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My riding has been 'off' for a couple of weeks - I put it down to just being tired or not concentrating.
Yesterday was the preview/social ride around the 4 stages of the Welsh Enduro Series.
I rocked up and met up with my mate who had taken his caravan that I was going to stay with.
Got all sorted for the ride - signed on and set off no probs.
Climb up to the first stage was a b#####d - more time pushing than riding.
Set off nice and steady down stage one - not too bad, couple of mistakes with line choice but not too bad.
Rode/pushed up to stage 2.
Dropped in and cleared the first couple of drops/rolls ok and than on to another - I just stopped and froze.
It's nothing bigger than I have ridden before, got off the bike and walked down it so I could size it up - back on the bike and still not having it....
Ok on the the next bit - fairly decent drop into some loamy off camber stuff - again froze at the top of the drop.
Tried again and no - froze.
I walked the rest of the stage which finished about 20 meters away from the camp site.
I didn't make stages 3 or 4.....
I got back to the caravan, showered, changed and waited for my mate - said my goodbyes and drove home.
My head had completely gone - no way I could ride it.
Decided it was better to walk away last night than be stretchered off today.
I seriously contemplating jacking it all in and flogging the bikes on the way home.
No idea what's happened - only thing I can link it to is the change in my anti-dressant meds.
I spent more time on the brakes and sat over the rear wheel than I think I ever have on those 2 stages.
Well p####d off.
You mention meds. It could well be the key, although everyone has times when they're just not feeling it.
I've been on an uplift day before, beautiful woods, amazing trails, great friends to ride with, but sat in the van in all my kit feeling utterly empty and welling up at the crushing sense of pointlessness and lack of joy.
I wouldn't get hung up on it if possible. Depression is like that and especially if changing meds.
Hope you're ok. 🙏
Are you fit?.
Times when I've been like this, get all negative due to blowing out my hoop on the climbs, and that just continues.
We all go through peaks and troughs of performance, but I often find when I feel my riding is bad it's usually triggered by something minor not being right with the bike - tyres a little too hard, or shock slightly wrong - or by getting over a recent crash.
Go and session some trickyish stuff you know you can ride, then, when you start to get your speed back your confidence will come with it.
JP
I suffer from depression. You did the right thing by stopping and walking. Take it easy. You seem to be a bit "all or nothing" about this. If you are feeling low or tired, then just get out and do some easy rides with no pressure with a couple of friends and enjoy being out. Or go out with an easy group for some easy cross-country riding. And do some short, skills-based riding. Your energy and bike handling skills will return in due course. That's just the way it is.
Sometimes the flow is not there. For me I am usually tired / depressed / board. Go do something simple and different.
Easy bike ride on a simple bike, pump track session, good walk, climbing. Whatever.
If you are feeling low or tired, then just get out and do some easy rides with no pressure with a couple of friends and enjoy being out.
This.
I sometimes used to find when my blood sugar was low my eyes weren't working quite right. Then I found out my eyes had a slight problem in any case, they didn't work together properly.
So maybe get an eye test
keep at it. If not just change the type of riding you are doing and enjoying mtb again.
I've had some moments this year where I've just refused to ride sections that I'd normally have a go at, mostly riding alone and on things like steep slabs or muddy, rooty chutes.
Not nice at the time but I try to compartmentalise it and see the next ride as a fresh start.
Welcome to my world. At least you had confidence once 😀 The only way I’ve found to rationalise it is to remind myself that, by walking I live to try again another day.
Hang in there, dirk. Sometimes Mojo can abandon you for a little while. Give the bike a break for a couple of weeks and then do some easy, low pressure rides. Your mojo will come back. Tiredness, medication and mood can all drastically affect how good I feel in two wheels.
Thanks all.
Yeah fitness isn't amazing at the moment as the meds have made me gain weight and feel lethargic & achey.
Yeah fitness isn’t amazing at the moment as the meds have made me gain weight and feel lethargic & achey.
Mrsbeanz is in pretty much the same place as you , nearly 2 years on meds after a bodged tooth extraction left her with permanent pain in her mouth.
Just keep getting out, take it steady and stop when you've had enough.
I can’t comment on depression medication so I’ll leave hat with people who have the experience / knowledge in that area.
However I had a couple of crashes and antibiotic sessions for knee infections in the last few years and got to the point where I was struggling a bit riding stuff I’d done before and worrying about crashing a lot.
I had a 3 hour 1-1 coaching session - 1.5 hours on cornering and bike position and 1.5 hours on jumping. It got me right back up to speed and riding better than I was before the crashes. My confidence is much better now, although I still freak out a bit on slow speed quite rooty drops - they’re like my nemesis!
I did the same at tweedlove last weekend , rode the practice but decided not to race . Just not feeling it on the day and was not enjoying it at all and after all its meant to be fun so i decided not to race , if im going to spend a day away from the family i want it to be something fun . Was lucky enough to get out again on monday round glen loin with a couple of mates , just having a laugh and enjoying being out on the bike , no pressure .
I
Thanks @joebristol I've already thought about a 1:1 session.
I think it might help.
As above, have no comment to make re the meds,but fitness undoubtedly makes a difference.
We all have our good days and bad days, that's just normal, don't over think it and don't stress about it. At the end of the day, we're just over grown kids playing on bikes.
I recently had a wee bit of coaching on a biking holiday, and the difference it made to my confidence and my enjoyment was marked. Highly recommend some coaching, I'll definitely be investing some more.