January is often a time to reflect on their previous year and resolutions made. It is also the perfect time to set new goals and resolutions for the year ahead. For passionate cyclists, this certainly resonates with their fitness objectives. Whether the goal is to elevate overall fitness levels, surpass personal achievements, or increase time spent cycling, the New Year is an ideal opportunity to define each goal and create a game plan.

“Setting new cycling resolutions is often exciting. They need to be ambitious but realistic, which will encourage you to stick to them” says James Whitten, Marketing Manager at cycleGuard.

Leading cycle and e-bike insurer cycleGuard put together a guide to inspire cyclists to set New Year’s cycling resolutions in a simple, yet effective way.

Why is goal setting important?

Setting goals is important for ongoing improvement in any sport, including cycling. Without a clear direction, finding the motivation to ride can be tough. Setting a big goal and then breaking it into smaller, achievable parts, not only makes the goal more manageable but also ensures continuous progress instead of getting stuck.

How to choose a New Year’s resolution

Prior to setting new goals, it is crucial to look where a cyclist is now and analyse what worked well last year and what needs improvement. By understanding the starting point, it becomes easier to plan where they want to go. If something did not go as planned last year, why not revisit it but with better training and planning?

Similarly, if there is something they were successful at but also really enjoyed, then it might be a good idea to do something similar but push it to the next level. For example, if a cyclist already successfully completed a 100km race, maybe it is time to aim for a 200km race.

New Year’s cycling resolution ideas

Deciding to take part in a big cycling event is always a good place to start. This works well as a goal because there is a date to put in the calendar to work backwards from. There will also be communities that cyclists can join to help them along the way, either in person or online. It is always easier to stick to a goal if friends and family are holding them accountable and are supportive!

For an individual seeking to establish a fitness baseline and set achievable goals, undergoing a fitness test is a worthwhile consideration. One idea is to measure functional threshold power, particularly if it has not been measured before.

How to stick to the New Year’s cycling resolutions

Once the goal is set, it is time to break it down into smaller steps. Setting a deadline or using the deadline of the upcoming event is crucial for achieving the goal. Next, dividing the goal up based on that period will help to make it more manageable and easier to track the progress. For example, if wanting to be able to cycle for 20 minutes longer over a period of 4 months, there will need to an improvement by 5 minutes every month.

“No matter what your New Year’s cycling resolution is, it is important that you enjoy it and hold yourself accountable” adds Whitten.

Read more tips about setting a New Year’s resolutions on:

https://www.cycleguard.co.uk/new-year-cycling-resolutions