Sometimes you need more than willpower to get out the door. Words have power—the right quote at the right moment can transform your mindset and push you through that mental barrier. Here are the cycling quotes we return to again and again.
On Pain and Perseverance
“It never gets easier, you just go faster.” — Greg LeMond
The eternal truth of cycling. That burning in your legs? It’s permanent. You just learn to move through it faster.
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” — Eddy Merckx
From the greatest cyclist of all time, a reminder that perfection isn’t required—consistency is.
“When my legs hurt, I say: ‘Shut up legs! Do what I tell you to do!’” — Jens Voigt
The simple philosophy that carried Voigt through decades of professional racing.
On Freedom and Joy
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
Not just about cycling—about life. Momentum matters more than perfection.
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.” — John F. Kennedy
A reminder of why we started cycling in the first place.
“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” — Ernest Hemingway
On Mental Strength
“The race is won by the rider who can suffer the most.” — Eddy Merckx
Not about physical talent—about mental resilience.
“Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades.” — Eddy Merckx
Your legs are the best upgrade you can make to your bike.
“I have always struggled to achieve excellence. One thing that cycling has taught me is that if you can achieve something without a struggle, it’s not going to be satisfying.” — Greg LeMond
On the Journey
“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” — H.G. Wells
“The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” — John Howard
“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorof vehicles, and mentally bubble my thoughts.” — Diane Ackerman
For Long Climbs
“Mountains are where heaven meets earth.” — Cycling proverb
“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a bike, and that’s pretty close.” — Anonymous
“The steeper the mountain, the harder the climb, the better the view from the finishing line.” — Anonymous
Your Personal Motivation Mantra
The best cycling quote is the one that resonates with you personally. Some riders need aggressive motivation (“Shut up legs!”), others need gentle encouragement (“Just keep pedaling”).
Find 2-3 quotes that speak to you. Write them on a card and keep it in your wallet. Set them as phone wallpapers. Let them be the words you return to when motivation flags.
Better yet, use CyclingTab to automatically rotate cycling quotes and inspiration in your browser, paired with stunning cycling photography. Sometimes the right words appear exactly when you need them.
The Quote You Create
Eventually, you’ll have your own cycling wisdom—born from miles logged, hills climbed, and mental barriers broken. Your quote might be simple: “One pedal stroke at a time” or “Legs feel bad, ride anyway.”
These personal mantras, forged in your own experience, will carry more power than any professional rider’s wisdom. The only way to discover them? Keep riding.
See you on the road.
