Every cyclist starts the year with good intentions — ride more, get fitter, explore new routes. But setting generic resolutions usually only has one outcome … they’re forgotten by February! So, instead of having vague ambitions, set smart, purposeful goals and keep things exciting by linking them to a bucket list that gets that fire inside you, burning!

Setting Smarter Cycling Goals for the Year!

1. Targeted Fitness Gains, Not Just More Miles

Instead of a vague goal like “ride more,” focus on specific fitness improvements. Identify what’s holding you back: endurance, speed, power, or recovery? Then set clear, measurable goals:

• Increase your Functional Threshold Power (FTP) by 10% in three months.
• Improve your climbing ability by tackling a local hill once a week.
• Reduce recovery time by refining your nutrition and sleep habits.

These goals help structure your training, making each ride more focussed rather than just logging extra miles.

2. Tackle a Skill That Elevates Your Riding

Here’s some skill-based goals to improve your cycling technique:

• Improve your cornering and descending for better handling on technical routes.
• Learn how to draft properly in a group ride to conserve energy.
• Work on pedal efficiency to waste less energy on long rides.

Refining specific skills can make a big difference to your overall performance.

3. Commit to Riding in Different Conditions

Many cyclists prefer to stick to going out when the weather is ‘perfect’. But challenging yourself to tackle some of the other ‘wonderful’ weather conditions we get here in the UK can help improve your broader cycling skills:

• Rain, albeit carefully, to improve handling skills.
• Wind, learning how to position yourself and manage effort effectively.
• Cold weather, with the right gear, to build mental resilience.

This doesn’t mean suffering, but embracing all conditions makes you a better, more adaptable rider.

4. Make Riding Social – But With Purpose

Joining a cycling group is one of the best ways to improve. Instead of a generic “ride with friends more,”:

• Commit to a weekly group ride to build discipline and learn pacing.
• Join an event like a sportive, gravel challenge, or a multi-day tour.
• Find a training partner with a similar goal to keep you accountable.

Social rides add a little motivation to achieving those goals as well as a great way to have some fun and mix it up a little.

Bridging Goals and Your Cycling Bucket List

Setting short-term goals is important, but they shouldn’t exist in isolation. The best way to stay motivated is to align your goals with a bigger cycling vision—your bucket list. This way, every training session and small achievement builds toward something bigger and more exciting.

For example:

• Goal: Build endurance by completing a 50-mile ride.
• Bucket List Item: Tackle a full 100-mile century ride.
• Goal: Improve climbing ability on local hills.
• Bucket List Item: Conquer a famous climb like Mont Ventoux or Hardknott Pass.
• Goal: Get comfortable with multi-day rides.
• Bucket List Item: Ride a long-distance challenge like the North Coast 500 or Land’s End to John O’Groats.

When your goals directly support your dream rides, every session feels more meaningful. You’re not just riding for the sake of it—you’re working toward something more epic.

The Ultimate Cycling Bucket List!

A cycling bucket list isn’t just about dream destinations—it should challenge, excite, and push your limits. Here a few ideas to get you started …

1. Ride One of the World’s Most Legendary Routes

For those looking for a true cycling adventure, aim for a world-famous ride:

• The Stelvio Pass, Italy – One of Europe’s most iconic climbs, with 48 hairpins to the summit.
• Patagonia’s Carretera Austral, Chile – A stunning mix of gravel and tarmac through remote landscapes.
• The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, USA & Canada – A 2,700-mile epic ride through the Rockies.
• Vietnam’s Hai Van Pass – Stunning coastal roads mixed with tropical landscapes..

2. Take on a Multi-Day Cycling Expedition

Or how about tackling a proper adventure and exploring the world on two wheels:

• Bikepacking through the Scottish Highlands – Remote landscapes, lochs, and true wilderness riding.
• Touring the French Alps – String together legendary Tour de France climbs over several days.
• Cycling Japan’s Shimanami Kaido – A scenic island-hopping route through the Seto Inland Sea.
• The Silk Road Mountain Race, Kyrgyzstan – A tough endurance test through rugged landscapes.

Multi-day rides plus the unforgettable experiences that go with it … a must, surely!

3. Enter a Discipline Outside Your Comfort Zone

Shake things up by trying a completely new cycling experience:

• Try a gravel or mountain biking route if you’re a roadie.
• Have a go at a cyclocross race for intense, fun competition.
• Attempt a track session at a velodrome.

Exploring different styles makes you a more rounded cyclist and keeps things interesting.

4. Enter an Epic Cycling Event

Nothing tests your training like taking part in a world-famous cycling challenge. Some top contenders:

• The Cape Epic, South Africa – A multi-stage MTB race that’s as tough as it gets.
• L’Étape du Tour, France – Ride a full Tour de France stage like the pros.
• Paris-Brest-Paris, France – A 1,200km endurance ride dating back to 1891.
• Unbound Gravel, USA – One of the biggest gravel racing events in the world.

Competing in one of these gives you a goal to train for and an unforgettable experience.



Setting smarter cycling goals and crafting a bucket list that actually excites you makes every ride purposeful. Whether you're improving your fitness, mastering a skill, or riding somewhere new, 2025 can be your best year on the bike.

So, what’s first on your list?