An Alternative to Cycling New Year Resolutions
Focus on living an intentional life that brings joy to every ride.

New year, new me. That’s likely on your mind after the holiday sweets, gifts, and tinsel are gone. Memories and a few extra pounds linger with the need to get life back on track. New Year resolutions, a 4,000-year tradition started by the Babylonians, often fade early in the new year.
Intentional living and cycling
I’ve had mixed success with New Year's resolutions, most forgotten by Groundhog Day. I refocused this failed tradition to intentional living, a philosophy emphasizing living with a purpose aligning my actions with my core values. I now concentrate on the things that truly matter and take intentional actions that foster a fulfilled life.
In intentional living, goals must align with core values, priorities, and purpose of life. The process is flexible allowing the reassessment of goals as core values and priorities evolve. Instead of only focusing on the result as resolutions do, smaller goals cultivate lasting habits. Motivation grows as you appreciate the progress made over time.
Cyclists traditionally set goals such as increasing mileage, improving speed and cadence, mastering hill climbs, or moving up the leaderboard. The main focus is on being faster, riding longer, and growing stronger. While these goals are meaningful for many, they don’t speak to every cyclist.
Instead of solely focusing on metrics like speed, miles, and climbs, I embrace living intentionally with goals that align with my cycling. This process encourages me to reflect on the deeper meaning of cycling—why I ride, the places it takes me, and its impact on my well-being and happiness.
I identified ten core values that shape my cycling by living intentionally. It was not an overnight exercise. It evolved as my life changed over the years. The core values guide my goal-setting process. This process focuses on consistent smaller, achievable goals that cultivate healthy habits.
Shifting your mindset is key to achieving success when using core values to guide your life. Instead of setting overly ambitious goals with an all-or-nothing approach, focus on breaking them down into smaller, more achievable goals. This incremental approach recognizes progress and makes life's journey more sustainable. Remember, true change takes time and consistent effort.
I am sharing my cycling core values that define my approach to cycling. Let these inspire your own goals. Remember, the true measure of a cyclist is how your bike and rides enhance your happiness for the life you desire.
Tom’s cycling core values
Be consistent, and don’t worry about what Garmin says. Cycling, for me, is about my experiences on the bike. It is not based on the miles, speed, and time on the Garmin but on the fact that I consistently rode during the week or month.
Sample goal: Ride for two days this week.It’s OK to step outside my comfort zone. While consistent habits are valuable, I sometimes feel limited by the routine. I frequently cycle the same trails and distances. I incorporate longer rides and bike tours, explore road cycling, and discover new destinations to live outside my zone.
Sample goal: I will be spontaneous this month and ride somewhere new and different.Be sociable on the bike including solo rides. Cycling is a social experience for me. I enjoy group rides, but I also cherish the solitude of a solo ride. I measure the quality of a ride by connections and shared experiences with others including people I meet along the way.
Sample goal: Invite friends to ride with me two times this month.Remember my tour bucket list is only the menu. I view the list as a menu of adventures. I fit the ones on the calendar based on challenges, undiscovered destinations, old reliables, excitement, and the enjoyment of life.
Sample goal: Cycle a self-supported weeklong tour this summer.Maintain a healthy bike-life balance. I have a diverse life beyond cycling. As an active volunteer and a married person, I understand the importance of balancing my passions with family and volunteer obligations. I integrate cycling into my life without compromising other commitments.
Sample goal: Prioritize and schedule my rides allowing off-the-bike time with family and friends.Make the world a better place with my cycling. Having experienced the profound impact of cycling on my life, I am dedicated to supporting the trail and cycling communities. I am inspired by and support those who ride for a cause, using their passion to make a difference in the world.
Sample goal: Write at least 2 stories a month on Tom on the Trails.Reflect on what I learned today on my bike. Cycling provides valuable time for self-reflection. The time on the ride often sparks insightful and challenging thoughts about conversations shared, problems solved, new experiences, and a deeper understanding of myself.
Sample goal: Be mindful after every ride by celebrating learning something new.Always remember it’s about having fun and enjoying life. I ride for a variety of reasons, including health, mental well-being, and social connections. Ultimately, the ride must be enjoyable. Goals are achieved and healthy habits are formed when cycling is truly fun.
Sample goal: Remember the reasons I ride and schedule rides that speak to those reasons.Never forget I was once the new guy on the bike. Cycling is more than a sport; it's a community embracing all riders. Anyone who rides, regardless of style, speed, or distance, is a cyclist. I help riders fix flats and strive to be courteous and friendly. I celebrate the diversity of the cycling community, appreciating their journeys makes mine better.
Sample goal: Share my mantra generously, ‘If you ride a bike, you are a cyclist with no qualifications and exceptions.’Capture the experiences of the ride in words and photos. As an amateur photographer and writer, I capture nature, the outdoors, and experiences on my rides. Sharing these images and words allows me to tell the story of the day.
Sample goal: Make frequent stops to savor and capture the beauty and enjoy the journey.
Challenging the norm
I’m sure many of you find this alternative approach to setting goals challenging. Having spent years in corporate America, I was taught to set goals using the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It’s a method I’ve followed for most of my life and it is effective.
I began questioning whether the SMART approach applied to a life outside of work. This led me to discover intentional living. I realized that life is more fulfilling when you understand what truly motivates you to be a happier, more content person. It’s a philosophy where you are the one in control of your life and responsible for making it the best it can be.
Core values serve as aspirations and reminders of how we strive to live our lives. Just as a corporation establishes goals to align with its core values, we must do the same on a personal level. However, the process of setting goals as an individual differs from how a business approaches it.
The sample goals shared are flexible and ‘softer’. They may involve numbers but the focus remains on behaviors that are not driven by numbers. These goals are forgiving, less rigid, and adaptable. They celebrate small victories, acknowledging that small changes lead to significant results. Most importantly, they encourage developing positive habits, guided by an intentional and thoughtful purpose. Habits change lives, not goals.
When it comes to incorporating core values into goal setting, one key point to remember is that your core values must be specific, meaningful, and deeply ingrained to remain top of mind. They aren’t checklists to tick off with every action you take. Instead, they naturally influence many aspects of your life when you commit to living in alignment with them.
This thought process changed my life including my cycling. I encourage you to explore intentional living as a cyclist.
You have me thinking!