5 Tips to Consider When Setting Cycling Goals

Setting goals is an integral part of participating in sports. Even when we think we aren't setting goals we really are and just don't realize it. And, of course, there are many different types of goals which can be short-term, long-term and somewhere in between.

What Should My Goals Be?

One of the biggest problems in goal setting is knowing what type of goal to set. For those just starting out in a particular sport, just participating or being able to finish an organized event is a reasonable goal. As you progress in a sport, the goals will most likely become more substantial.

More: 10 Training Fundamentals for Cyclists

A good question worth asking is, how do I figure out what my goals should be? I think it is important to set goals that are dependent on how you prepare and perform. By that, I mean, you should set goals where you have the overwhelming majority of control over the outcome.

Other Riders

To expand on that thought a bit more it is important to avoid setting goals such as wanting to beat a specific rider to the top of a specific climb on the weekly group ride. Sure, that may be something you want to accomplish, but the problem with such a goal is that it is heavily dependent on the performance of the other selected rider.

More: Characteristics of Good, Challenging Goals

Maybe you have been spending all spring trying to beat this rider and when you finally do, you find out that his wife just had a baby and not only has he been off his bike for the past several weeks, but he got just three hours of sleep the night before. Obviously, this raises the question, did you beat your nemesis because you improved your riding and met your goal, or was the outcome most likely due to the other rider's performance slipping? Regardless, you might consider the goal met and claim victory, but it is a hollow win any way you look at it.

More: 4 Rules for Setting the Right Race Goals

Drafting

I would also avoid setting goals which require a lot of drafting off other riders to achieve. Yes, it is a universally acknowledged accomplishment to complete a century in under five hours (20 mph average speed). But, if you end up sitting on someone else's wheel and drafting for 90+ miles, what have you really accomplished?

Power Meters

So what are some valid goals?

These days, we bikers are fortunate to have a number of measurement devices available for tracking our performance. From heart rate monitors to power meters, these hi-tech instruments are perfect tools for setting goals. The nice thing about power meter measurements is that they aren't affected by environmental factors.

For example, if you set a goal of doing your local 10-mile time trial (TT) in 25 minutes and if the wind is particularly strong the day when you are trying to reach that goal you might be out of luck. However, if you set the goal of averaging 250 watts of power over the 10-mile distance, even though your time may be affected by strong winds, the power you produced during the effort is not. You might be going slower than on a windless day, but you might just be putting out more power and reaching your goal.

More: Evaluate Your Cycling Season with 5 Simple Questions

Group Rides

Having said all that, many of us do use organized rides as part of our goal setting. If your goal is just to finish then drafting and relying on others is not a critical element. Ride within yourself and resist the temptation to go out too quickly just so you can hang with the fast riders. Going out too fast could seriously jeopardize all of your hard work and sacrifices if you blow up and can't finish.

If your goal is to finish an organized ride in a specific time, your first concern has to be safety. Please obey all the rules of the event. Running red lights to make up time is poor form. If you have to draft to go fast enough to meet your goal's time please be careful to ride within yourself and don't push too hard. Being tired and lacking concentration are two factors that can cause crashes.

Once you have met your goal it is time to reset the meter and establish a new goal. It is a bit of an endless process, but if you set reasonable goals your enjoyment of the sport will continue to grow.

More: How to Keep Your Cycling Motivation High