Wishing you a Bright New Year of Successful Rides in 2018 from BikeParts.com
We are only days away from the year end. What is the best way to say good bye to 2017 and hello to 2018? On your bike of course! Cycling is all about fun and what better way to bring in the New Year than to set some new cycling resolutions. At the turn of the year, many cyclist vow to ride more miles, train more consistently, or they may choose one or two new events to challenge their fitness and performance in the coming months, but at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’re thinking of some alternative resolutions.
One of the biggest complaints cyclist have is about missing their rides. Whether due to time, weather, illness or injury, or work and family obligations, riding seems to take a back seat to it all. This year, consider taking on one or more of these cycling resolutions to ensure you get all the ride time you want!
New Year Resolution of Time Management – It all begins with time management. Scheduling your workouts in your calendar; shifting meetings and family obligations to early morning, late afternoon and early evening; and optimizing your lunch hour as ride time. These are three areas that can assist in getting your scheduled training in during the daylight hours. Again, the idea here is to create a plan and stick to it. If you plan a ride during the daylight hours and miss it, then it creates stress on how to make that ride up. So, if you do, then night
riding becomes your option.
New Year Resolution of Night Riding – To begin, don’t be afraid of the dark! Get the right bike parts and cycling apparel to ride and you’ll be inspired to do it. Remember, visibility is crucial – for you and your bike. Outfit your bike with a good light system. You will want lights for the front of your bike. Consider having multiple lights for the front of your bike. One on your helmet so you can shine side roads and traffic and have a second light on your handlebars so you can see at least 10 ft. or more in front of you. For the rear of your bike, opt
for a rear red light-particularly one that blinks. A blinking red light is much more likely to get the attention of a passing motorist who might otherwise not notice you. While we do have snowy days here in Colorado, there are quite a few days and evenings in which night riding is possible. So, be on the lookout in 2018 for night riding opportunities.
New Year Resolution of Indoor Riding – Maybe you just can’t swing riding during the day and night riding isn’t your thing. You can maintain fitness with indoor training on the trainer. Most cyclist have a love / hate relationship with the trainer. Yet, there are ways to make it work. Check out our post, Trainer Techniques for Winter Training, for tips and suggestions on getting the best out of your indoor rides.
New Year Resolution to Cross Train – Maintaining fitness and peak performance isn’t just about riding endurance, it’s also about your body’s overall physical conditioning, especially your core. Resolve to cross train in 2018 and commit to running, hiking, yoga, or strength training. There are countless benefits to cross training and we give you ideas on how to do it in our post, 5 Ways to Cross Train for Fitness Gains in 2017.
New Year Resolution to Dial in your Cycling Gear. This is a big one. If your bike doesn’t comfortable to ride, then you are less likely to ride it. If you are cold or too hot on the bike, you are more likely to shorten your ride or blow it off all together. Resolve to dial in your cycling apparel and your bike parts. It is important to dial in your cycling apparel for the type of riding you will be doing. Start by taking an inventory of the type of cycling apparel you have in your existing wardrobe and identify the clothing you need purchase to enable you to ride in a variety of weather conditions. Do the same for your bike by replacing worn bike parts with new cycling accessories.
The New Year is all about out with the old and in with the new. Maybe last year’s cycling resolutions were to get in shape, build fitness, or get stronger on the bike. This year, branch out! Create new resolutions. Happy New Year to you and may it be the best cycling year for you yet!
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