How to Keep Your Cycling Spirit Alive or Mojo Magic for the Bike

You got that shiny new bike a couple of months ago when the bike store had a sale. Your neighbor sold you his hand-me-down bike when he left town taking only a suitcase with him. Your husband bought you a bike so you could ride with him, but he and all his hammerhead friends drop you like a bad habit every ride.

What’s a girl to do?

Usually, when the going gets tough, the tough get a pedicure. In this case, however, the tough start thinking smart and taking action.

Here’s how to keep your cycling spirit alive by getting you off your duff, in your saddle, and out the door.

Socialize

If some of your friends cycle, get them to commit to riding with you once or twice a week. Promise them chocolate as a reward until the habit sticks. Your friends don’t ride? Find new ones! There are a zillion ride choices in the greater Orlando area. Check the BOBbies discussion board for ride opportunities. Visit bike shops and ask them for information about rides. Join Hal’s ride email list and receive weekly updates about almost every single ride in town. Become a BOBbie, a Freewheeler, a Seminole Cyclist, a Windermere Roadie or all of the above!

Improvise

Is your schedule crazy and you don’t have much time to ride outdoors? Mix spinning with cycling to get a similar workout. Buy a high-quality headlight for the front of your bike if you need to ride in the dark, either early in the morning or in the evening. Don’t forget the red light for the back too. Find looping routes close to home and ride them for time and distance, not scenery.

Prioritize

Make cycling as important as almost anything else you do during your busy day. If it’s the first thing you do out of bed or what you look forward to after work, include it in your daily plans. Set aside an hour for you and your bike every day or every other day. Pretty soon, you’ll look forward to your ride and feel bad about missing it.

Glamorize

Buy yourself some cool cycling jerseys and good-quality shorts. Get some matching socks. Make a fashion statement so you’ll be steppin’ out in style when you get on the bike. Remember, it doesn’t matter how you ride as long as you look good doing it!

Strategize

Find specific goals to strive for. Charity rides are a terrific way to motivate yourself, meet other like-minded cyclists, and promote a worthy cause. Celebrate your health. How about a century ride? Find one in your area and start training to finish it. Maybe you want to become a triathlete. Check out the course of an upcoming race and ride it until you’ve conquered it. For a real challenge, sign up for a multi-day bike tour such as RAGBRAI or BRAG.

Finalize

Nothing keeps you committed like telling others you’ll meet them for a ride. Make sure others know you’ll arrive (on time) and be ready to ride. Then fill your water bottles and stick ‘em in the fridge ahead of time so you just have to pull them out and put them on your bike when it’s time to go. Lay out your clothes the night before a morning ride or pack your bag the night before so you can grab and go if you’ll need to change before riding after work. It’s harder to say no to yourself if everything is ready.

Now tell us what you do to stay motivated!