I went for a spin today. After a great ride on Sunday where I felt like I didn't need to use the brakes, I'd been looking forward to it all week. Weather had been pretty dry all week, went back to the same place for a few trails this afternoon. But, I was all over the place. Nothing had changed bike set up wise, conditions were pretty similar, rode some of the same trails, but just this time I was sliding on every root and making a hash of every corner. Bike felt different and I felt completely out of tune with it. I'm pretty certain in reality all variables were the same or close enough.
This isn't the first time it's happened. I wish I could figure out the series of events that lead to a shit day on the bike because it's a real waste of time to get all the kit together and drive to the local and ride up some hills only to ride into every square edge on the way down them and feel like I'm gonna crash every time I pick up speed. And ofc it puts me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. A box of snickers ice creams later here I am venting.
Is this common? Do your abilities and feelings on the bike vary a lot from day to day/week to week or are you consistent? I'm trying to put some training in for enduro races this year and it's fairly annoying to end up scrapping a day's plans if I go out and feel shit/sketchy.
Honestly a lot of the time i wonder if i ever knew how to ride.
Either way it's still fun
It’s the old “one day you’re the hammer, one day you’re the nail” thing. I often have the best rides when I least anticipate them and, conversely, when I’ve really looked forward to a ride it often turns out to be pretty shit.
It’s the same with playing in a band - the gigs you think will be great sometimes aren’t and vice-versa.
I don't have exactly the same thing, but sometimes I have days where everything feels floaty and great. I just buzz over everything in complete control and it's lovely. I don't have those days very often!
Do I ever have really bad days though? I don't think so. I suppose it's a matter of perspective.
Were you drinking Sat night and consequently relaxed on the bike Sun morning 🙂
I often feel this way, even on a day when I ride well I still have to have a decent warm up before I get there.
There was this one time at Glentress set off down super 8 (I think) and 3 corners in I pulled up and waved everyone through "After you lads, lost me mojo" still have the piss ripped out of me now for that. 😒
After many years on SPD's I've forgotten how to jump, wheelie, and generally ride without pulling up on the pedals.
Oh god yes. One of my last rides, I gazed slightly too long into the abyss of a small awkward rooty step, and it stared back, and next thing I knew I had to tripod about the next 30 metres of trail. Just one of those things
Haha, no drinking Saturday night. Just a 65 mile blip on the road bike on Saturday. So was obviously feeling a bit fresher coming into today and thinking it was going to be great 🙃.
Yeh it's a pain in the hole because it makes me question my ability on things I've done before! I feel like it puts me back a couple of steps in my riding every time. Hammer and nail I guess but there must be more to it. It definitely happens much much more when I'm out on my own so I imagine it's 99% mental. Maybe when I'm on my own I focus on the mistakes too much and then feel shittier and then ride shittier and make more mistakes, while being out in a group has me distracted from any mistakes and then riding better. But I definitely do have plenty of days on my own where I feel great on the bike too!
Yes, sometimes halfway through a day! It's an odd felling when your line choice, movement timings and general ability to react to the terrain just ups and leaves you. Happens to all of us at some point, the trick is to recognise it for what it is, just a 'meh' day on the bike. Put it out of mind and look forward to the next one.
I often have the best rides when I least anticipate them
This is it for me. Same with nights out. When I'm just trying to grab a quick ride and everything seems set up to fail I have a great ride. When everything is gravy and I'm really looking forward to a ride, I can pretty much guarantee it'll be shite.
Yes, every enduro race I ever entered! You know how time seems to slow down when you hit that state of flow - I just actually slowed down...
This happens to me all the time. I never have a bad ride but sometimes I’m really bad, no flow, crap on the brakes, clipping trees even, but sometimes I think I just try too hard.
Now and then, yeah. Usually when I'm stressed about something or other in life.
But hang on, you ate a whole box of choc ices?
Yep. You just get tired or stressed or something and there's nothing you can do about it except slow down and enjoy a nice relaxing ride. One of the most embarrassing crashes I've ever had happened on a day like that. We started riding and I just felt like I was half a second behind everything that was happening and I was too tense and making things worse. I deliberately tried to relax, but I guess I relaxed a bit too much on a straight, flat section doing about jogging pace. One hand slipped off the bars and I endoed and did a faceplant. My mate was right behind me and was equal parts amused and confused about how the hell anybody could crash on such an easy section of trail.
I'm always amazed how easily I remember everything and how I just feel at home on a bike even though I ride so infrequently. Having said that, I always had a pretty low skill level even when I was at my 'best'. That might be it actually!
Yup, sometimes I just don't click. Every corner feels like I could go 10x faster, every jump feels wrong, and every pedal stroke seems ineffective. I usually don't enjoy those days at all but keep at it. It's still a ride, and without the bad days you wouldn't have the great ones.
i have been without a MTB for 3 months now, so a little worried i will have forgotten how to ride when i finally get back on one in the next few weeks. (been waiting for a warranty replacement).
Still been road riding, so fitness will be there, but it doesn't require the same skill set as sending the gnar!
All too often and generally there’s no good reason for it.
I vividly remember one such ride being the final nail I. The coffin of my old BFe, convinced myself while riding that it must just be down to not helping with hard tails anymore, I was at Sherwood pines so went straight I got he shop and bought a cx bike, 2 hours later the BFe was stripped and on eBay!
All the time.
Some days, it don't come easy and some days it don't come hard, Some days it don't come at all and these are the days that never end.
Or something.
I have the occasional great day where the trail just looks wider somehow and you are well ahead of everything.
Then at the other end I have days where I can't seem to let go of the brakes and just slither down everything. It use to properly piss me off, but then that only made things worse. Now I just accept it and take in the view or sniff the trees.
Tensing up is my worst enemy