{"id":4506,"date":"2025-07-30T10:09:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T10:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=4506"},"modified":"2025-08-28T07:54:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T07:54:07","slug":"a-summer-of-cycling-imogen-cotters-guide-to-staying-motivated-in-the-saddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2025\/07\/30\/a-summer-of-cycling-imogen-cotters-guide-to-staying-motivated-in-the-saddle\/","title":{"rendered":"A Summer of Cycling: Imogen Cotter\u2019s Guide to Staying Motivated in the Saddle"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the summer stretches on, motivation can dip, whether you\u2019re training for an event or just trying to ride regularly.<\/strong> The early weeks of summer are filled with excitement\u2014sunny days, warm evenings, and the sheer joy of getting out on the bike without the hassle of winter layers. But by mid-summer, when barbecues, beach trips, and long evenings with friends start competing for your time, it\u2019s easy for cycling to take a back seat. That\u2019s why finding fresh ways to keep your rides enjoyable and purposeful is so important.<\/p>\n

In this blog, former professional cyclist Imogen Cotter shares her personal tips for keeping the joy in summer cycling. She reflects on her own mindset shifts during the season, offers advice on adding variety to your routine, and highlights the small habits that help her stay consistent and motivated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are roughly halfway through the summer season, which also means we are midway through arguably the best time of the year for cycling. It\u2019s that time of year when it no longer takes 20 minutes to get dressed for a ride, and you no longer feel uncomfortably warm before you have gone out of the front door. In Ireland, we still have to continuously scan the weather app to make sure we don\u2019t get caught in a torrential downpour, but there\u2019s no denying that it\u2019s much easier to get out for a spin during these lovely summer days. I have put together some of my top tips on how you can make the most out of the longer days on your bike!<\/p>\n

1. Embrac<\/strong>e<\/strong> adventure<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One small change I\u2019ve made to my training this summer is turning my longer rides into mini adventures. Is there a caf\u00e9 you\u2019ve been meaning to try or a scenic viewpoint you\u2019ve yet to visit? I now plan my routes around those little goals, and it has taken me down new roads I wouldn\u2019t have discovered otherwise. It has also added a sense of fun and purpose to my training\u2014and made me look forward to each ride even more!<\/p>\n

Knowing how to stay safe on the roads is also crucial. You can find some top tips on how to stay safe during your summer cycles here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2. Get involved in s<\/strong>portives<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve been lucky enough to do some gorgeous sportives so far this year \u2013 including the \u0160koda<\/a> Tour de Conamara<\/a> and the \u0160koda <\/a>Ring of Clare<\/a>\u2013two of Ireland\u2019s leading summer cycling events.<\/p>\n

Signing up for these events has been helpful in two ways. Firstly, it has made me a lot more motivated to get out and train during the week. I don\u2019t know about you, but knowing that I have a 160km ride at the end of the month makes me want to train without making any excuses! I want to be able to finish the ride feeling comfortable, and not completely empty, which is the most important thing. Secondly, sportives enable me to get some of my longer rides completed alongside some great company! The atmosphere at these events is incredible and the 120km always flies by!<\/p>\n

Getting ready for any sportif requires knowing how to fuel effectively. I\u2019ve previously covered the topic of what I eat in a day when training for a long bike ride<\/a>, so you can see what also might work for you!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

3. Knowing how to e<\/strong>as<\/strong>e<\/strong> off<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Taking any performance pressure off yourself is key to getting out of a motivational slump. If I feel that I\u2019m lacking in motivation, I\u2019ll tell myself that I only have to go out for 30 minutes, or that I only need to push 100 watts, so that the idea of the ride isn\u2019t to suffer, but to move. If there\u2019s no performance parameter, then there\u2019s no \u2018good\u2019 or \u2018bad\u2019 \u2013 there\u2019s just cycling. This helps in bringing the enjoyment and fun back into the sport!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for routes suitable for beginners, check out this shortlist of some of the best greenways across Ireland.<\/a> Traffic-free and set amongst some of the island\u2019s most beautiful backdrops, greenways are a great starting point for budding cyclists.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope you find this fresh approach to summer training helpful. Who knows, maybe I\u2019ll see you on the start line of a sportif sometime soon. Be sure to tune in to my blog next month in which I\u2019ll talk all about this year\u2019s \u0160koda Ring of Clare in my summer recap of the event. Happy training!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the summer stretches on, motivation can dip, whether you\u2019re training for an event or just trying to ride regularly. 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