Cycling Psychology

Pross

Hard to imagine someone who sprints at 42mph getting mentally defeated by anything! :shock:

danowat

pneumatic wrote:

Wheelie Bin wrote:

danowat wrote:

first thing to do is accept that the mind will give up way, way sooner than the body, once you've accepted this, you can tell your mind to sod off

Maybe it was delivered a little tongue in cheek, but that's a bloody brilliant post!

If you decide you're a quitter, then that's the sort of person you'll be. Decide to succeed and you'll succeed. It's that simple. Honestly. Give it a try.

Many a true word is spoken in jest. Telling the mind to sod off is exactly what I do. It is like having a tetchy kid in the back of the car. Give it something simple and repetitive to play with. May sound weird, but I usually strike up a mantra (simple phrase repeated) in order to empty my head. On the Alpe d'Huez, I was so scared of failing that all I could think of was "me-di-ta-tion me-di-ta-tion", but it still worked.


Oh, and don't look up, ever, just keep pedalling until the road flattens out.

It wasn't really "in jest", it was more of a light hearted way, but it is true!!!

Mantras are a great way to kill off the "little voice", I've been 11 miles into a half marathon before, having a torrid time of it, singing "I am iron man, da da da da da da da da" over and over in my head helped no end!.

Ben6899

When I'm suffering I just remind myself I could be stuck on the Gaza Strip... Man The Eff Up, Ben and get on with it.

Works.

thiscocks

Best thing would be to take alot of amphetamines. Other than that just choose routes you know arn't too hilly

Ands

pneumatic wrote:

Many a true word is spoken in jest. Telling the mind to sod off is exactly what I do. It is like having a tetchy kid in the back of the car. Give it something simple and repetitive to play with. May sound weird, but I usually strike up a mantra (simple phrase repeated) in order to empty my head. On the Alpe d'Huez, I was so scared of failing that all I could think of was "me-di-ta-tion me-di-ta-tion", but it still worked.
.

On my 2nd ascent of Alpe d'Huez, I got about 3 km from the top and was muttering under my breath something about "not doing this ****ing mountain ever again". (Not exactly positive thinking!) I'd gone too hard at the bottom and my legs were in pain. However, I had a time to beat and I wasn't going to quit. In the end, I knocked just over a minute off, which I thought was pretty crap. Less than hour later, I had forgotten the pain and started to plan my 3rd ascent (which I did a couple of days later). It's like childbirth - you vow never again, but you always do.

kenniff

Think a mixture of good points here,especialy blocking out the thiughts of stopping.
If you stop or slow down,what then,you'll rest and wish you had carried on.
So if you know that and axcept that everyone who does the sport thinks the same it makes it acceptable.
You are no different to any other sportsman/women,its just how you deel with it.....
:roll:
Be strong think fast and you will last

pottssteve

I enjoy the riding, it's cleaning all the sh!te off the bike after that depresses me! I went out today and the roads are filthy after the snow. Bike's sitting in the hallway, dry, but uncleaned, as I'm out again on Sunday and can't be @rsed to clean it in the meantime...

I feel guilty and bad, too.

This excerpt from my memoirs might cheer you up...

As I voluntarily force myself forwards, clicking into lower and lower gears, I acknowledge the fact that, unlike the paid riders, at any moment I can stop, turn around and freewheel easily back down the slope. I quickly banish this thought from my mind; if I’ve learned anything about cycling I’ve learned that the cycling is pain.
Pain can be described as, "An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage". (International Association for the Study of Pain). However, this takes no real account of the mental anguish one chooses to pursue when one attempts to propel a 180lb body up a 10% slope atop a 22lb bicycle. A more apposite description may, therefore, suffering, the conjunction of both physical and mental discomfort which has been the subject of much historical thought.
No pictures exist of Epicurus, the Greek philosopher, on a bicycle. The man for whom Epicureanism was named believed that the greatest good was to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility and freedom from fear, known as ataraxia, as well as absence of bodily pain. Despite the fact that his teachings warned that sex should be avoided lest it lead to dissatisfaction with one’s partner, this line of thought has proven popular with subsequent generations of thinkers who have built upon Epicurean ideas to establish doctrines such as utilitarianism and humanitarianism. Cyclists however eschew such a soft-bellied approach and if anything appear to side more firmly with the Stoic school of thought, its central tenet being to be free of suffering through apathia (literally, 'without passion') where peace of mind is understood as being objective or having clear judgment and of the maintenance of equanimity in the face of life's highs and lows. In other words, suffering is allowed, if not exactly encouraged, as long as the object of the suffering meets it with a shrug of the shoulders and a hearty laugh.
I however wasn’t doing any laughing as the gradient continued to test my stoic philosophy and attempt to convert me to a more leisurely pastime. Bent forward over the handle bars, perched on the tip of the saddle I continued to churn the pedals as if riding through a custard filled swimming pool whilst towing a grand piano. Off to my left a dog barked from behind a chain-link fence, a Chinese village dog, short, squat and ugly, it’s yellow teeth bared in indignation, making me glad for the presence of the padlocked gate. Another village dog, a bitch, is sitting by the side of the road with her puppy, a muscular black and brown collection of matted fur and round doe eyes. Apparently a follower of the Epicurean doctrine she barely raises her head as I pass. This is a very good thing as I would certainly be unable to outrun her if she decided to give chase. The New Territories of Hong Kong is home to unknown thousands of these dogs, some owned, some truly feral. Many of them show no interest in the passing cyclist but some appear to be unable to resist the challenge of a chubby, sweating gweilo racing past and give chase for varying distances, depending on their physical condition and neglect- induced decrepitude. Occasionally I ride past the body of one which has collided with a passing car, its abandoned life cut short in a blur of headlights, blood and fur.

Steve

pneumatic

The mantra thing can work the other way.

On the Ventoux, where I really suffered horribly, but was chasing the wheel of a friend and neither of us could afford to let the other down, I was so delerious that a single phrase from a bit of choral music emerged in my head and started rolling around and around my skull. I didn't know what it was but ended up pedalling to the rhythm of it, anyway.

When I told my mate about it afterwards and hummed the tune to him, he told me that the words to it were "miserere, miserere nobis" (have pity, have pity on us!). Marvellous thing, the brain!

Now, though, whenever I listen to that track on my ipod, my legs start to itch. :shock:

walsht1105

Lol the mantra idea is what I do.I use "Knock the wall down > Watch as it falls down" and I imagine each pedal down motion is smashing in to a wall, brick by brick I watch it fall down until it's gone

Or when it gets really hard and I'm in the hardest of places I use one I read somewhere - simply "Shut up legs".

Most the time I just repeat them in my head, but if it gets really hard I say them out loud. I wonder what passer-bys may think of me :shock:

fastercyclist

Pretend I'm in a race works well. Makes me go much faster as well - works a treat on the Turbo.

I start playing the same bit of music over and over in my head.

Remembering the good times also works on hills. I just think how fast I've climbed it before.

If all else fails, make it personal. The route is not going to kick my arse etc



Oh and the pretty girl cycling next to you one does work as well

P_Tucker

peanut1978 wrote:

In short, I am usually defeated mentally long before my body should be giving up.

eg, long climbs or fast apr mind switches off just after sending this thought "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!?"

Really enjoy cycling and enjoy it the most on the few occassions that I have managed to push past this point.

Any advice?

Dunno, but I suspect that this is the difference between the very good (which apparently you are) and the excellent (i.e. protour). If you work it out, let me know!

chill123

find a rhythm. once you slip into a rhythm i can de-tune my brain from the pain!