Sometimes we all need a little encouragment to get out on our bikes, even if weather conditions are perfect, sometimes we just lack a little motivation. It’s something we’ve all expierenced, but what to do when your bike is feeling neglected?

Well, we here at Bikemagic put our heads together and came up with ten top tips to boost your motivation. From buying new kit to booking a biking holiday, there’s plenty of ideas.

Think we’ve missed some? Let us know in the Talkback section below this article.

Enter an event

Having a target or goal is a great way to encourage you to take your mountain bike out of the shed when you might be tempted to stay on the sofa and play the Xbox. Having an event to aim at reminds you that you need to ride in order to be fit enough to get around.

With a packed events calendar this year there’s no shortage of events to suit your tastes, from short XC races to round the clock enduros. So pick an event, send of an entry form and get riding.

Get some inspiration

Sometimes you can be lacking inspiration to get out on your bike. Stock up on the latest mountain bike films and books to get you fired up and wanting to hit the trails. New releases like Life Cycles will having you pulling on your baggy shorts even before the credits start rolling.

Organise yourself

It’s now easier than ever to organise a ride. Sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the Bikemagic forum, make it easy to meet like-minded mountain bikers in your area or anywhere in the country.

Buy a map and explore new trails

Are you bored of your same old trails that you ride every Sunday. Buy a map and check out the local routes, there’s a high chance you’re missing out on new trails in your area or beyond your local patch. And maps like those from Ordnance Survey are a good way to expand your horizons beyond the sanctuary of trail centres.

Dial your technique with a skills boost

Improve your riding skills with one of the many skill sessions now available to make you a better and more confident rider. And a skills lesson will be a lot cheaper than buying the latest shiny kit and will make a noticeable real world difference.

Introduce a friend

We’ve all got to start somewhere. Get a friend into mountain biking and enjoy the wonderful satisfaction of seeing them take to your favourite sport, with your help they’ll soon pick up the basics.

Out of time, out of excuses

Sometimes we can think we don’t have enough time to fit in a ride in our busy schedules with so many demands on our free time. So try and plan ahead and make arrangements with friends and stick to them.

Buy new kit

Yes, we know what you’ll be thinking, but sometimes there’s nothing like the excitement of buying a shiny new gizmo for your bike to juice up your motivation to get out and hit the trails.

Ride the night

Think the fun ends when the sun sets? Think again, night riding can open up a whole new experience of mountain biking – there’s nothing like the thrill of snaking down a trail at warp factor nine with just a small bar-mounted light and the moonlight to illuminate your path.

Try something new

Never tried downhill mountain biking? Ever thought about doing a 24-hour solo endurance race? If you’re stuck in a rut with your riding why not try one of the many different disciplines in mountain biking to add a little flavour to your riding.

Those are just our top tips. Maybe you’ve got a few to add in the forum below, or perhaps you’ve got a great way to boost your motivation.