How to Keep Cycling by Charting Your Progress:

 Cycling is one of the most enjoyable sports and forms of exercises known to man. Not only does it allow one to have a total body workout, it also gives one the option to appreciate one’s surroundings throughout sessions.

 Such is why cycling is increasingly becoming popular these days either as a lone sport or as a part of one’s cross training fitness program. However, just like in any other kinds of fitness activities, there are times when people lose motivation in cycling.

 It is not uncommon to see someone so enthused about riding their bike during the first few months they bought equipment, and then eventually losing interest within a year of cycling. If this is the case for you then you do not need to push your feet to pedal anymore to go on cycling. All the motivation you need may be achieved by charting your progress.

The Benefits of Charting Your Progress

 Charting your cycling progress is among the most effective ways to help you keep your cycling fitness program. If you just ride blindly, not literally of course, without knowing how far you have achieved, you are most likely to lose interest. Perhaps after a few months, or even weeks of riding in your neighborhood, you may have run out of routes to explore. Around this time, boredom can kick in, as you seem to notice that you are seeing no change anymore with your exercise regimen.

 But unbeknownst to you, a lot of things are actually changing, within you and your body as you go on your cycling program. You could have lost weight, you could have gained strength and endurance, and you could even have improved your own lifestyle through all the cycling you have made. But you will not really notice these things if you do not start charting your progress.

 Charting your progress not only tells you how near you are to your goal, it also gives you some motivation to continue what you are doing. If you see that your cycling program works, you will gain more appetite for biking. If you see that you still need to improve in some area of your cycling routine, then you may challenge yourself to push a little harder. Keeping a log chart for your cycling program will greatly help with this purpose.

What to write in your log chart

 The given items to write for charting would be your date, location, time, pace, and distance. You would wan to know where you went, when you went, how long it took you to go there, and how far it is. This basic information would show your development as a cyclist. You should also record how you feel before, during, and after each ride. This will help you explain certain changes in your performance. For instance, the day you were only able to ride for a mile could be the day when, say, you fought with your partner. Such items will help you predict how you would perform in the future.

You should also note down changes that are happening in your body. Write down your weight, body measurements, fat percentage, and other signs that would tell how much cycling is doing for you. You would be surprised at how a few weeks of cycling do to your body. This would also help you motivate yourself to strive for more or to keep on going.

Where to Chart Your Progress

 Charting your progress may be done anywhere you prefer. You can write your chart on a notebook or on a bulletin board that you see all the time. You can go hi-tech and keep a log on your PDA or cellular phone. You may also try joining some free training logs online such as Winning Stats, Bike Pro Log, or any other fitness charting services online. It does not matter where you put your chart so long as you keep track of your fitness progress.

 It is not really difficult to motivate yourself to maintain your cycling fitness program. By charting your progress, you are not only telling yourself how far you have reached with your routine, but you are also telling yourself that you can indeed go even farther than where you are.