Fake it 'til you make it
I wasn't feeling it today. At all. I only suited up because I thought that tomorrow I might regret not riding. And I promised myself that I wouldn't go too hard or try any big climbs.
But gradually, my legs loosened up, and after 20 minutes of easy pedaling, I started to get into it. And just like that, I was feeling like myself again. So I headed back to the Woodridge Trail the "hard way": back along the reservoir fense instead of up Erbes & Sunset Hills.
But I'm old and wise enough not to push it on days like this. I stretch my legs, warm up, keep the engine running for a bit, put in a couple short, hard efforts, and then head for home before I start feeling tired. And I make sure sure to hydrate well, and get a post-ride snack immediately after the ride.
And, as a bonus, I've finally learned to roll through the drainage to reach the trail west from the Long Canyon trailhead, which is nice. No more timid dismounting and shuffling across. Smooth like buttah.