Six Reasons New Cyclists Quit Riding

Yesterday I posted 5 Reasons to Consider Cycling to Lose Weight. There are actually more than five reasons but I wanted to see what my readers had to say too and several came up with some good ones:

Psychologically it makes you feel better to ride.
It’s easier to ride the same distance than run it if you’re overweight.
It has great medical benefits.

All great reasons. Today I wanted to look at why so many new cyclists end up quitting the sport after only a few rides or months.

Why Do New Cyclists Quit?

If there are so many great reasons for anyone to take up cycling, why do we so many newbie cyclists quit? While searching for a new bike, I saw so many new, or barely used bicycles, on Craigslist. They were listed as only being ridden once or only a few miles (many less than 50)? Here are a few reasons why I think new cyclists find it hard going and end up quitting.

Failed New Year’s Resolutions. We’re now into February and many people made some kind of exercise or weight loss resolution at the beginning of the year. I wonder how many are actually still following through with their plans? Too many people get caught up in the holiday season with big plans for exercise that are based on impulse decisions, made without end goals in mind, and with little thought about how they plan to pull them off. So, that shiny new bike they got for Christmas just sits there collecting dust in the garage.
They didn’t lose any weight right away. Too many expect to lose huge amounts of weight after only a couple of rides. Good weight loss is a marathon (to borrow a term from the runners) and won’t be achieved after a couple of rides.
They felt alone. Riding a bike while overweight takes some courage to do because they may have to get over some insecurity (see #4) or because they felt they were tackling it alone. Not having someone there alongside to either push them or hold them accountable can make it easy to quit. I ride alone a lot but it’s not because I want to. Work schedules, training plans, and other factors determine whether or not we can find someone to ride with. Joining a group or cycling club can help.
They felt insecure. A lot of people, especially those of us that are overweight, feel very uncomfortable in traditional cycling clothing and the insecurity people feel in going out in public dressed that way can be enough to force them to quit. It does take a little getting used to but those clothes have specific purposes (storage, support, comfort, safety, etc.). If you’re just riding around the neighborhood nothing says you need to be dressed to the nines in cycling garb. You can always pull on a pair of gym shorts over your cycling shorts.
They were rubbed the wrong way. I’m not talking about chaffing either. Too many ‘hardcore’ cyclists make beginning, or overweight, cyclists feel out of place. Some do it on purpose while others may not realize they do it. Newbie cyclists have just as much right and desire to be out on the roads and trails as anyone else.
They started out doing too much. I think this is one of the biggest reasons new cyclists quit. Too many start out riding five or six miles (or more) their first couple of times out. It’s not a problem because it feels so easy. Before long though they’ll wake up and wonder who set the grenade off in their crotch. They’re sore, chaffed, and in misery because they’re butt is sore and/or the inside of their thighs are raw. Starting out doing too much without letting your body (you’re butt or sit bones) get accustomed to it is a recipe for disaster. It takes time for your body to adjust to the stresses of cycling so you need to take it easy at first. That’s why when I started back riding on the trainer last week, after a five-month layoff, I only did short 20-30 minute rides that were basically me just spinning with no resistance. I had to build my tush’s endurance back up since I’d been out of the saddle for so long. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll gradually build up my time/distance after my rear has adjusted. Being properly fit to your bicycle is another huge part of this equation and something that we’ll talk about later.

Those are six reasons why I think new cyclists end up quitting the sport. I know there are a lot more and I want to hear about your experiences on this issue. What made you quit, almost made you quit, or what kept you spinning those cranks?

Image courtesy of ndanger; (CC BY-SA 2.0)

jodycb

I would say not having the right bike.

I had a bike for years and barely rode it. When I did ride it I didn't enjoy it that much. I ended up buying a new bike from a good shop that made sure I got one that fit me right, they explained the whole keeping the tires at the proper psi thing and it was like an epiphany. Suddenly riding wasn't an uncomfortable horrid thing.

Also… maybe I'm alone in this, but one of the things I like about cycling is that I can do it alone. Its some quiet personal me time. Sometimes it's exhausting humbling me time but it's fun nonetheless.

