How to find new stimulus with cycling

Have you ever heard of FOMO? It stands for “Fear of Missing Out” and it's spreading everywhere nowadays. There is too much of everything, and we don’t want to feel as if we are not doing enough.

The thing is, our human bodies and minds can tolerate up to a point of information, activities, knowledge and so on.

If it’s too much, then it’s like eating 3 pieces of cake instead of 1: it’s difficult to digest, and we feel tired and sick. 

With life in general it’s the same: if we have too many options, we end up feeling unmotivated because it’s impossible to choose them all. 

More than ever, it’s important to stay present. And for that, I believe sports in general, and cycling in particular, are a wonderful remedy. 

Let’s get creative and think of new ways of recovering motivation using a bike as an excuse. Here’s mine: 

• Dedicate at least one day a week just for the sake of exploring, not trying to find anything in particular, or making the best time, but just exploring new places (or old ones with different eyes);

• Chose a little goal for each ride: this will help you live “one thing at a time”;

• Try different styles of riding: for instance climbing up from the saddle;

• Mix disciplines up: one day road bike, then gravel, then MTB, or even a Time Trial bike if you have one;

• Ride with friends: many of us can only commit if in great company, that is what friends are for. And if you are in a new country, meet up with strangers, or hire a guide (we’re are here also for that);

• Try joining local cycling club, that will help you expanding your network of cycling buddies, and if you feel competitive join their Chaingangs rides;

• Plan a route according to the wind: it might be easier (and less frustrating) to enjoy;

• Do a long weekend ride towards a far place in the direction of the wind and then take the train back;

• Explore new roads: one friend always says best roads are the ones still to be discovered;

• Ride the same itinerary in the other direction or at sunset/sunrise;

• If you ride across little historical villages, go visit them;

• Have you ever tried bikepacking? Well if you haven't yet, consider it something to add to your to do things (I will be sharing more about this in another article);

• As well as all the other advices mentioned above you can also use your bike as a tool to help you connect with the surroundings next to where you live. For example you can start combining riding your bike with foraging mushrooms or picking chestnuts or pines in the forest. Every place and season has something different to offer, and the bike can facilitate the process of getting to a remote location. By foot it might take you longer and by car it would be sometimes impossible to reach certain spots in the fields or in the woods where you can immediately slow down the rhythm of life. Learning how to connect with nature and what she has to offer, is like feeling more of a part of the territory we live in & ultimately is finding that calm that we all need and cycling can give us.

picking chesnuts in the forest in atutumn.

I hope you find these useful. I try to go back to them every time I feel like I need to renew my motivation. 

At Asimismo we offer Motivational Coaching sessions. We are heading towards Autumn and this might bring up some difficulties to stay focused and motivated, especially with less hours of light and challenging weather. Don’t hesitate asking for help.

We are here to support each other, and if there’s anything I am passionate about, it is about guiding people to find in cycling an excuse to become their best version in every season.