MENTAL PREPARATION

Cycling is a mental sport. Have you heard that before? How about, “This stuff is 90% mental”? It’s not possible to spend much time around cycling without hearing something to that effect. There’s a lot of truth to those statements. But they are also understatements.

Let’s set aside, for the moment, questions about equipment. Of course there is the training aspect of riding, particularly endurance riding. That plays to the physical side of the ride. There is also an emotional dimension. And finally, in the driver’s seat, there is the mental aspect.

The mental, physical, and emotional dimensions of a rider all come into play on a long ride. All of these tend to (pardon the pun) cycle up and down as the ride progresses. When all three are high, and the equipment is working, life is good. For that matter, if mental, physical, and emotional states are high, it doesn’t matter if the equipment is working poorly, or the weather is foul, the rider is having a good time. Cool.

Let’s talk for a moment, about how these various internal states interact during a ride. In the beginning the rider feels physically refreshed, but often oddly lazy or “wooden legged.” Mentally the ride is alert. Depending on personality and experience, the rider might feel a bit apprehensive, or eager. Emotionally, the beginning of the ride could be anything from “day before Christmas” excitement to “going to the gallows” dread.

As the ride moves into the early stages, the body warms and adjusts to the task. The laziness disappears, and the body begins to operate smoothly. Physically we feel good. This contributes to a positive emotional state, and the mental state benefits.

However, as the day wears on, things begin to change. The body starts to fatigue. Possibly an area of discomfort (Shoes pinch, the saddle feels wrong, a hand gets tingly) begins to be apparent. The mental side becomes aware of these things. This may trigger an emotional reaction. But then another rider tells a joke, or a pretty view comes by, or a good descent occurs, and the emotions rise.

Like the old theory of biorhythms, these three dimensions fluctuate. When all three trend down, things aren’t going well. The rider will feel bad, and getting worse. On any ride of considerable distance, this will happen. It feels awful! How does one go on?

Part of the trick is to be prepared for it. Just about all cyclists will experience one of these “triple lows” somewhere 65 miles and 80 miles into a ride. Forewarned is the first step in preparation. Expect to experience a low spot. Prepare for it. Understanding that it will pass, helps enormously.

Then too, it’s possible to head these things off. I like to arrange to stop a bit before the trouble spots. I get off the bike, eat something, and change my socks. Presto! Life is good.

Whatever your trick is, remember this, Almost everyting will get better if you just keep riding. You can slow down. You can take a break. You can sing a song. You can exchange jokes with other riders. Just keep riding.

Also, remember, the mental aspect is primary. You can think your way out of a bad situation. Your mental processes are able to consciously select which emotional responses you will have to a given circumstance. It’s easy to focus all our mental energy on dwelling on how bad it feels. Suddenly the minor discomfort becomes the biggest thing in the universe. It can get there if allowed to. Or, you can decide to laugh at your discomfort and keep pedaling. You are stronger than you know. Look at the magnificent sky, breath the air. Think about the joy and freedom of the moment. Listen to another rider’s story, or tell one yourself.

Suddenly you realize that, you don’t feel so bad after all, and you have ridden 20 miles past the point where you thought it was all coming to an end.

The mind is a powerful thing.