Just like any other sport you may think of, cycling also requires as much of a mental effort as it does physically. Whether you are participating in a race or casually riding it through the city, without a clear and strong mental state, you are least likely to reach your mark.
While many of you may disagree with this but according to a vast number of professional cyclists and athletes, training and strengthening your mind is just as important as it is training your body. So, when you have bought your bike from a bike store, it’s the start of a difficult yet fulfilling journey.
You don’t have to take our word it. Just follow these few tips and see the difference yourself. There is no harm in that, right?
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Be Positive
Somehow everything related to strengthening your mind starts with being positive. Having good thoughts constantly circle in your mind is quite motivating and relaxing. Imagine winning the race you are preparing for and you’ll automatically be driven to do your best at the event. So, remember to always keep a positive mindset.
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Concentrate on the Goal
We clearly understand how hard it is to wake up at 4 or 5 or even 6 in the morning and physically exert yourself on your bike. But if you are prepping yourself for an upcoming event, concentrate your thoughts on winning it. As you keep visualizing yourself crossing the finish line first, you’ll find it easier to wake up early and train.
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Focus
This is by far the most difficult and the most crucial thing you’ll need to train your mind to do. As the fatigue and exertion start taking over your body, you’ll see yourself losing focus. Winning becomes a lesser priority and you start looking forward to the rest you would get at the end of it all. This makes you lose focus and before you know it, you have already started lagging behind in the race. Train yourself to look pass through fatigue and pain. Stay focused towards your goal of winning or completing the ride.
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Be Honest
You know your limits better than anyone else. So, be honest with yourself. Do not get yourself attached to training or routines that are hard for you to keep up. While you can master them with focus and some positivity, you need to understand that everything takes time. You cannot just start pushing the envelope on day one. Increase your efforts slowly and gradually. Be honest about your capabilities and work yourself accordingly.
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Do Not Stress
Achieving your goals is important but stressing over failure isn’t. Do not undermine yourself. If you couldn’t succeed the first time, you most definitely will the next. Be positive and stay positive in every situation. The more you stress, the more it will affect your performance. If you feel too stressed, just remind yourself that “Rome was not built in a day.”
Follow these few tips and you’ll surely see yourself improve if you have put in proper time and effort. But stick to realistic goals. These tips are meant to better your performance, not transform you into a superhuman.
That’s it. Now that you have enough knowledge of what it takes to be a cyclist and what to know well before buy bike, head to a bike store and start your journey!
