Crash help

Big 6T6

Hi all i just wanted to ask anyone who can help, I entered a few downhill races and on my last 2 races i have crashed and injured myself first crash put me out for 3 weeks then once i was able to get back on the bike i entered a race and crashed again only this put me out just over a month after injuring my back and hand, now im finaly back up and running i have found i have lost confidence in my riding, everytime i go to do a jump or dropoff i think im going to crash and its starting to pee me off its really affecting my riding and holding me back, ive been told not to think about it just go for it but thats not helping me to sort whats going on in my head? when i approach a jump/dropoff all i think about is im going to crash grrrr. Does anyone know any way of helping me with this i love my biking and want to get back to my former self any help advice would be great.

Live to ride

norco forever

start small and build up slowly.

Dangerous Dave

Had a bit of this myself recently, quite a few big stacks - all came pretty close to serious injury, and I've been riding like a wus ever since.

First mistake I was making was to call myself rubbish or that I was riding shit. This just puts yourself down, and after a while you convince yourself you are.

Obviously make sure you are comfy on your bike first of all.

But all you can really do is start of small and get bigger. Even it's silly things like hitting table tops slowly so you don't go flying, but get a sense of being in the air/landing safely again. Build yourself up until you clear it, and you'll have forgotten your fear, and that rush you get will be back.

Try riding some XC, and messing about when you're doing that, hoping roots, hitting corners aggressively etc...

badblood

I tend to use some coaching methods I have picked up through my work, and have improved moth my riding and that of my riding buddies.

Use positive reinforcement - i.e. rather than saying 'don't pull the brakes' try saying to yourself 'leave the brakes alone' - the reason for this is the brain cannot process negative instructions, in order not to pull the brakes you have to think about pulling them first.
Its the classic 'don't look down line' iin the movies, the first thing they tend to do is look dwn!! FI they said keep looking up then they would not look down!!
e.g. If I say do not think of a blue tree to you, the first thing you will do is think of a blue tree, however, if I said think of a red tree you would think of a red tree, not a bllue one! see what I mean? this works with young children as well, I taught my kids to ride 2 wheeled in 45 minutes

Try to visualise yourself completing the obstacle sucessfully time and time again, if it hepls, watch othe rpeople nailing it and then picture yourself doing it.

Getting rid of negative language is key, keep telling yourself what you want to do, not what you dont want to do.

Boffington

apperently it really good for your riding to comeback from an injury. mentally fortifying and shiz.

i've never had a preoperly serious injury from riding (like broken bones or ripped muscles) but i know from my experiences, being a "cubborn stunt" (gettit?) helps.

i had i pretty scary off involving some slippery roots and supermanning into a tree. after recooperating for a few days and letting the pain subside i got out there and knew i had to hit the section fast again. after starting off slow i built up to my original speed. the sense of accomplishment was huge.

Big 6T6

Hi guys i just wanted to thank you all for your input on my problem, ive read all of the posts and have taken all onboard and will be taking it with me on my rides, again thank you guys.


Live to ride