Need cycling motivation and can’t bring yourself to ride?
If you do, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here you’ll learn 3 simple strategies that will help you boost your cycling motivation. You’ll also discover 3 things that might cause a lack of motivation.
Whether you’re a runner looking for running tips or a cyclist searching for cycling advice, this site is here to help you elevate your fitness game.
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3 TIPS TO HELP BOOST YOUR ROAD CYCLING MOTIVATION
WHY DO YOU RIDE?
Every cyclist has a specific reason for riding.
And it’s no secret that a specific, compelling goal keeps you working toward it. (If you need cycling training to help to get to your goal, then these are the training books to turn to now.)
But you might need to remind yourself why you ride.
So, what’s your main motivation for cycling?
Maybe you’re focused on enjoying the ride. Or maybe you’re looking to get faster.
Sometimes this simple reminder is enough to boost your motivation.
Now it’s time to get that momentum going again.
GET STARTED…BUT SLOWLY
What if you’re having one of those days when, no matter what you tell yourself, you can’t bring yourself to ride?
Before we dive into one simple tip that’ll help you get moving, let’s check to see if a lack of motivation comes from something else.
Three important questions to consider.
1|| Have you recently had a rest day or rest week? Look back on your training. When was the last time you had a rest day? You might need a day off. Read more about cycling rest and recovery here.
2|| Has your performance declined? Are you on the brink of overtraining? If you are overtrained, you’ll learn how to spot the signs and how to turn it around. Read more about cycling overtraining here.
3|| Are you stressed? Stress will affect your motivation for cycling. If you’re cycling with no power in your legs, then this post is a must-read.
None of the above?
You can boost motivation by slowing down. Don’t think of all the things you have to do to get ready to ride.
Instead, do one small, easy task.
Maybe it’s filling your tires. Or oiling the chain.
Can’t do it? Then make the task even smaller.
Place the bike pump next to your tires. Or set the bottle of oil next to the bike.
Then, do another small, easy task.
Inch your way forward. No step is too small.
Each small step builds momentum.
It’s exactly like riding a bike.
It’s much harder to pick up speed from a full stop. But once you’ve started and have traction, it’s easy to keep going.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR ROAD CYCLING MOTIVATION
You don’t have to use a massive amount of mental energy every time you’re not motivated to ride.
Instead, you can plan a response for your unmotivated moments with one strategy—the implementation intention.
That means creating a plan for how you’ll respond when you’re not motivated. (You can also use this strategy on a tough ride.)
Think of this strategy as an automatic response when there’s a lack of motivation.
Implementation intentions begin with an ‘if’ statement, such as, ‘if don’t have the energy for a hard bike ride’.
Followed by a ‘then’ statement, such as, ‘then I’ll do an easy ride’.
Other implementation implementations might look like this:
If I don’t want to cycle alone, then I’ll do a group ride.
If I don’t want to do an hour-long trainer session, then I’ll do 20-minutes.
Motivation ebbs and flows, but you can plan for it.
But also, give yourself a break.
If you miss a day (or many), that’s okay. You can take a break before returning to cycling.
It’s about consistent effort over time.
Cycling has got to be enjoyable to keep your motivation high.
CONCLUSION
Facing a drop in cycling motivation? You can boost your cycling motivation in 3 simple ways.
1. Why do you ride? Whether you’re focused on enjoying the ride or improving your bike skills, a quick reminder of why you choose to ride can spark your cycling motivation.
2. Slow it down. Don’t think of everything you have to do before a ride. Instead, do one small, easy task—check tires or oil the chain—to build momentum and motivation to ride.
3. Create a plan. You can plan a response for a drop in motivation with an implementation intention. That means creating a plan for what you’ll do when you’re not motivated.
There you have it—with these 3 tips, you’ll be prepared to handle any dips in your road cycling motivation.
