I'm fairly new to this forum, and am in need of help. I used to do a lot of biking, but because of circumstances, fell off the bike, so to speak, in the last few years. I've now brought myself a new stead but am struggling to motivate myself to get out on it, mainly because I mostly cycle on my own and because of a recent 'blue' time in my mood. When I get out, it's great, it's just that inital push I need... any help much appreciated I'm no speed demon and that worries me a little in going out with other people, don't want to slow anyone down.
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Decide you are going and get up and go. Get dressed in your gear, have breakfast, get bike and go. Keep accessories; gloves, hat, bottle etc close to hand so you are not searching for them and getting distracted. Don't let breakfast tv, buy or not to buy etc or the post distract you. have a plan in mind; ie I will go and visit that church, wild life area, cafe what ever floats your boat, this gives you direction and somewhere to aim for. Put a computer on your bike to check your miles and speed, you maybe faster than you think, but use it as an incentive, if you ride at 10mph average try to increaseit to 11mph average etc. Or keep a tally of miles and see them increasing, aim to do a certain amount a week. Meet some other cyclists, you might be surprised inthat you can ride faster with others than when you are on your own, I know I do. Also have found that being with others and chatting has lifted my mood and my own troubles do not seem quite so bad. Where do you live?
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 bluebells are my motivation at the moment... and daffodils and snowdrops. lots of pretty scenery and dry trails to make me want to get on my bike
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Thanks for advice, distraction is definately a big problem, that bad evil morning tv is just sooo hypnotising  I'm based in Shrewsbury, so at the moment mainly cycle at Llandegla, Long Mynd and occassionly at Cannock with a great couple I met on here. I work horrible long shifts, but it gives me the advantage of having days off in the week
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I was going to suggest you use the bike for commuting - but I see you mention horrible long shifts in your second post, which means it might not be so appealing..
I find if you have somewhere to go it helps - I am a bit like you not very fast but I really love being on my bike. I have started to commute and I really enjoy it. I would not consider myself a confident cyclist at all but I decided to take the plunge with a road bike - but I am lucky its a fairly quiet road-nothing too hellish
Now that I use my bike for transport and not just recreation (though thats a good enough reason!) I find I cycle a lot more. I don't really meet anyone cycling but from the posts on here I would say there are a fair number of people out there who cycle because they enjoy it and not just to beat others-hopefully you will come across them on your travels. Hang in there!
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Thanks for all the advice, took the bike by the handles today and headed for Llandegla, despite the hail I managed to knock five minutes of my usual time for the red route  Keep meaning to use my old bike to commute into work, shouldn't be a problem but just waiting for the weather to pick up so I can leap out of bed at 06.30, as opposed to eeking that extra 20 minutes
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I second Brozza's comments The woods I ride in are jammed with Blubells and when the sun is on its way down the rays stream in through the trees making it the most majical place to be... nothing better after a stressy day at work and I love being outside..I feel smug and free and fortunate...I just love being out!
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 Maybe we should organise a motivanational ride@ pootle pace at the Long Mynde?
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Ah Brozza & Ruthie, bluebells, snowdrops, woodland - sounds perfect. Today I had driving rain and a madman in a juggernaut (overtaking me at the road calming??)
Pootle I don't even know where or what the Long Mynde is but even just the sound of "pootle pace at the Long Mynde" sounds rather idyllic
Flossie I think you've got all the motivation you need here..
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Its in Shropshire area@ sparky
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Hi Pootle I thought it might be around that area from the other postings from you guys. Its too far south for me or I would be up for that...I shall just have to go bluebell hunting on my own
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Where are u sparky?
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Not so sunny Scotland...home of the aforementioned bluebell!
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Well i shall be in Scotland in August, so u can come for a pootle then
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Will do Pootle! And I shall practice my pootling meantime..
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Pootling shuld come natural 
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Last time I was in the Long Mynd area there was no such thing as pootle pace with 1:5's to climb to access the Mynd!!!!!!
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 bluebells are my motivation at the moment... and daffodils and snowdrops. lots of pretty scenery and dry trails to make me want to get on my bike
Haha. I went to Rotorua over Anzac weekend and had an absolute blast riding on muddy, root infested singletrack - the hard, hard clay full of rocks we have locally just does my head in and I still haven't got used to riding on it. 
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..am glad to see everyone else enjoys the sights, sounds and scents of the countryside and helps with the motivation of getting out. Another form of motivation to give direction and a goal to aim for; The CTC have a cycle quest scheme. Each county in the country has 6 identified points with a question attached to be answered by visiting that point. Obviously visiting by bike is expected. Started to do this a couple of years ago with my son, inparticular to give us incentive to get up and go on dull dreary grey days in winter when all the fields are dull and brown. It also helps if visiting a different area for weekend/holiday as you can devise routes between 2-3 points and make an interesting ride. We completed some of the Warwickshire points a couple of years ago and had a really fun day out, also visited an obscure corner of Stratford I would not normally ride past. More recently we had a great day on Wirral as 3 points could easily be connected and again visited bits I would not normally have done. It is mostly road type riding, though I guess some off road tracks can be included if available, so it may not appeal to off roaders out there. Bit of a hiccup these last few months as not been able to take my son out cyciling.  But booked a weeks holiday in the summer in east sussex with it in mind to complete a whole county whilst there.
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 Sharon gave some great tips about motivation. Arranging to meet someone helps as then you don't want to let them down. I schedule riding into my day so it is just something that has to be done! It also helps that my OH sends me out of the house if I haven't been out for a while, I get very grumpy without exercise!
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