What mental games do you play

[Fletch456]

I’ve not riding or doing my physio prescribed much over the last 3 weeks and on Tuesday I went to my physio appointment with much more gusto and when I ride this weekend I know I will do the same on the bike. I will enjoy it more, notice any pain less and get more out of it. If there is a weekly tv series I enjoy there comes a point where I have to take a break from it cos I lose some of the enjoyment.

As I want to get my sportive fitness back and be better than last year I will have to get into doing more than this but it’s a shame every ride won’t feel like this weekends.

What mental games do you play to make it feel enjoyable or is what I am describing, though it feels like more to me, probably simply the feelings that come from the monotony of training?

 

[lulubel]

From my experience recently, the enjoyment comes from not training, and just riding for the fun of it.

I wasn't training for anything in particular, just trying to improve, and I got so caught up in it that it was the whole focus of all my rides. Then my road bike was broken in a crash, I had to take a couple of weeks off, and I've now spent another couple of weeks doing road rides on my MTB. I don't feel like there's much point (and I'm not fit enough yet) to train, so I'm just "going out for rides," and I'm amazed at how much more I'm enjoying it. It's a real eye-opener for me, and something I need to remember when I get my new bike.

If you're working towards goals, you obviously have to train, but maybe try to set aside rides where you go where you like/do what you like "just for the fun of it," and that might break it up a bit.

 

[tyred]

If you're not enjoying it, you're doing something wrong. Mix it up a bit, fast rides, slow rides, vary the routes and the time of day, if possible use completely different types of bikes.

 

[sdr gb]

Try new routes (sometimes even riding your usual route in reverse can work wonders). If possible, find someone else to ride with so you can motivate each other. If you're on a ride and not enjoying it, do something to liven it up. Such as see how fast you can sprint or time yourself up a hill so you have something to aim at next time.

 

[Arsen Gere]

I think it is an abstinence/time thing.
If you shut your wife and dog in the garage for 3 hours and then let them out, the dog will be pleased to see you.
If you shut them both in for 3 weeks, they will both be pleased to see you.

 

[VamP]

I think it is an abstinence/time thing.
If you shut your wife and dog in the garage for 3 hours and then let them out, the dog will be pleased to see you.
If you shut them both in for 3 weeks, they will both be pleased to see you.

I think you might have some explaining to do the police though.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

I just try and chase people down on the cycle track! lol. if someones ahead of me i mentally go "right lets pass them before X point" and push myself that little bit harder!

 

[rollinstok]

I think the obvious one is to pedal to a song with a suitable tempo
Still use this method when its a long protracted climb...... " tote that barge..lift that bail..you gets a little drunk and you lands in jai..aaiiill "

 

[Tomba]

I think the obvious one is to pedal to a song with a suitable tempo
Still use this method when its a long protracted climb...... " tote that barge..lift that bail..you gets a little drunk and you lands in jai..aaiiill "

I thought I was the only saddo to do that. Recently its been Kelly Clarkson, Stronger. But only on really steep climbs and only in my head

 

[Fletch456]

When I go up long or testing climbs Monty Python and Beatle's songs spontaneously sprout from my lips....though I need to learn more lyrics cos I run out after a line or two and have to repeat so much.

 

[astrocan]

Choose your song carefully. I nearly come a cropper 'air drumming' to Stockhlm Syndrome by Muse.