Cycling Mind Games

[AUbicycles]

What a great title, what a fascinating topic, I am surprised it hasn't come sooner. This is a great one for all of you long distance cyclists...

What goes on in your head when you take a long ride? Do you set you set goals to keep on going (I am going to make it to the next white post.... and the next.... and the next). Do you fight with yourself inside your brain ("I can't go on like this", "C'mon Buddy, only 5 Km to go.. and you can reward yourself with an extra scoop of ice cream").

My personal goal on epic rides is Mexican Food. I don't come quite so close as to hallucinate about taco's flying through the air but it's a reward that keeps me going. (Next post will be questions about road racing tactics).

[beauyboy]

Normally when me and my other half go for the real long ones it is.
"we need to get there in thirty mins or we miss the train and i think the next one is an hour later"

Donald

[tuco]

I generally stick to, "Are we there yet?"

[europa]

I know I'm in trouble when I start setting goals. Usually it's just thinking about the riding or other stuff. I tried an mp3 player at one point but found I wasn't listening to it.

Richard

[gururug]

I generally don't focus on the whole ride length. This can be daunting and off putting.

Just small sections at a time. i.e. this hill, this descent, this rider ahead etc.

My mp3 player helps (I know this is hated by many) as I step up the pace as indicated by the song.

When the going get tough I alter my muscle groups / posture and focus on working those unused groups.

[mikesbytes]

Yeh, I think about where I am, not where I'm going.

Saw my Sunday ride route out of an aeroplane window recently, it looked scary from up there.

[sogood]

Yeh, I think about where I am, not where I'm going.

Saw my Sunday ride route out of an aeroplane window recently, it looked scary from up there.

Just go to Google Earth!

[mikesbytes]

Yeh, I think about where I am, not where I'm going.

Saw my Sunday ride route out of an aeroplane window recently, it looked scary from up there.

Just go to Google Earth!

Is that bad that you can see it from space, no wonder I'm tired.

[LuckyPierre]

I find that I think about different things at different times. The most common things are: "Has that car seen me?", "Don't worry, just sit up and spin" and "Are we there yet?". Still, there's plenty of time for good thoughts too. I love the sensation that the right gentle slope gives of being able to maintain 45+ km/hr with the gentlest pressure on the pedals - especially early in the morning, no traffic, just you flying along under (this isn't reality remember) your own steam. I go over work / family issues in my head (sad, but true).
But, the best thought has got to be "Have I got time for a bit more?"

[gdl_gdl]

Work / family issues for me as well!

When I do the 100km ride then the hardest battle is leaving the house in the first place (especially if you're going straight into a headwind). Once I get 10km under my belt then I work the ride out in percentages (sad but true!)

This is often interrupted by thoughts of:-

How far am I from the nearest toilet?
You're flying, don't get a puncture now
She's a bit tasty (when I reach the coastal section of the ride)
I'm too old for this
I'm really fit for my age
The simple things in life - thinking of being at home with a nice cup of coffee / protein shake and a bacon sarnie
This hill is mine
I can't ride this hill
That car was a bit close for comfort
Hearing a truck approach and giving it a deep breath / gulp as it comes up behind you (as if that's going to save you!)

Cheers,

Gary

[pospete]

When I leave the house I think about the hill to climb to get back. Going down the other day I reached 47kph, eyes streaming, but had to anchor at the lights at the bottom. Even with 24 gears I can't do it yet.

[mikesbytes]

How far am I from the nearest toilet? Wink
- dying for a piss, !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! I'll just have to hang on

You're flying, don't get a puncture now
- I'm on rails [don't think of anything safety related]

She's a bit tasty (when I reach the coastal section of the ride) Wink
- Excuse me miss, safety is an important issue and this incident will need to be discussed over dinner and a bottle of red.

I'm too old for this
- I'm the same weight as him and 12 years older and hes winging.

I'm really fit for my age
- I'm really fit for my age

The simple things in life - thinking of being at home with a nice cup of coffee / protein shake and a bacon sarnie Wink
- Dam diet, 2,500 calories sucks. Glad when I'm back to my 3,000 - 4,000 calorie diet.

This hill is mine
- Went up it in the big ring

I can't ride this hill
- ???????

That car was a bit close for comfort
- Prick, if hes at the next set of lights....

Hearing a truck approach and giving it a deep breath / gulp as it comes up behind you (as if that's going to save you!)
- get ready to latch on.... dam it was too fast.

[mikesbytes]

How far am I from the nearest toilet? Wink
- dying for a piss, !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! I'll just have to hang on

You're flying, don't get a puncture now
- I'm on rails [don't think of anything safety related]

She's a bit tasty (when I reach the coastal section of the ride) Wink
- Excuse me miss, safety is an important issue and this incident will need to be discussed over dinner and a bottle of red.

