The Mental Side of Cycling: How to Push Through Tough Rides 🚴‍♀️

Not every ride feels great. Some days, you’re flying through the miles, feeling strong, clear-headed, and unstoppable. Other days… well, you wake up slightly hungover, the wind is howling at 75 km/h, or the motivation just isn’t there.

I’ve had a bit of all of that this past week.

Despite it all, I still got on the bike. Even when the conditions were less than ideal. Even when I wanted to give up. And I learned something: cycling is just as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

Here’s what I’ve figured out about pushing through the tough rides.

1. Momentum Beats Motivation 🚀

Before this challenge, I thought motivation would be the key to consistency. Turns out, motivation is completely unreliable.

Take Day 9, for example. I woke up confused - daylight savings had thrown me off, and the weather app showed winds between 30-40 km/h, with gusts up to 75 km/h. Everything about that screamed, Skip the ride today. Just stay inside.

But I didn’t. I told myself:
✔️ I don’t have to ride far.
✔️ I just have to ride something.
✔️ Keeping the streak alive is more important than waiting for a “perfect” ride.

So I went out. The wind was brutal—headwinds slowed me down, tailwinds made control difficult, and crosswinds nearly blew me sideways. But I got through it. And when I got home, I felt better than when I left.

Motivation comes and goes, but showing up anyway builds momentum.

2. When Your Mind Wants to Quit, Give It a Mini-Mission 🎯

On Day 8, I set out on a mid-length ride and realized something—I was bored. I was riding the same route as before, and my mind was drifting to how long I still had left to go.

So I made up a game: take photos of every interesting bridge I saw along the way.

That tiny shift in focus made a massive difference. Instead of counting kilometers, I was on a mission to find cool bridges. And suddenly, the ride felt fun again.

This is a trick I’m definitely going to use again. Some other ideas:
📍 Ride somewhere new, even if it’s just a slight variation in route.
🎧 Listen to a podcast or an audiobook instead of music.
🎯 Give yourself a challenge (e.g., hit a certain cadence or stand up on every climb).
🖼️ Treat your ride like a photo journal—find cool things to capture along the way.

3. Set a “Minimum Viable Ride” 🚴‍♂️

Some days, it’s not about crushing big numbers. It’s about keeping the habit alive.

This was crucial on Day 10 when I woke up to snow and ice. There was no safe way to ride outside, and I felt like I was about to break my streak. So instead, I switched things up—I walked instead.

Did I ride that day? No.
Did I still show up for my challenge? Yes.

For me, my Minimum Viable Ride (MVR) is at least 20 minutes of cycling. But when that’s not possible, I adjust:
✔️ Swap in a cross-training session (like running or walking).
✔️ Do an indoor spin session if the weather is unsafe.
✔️ Accept that a short ride is still better than skipping completely.

Consistency > Perfection.

4. Small Wins Build Big Confidence 🏆

On Day 12, I had my longest ride yet—34 km over 2 hours. And it felt amazing.

That wasn’t a ride I forced myself through. It wasn’t a battle. It was pure enjoyment.

What changed?
✅ I got better at fueling (a simple meal of toast, eggs, and blueberries the night before).
✅ I slept well for the first time in days.
✅ I was in the right mindset from the start.

Sometimes, tough rides happen because of mental resistance. Other times, it’s a reflection of poor recovery, nutrition, or stress. Learning to recognize the difference is part of the process.

Final Thoughts: Tough Rides Make You Tougher 💪

Not every ride will be easy. Some will push you physically. Others will test your patience. But each one is a lesson in resilience.

✔️ Momentum > motivation — just show up.
✔️ Make it fun — find ways to keep your brain engaged.
✔️ Keep a Minimum Viable Ride — doing something is better than nothing.
✔️ Celebrate the breakthroughs — they don’t happen overnight, but they do happen.

So the next time a ride feels like a struggle, ask yourself:
"Can I make this fun?"
"Can I just ride a little?"
"How good will I feel when I’m done?"

Because finishing a tough ride always feels better than skipping it. 🚴‍♀️🔥