We’re not trying to make a new you. All we want is for you to get as much enjoyment out of your cycling as possible, and most importantly, improve.
The good news is, it’s not that hard to achieve, and providing you follow a few simple words of advice and use some common sense, the time you spend on your bike will be better than ever.
Structure your riding time to be a better cyclist
(Image credit: Future)
There shouldn’t be a limit to what you can achieve on a bike. Providing you want it enough, you can ride whenever and wherever. That’s the great thing about cycling — the more you put in, the more you get out of it.
But you do need to figure out what you want. This is the first step. It could be a 50-mile summer ride, it could be to increase your average speed on your commute by bike to work, it could even be to do a race. Whatever it is, remember there is no one stopping you.
Goals are good things to have. Without them, you’re just floating along. Don’t be ashamed at how small or big your goal is. Providing there is a plan in place, then there is no reason why you can’t get there.
OK, becoming a Tour de France rider in the space of six months is a little optimistic, but don’t be afraid to think big. On the other hand, if your goal is to ride to the cafe once a week, then go for it. Remember, it’s what you want to get out of it.
When setting goals, the tried and tested method to follow is the acronym, SMART:
– Specific,
– Measurable,
– Attainable,
– Realistic
– Time-specific
It’s a good rule of thumb to follow, and pretty self-explanatory. By asking yourself, SMART ensures you know your goal inside out, what it involves, and when you should be reaching it by.
Some people feel a little embarrassed about jotting down what they want to achieve, as it may seem a tad serious. But it’s extremely useful. It shows that you want to take your cycling seriously, you want to become fitter, and most importantly, you want to enjoy it more. Putting something in your diary makes it much more likely to happen and research even states that those who set goals are more likely to stick to what they set out to do.
Stepping stones to being a fitter cyclist
(Image credit: Future)
Once you have identified your end goal, the next step is to set some smaller in-between goals. Some call them stepping stones or ‘process goals’. Whatever you want to label them, having them in place will help provide structure and ensure you are going in the right direction.