashton, don't say that bro!

Hm, I wonder if there's a suitable adjective for 'having lost one's mojo'--perhaps something like 'immojonic'? :)

or #iboughtabatavus

Since having kids, I'm more motivated than ever before, I think. I relish every single opportunity I get to ride my bike.

@mashton was always a fairweather cyclist before parenthood.

Parenthood has stopped me doing as much as I'd like (e.g. I changed my working hours for childcare reasons and now don't have a commute or time during the week to go out riding instead). Not doing regular commutes 4 or 5 days a week has had some negative effect on my motivation too as I'm sure my cycling fitness has dropped and so weekend rides just feel harder.

The biggest dent to my mojo was Paris-Brest-Paris 2011. I've probably done less riding in the 3 and bit years since August 2011 than I did just in Jan-August 2011.

To be honest it's not the parenting it's the lack of the commute.

Stay at home dadding means I don't get my hundred miles a week from commuting and going into town and what have you. This means I don't enjoy riding routes that I used to since my legs can't do them.

So the only riding I get is if I force myself out, usually alone in the dark. Meh.

Oooof.

I'm also a lazy cunt.

School soon though. Turbo.rollers.
Then
Smash dem all.
Right?

It's a plan.

Albeit a plan that involves rollers.

I second the ride different bikes to stay fun routine.

Festus' Batavus looks brilliant.

I really want a cargo number.

Mine is not as built up as that. Just the one rack on the back so I can cycle with an 80 record box to and from gigs. Unladen it's nippy and comfy. I don't think my back could face heavy loads on a track bike. fuq dat.