Riding the Waves of Spring
Spring is in the air and we’re starting to see cycling content in our email newsletters and all over social media. The local bike shop has been advertising deals for spring services to get our bikes in shape. The snow that’s been covering the trails has melted, mud season is nearing its end and local trail networks have begun posting about trail work days to get things in shape for riding season. To top it off, some networks have even posted the green light!
It’s exciting to think about all of the possibilities to come for the season, but if you’re like me, you might also feel a touch of apprehension. It’s great that we have various opportunities to prepare our bodies physically for what’s to come – ride-specific strength workouts at the local gym, spin classes, physical therapy programs, etc. Feeling physically prepared for the season can certainly go a long way and easing into it can be key for avoiding previous injuries from rearing their head or preventing new injuries from occurring. But what about the mental aspect of riding?
Even after six years, this part still gets me every time. At the beginning of each season, I’m itching for those summer days where I lose track of time in the middle of the woods and I unapologetically snack for hours on gummy bears and pickles. I typically ease into it all, but it’s inevitable that I’ll start to seek out trails that push my limits. Since my winters don’t typically involve fat biking, I always get hung up on the fact that I close out my final fall rides exuding confidence, but somehow that feeling doesn’t seem to preserve itself through the cold months. And then here I am again come spring, feeling like I’ve backtracked a bit and wondering if I’m the only one.
Through conversations with friends and others in the community, it’s apparent that many of us face similar thoughts when heading into a new season of physical activity. To that point, I’ve gathered a few reminders and tips that have helped me over the years that may be helpful to keep in mind. While cycling in the spring is certainly top of my mind, these are relevant for other activities and seasons as well.
- Remember that progress is not linear. It’s reasonable that upon entering a new season some challenges will reappear that you thought you overcame the prior year. We know that consistency can be key for improvement and we might not have had the chance to practice our skills throughout winter. It’s inevitable that at some point you may feel like you’re going backwards, but it’s all just part of the process. Trust that with time you’ll get back into your groove.
- Keep it fun. Sure, we all have goals and expectations of ourselves. But keep it light at the beginning of the season. Give yourself some grace as you ease into it. Head to the trails that you know are your tried and true favorites. Then as you start to feel more like you’re past season’s self, go check out that roller you’ve been eyeing. At that point, you may even surprise yourself with how much more feasible it looks than it did last season.
- Make a note to your future self to write down your thoughts at the end of the season. This can include accomplishments, like a list of trails or features you finally tackled, a long mileage adventure day or a new trick you nailed. You can also mention some of the challenges you faced throughout the season that you may still be working on. Dig deep into how these things made you feel and make sure to record it all. Those nuggets of information are incredibly valuable. Then when the season comes back around, it’ll help to provide some perspective on how far you’ve come and give you that boost of confidence you’re looking for.
At the end of the day, know that if you’re experiencing the early season jitters, whether they’re just barely recognizable or all-consuming, you’re not alone. It’s likely you can look around at the group you’re on the trails with and at least one other person is also deep in those waves. The key is to ride them out.