I came up with a list of topics to write about for this blog but thought there was no better time to discuss motivation than right now. I don’t know about you, but the shoulder season can be tough for me in terms of staying motivated to ride. As soon as winter hits and the time changes leaving us in darkness at 5pm, I feel my body go into hibernation mode. Rest is not a bad thing. A lot of the time our body actually needs time to recover and rest or else we may get burned out or cause an injury. And we all know there is nothing much worse than being forced off the bike because of an injury. However, there is still a struggle to stay motivated especially during the winter.
A few tips that have helped me stay motivated in the past include:
1) Have a workout buddy. It is extremely effective to have someone there to hold you accountable. It is much much harder to say no to a ride (or other activity) if you know a friend is there waiting on you. We don’t want to let our friends down, and let’s be honest, everything is more fun with friends!
2) Sign up for a race or event. Having a race or event in the near future is helpful to keep the motivation alive! Who wants to show up to a race with no training? Ouch.
3) Follow a training plan. My “A” race this year is Marji Gesick – 100 bike. I have a training plan that I am currently following on Training Peaks that gives me specific workouts every week. I enjoy checklists, so this is nice because when I complete the workout for the day, it feels like I am checking it off the list! A training plan will provide general (or specialized, pending the plan) guidance making it easier on you so you do not have to constantly be thinking about what you should be doing next.
4) Mix it up. Feeling burnt out with riding? Or more specifically sitting on the trainer in the winter? Do something different. Go to the gym and lift weights, run, swim laps at the local pool, take a weighted pack out on your favorite hiking trail, increase your step count for the day, join a fitness class, or do yoga. There are endless other ways to stay active when you are feeling unmotivated to hop on the bike. Cross training is very beneficial.
5) Watch or listen to something inspiring. If you are stuck on the trainer, watch a cool video of someone doing something you love or are interested in. Listen to a podcast or an audiobook to help the time move faster.
6) Set a goal for yourself. A goal that is achievable but only if you put some work in. Again, this takes me back to my love of lists and crossing things off. Once you set a goal, create smaller steps to meet it, then you can check it off the list once complete and move on to the next!
When all of these tips fail, know that it is absolutely OK to rest and listen to your body. If you are anything like me, you probably have a million other things going on at the same time and there is never enough time in a day to do all of the things we need to or want to do. Something has to give before we break. We can’t stay motivated all of the time and we don’t want to cause any burn out. So make sure to listen to how your body and mind are feeling and if the answer is rest, cozy into your couch and relax.
Thankfully, we are starting to see some nicer weather here in Northern Michigan and that always helps increase the motivation! Let’s get out and ride!
Thank you to Haleigh Dunn @life.with.haleigh for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer!