How to Wind Down Your Riding Season and Get Ready for Next Year
As the days get shorter and the temperatures start to dip, many riders find themselves at a crossroads — keep pushing through the winter, or take time to reset before next season? Whether you’re a racer who’s logged countless training hours or a weekend gravel explorer, the off-season is a golden opportunity to recover, reflect, and set yourself up for a stronger year ahead or change focus for a couple months and enjoy some slower paced exploration.
1. Assess Your Bike (and Any Damage) Before Storing It
If you are a rider that takes time off during the winter, before your bike goes into hibernation, give it a proper inspection. Check the frame for any cracks, chips, or soft spots — especially around high-stress areas like the bottom bracket, seat cluster, and head tube junction.
Even minor impact damage can worsen over time if left unchecked, and winter storage often makes small issues easy to forget. Catching and repairing them now can save you from a mid-season disaster later. If you’re unsure whether a mark is cosmetic or structural, a quick professional inspection can give you peace of mind (and keep your investment safe).
2. Review Your Year: What Worked, What Didn’t
Every ride you logged tells a story. Maybe your endurance improved but your sprint power lagged. Life/ride balances can be tricky to manage. Some seasons I find myself able to ride 15+ hours per week and others I have found life to be too busy to manage regular training. While we all would love to have a perfect balance every year, that simply isn’t the case for anyone. Reflecting on what worked or what didn’t is a great way to reframe and set realistic expectations for next season. Maybe you found yourself skipping rides because the bike didn’t fit quite right or some nagging mechanical issue discouraged taking your favorite bike out. Take a few minutes to look back through your ride data or journal — note what felt great, what didn’t, and what changes could make next season better. The off-season is the best time to address fit issues, try a new saddle, or test new gear. That way, you’re ready to roll when motivation spikes again in the spring. This also helps your local bike shop in what is notoriously a very hard season for weather based retail. Take care of those issues while turnaround times are quick and shop employees have time to chat about gear choice and upgrades vs getting stuck in the spring rush with the rest of the peloton.
3. Set Goals for the Upcoming Season
Setting clear, realistic goals keeps your riding purposeful. Want to finally line up for that gravel race? Plan a bikepacking trip? Shave time off your local climb? Maybe this is the year you take on a coach? Write it down. From there, build a simple plan: early-season base miles, mid-season events, and time for recovery. Even a rough outline will help you stay consistent through the ups and downs of the season. This will also help when the unexpected sickness, injury, or work trip has you off the bike for more time than you would like. After that time off you have the plan and structure in place to hop right back in where you left off.
4. Off-Season Doesn’t Mean Off-the-Bike
While it’s tempting to hang up the bike completely, staying active helps your body and mind transition smoothly. Indoor training, mountain biking, or short endurance rides on mild days can maintain your fitness without burning you out. In Northwest Arkansas we are lucky enough to be able to ride year round. However, a year in Chicago taught me that not all riders have that luxury. Maybe in your area you can get away with putting on some bigger tires and managing slick roads and shorter days. Something I found myself neglecting up until the last season or two is off the bike, strength work — especially for your core and glutes — pays huge dividends in injury prevention and power transfer once the season kicks off again. You don’t have to go crazy or lift heavy weight, but those functional movements and focusing on form can also be something you bring with you from off season into the riding season.
5. Give Your Gear (and Mind) Some Love
Your gear has been through a lot this year. Check shoes, cleats, helmets, and apparel for wear and tear. Replace what’s at the end of its life before prices jump next season. Summer kit is always cheaper in the winter, take advantage of those price cuts. And just as importantly — take a mental break. Riding hard year-round can lead to burnout. A few weeks of unstructured activity, hiking, or just doing something unrelated to bikes can help you come back fresher and more motivated. Don’t worry about missing rides to spend time with friends and family during the holidays, be flexible.
The off-season isn’t the end — it’s the reset button that helps you come back stronger, faster, and more dialed-in for next year’s goals. A little time spent inspecting, repairing, and planning now pays off in fewer surprises and more great rides when spring hits.
If you’ve noticed a soft spot, crack, or paint chip you’re unsure about, this is the perfect time to get it checked. Schedule a frame inspection or repair quote today — your bike (and your future self) will thank you.