Here's the Gist
As an indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer, I know firsthand how tough it can be to get on the bike when you are feeling demotivated. Feeling this way is completely normal, so I have put together my proven methods to help you get your indoor cycling bug back.
- Set concrete targets to work towards, such as long-distance rides, an outdoor bike challenge, power tests, or personal weight-loss goals.
- Spice up your workouts with different styles like high-intensity interval classes, longer endurance rides, or ramp and power sessions.
- Join a group class at a spinning studio to step outside your comfort zone and draw motivation from riding alongside others.
- Reward yourself for hitting milestones, like treating yourself to new cycling clothing after completing five consistent sessions.
- Take a break for a few days if you are overtraining to give both your body and your mind time to recover.
- Find fresh inspiration by trying new cycling apps, following motivating instructors, or connecting with fellow riders on social media.
Indoor cycling is a fantastic way to get and stay in shape, but it’s not always easy. There are times when you might find it difficult to get on the bike, and it can feel mentally harder than it used to. This typically happens when you are feeling demotivated, and that’s not always a good feeling.
Our lovely readers and subscribers often ask, “How do I stay motivated when indoor cycling?” In this article, I will answer just that. Before I start, it’s important to know that feeling like this is completely normal, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling like this.
My Experience
As an instructor who has trained many indoor cyclists and helped many people achieve their goals, I know it’s a common issue. I have worked in multiple spinning studios and also have years of full-time experience as a personal trainer to cyclists, indoors and outdoors.
Teaching people how to stay motivated and focused on their goals is one of the biggest challenges of the job. Over many years, I worked with many and had a huge amount of success using the methods below.
How To Stay Motivated
Here are my tips for staying motivated. They might not all work for everyone, but they are a great place to start and hopefully will get the indoor cycling bug up and running again in your mind.
Set Goals
It’s really easy to become demotivated without having anything to work towards. Having a goal that you have set for the future to set you focus on makes it easy work to stay motivated. When it comes to indoor cycling, there are many goals you can set.
You could have a goal of doing a long-distance indoor ride, planning an outdoor bike ride challenge, or even setting a goal to do the best power possible in a short amount of time. You might even have a personal goal, such as losing weight or just becoming fitter.
Spice Up Your Workouts
If you start to get demotivated, another option you have is to spice up your workouts. It’s a great way to find motivation and extra love for indoor cycling. Not only does it make the sessions a little more interesting and exciting, but it also adds to the motivation.
There are lots of different routes you can go down. You could ride for longer durations, do high-intensity interval classes, or even ramp or power sessions. Not only will these help you get fitter, but they just make it so much more interesting.
Ride With Friends
When I start to feel demotivated, I often take a ride with friends to motivate me. This doesn’t mean I drag my bike over to a friend’s house and start to train with them, but I go to a spinning studio and have a session in a group.
This makes me feel like I am stepping out of my comfort zone and helps me feel connected with other people who share the same interests of riding indoors. I always come away from group sessions just so motivated to push on.
Have A Reward
It’s really easy to fall into the trap of just training, training, training, and more training. When it’s important to have goals and reward yourself when you achieve milestones and hit certain goals. This not only makes you feel good but helps with motivation.
A good example for myself is when I am struggling with motivation, I think of something I want for the bike or myself, such as clothing, and say something like, “In five sessions, I will buy myself that as well done for staying motivated.” It might sound crazy, but it works great.
Take A Break
It’s not rare that many indoor cyclists I have trained over the years have become demotivated due to training too much. If this is the case, then I am the first to tell them to take a break and come back to see how they feel in a few days.
It’s interesting that taking some time away can not only give your body extra time to recover but also your mind. This is a great way to motivate yourself and get the love back into your indoor cycling sessions.
Get Inspired
If you need some inspiration, there are many places to find it when it comes to indoor cycling. Not only do you have a huge variety of applications with very motivating instructors, but you also have many other people to look to.
Many indoor cyclists find themselves taking to social media to find others who enjoy indoor cycling or downloading and trying a new application to give them that motivation that they are looking for.
A Final Note
Staying motivated when it comes to indoor cycling can be challenging, and as an instructor and avid indoor cyclist, I understand the struggle that many riders go through. I hope this article gave you the answers you are looking for when it comes to indoor cycling, and you are ready to get back on the bike.
Quick Answers
Is it normal to lose motivation for indoor cycling?
Yes, feeling demotivated is completely normal, and there is nothing wrong with feeling like this. In my years working as a personal trainer and spinning instructor, I have seen that struggling to get on the bike or finding it mentally harder than usual is a very common issue among indoor cyclists.
What goals can I set to stay motivated on an indoor bike?
You can target a long-distance indoor ride, prepare for an outdoor bike ride challenge, or aim to produce your best power in a short amount of time. You can also focus on personal fitness goals, like losing weight or simply improving your overall fitness.
How can I make indoor cycling workouts less boring?
You can spice up your routine by changing your ride formats. Try riding for longer durations, taking high-intensity interval classes, or doing ramp and power sessions. Mixing up these styles makes your training far more interesting and exciting while helping you build fitness.
Can taking a break help my cycling motivation?
Yes. Many cyclists I train lose motivation simply from training too much. Taking a break for a few days gives both your body and your mind time to recover. Stepping away can help you reset and bring the love back to your indoor cycling sessions.
Where can I find inspiration for indoor cycling?
You can look into cycling applications featuring motivating instructors, or download and try a new app entirely. Connecting with other indoor cycling enthusiasts on social media is another great way to find motivation and inspiration from people who share your interests.