I would say though that starting anything new takes some commitment. Until you reach a certain tipping point with developing the habit, and finding routines and things that work for you, quitting is the likely outcome. You have to push really hard to escape the earths gravity and then you suddenly realize how great it is. (I'm probably being too dramatic.)

bdewberry

Awesome stuff. Bike fit is very important and if it's not correct can make cycling unbearable and painful. I'm like you in that cycling alone is good sometimes. There are times though that I wish I had a friend or two for those longer weekend rides. With regards to commitment I don't think you're being too dramatic. It takes commitment and self-discipline to want to make yourself better and once you back past the initial breaking in period, and develop a routine, it'll get easier.

jodycb

There are times it would be fun to have someone to ride with. I really wish my husband was in to it. I would love to do some touring or out & back bike camping. He has tried to get in to it but says it's not for him. I don't really see myself doing much touring by myself.

I probably also don't love riding with other people because I don't have much experience with it & don't know the group riding etiquette. AND I am slow as hell.

http://twitter.com/Im4tun8 Anita Weld

I have Diabetes Type II and cycling helps my medication keep my blood glucose under control. It is also helping with a healthy weight loss – not too quickly, but steady. Winter is the hard part as I am in a Northern state and put the bike in storage until Spring. I am not as dedicated to riding the stationary bike indoors but I still make the effort. My doctor was all for my riding, with the caution to take it slow. I rode alone, during the time of day when there wasn't much traffic. Once I am more confident this year, I plan to seek out other riders and maybe start doing some group rides. Riding is easier on my legs and feet than walking for this diabetic and the health benefits are wonderful!

bdewberry

Anita, thanks for stopping by and commenting. It's always great to see new faces.

It's awesome to hear a great example of how cycling is helping with your Type II Diabetes. I can understand about living up North and not being able to ride during the winter. I just started on a trainer myself and can vouch that it's not near as much fun as riding outdoors.

In case you didn't know, there's an organization that has both professional and amateur teams on which quite a few of the members have either Type I or Type II Diabetes. Here's their link info:

TeamType1.org
@teamtype1
@teamtype2

http://mildstallion.wordpress.com/ Al

First, “who set the grenade off in their crotch” – Awesome, I LOL'd.

Second, I have heard tales of people with Type II diabetes overcoming the condition through cycling.

Third, I remember years ago my bike coming into disrepair. At the time, that was enough reason to not ride. I went a good 5 years with that one. Now, I can't imagine life without a bike.

bdewberry

You bring up a great point about maintenance and it's something we'll talk about in another post.

It does feel like somebody set off a bomb down there when you've got something going wrong down in the nether regions!

http://www.springfieldcyclist.com/ Tracy W

Bryan, I find it interesting that three of your reasons above relate directly to the rider and things in his/her(1,2,& 6), while the remainder relate to things that others either did or didn't do to reach out to someone new.

I think one of the hardest aspects of beginning or continuing any activity is having someone to guide and mentor you along. Let's face it…cyclists on the road are not generally the mentoring and nurturing types. Some of us lucky ones may have happened to have a friend who mentored and guided them along, but I'm betting that a lot of the people who gave it up were going it alone. What do you think?

bdewberry

Tracy, did I plan out splitting the reasons 50/50 like that? Not intentionally. I do believe it's a combination of things both within and not within the new cyclists control.

I believe you said it when you said, 'beginning or continuing any activity.” I also think it's important to have a mentor or someone who can help coach you along and I think you're spot on when you say that most cyclists on the road aren't mentoring and nurturing types. There are some out there though. The group that I belong to hear in Dallas is that way and has some great members.

Cycling groups/clubs can be so intimidating. It's for that reason that I didn't attempt to join any group rides when I was in Florida. I was overweight (still am), slow on the bike, and knew I wouldn't fit in with the large majority of riders on the group rides. In fact, most of the group rides were beyond my capability so I never attempted it. I got my first group riding experience here in Dallas when the group I belong to had their bike handling series each week in the summer. They weren't long group rides but it was a group of novices (like me) that were there to learn more about cycling and how to ride together. It was great and really boosted my confidence as a rider.

When I started back riding in 2008 I had to go it alone and used this blog to draw some support and motivation. It worked. I still have a long way to go but if I didn't have readers/supporters to be responsible to I'm not sure I would have kept going. It also helps that I love the sport of cycling.

This kind of leads into what I'm trying to do here at Biking To Live. I'm trying to create a better, healthier life for myself through cycling. I want to help others (like myself) who are weight challenged to improve their lives as well. That means writing articles geared to the newbie cyclist that are either informative, educational, or inspiring. And perhaps one or two of those grouchy 'pros' will see that there are some folks out there that who could use their help.

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In all seriousness, though, all of my mountain biking friends own road bikes, as well. As you get older, you find it is much easier on the body to do long aerobic rides on a road bike than a mountain bike. Some of my mountain biking buddies are exceedingly good road racers, as well.
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