Cycling Goals: Setting Yourself Up For Success

Let’s talk about cycling goals. At the start of the year you may have set some goals and there’s a chance that you’ve abandoned most of them by now. It’s time to reflect on those goals and see whether riding your ebike may help you accomplish one of them. Additionally, there are a lot of benefits to riding a bike for your physical and mental health. 

Whether you’re trying to get more active, lose weight, or spend quality time with your family, we have some tips to help you set the best cycling goal for your needs.

Cycling Goals: Setting Yourself Up For Success

1. Make it realistic

You need to have a basic idea of what your desires are, how much potential you have for reaching them, and what opportunities are available to you before you can set a realistic goal.

If you’re new to physical activity or the idea of cycling, you wouldn’t want to push yourself too hard too fast. Take time to assess your current situation, physical capabilities, and health condition. Do you have the stamina for a 1-hour bike ride? How many days can you go for a ride in a week?

The most realistic path you can choose is to start small and work your way up. Ease your way into building stamina and the habit of riding. For example, 10-minute ebike rides about three times a week would be a good start. Once you get used to it, you can increase the time spent riding or the frequency of your rides.

It is best to have a broad set of goals that you can achieve and some you have to work hard for. Set realistic goals but don’t limit yourself. Define minimums, not maximums.

2. Find the best time for riding and schedule it

Take a look at your calendar and assess everything you have on your plate right now. Make a list of things you want to accomplish as well as your priorities in all aspects of your life. Review your list and cross off the ones that aren’t relevant to your long term goal so you’ll have space for new goals.

Planning for your rides is important if you want to stay with it. For some, planning their biking schedules on a weekly basis helps them stay focused and fulfilled. At the start of each week or day, plan when you'll be riding, where you'll be riding, and how long your ride will last.

Remember the journey of 1000 miles stars with the first step (turn of the pedal) and get something down to get going!

3. Create an environment for success

It would help motivate you to take action on your new cycling goal to create an environment for success. This could mean placing your helmet, gloves and other biking gear near the door where you can see it and readily reach it. It may mean filling up your water bottle before leaving for a ride, or it could mean staying hydrated throughout the day if you know you'll be going for a bike ride later. You want to make it impossible for yourself not to go for a ride.

One great idea is to start the day with a ride. It can clear your mind and allows you to accomplish something BEFORE the start of the days business. This can lead to more fulfilment and concentration at work.

4. Stay on top of recovery

Rest days and downtime are essential for any regular endurance habit. The purpose of rest days is to relax, just as the goal of a bike session is to improve fitness. It's essential because your body requires time to develop and repair muscles. It also helps in avoiding boredom and burnout.

It may appear like taking a break is counterproductive, but rest days are necessary and helpful.

You’ll know when you need to take a break if you experience symptoms such as:

• Insomnia
• Sluggishness
• Elevated heart rate
• Easy rides are harder than normal
• Frequent injuries
• Recurring colds

5. Keep a log and track our progress

Riding may be difficult at times that you would question why you do it. Or, when things aren't going well, how and why we should continue rather than give up.

It can be motivating to see your progress overtime. The benefits won’t show themselves overnight so it would be helpful to keep track of your progress. Once you start your biking schedule, you can log the time spent riding, the distance covered, your starting weight, etc. There are apps and fitness gadgets that can help you in this area.

Remember that you are doing this for you! If you are moving, you are benefiting. We can’t all spend 10 hours a day in the gym. Get active, get and keep track. Cumulative benefits can sneak up on you. You will be amazed how even a small amount of exercise on a consistent basis can help your “mojo.” You will also be amazed at the results after a month, 6 months and a year!

6. Keep it fun

You wouldn't stick to your goals if they weren't enjoyable, right? You can make it more fun by inviting your friends and family to ride with you. You can join a biking club and go on group rides. Or maybe try your first bike race, it can be quite a challenge.

Think rewards! Get your miles? Grab that new water bottle! Hit your time goal for the week, spend an extra 20 minutes on something you love! Make it farther than before? Get on Amazon and treat yo’self!

Setting Biking Goals

Setting goals creates a road map for your future. Setting goals improves training and performance. It helps to alleviate boredom, anxiety, and indecision. It improves concentration, motivation, and self-esteem.

Make time to set long-term and short-term goals. As you go through your journey, you will be able to look back and realize how far you have come.