New Year’s Resolutions Every Mountain Biker Should Make

New Year’s resolutions are promises people make to improve their lives. A recent survey revealed that about 40% of American adults set at least one resolution as the New Year begins. Wanting to make resolutions is a good thing, provided that you make an effort to commit to them and accomplish your goals.

New Year’s resolutions come in many forms. Most people resolve to lose weight, eat healthier, quit smoking, and spend more time with their family. If you are a cyclist, you may want to consider adding some resolutions that would encourage you to expand your bicycling comfort zone.

Here are the top 6 New Year’s resolutions every mountain biker should make.

Ride somewhere new

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One of the best things about owning a bike is having the opportunity to explore some stunning places. Sure, you may be able to travel to different places by car, bus or plane. But there is something so fun and exciting about traveling on two wheels.

The joy of riding a bike is you get to experience and interact with a place instead of just gazing passively through the window. You hear the conversation of people, you can smell the restaurants before you see them, and you’re privy to the sight inclines of the city streets. You can’t help but feel completely alive and immersed in the moment. It is an experience for all your senses.

This year, we encourage you to include exploring new places in your New Year’s resolutions list. Being on a bike allows more freedom and allows you to take in a place. Travelling on a bike allows you to see places from the best perspective. Check out this blog post for some of the Best Mountain Bike Towns in the U.S.

Join a cycling club

 

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Riding alone allows you to focus on yourself and give you time to process your worries and concerns. It provides the perfect opportunity for the “me time” we all crave for from time to time. While riding solo is great, riding with a group can be a lot of fun.

Being part of a cycling club is one of the best ways to go riding. In a club, you get to meet a bunch of like-minded people, meet new friends, discover new cycling routes, and train harder. When cycling alone, it can be tempting to remain in your comfort zone. But if you’re a part of a biking group, you’ll find yourself pushing yourself to further your own training and abilities. The best part is, you’ll get big discounts in local bike shops. Now, bike equipment and components won’t be too expensive.

Ride more often

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You probably already know about the benefits of riding a bike. It can help you burn calories, stay fit, reduce your risk of certain diseases, decrease the risk of depression, and alleviate stress. We can go on and on all day about all the amazing benefits associated with riding a bike. Unfortunately, most people are too busy that many of them are having a hard time squeezing cycling into their schedule.

Everybody everywhere seems to be busy. Having a full-time job, raising a family, and having a social life, cycling can sometimes be pushed to the periphery. We understand you have a lot on your plate right now and it can be difficult to find time to get on a bike, but you need to take a break every now and then. So for your New Year’s resolution, try to make more time for cycling. Or better yet, try commuting to work. Not only will it help you save money, it will also help you lose the extra pounds you gained during the holiday season. See you on the trails!

Learn a new maintenance skill

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No matter how well you take care of your bike, wear and tear inevitably set in after clocking the miles. Knowing how to fix your own bike is a skill every cyclist should learn. This will not only save you both the cost and time of asking a professional mechanic to check and fix the problem, it will help you get out of a bad situation.

As a bike owner, you need to know a few basic bike maintenance and repair skills. This year, we encourage you to learn a new maintenance skill. It can be something as simple as changing a flat tire, installing new brake pads or adjusting your front and rear brakes.

Living in the digital age, almost everything you need can be found on the internet. You can find lots of blog posts and video tutorials that will help you get the job done. Or better yet, ask a friend to teach you how it’s done. Once you master this skill, you may want to teach someone else how to do it.

Get involved with your local trails

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Spring may still be a couple of months away, but some cyclists are eager to get out there and ride their bike.

Most local trail systems are built and maintained by volunteers. As an avid mountain biker, wouldn’t it be great to give back to the community? Getting involved with your local trails should be included on your list of New Year’s resolutions.

Spend a few hours of your time getting involved in your local trails. Volunteer for trail work to ensure that the trails are in good condition when spring comes around. It may involve a lot of hard work, but it’s fun and rewarding. Help build new trails and improve existing paths.

Join a mountain bike race

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Whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker or you’ve just discovered the true joys of a singletrack, make joining a mountain bike race a part of your New Year’s resolutions list.

To get started, you should register with your national sanctioning body. Then determine which race you’d like to participate in. There are different types of races you can choose from. For an amateur, we recommend looking into single day events like individual time trials, road race or criterium. Now, all you have to do is to train and prepare for the race. Good luck!