I have known many cyclists who, after a long break from cyclists, get drawn back into the sport. Sometimes the gap is a few years, sometimes it can be even a few decades. But, there is a mysterious pull for many former cyclists to get back into cycling. See: Coming back to cycling after long layoff.
Personally, I had a long lay off, from the age of 20 to 26. It was precipitated by illness and then a knee injury. It is very frustrating to be unable to ride due to illness / injury. But, when you finally get back into cycling you feel like you never stopped.
When the cycling bug bites, it’s hard not to be thinking about your next ride. It’s like a drug; the more you cycle the more you want to do. All you want to do is go out and get some miles in. It’s torture when you’re stuck in an office on a hot sunny day, and all you want to do is be out on the bike.
Features of the Cycling Bug
- You frequently check weather forecasts for your next cycle ride, but you still end up going out – even if there is rain.
- Your day is planned around, when will I go cycling?
- As soon as one ride is finished, you’re thinking about the next one.
- An injury or short illness leaves you worrying about your mileage count for the year.
- When you start any ride you have that great feeling of being back on the bike.
- When you’re not cycling you are flipping through catalogues finding best cycling accessories.
- You spend hours pouring over maps to find best routes.
- When you see cyclists riding past, you get a pang that you aren’t out on the road with them.
- All your holidays are planned around cycling, though you may have to pretend your motivation for going to Majorca in February is because you think you’re partner would benefit from a ‘winter break in the sun’.
- You contemplate taking a turbo to a friends wedding so you can do a little level two during the church service.
- When you drive you think about how you would be taking the corner if you were on the bike.
- You don’t mind cycling to work in all your cycling lycra, even if others think a little funny.
- Your main topic of conversation is cycling and bicycles.
There have also been times when cycling felt like an all consuming passion. In my second season of racing I was highly motivated; even when I was not training or racing I was thinking about cycling. - how to get better equipment, how to get better times, reading training manuals. – Whatever, I did I couldn’t get enough cycling. But, even the keenest cycle bug can waiver. Keeping up the discipline to train throughout the year, needs a real long standing motivation. You can have the greatest enthusiasm, but you can suddenly find yourself not cycling for a few days, then it becomes a few weeks and even years. But, once the cycling bug has bitten, it can come back at any time. All it takes is one good ride for the bug to bite and then you’re back on your bike for hours on end.
They say exercise releases certain hormones which give a ‘natural high’ So the cycling bug has much in common with other forms of exercise. But, I also like to think cycling has something more – the pure motion of cycling and speed you get from your self-propelled machine.
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Oh my gosh I’ve been of the bike for about four months (broken collar bone then a buggered knee) and to a thirteen year old that feels lke forever but I’m on now and I’m like ‘phewy I’m home’
After a very long lay off (20 years) I’m back on the bike. even during those long years I always considered myself as a cycllist, I just wasnt riding a bike at the moment. I’m now 48 and hoping to enter a few local TT’s to see if I can get any where near my old PBs of 21.38 and 55.37. (on steel bike with, 36 spoked wheels, toe clips etc) I doubt I’ll do it it but it will be fun trying!
That 21 years beats my 18 Dave. I stopped racing shortly after turning senior, now racing again and just turned 40! Very inspiring to see how age is not the barrier it once seemed.
something like that
Talking of long layoffs..
How about Junior RR Champs 1985 – > Matthew Weideger Memorial TT 2006?
I make that 21 years. Do I get a Blue Peter badge?