Cycling is often perceived as a solitary sport in which riders conquer long distances and challenging terrains on their own. While the freedom of the open road has its undeniable allure, there's an often-overlooked yet potent motivator in the world of cycling: community. Over the past six years, I have had the pleasure of leading and coaching our BaseCamp group coaching training community and have observed that being part of a cycling community can be a game changer in your training journey, particularly when preparing for events and races.
I've learned that the power of community can fuel our motivation and elevate our cycling performance in three key areas: workout completion, workout quality, and athlete development. Training as part of a community significantly increases workout dedication and completion, which in turn naturally leads to significant improvements in performance.
Let's talk about some other benefits of training in community!
Shared goals and aspirations
Cycling communities bring together individuals who share a common passion and similar goals. When we're surrounded by like-minded cyclists, our shared goals and aspirations become a consistent source of motivation. The collective energy to complete, compete, or simply enjoy the ride is infectious, pushing us to push ourselves further.
Accountability
Knowing that others are counting on us can significantly enhance our training commitment. In a community, we're part of a network of riders who motivate and hold each other accountable, and it's harder to skip a training session when we know our fellow cyclists are putting in the effort.
Camaraderie in training
Training with a group creates a unique sense of camaraderie and shared experience. The conversations, laughter, and mutual encouragement during group workouts can make training feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable social activity. It's also been my observation that the community builds a healthy and respectful approach toward competition, which improves training quality and performance learning.
Healthy competition
Healthy competition within a cycling community can push us to elevate our performance. Racing against others in training or participating in friendly challenges can stimulate our competitive spirit, drive us to improve, and build performance readiness for events and races.
Emotional support
Cycling can be mentally demanding, especially when preparing for events. A supportive community gives us a built-in network to share challenges, fears, and triumphs. The emotional support we receive can be a powerful motivator, helping us stay mentally resilient.
Celebrating achievements
One of the most rewarding aspects of a cycling community is celebrating achievements together. Whether it's completing a BaseCamp challenge, conquering a tough group workout, or simply accomplishing a training goal, sharing these moments with our cycling companions enhances the joy of accomplishment.
Sharing knowledge
One of the biggest benefits of training in a cycling community is the ability to learn, not only from the coaches and leaders, but from the community itself. Our group coaching program features coaching by head coaches and an expert coaching team, which creates a very high level of coaching, and this is enhanced in the community as experienced riders/members often share valuable insights, training tips, and strategies. This collective wisdom can accelerate the learning curve and help us make informed choices.
Diverse perspectives
A cycling community often includes riders with various backgrounds and experiences. This diversity of perspectives can expose us to new training approaches, technologies, services, and equipment that can enhance training.
In conclusion, the power of community in cycling cannot be overstated. It transforms training from a solitary pursuit into a shared adventure, motivating us to push beyond our limits. The sense of belonging, camaraderie, and mutual support create a positive feedback loop, making every pedal stroke a step closer to achieving our cycling goals.
If you're training for cycling events, consider joining or building a cycling community—because together, you'll not only ride stronger but also experience the true essence of the sport.