Mental Fitness

[Styopa]

Not much opportunity to cycle at the mo. We often think about loss of physical fitness in winter but what about mental fitness - much neglected in my view. There is a lot written about how to improve your physical performnace - what do you do to maintain and improve your mental performace - a crucial aspect of cycling. Any thoughts?

 

[slowmotion]

Greetings Styopa and welcome.

On the winter days when I fear the ice and leave the bike at home, I practice my spelling.

BW

Edit: are you the Gentleman Cyclist?

 

[slowmotion]

Deffo.

 

[surfdude]

get the crayons out and colour my picture books .

 

[Styopa]

Greetings Styopa and welcome.

On the winter days when I fear the ice and leave the bike at home, I practice my spelling.

BW

Edit: are you the Gentleman Cyclist?

 

[Styopa]

I'm sure some difficult spellings would provide some mental stimulation - no, I'm not the Gentleman Cyclist. In terms of mental fitness I was thiinking about nutrition, mental and physical activities to maintain mental well being and health during the winter (and the rest of the year) - Do people think this is an important area and do people give it any attention? - Are we too fixated just on the physical side of training etc. Thanks for your comment.

 

[Styopa]

get the crayons out and colour my picture books .

 

[Styopa]

There is certainly some evidence for benfit with creative activities like painting! Thanks for your comment.

 

[yello]

Are we too fixated just on the physical side of training etc.

I don't know about too fixated but it's certainly emphasised more. Maybe because you have to get that in place first. If you feel good, feel prepared physically then maybe the mental aspect comes more easily. I don't know in all honesty but would agree that you need to be right in the head too. Even I, on my pootles, know that my mental states plays a big part in my enjoyment of a ride and does have an effect on physical performance. I suspect the 2 cross cut, influence each other.

Though I suspect many/most pros work on the mental aspect too.

 

[mcshroom]

Hi Styopa and

Actually a very good point about looking at the mental side of ability.

I know I find the second time I ride a hill, or a long distance easier than the first because I know I have done it before. I also remember reading somewhere (probably 'Barring Mechanicals') about the idea of breaking the ride into chunks that you can get your brain around instead of being overawed by the massive number in total.

I don't do any mental training currently, but it may goo to look into areas such as visualisation over the winter. I know that elite athletes put a lot of work into this sort of sports psychology stuff so hopefully there is some benefit to it.

 

[snorri]

Sudoku.

 

[numbnuts]

Mental fitness, that counts me out

 

[gb155]

Gotta admit I have learned a LOT about mental fitness this year.

After my issue with the van, I bottled every single junction for about 2 months afterwards and this week put me thought it again too, being the first snow fall since my incident on an ungritted road last year.

 

[just jim]

Good time of year to read some cycling related books. I've just finished Al Humphries book , "Thunder and Sunshine" very inspiring in my view. He's a good motivational speaker too.

 

[palinurus]

Not much opportunity to cycle at the mo.

My commute is the same distance, and there's cyclocross.

Although the mileage is lower the intensity of 'cross is high. And it's certainly mental.