Most Mountain Bikers Want to Be Stronger. Very Few Actually Show Up.
- Alex Ackerley
- Dec 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Most riders say they want to get stronger.
Very few actually show up.
As a coach who works exclusively with mountain bikers, this is one of the most common patterns I see in mountain bike strength training — not a lack of motivation, but too much internal dialogue, self-negotiation.
The alarm goes off.
You lie there.
And the conversation starts.
Should I train today?
Maybe I’ll just ride more.
I’m pretty tired…
That conversation is the problem.
Not willpower.
Not discipline.
Not knowledge.
Just friction.
The riders who improve don’t negotiate with themselves
The riders who make real progress — who ride stronger, more confidently, and with fewer setbacks — don’t wake up debating whether training is “worth it.”
They get out of bed.
They go.
If they’re lucky enough to have a clear strength training plan for mountain biking waiting on their phone, the hard part is already done.
No guesswork.
No scrolling.
No decision fatigue.
Just execution.
Strength training for mountain bikers isn’t just about performance
This is the part that still surprises people.
Yes, strength training improves mountain bike performance — better force production, better control, more confidence on technical terrain.
But the benefits go far beyond the bike.
Riders who train consistently report:
greater durability and fewer nagging injuries
more energy and patience at home
improved focus and performance at work
less stress around riding and recovery
You stop feeling like you’re fighting your body — on or off the bike.
The return on investment is massive.
Why so many mountain bikers avoid the gym
It’s not because they don’t care.
It’s because committing to training removes the escape hatch.
Once you start a proper MTB strength training program, you can’t hide behind “I could be stronger if I wanted to.”
You’re either showing up — or you’re not.
That’s uncomfortable.
But it’s also exactly why trained riders stand out so clearly on the trail.
If you want 2026 to feel different on the bike
It won’t come from motivation.
It comes from removing the decision.
You follow a plan that makes sense for mountain biking.
You trust the process.
You show up — especially on the boring days.
That’s how strength compounds.
That’s how confidence builds.
That’s how riders stop plateauing.
If you’re nodding along while reading this, chances are you’re already closer than you think.
You don’t need a dramatic reset.
You just need to stop negotiating.
Get out of bed.
Go train.
Let the work add up.
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