Cycling as a Means to Reach Your 2010 New Year's Resolutions

Dear Cycling Friends,

I love the New Year! It is such a great time to wipe the slate clean and start things anew. There is no better time to commit to carpe diem than January!

So many of us make New Year's resolutions but often we lose sight of them. I think the success of your resolutions comes in visualizing the result and by making the goals clear, specific, measurable, realistic and connected to a passion that will get you there. 

Cycling is such a wonderful sport and is a great theme around which your resolutions can revolve. Cycling can inspire every area of our lives: health, travel, family, diet, learning, friends, and even spirituality. Imagine the possibilities if this theme could help you have the best year of your life?

Inspired by our Ciclismo Classico guests, here's my top ten list of cycling-themed resolutions that can help 2010 be the best ever! I've included sample measurable goals as well.

1. Improve overall health & fitness: Ride your bike regularly.  Goal: Set a specific mileage goal for 2010.
2. Enjoy quality time with family: Get your whole family on bikes.  Goal: Take five biking outings with your kids.
3. Connect deeply with old or new friends: Plan your next bicycle tour reunion.  Goal: Call our office and work with our travel consultants to pick two or three Ciclismo tours that you think your friends would like and ask them to join you.
4. Travel more: Take two bicycling vacations this year.  Goal: Plan your dates and dreamy destination by February 1.
5. Make healthy cuisine a habit and lifestyle.  Goal: Get a blender and learn to make healthy smoothies every day for your whole family.
6. Have more fun: Don't take cycling too seriously.  Goal: At least once a month, plan a ride that has nothing to do with speed or distance.
7. Connect and give back to your community and our world.  Goal: Sign up for one charity ride and raise more than the minimum.
8. Learn something new: Learn to fix your bike, lead a bike tour, bicycle through history.  Goal: Take a language or cooking class.
9. Save more money: Save gas money, bike more miles (at least locally) than you drive.  Goal: Start today! Use your bike or feet to do at least one errand per week.  Increase by one errand every month.  By the end of the year, make one day a no-car day.
10. More life balance and spirituality: Cycling as meditation in motion.  Goal: Clip your favorite spiritual passage or poem into your map holder and reflect on it as you ride.
    

If you need help coming up with - and achieving - resolutions this year, check out Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project. It's a wonderful set of resources, including a best-selling book, a blog, and lots of other stuff!

Interested in a "tool box" that will help you fulfill your New Year's Resolutions (which hopefully include more cycling, delicious dinners w/friends, learning something new & lots of wonderful travels)? Check out Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project Blog, toolbox & book that is #2 on the NYT Best Seller List

What are your cycling-themed resolutions? I wish you and your loved ones a most happy, healthy, fun, and cycling-filled 2010!