INSIGHT TOUR DE FRANCE 2015 3
Think
Mindset!
Cycling isn’t always fun, a lot of the time it hurts, and some of the time it hurts really badly. Which leads to some of the time, the last thing you want to do is get back on the bike. However, cyclists rarely say, “I wish I hadn’t gone out today” or “I wish I just stayed in bed”. So, how do you make the superficially huge leap from the cosy warmth and comfort of the bed to out in the cold wearing rather less than appealing clothing?
Cycling’s core is built from motivation. When it truly comes down to it, who would really want to wear the dicky Lycra, funny looking helmet and get up super early in the morning and ride for a million miles? The answer for most is ‘because I love it’. But why do cyclists love it so much?
It comes down to many things in life, why do anything when there is always an easy way. Cyclists continue to have unbreakable passion and love for the sport because of the motivation that lies behind the eyes of each and every
rider. Goals, making the most of the time you have, friends, the thrill of going faster than the person next to you and the continuously striving to extend the boundary of just how fast you can from A to B.
1. Have a Goal.
Goals, if you haven’t got one, go and get it! It doesn’t have to be a racing goal, or an ‘I have to beat my mate goal’, it may simply be for health and fitness reasons. One thing is for sure, though: everyone has a reason that they ride/race, and reminding and constantly thinking about that reason helps enforce the behaviour of performance in cycling.
If you’re the competitive racer, there are endless opportunities and events that you can choose from to perfect and manage your goals. Picturing the event win or just crossing the line after a huge race will give you the motivation you desire to train harder and faster. Racing will expand the mental strength of endurance riding and racing dramatically and find the true inner exertion needed for the fully motivated and active mind.
2. Make the Most of the Time You Have.
“I don’t have time”
The number one excuse that almost everyone is guilty of when it come to any type of physical activity. One thing that people don’t usually understand is that doing something is better than nothing at all. The ordinary guy or girl doesn’t often have a three hour period where they can use that as a bulk training
session like the other competitors at the race or the friend that consistently beats you. If you have an hour, use it. Every little bit goes a long way to the end goal.
3. Ride with Friends.
If possible ride with a friend or friends. In a bunch ride (riding in a group more than just yourself), you are less likely to fall off the path of losing motivation, friends and riding buddies will continuously push you whether they are of equal fitness and skill level, a little slower, or a lot faster.
Even when it comes down to the organisation and planning of the ride, the fact that you don’t want to let your friend(s) down is a huge contributor to a healthy behaviour in the sociology of motivation. Committing to a ride with friends is a great way to get you out of bed and the bike out of the shed.
4. Get a Coach.
Having a third party to set training behaviours, times and sessions gives you structure to you regime. A good and qualified coach should be able to make you a specific plan that fits in and cooperates with your time outside of other important things. With a coach, you will be able to stay on track due to the weekly reporting and