Totally agree - hearing about what elite riders and coaches struggle with, or are working on, is really helpful and encouraging. Especially when it's a lot of the same stuff I have issues with!
Mental side is a big thing and I don't really know how to overcome mental blocks except by riding through it, trying new trails, riding with other people, or on the hardtail from time to time. One or a combo of those things usually works.
However, we've been talking about coaching and technique a lot lately (watch for more articles about it) and realizing that amongst our wide group of very experienced and capable riding buddies, none of us has had much coaching - at all - in 20 years. We did a cornering drill several weeks ago and I'm still feeling the benefits on rides now. After one practice session of about 45 minutes. So...I'll be doing that more in the future.
July 22, 2020, 9:36 a.m. - Pete Roggeman
Totally agree - hearing about what elite riders and coaches struggle with, or are working on, is really helpful and encouraging. Especially when it's a lot of the same stuff I have issues with! Mental side is a big thing and I don't really know how to overcome mental blocks except by riding through it, trying new trails, riding with other people, or on the hardtail from time to time. One or a combo of those things usually works. However, we've been talking about coaching and technique a lot lately (watch for more articles about it) and realizing that amongst our wide group of very experienced and capable riding buddies, none of us has had much coaching - at all - in 20 years. We did a cornering drill several weeks ago and I'm still feeling the benefits on rides now. After one practice session of about 45 minutes. So...I'll be doing that more in the future.