11 Ways to Get Motivated to Hop Back on Your Bike

Our daily lives present plenty of obstacles and excuses that keep us from riding our bicycles. Life can throw you switchbacks and turns that get in the way of carefree riding—even though sometimes getting back on the bike can be the best medicine. If you’ve been off your bicycle for a period of time—a couple weeks or multiple years—we’ve got some helpful suggestions for getting motivated to hop back in the saddle.

Double-check every part of your bicycle so it’s in top shape before you start cycling—a newly repaired bike is a huge motivator to start pedaling again. Buy that new seat so you’ll be more comfortable, get the gears greased and the chain adjusted. Do whatever is necessary to guarantee that your bike’s ready for the long haul. Remember this entire process depends on the reliability of the whole package, from the bottle cage to the brake levers. It’s essential, regardless of the season, to make sure everything is tuned up and safe.

There are plenty of cyclists out there waiting to connect on social media (or in other ways), and finding a fellow bike enthusiast is great encouragement. If you can, make a date to work out on a Peloton ride or in spin class, schedule a standing time to cruise your neighborhood, share healthy recipes, or try riding as a duo or larger team. Cycling really lends itself to creating community, so consider joining a cycling group, community ride, or gran fondo, or start your own ride club.

Novelty in your route, exercise routine, or diet can keep you from getting bored with a process that may have felt stale in the past. Think about what feels ordinary and just plain predictable, and consider ways you can mix things up and generate excitement for yourself.

Cycling is many things to many people, but a consistent theme is a feeling of adventure and a means of exploring the unknown. Book your dream bike tour in Tuscany to explore the vine-covered rolling hills in a countryside perfect for cycling, or set your sights on a nearby city and use your bicycle as your main mode of transportation. Finding new routes is even possible in your own backyard. When you open yourself up to trying new things, you may be surprised at how motivating it can be.

When you participate in a charity cycling event, you not only rack up the good karma, but you also find new goals to strive for. There are so many great charities out there: Bottega Gran Fondo, Best Buddies, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and more. Use your mettle to support a cause close to your heart, or simply let these cycling events be your reason to travel and experience a different locale on top of supporting an organization. With so many options for cycling philanthropy, it’s easy to get motivated for reasons greater than yourself.

Google a picture of cyclists raising their arms in victory after winning a race, climbing a steep hill, or simply picnicking on wine and cheese with their bikes behind them. You don’t have to hang these pictures on your refrigerator. Save them to your phone and give them a glance when you need to be reminded of the constant joys, potential struggles, and overall rewarding experience of riding a bike. Visualize your goals and then imagine surpassing them—you’ll find doing so to be that much easier.

Immersing yourself in the robust culture of cycling can prepare you for getting back on your bike and fill you with a fresh form of enthusiasm. Cycling culture leans on inspiration, competition, and engagement. Follow international and local cycling events like the TDF, subscribe to Bicycling Magazine, make PezCycling News one of the websites you check daily, or buy a new cycling kit to give you that extra motivation. Join Facebook groups or follow some accounts on Twitter to join the conversation and make cycling a part of your daily social media digest.

Cafés make a great destination for your rides because they guarantee a reward at the end—on DuVine tours, we pause at plenty of coffee shops to regroup and check in with how riders are feeling. Stop for an espresso to fuel the ride home, or treat yourself to a croissant for attaining your goal. You’ll often find other cyclists with their bikes leaned up outside, imparting a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Even better if the café is someplace new you’ve been meaning to check out! The idea is to challenge yourself physically with regular visits, and make your effort worthwhile with something you enjoy.

Figure out the hurdles you faced in the past and overcome your challenges by sticking to a workout or diet routine. Outline your short- and long-term goals that can be realistically accomplished and write them down. According to Forbes, those who write down their goals accomplish significantly more. From exercising three times a week to having a healthy breakfast, you can pick and choose attainable goals without disrupting your daily routine too much, as long as they address your personal challenges in small increments.

The biggest hurdle in making positive change is consistency. Try to set aside the time to cycle, whether or not life’s many diversions interfere with your schedule. Be flexible, but adhering to a training guide or penciling the time into your calendar or daily planner can be a great means of accountability and a rewarding way to record your progress. By staying the course, you’re more likely to build confidence and momentum. While you should be sure to stretch your limits some, give yourself credit for every little bit of success.

Apps like Strava tie into so many of our tips: becoming a part of the community, recording your progress, finding fresh routes, and making new friends. Make your cycling experience interactive by posting your Strava rides to social media to get that boost of confidence from your friends, or stay motivated by recording your times to try and beat your PRs later. Follow DuVine on Strava for to share your own rides, and download maps from our trips around the world to get motivated for a cycling trip in your dream destination.

In our lesser moments, it’s possible that cycling may feel like a chore. But acknowledging your body’s strength and potential should be an enjoyable and gratifying experience. However you approach cycling, do so in a way that’s fun. Let a trip with DuVine be the reason you begin training, use your rides as a meditative me-time, or get in the saddle to reconnect with others and the world around you. It’s easy to lose sight of why we ride—but it can be just as easy to remember the simple sense of joy it can bring.