The Mental Game

Good job, @rossage.

Not a coincidence that you got it. High achievers are often best left to their own devices. Partners can reinforce preconceived limitations. They can scare you with their common sense and recording devices...

The most intense mental games happen solo, IME. Or maybe have happened, because it’s tough to find partners for spontaneous shenanigans?
 
rossage said:
So, yesterday's ride got some of us thinking about a different aspect of mtbing that many do not talk about, the mental game.
We all talk about physical feats of climbing and singletrack dexterity but few of us mention the brainwork involved in getting there. Sometimes the mental game starts with just trying to get out of bed in the morning.
It's cold and dark and the bed has you in a stranglehold. Your SO might even whisper loving words to try and tempt you into staying under covers. You make the decision and your feet hit the cold floor. That's the first step of many that you and your brain need to make on every ride.
Getting your gear together takes more brain work and for me-a formula just to keep things straight. The day's ride throws in variables about clothing, packs, gear and water availability. For me it's a quick mantra and my stuff is in the bag and ready to go.
At the trailhead things can get interesting too. You see Johnny Mountain Crusher, Frankie Fireroad, and Suzy Singletrack and they are fit and ready to rip. Your ego sulks...the mental game. You are psyching yourself out already. Even though you never train, or ride infrequently at best, your dreams of beating everyone to the top of Denali are crushed at the gate.
We all have fears and doubts and insecurities and they can come to the front when jumping on an mtb. Any boasting about epic feats is soon proven so because it is apparent that you've been watching way more Rampage than actually riding. Or you could just be having a bad day. Even a slight illness or lingering injury can turn a romp into a sufferfest.
That's the mental game. You have to be honest with yourself about what you are trying to do. Use tips and tricks to convince yourself that what you are trying to do is possible-while reminding yourself that maybe, at this time, you might not be physically ready. There is no shame in walking a feature-we have all done it. Use your brain and live to ride another day.
I constantly re-assess my mental condition during rides. Getting grumpy or angry usually has other underlying issues like dehydration or bonking. Fear can increase even a small drop into a life-ending chasm of darkness and fear has kept many from joining our sport-or returning to it after a bad experience.
We can all help by talking to other riders and helping them with their mindset along the way. Encouragement, advice, apat on the back, and maybe even a peice of candy can go a long way to saving the day-and the ride.
Maybe that's why we wear helmets-to keep our wits about us until it's over.
And then we do it again.
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How did I miss this?
Rossage... you read our thoughts perfectly bc you thought the same...
thanks for putting words down to our thoughts...
 
rossage said:
I don't know man, nothing says awesome more than a Buck Owens (?) avatar!
Come on out and I'll show you the goods.
They are real, and they are spectacular.
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Haha! Thanks for the offer, sounds likes it's too good to pass up!

BTW That is Porter Wagoner. :thumbsup:

BTW #2 Just watched that Seinfeld episode the other day!

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rossage said:
On a recent ride around Chilao Hillyer, I was able to clean the infamous Wall, but without witnesses it's a hollow victory, right?
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rossage said:
And so yesterday, on Strawberry, I cruised the second switchback, the one that has stymied me for months now.
Yeah, I was solo.
No witnesses.
Hollow victory?
I don't think so.
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As much as I'd like to call BS I just cant. I've ridden both these trails with you before and I'll ride em with you again and surely you'll be able to back up these claims.:Roflmao:Roflmao:Roflmao. I mean I've followed climbing legends like Burt and Berni up the wall and even they didn't clean it. I'm one to talk though cause I went 0 for 2 last weekend even with my 50 tooth cog and fluffy tires. Heck the first try I didn't even make it over the tree roots before the switchback even though I went in there convinced I'd clean it on the Hightower:thumbsdown:.

Seriously though I do believe it. I watched you climb that steep b!tch at Cannell while talking all your usual smack at 9000 ft elevation while like 11 of us others were hiking and gasping for air. I've also watched you clean ridiculous rock gardens with 0mm of suspension that I didn't make with lots of travel.

That being said I ride my best when I go in scared of the unknown. I think my focus is just better and those split second decisions just come more natural. Truth be told I've gone in to many rides thinking I was in way over my head but then mid way thru you realize "you got this" and you can loosen your grip and start having some fun. For me it's those rides I've done before that I go in to way over confident, over biked and they feed me that humble pie.
 
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