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I can cope with wind and rain and headwind, and I can cope with being tired with empty legs.
When they both happen at the same time it's hard work, but thinking of the other STW undoubtedly helps. And I've gotta get to work and back.
I used to kind of go into a neutral blank mindset and keep pedalling, and detach myself from the suffering.
This +1 usualy, just sperate out the "I'm enjoying being out on my bike" part of the moment from the "I'm ****ing cold and ****ing miserable" part. Got home last night and the missus said "got wet then?", I've gotten so good at it I didn't actualy know whether I had or not!
For the really bad days, Jota's method or variations thereof work.
Headwind, pannier and 42x15 gets my cadence down to about 65-70. So I get low on the drops and stare at the stem. It will be over soon enough.
"Better than the alternative" seems to be our family motto. The alternative in this case being not being - and we've too much experience of that.
And when I'm racing, I just say to myself "Never, never, never give up". That got me around the last 10 laps of a recent 100km road race after I'd bruised my ribs on the pump track at the Bike Show the day before, and fallen off the back of the pack on the second lap. Finished 31/32, but I beat the 24 who chose not to finish at all.
Great stuff. I try the zone out. It will be over just keep pedalling. I also think, lots of people would love to be able to be in this situation.
I was grinding up a hill once and some old boy walking with a stick smiled. We both knew that smile.
I had it on the big grassy climb at last years SPAM winter challenge. I just completely put any thought of pushing out of the equation- that was not an option.
Then, that just leaves one pedal revolution at a time to complete and suddenly a zen like peace descends- only grinding up an awful hill can you be truly in the moment 😀
Not far from the top now 😉
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(and yes, I did buy a copy of the picture so not a total chav 😉 )
This one comes a bit out of leftfield but always works for me.
I tell myself I've witnessed childbirth and consequently any argument I may have had about being a little uncomfortable whilst playing out on my bike becomes entirely irrelevant.
Like I say unusual but works, that's not to say I'll not try the soapy tits trick next time!
Hah.... STW - Single Track World or ......
I just know what will be popping into my mind during the next big climb now.
Cheers 🙂