11 Ways to Get You On Your Bike More
If you had a 90 minute window right now would you be able to answer the call of the trail?
You want to ride your bike more. I already know this about you. So what is stopping you? Sometimes it’s large issues, like renoing your bathroom and other times it’s a conspiracy of small obstacles. Either way a few strategies might get your ass in the saddle more frequently.
Removing minor stumbling blocks is one of the best ways to get you out on your bike more. And what about that 90 minute window? Would the thought of getting your chit together kill the dream? I know that when I put a little energy into having my gear packed, and add a few rewards, I get out and ride more. And we all know that riding more makes my life mo bettah.
1. Repack. Fill your hydration pack as soon as you get back from riding, and replace anything else you have used like tubes, energy bars, and whatever you keep in your patch kit.
2. Tinker. Make any adjustments or repairs to your bike before it gets put away. I know you can’t think of anything else except a beer and a burger, so crack that beer and dial things in with some brown pow in hand.
3. Scrub. Do your laundry Danny! Have your kit prepped and ready – with options close at hand for changing weather conditions.
4. Fuel. Make sure there is always a supply of quick “on the go” food available. Don’t let a lack of meal prep get in the way of a spontaneous ride. Bananas and other fresh fruits, energy bars (homemade are not hard to make!) or some veggies and hummus will power you up for a quick ride and digest quickly. Keeping spare energy bars in your pack can be a godsend when you realize you (or a friend) have undernourished prior to riding.
5. Rack it. If you have ever had to remove one or both wheels to get your steed in your car you know that slows you down and sucks the wind out of your sails. Tray racks are definitely the most convenient for cars, but a pickup is the ultimate solution. There is nothing better than tossing your bike over the tailgate and letting it rest on your Dakine pad. The two second load.
6. Maintain. Keep your bike in good running order. You may consider yourself a home mechanic, but don’t let your busy schedule and get in the way of a little bike love – take it to the pros at your LBS if you don’t have time to do it yourself, and use your next two hour window to ride your bike instead of working on it.
7. Commit. Join a ride group or organize a weekly ride with friends. What better way to ensure you’ll get out than to make others depend on you?
8. Enjoy. Buy equipment you really like. Nice gear can keep you stoked, such as a helmet that fits properly and you like the look of. Or a jacket that keeps you warm and dry and can pack into your bag. The less you have to complain about, the better.
9. Double up. Buy another pair of gloves. Whether they just didn’t dry since your last ride or you crashed and need to run them through the wash, you have to own at least two pairs of gloves, but three or four never hurt anyone.
10. Schedule. Plan your ride well in advance (and tell your significant other about it) so 27 small tasks don’t get in the way. And schedule it with someone, so bailing will make you feel shame.
11. Redundancy. Have a cheap back up bike. Hardtails are good candidates for their ease of maintenance. Ideally with the same size wheels and axles and rotors as your number one so you can swap things out if your number one ride has issues.
As was alluded to in our recently re-published article Big Rocks, you are much more likely to get out for a quick rip if you prioritize it. Removing barriers is a huge step towards making riding fit in a busy schedule.
What are you waiting for? Get out there!
Comments
Kelly Amsbry
8 years, 5 months ago
12. Sign up for something stupid like the BCBR and you have no choice but to
ride your bike whenever you're not sleeping or working. Note bad for your friendships with non-bikers, murder on your dating life.
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Gruffalo
8 years, 10 months ago
Leave straight from work. It's a pain in the ass to load bikes and gear in the AM before going to work, but as long as you have bike storage while at work, it makes getting to post work rips a lot quicker. Gotta have all these other rules in place first though!
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575rider
10 years ago
Started keeping my bike and gear ready when I moved to Bend. Something about living 7-8 minutes from multiple trailheads provides the stoke to take advantage of those 1-2hr windows. I can be out the door AND riding inside of 20 minutes.
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Phaulonius J Knucklebones
8 years, 9 months ago
Hey 575rider….
I've been to Bend a few times and am planning on another visit mid-July. It looks to me like camping in the area is all booked up for the summer. (and my usual Tumalo State Park is either booked or under construction)
Is there anywhere nearby you can recommend for (free or other) camping. It seemed there may be places in Phil's Trailhead area.
Is it legal to camp there?
Paul
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Cr4w
10 years, 2 months ago
One thing I started carrying is one of those wax pencils they use at Tim Horton's to mark their coffee. If I'm gearing up to ride and I realize something needs work soon, or returning from a ride and it's fresh in mind to replace my pedal cleats or tune my front derailleur then I write it on the side of my car. That way it's there when I get home and am rushing to get put away, or it's there when I return to the garage the next time.
It's also good for leaving physically harmless passive aggressive notes on drivers who park poorly or whatever.
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Feral
10 years, 3 months ago
Still doesn't address the big hurdle: family. I would love to ride every day, but I think my wife would leave me and I wouldn't get to spend all the time I do with my little guy. At this point it's a balance, but hopefully when my boy is older we can start hitting the singletrack together, at least some of the time.
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Morgan Taylor
10 years, 3 months ago
Your family is who allows you the 90 minute window, but it's up to you to have your gear ready to go when that window appears.
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woodyak .
8 years, 9 months ago
Think about it, convince your family, that it's like going to the gym every day. You want to be around for them in your older age. The time is now to get into the habit of working out every day. Even if it's just 40 minutes.
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Kelly Amsbry
8 years, 5 months ago
Teach your kid to ride. Divorce your wife. Worked for me, not recommended for everyone.
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RV
10 years, 3 months ago
Number 2 for me. Tinkering is an important part of dialling my bike exactly how i like it. And only immediately after the ride do i have feedback for my bike thats relevant. Its worth the time especially given how complex our rides are.
I think one item that is missing on the list is sharing and reading. Sharing your experiences with others gets others stocked. And when i read articles on nsmb or troll the bb, it gets me craving to get out.
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Banshee Beast
10 years, 3 months ago
I like #9 but double up on everything! Shoes, socks, gloves, helmet etc. I usually put my gear over a heat duct asap after I get home. Have gone for an am ride wirh friends only to have my pm friends wanna ride lTer. Was glad I had 2 sets of everything.
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Morgan Taylor
10 years, 3 months ago
We had lights on the maybe list but I decided to cut them as they are kind of a winter-specific option except for a die hard few. No doubt they do extend the window of time you can fit a ride in a day, though!
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onepunch
10 years, 3 months ago
Good list. The food and the laundry have stumped me before…i would add, get lights for winter. Totally opens up a new realm. There is no real off season if you get some decent lights.
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megrim
10 years, 3 months ago
Great list guys!! I'll add one of my own; charge your lights after you get home from you night ride. Nothing worse than being in the middle of the forest trying to walk your bike out using your cell phone as a light…
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boomforeal
10 years, 3 months ago
i thought that thumbnail looked familiar…
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Garrett Thibault
10 years, 3 months ago
Number 11 is my favorite. Even the internet justifies a second bike. It doesn't have to be anything special and it's still a chit-ton of fun.
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DanLees
10 years, 3 months ago
Good article!
I can be out the house and rolling towards my local trails in under 5 mins.
Can I add #12? "Live next to the trails" If you can ride without having to drive, it removes a barrier.
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Morgan Taylor
10 years, 3 months ago
Great addition – worked for me!
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