{"id":409,"date":"2022-01-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=293453"},"modified":"2022-01-01T10:14:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T09:14:13","slug":"10-cycling-new-years-resolutions-and-how-to-stick-to-them-for-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/10-cycling-new-years-resolutions-and-how-to-stick-to-them-for-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"10 cycling New Year\u2019s resolutions (and how to stick to them) for 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jerry White\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 01 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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With the arrival of 2022, the pressure is on to come up with a New Year\u2019s resolution that you can actually stick to. Of course, you could forego the whole thing altogether, but where\u2019s the fun in that?<\/p>\n

Setting one or several resolutions gives you a framework to plan your year around, something to aim for, and the potential to finish off the year feeling smug. Think of resolutions as a series of goals that will make the next 12 months of cycling as successful and fulfilling as possible. They\u2019re simply a starting point.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a delicate balance between setting yourself a goal that is both achievable and motivating enough to get you out of bed for a winter training<\/a> ride or into your pain cave<\/a>. Get this balance wrong, and you\u2019re less likely to keep at it.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s some top advice to help you figure out what kinds of goals to set yourself in 2022, and how you can actually see them through, whether you\u2019re looking to take things up a notch and ride your first century<\/a> or you\u2019re just starting out<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How many New Year\u2019s resolutions should I make?<\/h2>\n
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The best resolutions are the ones where you can picture your success.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There\u2019s no right answer to this question. It depends on what they are, and what you are realistically capable of doing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re doing something huge, such as racing the Transcontinental<\/a>, that\u2019s probably enough for one year. If you don\u2019t want something quite as big, you could spread out a series of smaller goals across the year.<\/p>\n

If you need some inspiration, here are three approaches you could take.<\/p>\n

12 small goals in 12 months<\/h3>\n

Pick 12 small cycling goals<\/a> and complete one per month of the year. This would be perfect if you\u2019re looking to improve your performance, ride in specific events or if you struggle to stay motivated for something that seems really far away. Monthly goals will keep things interesting, mix them up a bit and help you work towards a larger goal without you even realising it.<\/p>\n

Three larger goals throughout the year<\/h3>\n

If that sounds like too much, perhaps set yourself three reasonable goals that you have four months each to complete. That gives you plenty of time to train for each of them. This approach is a good option if you\u2019re planning to make a major change or achieve something significant next year. Whether it\u2019s signing up for a long-distance ride<\/a>, or hitting certain fitness milestones, breaking it down into manageable chunks will keep it within reach.<\/p>\n

One resolution to rule them all<\/h3>\n

Perhaps you\u2019ve just got one thing in mind: you want to race thousands of kilometres across continents, tour the world or complete an overnight audax, for example. If you\u2019re aiming high, you need to give yourself the time to prepare, so aim to complete it in the second half of the year and help yourself out by putting together a structured training plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How to choose your resolutions<\/h2>\n
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What would you love to achieve with your cycling?<\/span><\/figcaption> Joseph Branston \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Okay, so you\u2019ve decided whether you\u2019re going all-in with one big goal or spreading your resolutions across the year. Now you need to decide exactly what it is you want to do. Well, we can\u2019t tell you what to aim for, but we can help you with the process of making that decision.<\/p>\n

Plan and refine<\/h3>\n

All good things start with a list. Write down every single possible goal you can think of; big or small, achievable or seemingly impossible, get them down anyway. Try to spend only a few minutes doing this, or stop when the ideas slow down.<\/p>\n

Take a look at your list. How many of those ideas really jump out at you? Depending on how many resolutions you plan to set yourself, start shortlisting. Pick out the goals that really speak to you, excite you, and you can see yourself doing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re setting more than one resolution, think about the order you do them in: are they time-bound events that have to be completed on a particular date? Do you need to do one in order to train for another?<\/p>\n

Also, try to space them out relatively evenly so you have the time you need to prepare. If you find yourself drawn to several events all happening at the same time, try to prioritise one and keep the others for next year.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t lose your original list, though. If you achieve your goals early, you\u2019ll have more to pick from, or you can use it as a basis for next year\u2019s resolutions.<\/p>\n

How to stick to your cycling resolutions<\/h2>\n
\""Male\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Setting yourself achievable goals is one way of sticking to your cycling resolutions.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Once you\u2019ve got your resolutions sorted, you need to stick to them longer than the six-week mark, where many good intentions fall by the wayside.<\/p>\n

Make them FAB<\/h3>\n

By FAB we mean Feasible, Actually measurable and Blinking-well motivational. In other words, ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n