Cycling is one of the most demanding sports, both physically and mentally. We know it requires effort, sacrifice, and often taking time away from other daily activities. As the months go by, it’s normal to feel physical fatigue, but there is another kind of exhaustion that can affect you even more: mental burnout. This phenomenon, known as cyclist burnout, not only affects professionals, but more and more amateurs, whether on a mountain bike or a road bike, are experiencing it.
What is it? What are its causes? How can you prevent it and keep enjoying cycling? Below, we explore the keys to avoiding this syndrome and maintaining motivation on every ride.
What is cyclist burnout syndrome?
The cyclist burnout syndrome—or burnt-out cyclist syndrome—is a constant emotional state that manifests as mental exhaustion. First of all, it should be distinguished from those occasional times when you feel it’s just not your day to pedal and you’d do anything to skip a training session.
The load that the cyclist perceives, both mentally and physically, can come from frustration at not reaching the goals they set, whether in competition or during training.
Burnout is a prolonged feeling of disinterest that starts to appear occasionally and ends up becoming permanent. It always comes with dissatisfaction, whether with the goals set or with the feelings you have on the bike. Apathy, lack of motivation, or a lack of interest in facing not just new challenges, but even routine training sessions or rides, should be a warning sign.
What are its causes?
According to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology by Spanish researchers, there is a direct relationship between burnout syndrome and the stress perceived by the athlete, stress that is defined by the psychological and physical load they receive. Stress, therefore, is the key, since it can act as a stimulating agent in specific demanding situations, and even be positive for resolving them, but when it becomes chronic it generates that dreaded feeling of being burnt out. The load that the cyclist perceives, both mentally and physically, can come from frustration at not reaching the goals they set, whether in competition or during training. But also from the opposite, that is, having overcome the different challenges set and not finding motivating challenges.
The best recipe to avoid burnout is to achieve the greatest possible balance between our sporting side and the rest of our daily life, giving space to other hobbies.
Discomfort and injuries, along with personal, work, and family concerns, which we can call additional to sports, also contribute to the appearance of this symptom.
How can I prevent and avoid burned-out cyclist syndrome?
Although we sometimes don't believe it, especially at the beginning of the season, cyclists, like anyone who practices a sport, are incapable of always performing at our best. Accepting this is key to understanding that our planning should include as many short-term challenges as mental rest stages. We are not talking about stopping our activity completely when we are mid-season, but about being able to reduce the intensity of training for short periods of time, or to combine cycling with other complementary sports. The best recipe to avoid burnout is to achieve the greatest possible balance between our sports side and the rest of our daily life, giving space to other hobbies. Maintaining a positive attitude in a sport like cycling, which can be very lonely and require many hours of dedication, is essential. That is why we also advise you to alternate, as much as possible, different types of training and even include group rides, even if the rest of the participants are not exactly at your pace or intensity. Among the strategies that also work is managing emotions after competition. Accepting disappointments, big or small, and being objective enough to understand where you failed and what you can improve brings great benefits and keeps the ghost of demotivation away.
If you need it, consult a specialist
If despite following these tips you can't shake off burnout syndrome or don't really know how, we recommend you see a sports psychology specialist. Experts have been studying this condition for years and have a wide bibliography to consult. In many cases, they also have long experience dealing with the issue, since more and more athletes from a greater number of disciplines are experiencing episodes of passivity and lack of motivation for no apparent reason. A specialist can help you distinguish the symptoms from those that may be caused by other situations, such as overtraining or depression, with which they are sometimes confused.