Wanted: Mojo

[Ian]

I seem to have lost mine. It's been missing for a good couple of months now.
Looked everywhere, but can't find it :(

[Bearbonesnorm]

Even with your newly rebuilt Singular?

How about if I devise an extension for the TCW? Will that help restore your missing mojo? ... I always feel it's such a shame that it doesn't finish at the seaside, so you can celerbrate with a 99. Mark and yourself could be the first to attempt it :)

[griffdowg]

Not bikepacking related, but hopefully it will make you smile: http://vimeo.com/35927275 :)

G

[Ian]

Thanks G - good vid that, thanks

Stu, yeah you'd think a shiny new frame and loads of trick bits would keep anyone happy. It's not about the bike I guess. Not sure an extension to the TCW is going to help. I have plenty of riding here some people would/do drive a long way to get to, yet I can't muster much enthusiasm to ride it.

The end of last year ending on a high: BB200 and the Welsh coast to coast. In contrast this year has yet to deliver any significant level of enjoyment. I've had the odd good ride, but just lack the drive (and time) to knock it up a level. Maybe things'll look up soon

[Taylor]

Still time for this years TD if your not getting excited about single day rides.

[griffdowg]

Why dont you try something you dont usually do?

When I used to race XC I would often get pee'd off with training on the road or XC all the time so I had a little dirt jump bike that I would take to the BMX track and just relax with friends and enjoy. Either that or head off to the trail centres with friends and just take it slow. Giving yourself time to think and reflect can often turn things around.

Maybe you could just go for a potter about with your family/wife/friends. No worrying about kit, navigation, weather. Just head off down the Taff Trail, Cycle along the sea front to Mumbles.

Keep it simple, keep it slow and stop for an ice cream and a coffee. With this weather it shouldn't be a problem either.

Whilst the above wont match the BB200 or C2C it may give you the push again to get out there.

What do you think?

From this:



To this:

or am i barking up the wrong tree?

G

[Ian]

Yeah, that's a good suggestion. I haven't had a good play around in the woods on my bike for a good while - would be nice to just do some slow skills or session some bits of nice singletrack.

On the one hand, I've not spent enough time riding lately, but what riding I have been doing has been mostly on my own. The evening local shop ride is resuming this evening now that the clocks have changed, so I might give that a go.

I'm going to take Friday off work too to ride my bike. Quite where, I haven't decided yet.

I'll let you know how I get on.

[didnothingfatal]

Go to the woods and ride singletrack, remember what it's like just to ride a mountain bike, not always about riding miles! After all, we're just big kids riding expensive toys! I always went down my local woods to play, then some a-hole, decided that the woods needed thinning out and destroyed every last bit of good riding, still go to play though :D

[pedalhead]

I know what you mean, Ian. That damn mojo seems to ebb & flow quite unpredictably. I had a real dip in Nov/Dec, but I always bounce back...and so will you.

Perhaps you should arrange a short road trip...a weekend riding somewhere totally new? I'd also agree with the other guys too, just getting out there & having fun for a while rather than any targeted training could be the medicine you need.

[Taylor]

I'm guessing his "rehab" is leading a bunch of fatties into the hills at walking pace whilst listening to all the bitching about tired legs, "can we stop now", "Ian, I don't want to ride any higher/further", "where's the bloody tree's for my hammock".


Then sit down for a drink or two and talk rubbish for the rest of the evening.

[Ian]

talk rubbish for the rest of the evening

That reminds me, I haven't packed my hip flask...

[Ian]

Found it!

Finally caught up with it on last nights ride. It was a wet as an otter's pocket out on the trails and a couple of weeks ago I'd have just binned the ride entirely. Instead, I embraced the wet and cold and hammered around a very hilly and very slippy ride on the singlespeed. Conti Race Kings + wet grass/ muddy singletrack = fun. Loved every minute of it.

"What's changed?", I hear you ask.

Answer: clicky

[pedalhead]

The only catch is, Ian's mojo retrieval is clearly related to smashing all my KOMs round his way!

[Ian]

Nothing personal

I have the benefit of local familiarity I suppose, but it is nice to be able to ride certain bits of trail on my own knowing I can compare them with others when you've uploaded the ride at end. Also, to be absolutely fair, your segment times were part of a much longer ride that I'd probably struggle to do at the moment, so it's easy for me to go out for a short evening blast and bag a few KOM's.

I'm actually surprised how much you've ridden in Wales too - I keep finding segments with your name on them all over the place

[pedalhead]

Yep I love riding in Wales...my favourite place within relatively easy distance of home. If I had my way I'd move to your neck of the woods in a flash...though unfortunately that day is unlikely to ever arrive!