I'm too old for this
- I'm the same weight as him and 12 years older and hes winging. [last Sunday in RNP]

I'm really fit for my age
- I'm really fit for my age

The simple things in life - thinking of being at home with a nice cup of coffee / protein shake and a bacon sarnie Wink
- Dam diet, 2,500 calories sucks. Glad when I'm back to my 3,000 - 4,000 calorie diet.

This hill is mine
- Went up it in the big ring

I can't ride this hill
- ???????

That car was a bit close for comfort
- Prick, if hes at the next set of lights....

Hearing a truck approach and giving it a deep breath / gulp as it comes up behind you (as if that's going to save you!)
- get ready to latch on.... dam it was too fast.

[europa]

Hmm, Mike's ignoring himself now. That's even worse than talking to yourself.

Richard

[mikesbytes]

How far am I from the nearest toilet? Wink
- dying for a piss, !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! I'll just have to hang on

You're flying, don't get a puncture now
- I'm on rails [don't think of anything safety related]

She's a bit tasty (when I reach the coastal section of the ride) Wink
- Excuse me miss, safety is an important issue and this incident will need to be discussed over dinner and a bottle of red.

I'm too old for this
- I'm the same weight as him and 12 years older and hes winging. [last Sunday in RNP]

I'm really fit for my age
- I'm really fit for my age

The simple things in life - thinking of being at home with a nice cup of coffee / protein shake and a bacon sarnie Wink
- Dam diet, 2,500 calories sucks. Glad when I'm back to my 3,000 - 4,000 calorie diet.

This hill is mine
- Went up it in the big ring

I can't ride this hill
- ???????

That car was a bit close for comfort
- Prick, if hes at the next set of lights....

Hearing a truck approach and giving it a deep breath / gulp as it comes up behind you (as if that's going to save you!)
- get ready to latch on.... dam it was too fast.

"I didn't do it"

Or as Dad use to say "Michael come here" and I'd say "What have I done?" and Dad would say "Its not what your've done, its what you haven't done" I'd fool for it every time.

[europa]

Your Dad must have studied at the same Daddy's School as my Dad

Whenever I want to stick it up my son, I tell him 'it's all in the Daddy's Manual'. Drives him mad. He knows I'm !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! but can't quite bring himself to believe it

Richard

[mikesbytes]

Your Dad must have studied at the same Daddy's School as my Dad

Whenever I want to stick it up my son, I tell him 'it's all in the Daddy's Manual'. Drives him mad. He knows I'm !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! but can't quite bring himself to believe it

Richard

At home "No"
At work "Whats the prioity ?", "Is it funded ?", "Are the specifications signed off?"

[pospete]

Your Dad must have studied at the same Daddy's School as my Dad

Whenever I want to stick it up my son, I tell him 'it's all in the Daddy's Manual'. Drives him mad. He knows I'm !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! but can't quite bring himself to believe it

Richard

ye shall reap what ye sews!

[AUbicycles]

Wow, leave the topic for a day and it flies away.

There were a few serious comments in there, I guess it's good to see a lot of you enjoying yourself.

[heavymetal]

What goes on in your head when you take a long ride?

I often wonder, I haven't seen a car for 2 hours, and now I see 2, one in front and one behind and they pass each other at the exact point on the road that I am on.

[pospete]

I also often think, One day this will be easier!

[europa]

What goes on in your head when you take a long ride?

I often wonder, I haven't seen a car for 2 hours, and now I see 2, one in front and one behind and they pass each other at the exact point on the road that I am on.

When I was working on the roads I had this theory that bods with flags were hiding just over the hill controlling the traffic to make life as hard as they could for me.

Richard

[heavymetal]

When I was working on the roads I had this theory that bods with flags were hiding just over the hill controlling the traffic to make life as hard as they could for me.

Richard

I discovered on some longer roads, that the flag guys made it easier for a cyclist as the traffic from behind would come in spurts every 10 - 15 minutes, which made the riding easier, and I would only pull off of the road when the long line of traffic came along.

[AUbicycles]

I often wonder, I haven't seen a car for 2 hours, and now I see 2, one in front and one behind and they pass each other at the exact point on the road that I am on.

Why do cars so that? That is a really bizarre phenomenon but I know it too. They can't pass one another 100m ahead or behind, it has to be exactly at the same point you are.

[Mulger bill]

Why do cars so that? That is a really bizarre phenomenon but I know it too. They can't pass one another 100m ahead or behind, it has to be exactly at the same point you are.

I think it's some form of primitive flocking behaviour, something like on the freeway when a large group of cars all travels at the speed limit, obeying all the rules. (Until the police car turns off!)