The doldrums

Late summer, it can happen. Anytime, really...

You can't peak indefinitely, so it's not a bad thing. Get those overuse unjuries in check. And everything else that was neglected. Sweep the attic, maybe.

No bitching here. Like everything, the doldrums wind down; dog days of summer are few from here.

Are you ridahs* ready for the SoCal season to open up??????! Let's get some stuff done.


*Anyone living over ten miles from the beach.

 

So I can't post in this thread?

 

Post away!

 

Well, you post in the hardtail and SS threads...which is great!

But I'm sure you're champing at the bit for Harding TT to cool off for another Joplin run.

 

Oh yeah not too proud to admit for the first time in years I’ve been bit by the doldrums. I’m normally a suck it the f’k up buttercup type of guy who doesn’t let pain or heat or cold or smoke or wind or family chit etc get in the way. My motto has long been stop looking for excuses to not ride and look for reasons to ride. No excuses I just need to get after it again...

 

Tom, it really is all (okay, mostly) mental. As you know. Which is to say it's a real obstacle to overcome!

Look at your calendar, boss. How about a run on Horn Canyon trail or something else of your choosing with @Mikie before we lose him? (When is pull-out date?) You guys serve it up, I'll be there with refreshments. Sept 19th I have penciled for San Antonio/Baldy. https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/mount-san-antonio.9533/ But otherwise all of September looks adjustable. I prefer no shuttles but I reckon you can stick me in your truck bed.

 

Look @Mikie aint getting outah here that easy and it’s highly likely my azz ain’t too far behind him in the race to Hot Springs. Before he goes we gotta check off a few more adventure rides we’ve been scheming for years. He should probably retire first before we both go to jail for the one I have in mind.... He knows the one I’m talking about. I’m gonna miss our stupid adventures if he takes off without me.

 

Just do it at night

 

Without lights. The last five or six posts have been awesome.

 

No doldrums here. Enjoying everything I can enjoy. Great ride this morning in wonderful temps and awesome surf session with my daughter this evening.

 

guilty

 

I find that some sort of major surgery annually helps prevent doldrums during the able-bodied times.

 

Guilty here as well. Way easier to find an excuse to NOT ride but I’m trying to claw my way out of this self imposed rut.

I’m on a roll now though. This week I rode three days

 

Doldrums? That Sh!t isn't contagious, is it?

There's too much up here to explore and I have some big loops in mind once the weather breaks a little...

 

@Luis: proud!!!!!!!!!!

@Faust29, I hope to be worthy. Not worried about you. Breaks a little...subjective?!

 

I have been doing relatively tame 20 mile MTB rides 2-4 days on weeknight for the last 6 months, and SUP paddling on weekends.
I would have rathered been in the doldrums today than in the 10 mph headwinds and strong outgoing current that I was in Newport Harbor today. But, it was still a good time.

 

While this is true, I really don't recommend it. Can you please refrain from making it three in a row?

 

Way to stay on point, Jim.

 

Horse latitudes... just hanging around.

 

New dirt helps....

 

Nor do I. I'll do my best, though we're approaching that time of year when things have gone South the last couple of years.

I think some doldrums would actually serve me well about now. Got spoiled by the Covid induced work sabbatical, being able to ride 2-3 times a week. I feel as good as I ever have on the bike, but with things ramping back up furiously on the professional side I'm quickly getting grumpy about my lack of ride time. First world problems, blah blah blah.

 

You could be onto something...

@buggravy, glad you have a reason to grumble. Stay hungry.

 

Ha hahhhhhh!
Not so concerned about the Doldrum factor...
Seems for me each year it's an injury factor from not catching on I'm not as young as I used tah be as I learn the confidence that amazing bikes can provide! I have become a better rider then when I raced XC back in the 90's. Only tells me I played it too safe back then and learned how to ride fast but did not learn how to ride skilled...
...or things at the ball and chain job heats up and I travel.

I notice at my age, fitness comes at a price and quickly lost without constant maintenance, then I got to hang on to the rear wheels of you animals! A vicious cycle.

I want back in, and I want back in bad! Hopefully just a few more weeks and I'm back on two wheels.

@mike side note: Not gone at LEAST until July/August of next year Amigo.

 

Mikie don't do doldrums.

 

I'm guilty of this as a lot of my local rides aren't appealing when its 90+. But doing them as sunset to night rides or sunrise rides if I can drag my butt out of bed still brings the stoke.

That and summer road trips to higher elevations. I've been able to do one a month which helps a lot.

Can't wait til October though. Any of you planning long rides, post them up!

 

When I got back for CO I felt like I was in a funk.
I nagging pain in my palm was not going a way, and driving 2800 miles in 10 days was a big energy drain...

A three days off the bike helped with the fatigue, and a few road/gravel rides this weekend kind of got me back in the groove. When the doldrums hit try pivoting. Changes often inject new energy IMO.

My final ride of the week might have been the best. My 11 year old asked me to go riding with him (shocker). We ended up riding almost 9 miles in a little more then an hour.
We managed to find some mellow dirt in HB, and this time he completed the ride without crashing. Good times!

 

I rode twice in Augus

 

Paging @Tom the Bomb! How's it coming along Mr. Bomb?

 

I have always found that “New Bike Day” is a complete cure for the riding doldrums...... That said, I haven’t been on a bike in almost 2 months due to a sciatic issue so once I am released to ride again I’m not going to have any problem with motivation.

 

For me, it is the heat & humidity that saps my will to ride. The past couple of summers I just went up to Big Bear & Skypark a lot o escape the humidity instead of riding here. This year, that has not been such a great plan due to the crowds.

Definitely looking forward to September through December in OC though.