Set a Goal With a Friend
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Whether you want to shed (or gain) a few pounds, increase your FTP or just get faster, identifying a goal with a friend or group will make you more likely to stick to your commitment.
Pro Tip: You're much more likely to stick with resolutions and commitments if they're made publicly rather than silent promises made to yourself. Try posting about them on social media or talking through them with family and friends to keep yourself accountable.
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Your Next RideSet a Goal With a Friend
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Photo/Fundación Reto Aguas Abiertas, Flickr
Whether you want to shed (or gain) a few pounds, increase your FTP or just get faster, identifying a goal with a friend or group will make you more likely to stick to your commitment.
Pro Tip: You're much more likely to stick with resolutions and commitments if they're made publicly rather than silent promises made to yourself. Try posting about them on social media or talking through them with family and friends to keep yourself accountable.
Find:
Your Next RideBe Social
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Photo/Pēteris Caune, Flickr
If you're stuck inside when you'd rather be outside, riding solo on the trainer is bound to get monotonous. It's a lot more fun to ride with a friend who is in the same room with you, hammering away and feeling the pain just like you are.
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Your Next RideGet on a Training Plan
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Photo/Strava-CTS
If you want to see performance increases but don't want to worry about what and when to do specific training sessions, get on a structured training plan.
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Your Next RideFocus on Incremental Improvements
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Photo Courtesy of Omata
By setting achievable goals—shaving a few seconds of your favorite route every few weeks or bumping up your power output by just a few watts each month—you'll stay more motivated to hit your targets when they are within reach.
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Your Next RideCross Train on the Bike
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Photo/Jeff Moster, Flickr
Whether you hop on a fat bike or mountain bike or try a spin class, getting a different perspective on the bike will keep you mentally fresh and excited—even if it's just excitement to get back to your old standby road bike.
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Your Next RideDress Appropriately
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Photo/Liam Eldret
Dressing appropriately will help you stay comfortable and motivated. If you're too cold on a ride, it's hard to want to keep pushing the pedals. If you don't have proper cold weather cycling gear, you owe it to yourself to fix that.
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Your Next RideBe a Streaker
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Photo/Parker Knight, Flickr
Get on a ride streak. Even if it just means riding a few miles a day, challenge yourself to get on the bike no matter what—even if just for a short ride. Start with an attainable goal, such as three consecutive days. One you've checked that off, shoot for a week. After seven days on the bike, riding every day for a month won't seem as unatainable as it might have on day zero.
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Your Next RideReward Yourself
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Photo Courtesy of Trek
Are you dying for a new bike but don't think you owe it to yourself? Set a challenging offseason goal—like bumping your FTP by 10 percent or riding 40K in under an hour—and reward yourself if you hit it.
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