It’s dark, it’s raining outside, and the bike is in the cellar. On the screen is the programme: ten minutes of warming up, four intervals, with short recovery periods in between, followed by a cool-down. No coffee with the group. Does structured training make it a lonely affair – and might it even undermine one of the sport’s most important benefits?
As is so often the case, the answer here is: it depends.
Research first distinguishes between being alone and loneliness. Training alone is an external situation. Loneliness, on the other hand, describes the feeling that important social connections are lacking. A major review shows that loneliness can arise when sport takes precedence over other interests, when one’s identity is defined almost exclusively by performance, or when support is lacking during difficult times. However, a training plan was not identified as the sole cause.
I know both sides. Of course, ideally, I follow a structured plan when cycling on the roller. Interval training, in particular, can be very liberating for me. I don’t have to follow anyone else, I don’t have to look for a route, and I don’t have to worry about traffic lights or the weather. I can concentrate entirely on my breathing, my pedalling and the intensity. After a long day at work, this focused time spent being in my own company isn’t loneliness, but relaxation.
Others experience this same sense of unity in a completely different way. For them, cycling is about the wind on their face, the scenery or chatting with the group. When they train alone in the basement for several evenings in a row, they miss the sense of community and the feeling of belonging somewhere. Sports psychology also confirms that social support can promote well-being and help to cushion the effects of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.
When does structured training become a problem – and when does it not?
Structured training becomes problematic when it no longer serves life, but life somehow revolves around it instead. When every spontaneous invitation takes a back seat to a training session. When a casual family outing is seen as ‘wasted training time’.
However, cycling need not be an activity devoid of social connection. Virtual training communities such as Zwift can give middle-aged people in particular a sense of belonging and help to reduce the loneliness associated with cycling. It seems that what matters is not just whether others are physically cycling alongside us, but whether we feel part of a community.
So check this: Does your training plan include any unstructured time? Is there a ride with no specific destination, no test and no debrief? Do I have regular contact with others – on the bike or off it? And can I reschedule a session if real life takes priority?
Sport should give us the strength we need for work, family, friendships and, indeed, all the things that make us want to stay healthy and active in the first place. For some, this works on a stationary bike. For others, this strength only comes from being outdoors, alongside fellow cyclists. The key thing is that training remains an option – and does not become our whole world.
Tim Farin
Editor
