When we were kids, learning how to ride a bike meant adventures and freedom. We lived by the Zen proverb, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." When we make the leap from the sweet freedom of simply riding a bike to training and racing a bike, our vernacular gets inundated with phrases like, "What kind of recovery drink do you use?" and, "I can’t go out tonight; I have to be in bed by 8:00 p.m." When we start to train and race like it's a job, sometimes it starts to feel like a job. Instead of going out and enjoying an evening ride, we're stressing about how we're going to get in our miles this week.
Enjoying our sport doesn't mean we take out the competitive element or the desire to grab our next PR. Competition allows us to elevate our game, push ourselves harder, and see what we're capable of. However, when we add in the competitive factor, our athlete ego doesn't want to just go out and play. The athlete ego isn't a bad thing, but it can sometimes be an obstacle and end up sabotaging our training and racing performance. The athlete ego wants us to compare ourselves to the person next to us and see how we size up instead of focusing on our own goals. It makes us get out on the bike when what we really need is a day off. It makes us be down on ourselves when we can't get our miles in and then wants us to stay home from the race this weekend because we won't place as well. Our ego sucks all the joy out of riding bike.
I've had countless athletes share their best race experiences, and one major theme that pops up is that in their "best races" (aka top finishes), they weren't putting pressure on themselves to get a specific outcome. When our ego gets wrapped up in winning and losing, we put pressure on ourselves. Pressure makes us tighten up and hold back. Instead of racing to win, we race to not lose.
So how do we shift into the mindset of going out to play while competing?
Making it fun again
What do you love about riding?
Think back to the reason you decided to get on a bike in the first place. You need to get back to what you love about riding your bike. Is it long rides out to the coast with friends? Is it exploring new trails and new horizons? Is it beautiful, early-morning single track with no one else around? Reconnect with what makes it fun and go do more of that.
Get creative
Maybe what you need is a change of scenery. The human brain loves novelty; it's wired to seek it out. Experiencing novelty activates our dopamine systems, and dopamine release helps with overall mood, motivation, and a positive outlook. If you always go on the same training ride, find a new route. If you always ride with the same training partner, add a new training buddy to the mix. If all you do is ride your bike, add in some cross training.
Play hooky
There's more to life than riding bikes. Wait! Hear me out. Quality of life comes from balance. Humans are built to seek out novelty and to seek out equilibrium. If we don't take breaks from the bike, our bodies and minds have a way of doing it for us: we get sick, we get injured, we lose motivation, we lose mojo. Sometimes we just need a break.
If the evolution of you and your bike has brought you to racing, ask yourself this: Does my participation add to the quality of my life? Racing and training won't always be "fun;" sacrifices and pain are a part of the package. It should be a little fun, however; otherwise, what's the point? Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we don't have to ride bike; we get to ride bike. Motivation comes from enjoyment. It's much easier to get out and do something we love.
Life is too short. Remember to find joy in riding. Put your ego in check and go out and play!
At BaseCamp, we believe that every cyclist has the potential to achieve greatness, no matter where they start. Our mission is to create a community-driven training environment where cyclists and triathletes of all levels can train together, support each other, and grow stronger, faster, and more confident in their abilities. Our cycling training programs are expert driven and tailored to your needs. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, BaseCamp is where you belong.
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