Posts
5457
Joined
4/14/2011
Location
Alberta
CA
Edited Date/Time
9/7/2015 3:21pm
I really find that mine does. Depends on seat time ( which has been absolutely dismal for me this summer ) and obviously other factors play a part ( injuries, competition, track conditions...)
Two summers ago my confidence was quite high. I was the fastest or second fastest of our group at any ride. I raced a bit and had a blast doing it. I trusted my bike every ride, I don't think I had one hard crash all summer.
Last summer was good. We rode a lot, and again, I was quite confident in my bike and it showed in my riding. Didn’t feel as fast or as fit as the previous summer though.
This year has been brutal. I only have maybe 5 or 6 hours of seat time ( I know I know
) but I just don't HAVE it. I don't feel fast, I don't feel confident. I'll go to a track, try to put a few good fast laps together, get frustrated and say "well, I'm just riding around today...." and then cruise for the rest of the ride. Still fun and I'm pumped to be on my bike, but I feel like a beginner.
Anyone else know the feeling??
Two summers ago my confidence was quite high. I was the fastest or second fastest of our group at any ride. I raced a bit and had a blast doing it. I trusted my bike every ride, I don't think I had one hard crash all summer.
Last summer was good. We rode a lot, and again, I was quite confident in my bike and it showed in my riding. Didn’t feel as fast or as fit as the previous summer though.
This year has been brutal. I only have maybe 5 or 6 hours of seat time ( I know I know
) but I just don't HAVE it. I don't feel fast, I don't feel confident. I'll go to a track, try to put a few good fast laps together, get frustrated and say "well, I'm just riding around today...." and then cruise for the rest of the ride. Still fun and I'm pumped to be on my bike, but I feel like a beginner. Anyone else know the feeling??
Try to pick up behind faster riders, or pick one berm all afternoon and try to hit it like you know you should.. and believe you can do that..
In the end: if you think you suck, you will
Time on a bike fixes a lot of things. I have been more stressed this year and I contribute that to not riding every weekend. I'm fatter, my hands were extremely soft like a woman's until a few weeks ago, I feel less manly not being banged up walking into business meetings, and most importantly I feel slow on the track.
I'm starting my 2016 training right now. Since August first I've been riding every weekend and sometimes through the week.
The Shop
Would you believe it's the combination of track and trail-hunting that's turned me into the most "capable" rider I've ever been? Yes, @ 52.
My track days range from all the tracks at Pala to Thursday's at Glen Helen and the ocassional REM or OTHG/OTMX race and fun stuff like A Day in The Dirt. Some of this track time is used for testing with people from whom I've learned a great deal about things like "recovery", rest and cross-training.
Off-Road/Baja is where I find that ALL my skill gets put to the test, tho.
"Hey, Manny? See if that trail will get us down in to that Canyon."
Sure, you almost always walk it 1st; but, you end up doing a Colton Haaker impression most of the time (j/k, Colton's such a Bad Ass!). Getting in and out of Canyons, on and off the beach, up on a Mesa...
Most of which is exploring for the next Rip to Cabo/Rip to the Tip...which is ALWAYS an Adventure!
These are the things that'be made me better, today, than when I was racing as a kid.
The only place i always have a ton of confidence is the start. I always get great starts. But then I just go backwards the whole moto as my arms feel like rubber after that first or second lap.
This year I'm in great shape and I'm riding with a lot of confidence.
The previous two years I've been building my home and didn't have the time or space to spend on being physically strong. I knew I didn't have the physical strength to recover from a mistake so I didn't have confidence to push as hard in a race.
I'm 23rd in the Finnish B-class and there is one race left(i'm missing the last one) but i can guarantee that i will work out in the winter and get my fitness where it should be. And i will be way better next year when i have better fitness and i'm able to put in a solid 20 min +2 laps without getting tired after 12-14 minutes.
Confidence=fitness, at least on amateur level.
I used to think it was conditions or tracks but I've realised I can go fast anywhere I ride (limitations obviously) in any weather if I'm feeling good, daft as it sounds I usually ride better when completely stressed out about life away from a bike. I know sports psychologists would have a field day but it's true, when everything's going well I tend to find I have more mediocre efforts and lower confidence, subconscious decisions? Who knows.
I'm fitter than I've ever been as well which is odd due to my age, I can easily ride 100 miles on the road alone and 40-50 km on XC rides in shitty conditions so I can't put it down to fitness, although it does help my head knowing I can make it thru the day.
It's all in the mind ( and of course your fitness plays a huge role ). " Just gotta pick your spots kid ".
Pit Row
Maybe corner speed isn't going up as much as the other skills like scrubbing. I hear people talk about corner speed all the time, but most people bitch and complain about the dry corner, or the ruts, or the weather, etc.
I think some tracks are becoming more technical in a man-made obstacle sense, but less challenging in a rough and slick sense.
So we seem to be riding faster and more forgiving bikes on smoother prepped and watered tracks at higher speeds with higher jumps... For only 5 laps.
By the way, I skipped Top Gun this year and I don't envy you for riding that track in the rain. I hope you can keep it on two wheels and survive that skating rink.
The track is everything you think it will be... Fast, rough, off cambers and fun!
If you stay down there for a couple of days, head up the highway to Racetown 395 and Competitive Edge. Both of them are close to GH and have multiple tracks. If you really want a treat, make the drive south and check out Cahuilla Creek!
Speaking of confidence, I have confidence to do well on my two strokes, but I'm still learning this four stroke YZ. I just pulled off of my track as I have been playing with sag & fork height settings for the past few hours. This is a really sensitive chassis! 1mm is a massive change. I need to feel confident on it before I race, haha!
Post a reply to: does your confidence change year to year?