Want to Bike More? Start Here
You’ve said it before: “I want to ride my bike more.”
You mean it every time you say it, but then life happens. Work runs late, dinner needs to be made, the kids need a ride somewhere, and before you know it, another week has passed and your bike is still sitting in the garage, silently waiting for you.
I get it. I’ve been there, staring at my bike and feeling that familiar mix of guilt and frustration, wanting to move but also completely exhausted. The good news? Riding your bike more doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t require fancy gear, long stretches of free time, or a perfect plan. It can actually be simple and even fun when you stop overthinking it.
In this episode of The Biking Wellness Podcast, I’m sharing my best tips to help you ride more often, feel stronger on the bike, and rediscover the joy that got you pedaling in the first place.
Make It Easy and Visible
Here’s the truth: the harder it is to start, the less likely you’ll do it. That’s why one of the best ways to ride more is to make your setup as easy as possible.
Keep your bike ready to go, tires pumped, water bottles filled, helmet and shoes in one place. I can’t tell you how many rides I’ve skipped just because I couldn’t find my gloves or my bottles weren’t clean. When everything’s set up and visible, you remove the mental friction that stops you from getting out the door.
During COVID, I kept my hybrid bike right by the garage door. No clips, no special gear, no excuses, just hop on and go. Some days I’d ride around the neighborhood with my son, other days I’d squeeze in ten quiet minutes on my own. Those easy rides added up, and they reminded me that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
If your gear is ready and waiting, that little nudge might be all you need to think, “You know what? I’ve got twenty minutes. Let’s ride.”
Build Rides Into Your Routine
If you’ve been waiting for a magical window of time to open up, you’ll be waiting forever. The secret is to weave biking into your normal life instead of trying to carve out extra time for it.
Maybe you ride to the store instead of driving. Maybe you drop your kids off at school and take the long way home. Maybe you hop on the Peloton while dinner’s in the oven. I’ve done this so many times. Some of my favorite quick dinners, like apricot chicken or meatloaf, bake for 45 minutes, which is the perfect time for a 20-minute ride and a quick stretch before dinner’s ready.
Small rides count. Short rides build consistency. Every ten-minute spin is a deposit into your health, your confidence, and your joy. Don’t underestimate what those “little” rides do over time.
Focus on Joy, Not Rules
Let’s be honest, riding your bike should feel good. Not like another item on your to-do list, not like punishment, and definitely not like something you have to earn.
When we focus too much on metrics like miles, pace, or calories, we forget why we started riding in the first place. So instead of asking, “How hard should I ride today?” ask, “What would feel fun today?”
Maybe it’s a slow roll around the block. Maybe it’s exploring a new path. Maybe it’s a charity ride with your family, like the 12-mile ride I did recently with my son. He flew up the hills while I was breathless behind him yelling, “Wait for me!” It was chaotic, sweaty, and absolutely perfect.
Joy is what keeps you coming back. When you focus on the feeling, the freedom, the wind, the gratitude for what your body can do, the motivation follows naturally.
Plan for Real Life
Because here’s the thing: life will always happen.
The weather will turn. Schedules will change. Energy will dip. You’ll miss a ride, maybe a few. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it just means you’re human.
Instead of thinking, “I blew it,” ask, “What’s my backup plan?”
Maybe it’s an indoor ride on the trainer. Maybe it’s a short walk or some stretching. Maybe it’s just letting today go and trying again tomorrow.
There’s always another ride ahead of you. Always another chance to clip in, hop on, and go. When you make peace with that truth, the guilt starts to fade and biking becomes what it’s meant to be: a lifestyle, not a checklist.
The Bottom Line: Keep It Simple and Have Fun
You don’t need a perfect plan or a full kit to call yourself a cyclist. You just need a bike, a little intention, and a willingness to show up, even imperfectly.
Keep your setup simple. Build riding into your real, messy life. Focus on fun, not pressure. And when life gets in the way, remind yourself that there’s always another chance to ride again.
Because the more you ride, the more capable and confident you’ll feel. That’s what we celebrate here, not perfection, but progress. Not appearance, but strength. Not rules, but joy.
If this episode encouraged you, would you share it with a friend who’s been wanting to ride more? Or tag me on Instagram @sassycycling!
