Lets Play Bikes
If you've been keeping up with my blog over the last few weeks, you've likely noticed that I haven't been in the best mental space, and that's ok. I've moved, left my job, quadrupled my weekly training time (not to mention increased intensity), and I'm on track to have as much elevation gain in March as I had in 2017, for the whole year. I understand that's a lot to put oneself through, so over the last few days, I've been more focused on the mental game than the physical game.
I'd like to stress the use of the word GAME. Back when I played ultimate, it was a game, that I played, albeit at a high level. I was ok with losing a game, as an athlete that meant room for improvement, and as a player, it meant I was able to have fun for two hours. When is the last time you played a board game and got upset? Don't actually answer that some people take board games way too seriously, the point is, when it's a game the goal is to have fun, winning is (should) just an added bonus.
When I transitioned over to cycling, I turned into more of an athlete than a player. Although I still believe that it's important to see yourself as an athlete if you want to perform at a high level, have fun with it. Working in the bike shop was all about the enjoyment of riding bikes, and finding the perfect mix of pleasure, competition, simplicity, analysis, technology, and nostalgia for everybody who walked in the door. It was as much playing around trying to find what works as it was work. Playing at work, imagine that!!!
As great as that was, every time I stepped on my own bikes, it became all about the science and performance. I was just going through the motions to improve instead of having fun. Since I came to Victoria I've focussed on the technical aspects of cycling with very little regard for the enjoyment. It's unhealthy. To make matters worse, riding bikes is pretty well all I did. In one of my many talks with Oli this past week, he told me that when your entire life is riding bikes and riding bikes isn't going well, your entire life isn't going well. I'd never really thought about it, but he was right. I started to do more non-bike activities and I started feeling a lot better very quickly.
So what kind of off-bike activities am I doing? I'm reading a book on money management and wealth-creation (important when you're planning on not being able to work all summer for the next few years), as well as a self-help book so I'm less likely to dig myself a hole like this in the future. I'm also doing more cooking and writing, both of which I see as ways to create something that expresses emotion. I also got new glasses and a job, which may not be relevant to most people in my situation, but it made me feel better.
Finally, soul rides. It's something I learned about in Draft Animals (by Phil Gaimon, go read it). Essentially you go ride where you want how you want as long as you want, then you go home. I got lost, found some fun roads, and realized that even when you aren't feeling great, you can still have fun. That's what bikes should be about, getting out there and having fun. I'll definitely be adding these to my training plan more often.
That's it, the last week has been all about me re-learning how to play bikes instead of always being so technical and calculated. That simple change in mindset has done wonders to help me re-focus on getting ready for the upcoming race season.
Stay cool internet ;)
*About the Ads*
You've likely noticed there are Ads on my blog now. If you haven't, there should be one below this. Playing bikes is expensive and writing blog posts is time-consuming. Ads are one way that I'm trying to support my obsession that is bicycles, and (hopefully) be able to keep my work hours down enough to start writing more blog posts, so if you ever see anything interesting, I'd appreciate if you click on it. If, like me, you don't like ads, feel free to install an ad blocker. I promise I won't be offended.
I'd like to stress the use of the word GAME. Back when I played ultimate, it was a game, that I played, albeit at a high level. I was ok with losing a game, as an athlete that meant room for improvement, and as a player, it meant I was able to have fun for two hours. When is the last time you played a board game and got upset? Don't actually answer that some people take board games way too seriously, the point is, when it's a game the goal is to have fun, winning is (should) just an added bonus.
 |
| My new favourite spot to sit and think, there's a bench |
When I transitioned over to cycling, I turned into more of an athlete than a player. Although I still believe that it's important to see yourself as an athlete if you want to perform at a high level, have fun with it. Working in the bike shop was all about the enjoyment of riding bikes, and finding the perfect mix of pleasure, competition, simplicity, analysis, technology, and nostalgia for everybody who walked in the door. It was as much playing around trying to find what works as it was work. Playing at work, imagine that!!!
As great as that was, every time I stepped on my own bikes, it became all about the science and performance. I was just going through the motions to improve instead of having fun. Since I came to Victoria I've focussed on the technical aspects of cycling with very little regard for the enjoyment. It's unhealthy. To make matters worse, riding bikes is pretty well all I did. In one of my many talks with Oli this past week, he told me that when your entire life is riding bikes and riding bikes isn't going well, your entire life isn't going well. I'd never really thought about it, but he was right. I started to do more non-bike activities and I started feeling a lot better very quickly.
 |
| This is me appreciating the beauty that exists around me |
So what kind of off-bike activities am I doing? I'm reading a book on money management and wealth-creation (important when you're planning on not being able to work all summer for the next few years), as well as a self-help book so I'm less likely to dig myself a hole like this in the future. I'm also doing more cooking and writing, both of which I see as ways to create something that expresses emotion. I also got new glasses and a job, which may not be relevant to most people in my situation, but it made me feel better.
Finally, soul rides. It's something I learned about in Draft Animals (by Phil Gaimon, go read it). Essentially you go ride where you want how you want as long as you want, then you go home. I got lost, found some fun roads, and realized that even when you aren't feeling great, you can still have fun. That's what bikes should be about, getting out there and having fun. I'll definitely be adding these to my training plan more often.
That's it, the last week has been all about me re-learning how to play bikes instead of always being so technical and calculated. That simple change in mindset has done wonders to help me re-focus on getting ready for the upcoming race season.
Stay cool internet ;)
*About the Ads*
You've likely noticed there are Ads on my blog now. If you haven't, there should be one below this. Playing bikes is expensive and writing blog posts is time-consuming. Ads are one way that I'm trying to support my obsession that is bicycles, and (hopefully) be able to keep my work hours down enough to start writing more blog posts, so if you ever see anything interesting, I'd appreciate if you click on it. If, like me, you don't like ads, feel free to install an ad blocker. I promise I won't be offended.
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