With each new year comes New Year’s Resolutions. Cyclists
nationwide make promises, set goals, and chart road maps toward physical
fitness, resilience, and a much longed for podium finish. The equipment is
checked, unhealthy food is replaced with fruits, vegetables and protein drinks,
and the clock is set for an early morning workout. Ambitions run high and this
time will be different, or will it.
Over 85% of cyclist fail within the first 30 days, and 50% fail within the first 5-7 days. Setting unrealistic goals based on idealistic or guilt driven motivations leads to a lack of willpower and the mental fuel needed to succeed. A fear of failure, a lack of discipline and listening to naysayers contributes to making excuses, a defeatist attitude and eventually giving up.
These are a few ways to stay on course, remain inspired and achieve your goals. The first, and one of the most effective is investing in a coach. The right coach helps you set realistic goals based on where you are and what you want to achieve. A coach charts your strengths and weaknesses and takes into consideration the multiple aspects of your overall health, flexibility, nutrition, strength, and endurance as well as the technical and tactical aspects of cycling.
Now your limitations. Family, home life, work schedules
and lifestyle all “affect” and “effect” goals and goal setting. Poor time
management is a major obstacle and obstruction to a training program. Missing
training sessions, skipping rides, arriving late and leaving early indicates a
lack of dedication – to your goals, your training program, your coach and most
importantly to yourself. Low self-esteem, poor self-worth and an inability to
prioritize often leads to poor time management. Resolutions and goals must fit
into the life you’re living day to day.
Poor diets and bad nutritional choices lead to
poor health. If you don’t have the stamina or energy to follow a training
schedule you will fail. Listening to your body is key to fulfilling the
requirements of a successful training program. If you’re pushing too hard,
ignoring the signals your body is sending or putting yourself in danger you
will fail. Yes, pushing yourself is a good thing. Feeling the burn is a good
thing. Failure to stop or adjust in painful situations is irresponsible; the
challenge is knowing when enough is enough. It is better and wiser to adjust
your training program than to sustain physical damage from over-training.
You’ve set your goals, mapped your objectives, filled
the refrigerator with health food and planned and scheduled your workout. You
show up on time, push yourself, listen to your body and pain kicks in. The last
obstacle I’ll cover is wrong or ill-fitted equipment. Training daily or two or
three times a week on a bicycle that is ill-fitted to your body and body type
can lead to stress, pain and injuries. The frame size, cleat placement, saddle
position and handlebar reach are required measurements. Road bike fitting and
bike sizing are two different things. You can use your bicycle for outdoor and indoor
training, however when transitioning from outdoor elements and roadways to
indoor training, consider saddle selection, saddle fit, tilt and height;
handlebar positioning, height, reach, drop and rotation; Crank length, crank position,
crank tilt and pedal connection. Like so many other things, bicycle gear is
important. You might want to wear lighter weight clothes and different shoes
for indoor training.
Setting Goals and making resolutions is great. With
dedication, responsibility discipline, patience and persistence, success can be
yours. For more information on cycling, training and goal setting contact me,
Buster Brown, Cycling Coach at Bixby Bicycles and Accessories.
BUSTER
BROWN,
Certified
USA Cycling Coach
Email: busterbrown2004@gmail.com
918-943-6700 / 479.530.9491
