Tag Archives: mindset

News, Opinion

What’s the Big Deal About Froome’s Data?

What matters most is not the numbers but something hidden in his head

Froome’s physiological test data is supposed to be released today. There is much anticipation, particularly in regard to possible doping; but is it really that big a deal?

I think it depends on how you look at cycling. For many it is the be all and end all of cycling. The Pythagorean camp is obsessed with their numbers… and knowing everyone else’s numbers.

The only problem with that viewpoint is that it’s contradicted by the facts.

For one thing, cycling is not a contest of brute strength or even endurance. It’s a game of chess on wheels. There’s strategy and tactics. There’s knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. And just as importantly, knowing your adversaries – their strengths and weaknesses.

And then there’s the biggie…

No doubt you’ve heard me go on and on about it, mindset. In my opinion, what’s in your head is far more important than what’s in your legs. Mindset can overcome a big disadvantage elsewhere, and it can inhibit and erode a big advantage.

Data is but one dimension. In reality there’s a complex intersection of, yes numbers (quantitative factors), but also a universe of mental factors that manage the numbers, apply knowledge of the needs of the rider and the training required, race strategies and tactics.

And behind it all is a mindset that drives the entire enterprise, that craves and demands success… or not.

Data is but one dimension, and probably the least important. It sure helps, but if you’re looking for salvation there, good luck.

Cycling Weekly has a good article giving some much needed context, including counter examples for the “Pythagorean” number worshippers, but is data even half the story? The real story is hidden in head.

Don’t Get Too Excited about Chris Froome’s Data, its Only Half the Story

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/opinion-dont-get-too-excited-about-chris-froomes-data-its-only-half-the-story-202614

Cycling Tips, New Cycling Gear

SRAM’s eTap Simplifies the Shift

Mastering Your Mindset for Improved Cycling Performance

A quick follow up to yesterday’s post on mindset…. Out soon, a promising new book on maximizing performance with your mind. It’s available for pre-order now, check it out:

How Bad Do You Want It? Mastering the psychology of mind over muscle by Matt Fitzgerald

SRAM Simplifies the Shift

SRAM Red eTAp

When you think about it, shifting gears on a bike is confusing as heck, levers work differently depending on whether you shifting front chain rings or rear sprockets. That made sense given the mechanical and human constraints. Electronic shifting has removed those limitations yet shift logic remained the same. Until now.

VeloNews reports on the simple intuitiveness of SRAM’s new eTap shift logic versus traditional shifting:

Shimano: On the right side, press the bottom paddle for a harder gear and the upper button for an easier gear. On the left side, push the upper button for a harder gear, and the lower paddle for an easier gear.

SRAM eTap: Press the right button for a harder gear, the left button for an easier gear, and both for a front shift.

Source: SRAM’s  eTap: Shifting Finally Makes Sense

Read SRAM’s announcement on the new technology:

Introducing SRAM’s Red eTap

Cycling Tips, News, Opinion

Mindset in Cycling: How to Manage Your Mind for a Five Star Ride

Mind matters.

Due my workload I almost skipped my lunch run today, but I like to keep it as the one sacred constant in my day, so I headed out for the trail. But it was tough, I had low energy and that sapped my enthusiasm.

My thoughts turned to a couple of friends I lost earlier this year, each had a passion for life and a great sense of humor. I had no doubt they would relish being in my shoes, no matter how bad I thought my day was. As someone once said, every day above ground is a good day.

Trail run in Altra Lone Peak 2.0My mood changed, the tiredness was not gone but it was forgotten, pushed aside and impotent. I chose to ignore it. I picked a work problem to solve, took a few deep breaths, soaked in the sunlight and dancing shadows, then ran on with the purpose of clarifying my problem and coming up with a solution.

I had a good run. I didn’t definitively solve my problem, but I do have some promising options to try.

As I’ve said before, mindset is everything, almost. There’s the matter part too, but…

Mindset motivates, you can climb skyscrapers!Mindset makes or takes… your energy, your motivation, your purpose.

In bike racing it’s commonly said that training is 90% physical, 10% mental; but racing is 90% mental.

The strongest rider often doesn’t win, because some other guy or gal wanted it more, and was prepared to dig deeper, and deeper… until everyone else cracked.

With that preamble (I promise to be brief tomorrow!) here’s a good article by pro triathlete and performance coach Danelle Kabush on some tricks to gain control of your mind to have a more successful ride:

Train Your Brain to Survive the Ride

http://www.bicycling.com/training/tips/train-your-brain-survive-ride

BTW, her last tip, on how you’re lucky to be riding in the rain… I’d go further. I used to relish cold, rainy days, because most cyclists would take the day off, and I knew it was a day to make marginal gains on them. It’s not so much how much you do, but how much more you do than them.

There’s no one big thing you can do, but consistency in doing *every little thing* that you can do… pays off big.

P.S. For a good movie on the power of the mind, watch “Touching the Void.” It’s on Neflix, and it’s a true story, the dramatized documentary with interviews with the two key characters involved. When you think you’re having a hard time on the bike, or a bad day, you’ll have a very vivid and concrete example of what a bad day really looks like.

You might also like…

Mindset in CyclingHow Bad Do You Want It?Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle
– by Matt Fitzgerald

Get practical, actionable guidance that you can use every day, to enjoy more success in sport and in life.

Cycling Tips, Opinion

Enlist Your Brain When You Train

Ever had one of those workouts where you feel like crap at the beginning, but you persevere, and it ends up being a great workout? I had one today on my lunch run. I’m pretty sure much of it is in your head.

As I hit the trail I was thinking about how I had recently been ripped off with an online purchase (never received the goods), and how I should respond. 10 minutes later I was struggling and found myself walking.

I recognized what was happening and shifted mental gears. I looked down at my soaking shirt. It was from my first ultra (which was a real struggle!), and reminded myself if I got through that, I sure as hell could get through a few miles at lunch. Besides, I am planning to do another ultra in a couple of months so I’d better start behaving like a freakin runner.

I focused on form and treading lightly and quickly. I decided to run hard up the (short) hills and recover on the descents, even walk if I had to. I did. No problem, that was the deal. And if it was going to be a struggle, so be it, I wasn’t going to mope about it and shuffle along, I was at least going to put up a damn fight and run with conviction.

AS I settled in to a steady pace I set the goal of making some plans for Velo Logic and growing the audience. In the last half hour my mind wandered a bit and I formulated an idea for a new product. I got excited.

Then I realized I was rolling along at a decent pace, and feeling strong. What a turnaround.

That’s happened to me many times, on and off the bike, often when I start out riding the trainer; and it’s probably happened to you. I’m sure if I had continued to seethe at the thought of getting ripped off, my run would have stayed a painful, run/walk ordeal, and I would never have developed the idea for some new stuff for Velo Logic.

The mind is our most powerful tool. We fuel our bodies, often we fail to do the same for our minds.

My advice… when you have one of those rides, don’t give in to that first impression. Maybe its legit, often it isn’t. Recognize that the sluggishness could evaporate in 10-20 min, and don’t quit.

Shift mental gears, think of a time when you had a great ride, and know you will have one again. Think of an upcoming event, perhaps a competitor you’d dearly like to beat, and imagine him on your wheel. He ain’t going home with his tail between his legs, are you?

And even if it turns out to be a hard, grinding ride, it’s still made you stronger, tougher, especially mentally as you’ve flexed and worked out your mental muscle.

One thinker said it well, “Ideas move man. Man moves the world.” It’s true, what we think has a huge impact on us, on a ride, in sport in general, in life, and throughout the sweep of history, ideas drive progress… or undermine and enslave.

Next time you train, enlist your brain.