Last Updated on 18 September 2026:
Every cyclist, from an ultra-endurance rider tackling continents to a Gran Fondo enthusiast pushing closer to home, has a session that looms large in the training plan. Dreaded cycling workouts can feel like a steep climb in the mist, yet they are often the sessions designed to move you closer to your goals. A few practical changes in how you approach them can make starting feel far more manageable.
Covered in this blog
- Understanding the challenge of dreaded cycling workouts
- Adjusting your approach
- Make dreaded cycling workouts a routine
- Involving friends
- A coach’s role with dreaded cycling workouts
Understanding the challenge of dreaded cycling workouts
The journey to appreciating your hardest workouts begins with understanding why they’re so daunting. Is it the intensity, the duration, or perhaps a past experience that didn’t go as planned? Identifying the root of your reluctance is the first step. This understanding allows you to reframe the workout in your mind, not as a mountain to be feared but as a challenge to be conquered.
Adjusting your approach
Sometimes, it’s about starting small. There’s no rule saying you must conquer your most challenging workout at full intensity from the get-go. Break it down into more manageable segments, or adjust the intensity to build your confidence gradually. If long, steady rides bore you to tears, spice them up with short, sharp intervals to keep your mind engaged and your legs guessing.
Making dreaded cycling workouts routine
The workouts we dread are often those we do the least. By integrating these sessions into your routine more frequently, they become less of a bogeyman and more just another part of your training landscape. It’s about building a routine, much like your pre-ride ritual or post-ride recovery. The more you face the challenge, the less daunting it becomes.
Suffering is better with friends
There’s a unique camaraderie in cycling that comes from shared suffering and triumph. Invite a training partner to join you for your least favorite workouts. The mutual encouragement and the shared experience can transform a grueling session into a memorable adventure. Plus, it’s always nice to have someone to commiserate with over coffee afterward.
The coach’s role with dreaded cycling workouts
As a coach, I see my role as not just to guide you through your physical training but to support you mentally and emotionally. Understanding why certain workouts are challenging for you allows me to tailor our approach, ensuring that you’re not just enduring these sessions but growing from them. Your achievements, no matter how small they may seem, are milestones on your journey to becoming a stronger, more resilient cyclist.
Summary
The sessions you would rather avoid can reveal a great deal about your resilience, preferences and training needs. If you would like help making difficult workouts fit your goals and life, Book a Free Consultation.
