Have you ever thought about setting goals for yourself when it comes to cycling? When I retired 9 years ago, I didn’t initially set any goals I just got on my bike and rode. I enjoyed every ride and slowly I became stronger and more confident on my bike. That’s when the idea of setting goals for myself really started. I casually kept track of how far I was cycling and how my bike handling was improving. So where did I start? First, it was a combination of distance and time. I started slowly and set my first goal of 25 kilometers, then 30 and 40 kilometers. The first thing I realized as I hit my goal of 40 kilometers was, I needed a different bike. My comfort cruiser was not meant for rides much longer than this. I got myself a hybrid bike and that opened a whole new cycling world for me. I instantly went faster and my 40-kilometer goal was now easily achieved. Time to get more serious with my goals.
We all need to ask ourselves what we want to accomplish on our bikes. Is it distance, speed, becoming stronger on the bike, better cornering, standing while riding etc. For me I wanted longer adventures. Speed wasn’t my priority, I wanted to develop endurance so I could ride longer and further. I wanted to develop more confidence in myself as I ventured away from my neighbourhood alone.
So, a good goal for me was to develop a plan that increased my consistency on the bike. How many days a week would I ride and which ones would be longer distances. All of this to reach my new goal of 100 km’s. I created a clear training plan for myself.
The results of having a plan became apparent quickly. Simply by riding more I naturally became stronger, my confidence and endurance increased. Over several seasons of cycling, I went from being a true beginner being back on the bike after many years to reaching my goal of my first 100-kilometer ride. I became comfortable being caught in an unexpected rainstorm, crazy wind that seem to come from nowhere and maintaining my motivation during hours on the bike alone.
I now was ready to set another goal; find other women to cycle with. As a woman now in my late 60’s I understood some of the specific wants and needs of senior women. Enter Rose, my first cycling sister. Together we dreamed big and created Manitoba’s first senior women’s cycling club. We created a group that would meet women where they were, which was most often returning to cycling after many years. The group would help women gain confidence on the bike again, set goals for themselves and achieve things they never thought possible.
Rose and I believe having goals individually and for the group keeps us all moving forward. By setting specific goals that are measurable they become achievable. Our individual and group goals also need to be relevant and have a timeframe attached to them. The picture below is a great outline to use when setting goals for yourself this cycling season.
The biggest benefit of setting goals is the sense of achievement when we reach those goals. It’s never too late to prove to yourself and others what you’re capable of!
