What goes through ones mind while in the saddle?

How do you will yourself over that final summit?

And does anyone have any motos/phrases that help get that last ounce of energy out before cracking?

Haribo.

Kelly Brook

i try not to think 😀

no phrases or mottos to get over hills… i just count each time i push my feet into the pedals until i get to the top

Pizza if I’m hungry 😀

Why don’t I ride more and is that wheezing noise really coming from me??

ickle fwuffy bunny wabbits

The act of riding. And why I’m so slow.

What goes through ones mind while in the saddle?

In the same sense that a radio was the last thing to do through Diana’s mind?

(I’ll get my coat)

I occasionally mutter the odd “come on” to myself but the main thing on my mind is generally around avoiding a tree or how much my legs hurt.

Everything.
The longer the ride ,the more Zen it gets man. 8)
On my own on the LeJog days I think I went a bit mad (in a good way) 😯

On big long climbs, it usually involves a jacuzzi and a hot,soapy tit ****

If it’s technical I’ll be in full concentration survival mode.

On the road or XC I just daydream about all sorts.

If my mates are out riding too I usually want to beat them up the climbs, that’s best possible motivation to get up.

For once, I think I know exactly what a **** **** is

I look at the trees and landscapes, listen to the birds, squint out the cold or rain, dodge the difficult terrain or look for the harder line, i fight to maintain a good balance point and study the style of the rider in front, i some times look at the lycra clad bottom it’s a lady, or take to the head of the group and find my own pace, I doubt myself and think that i can’t make it and sometime push cursing at my lost fitness, i question why i didn’t wind down my forks to help keep the front down, how i miss only having the one gear.

Then as the trail point downwards all my thoughts are to line choice, speed management and body position, working the bike in harmony with the ground, to not be lazy when i can squeeze in a pedal stroke or two.

When on the flat and the moods there, i just enjoy the freedom of being out there and free.

The sound of one hand clapping.

The sound of one hand clasping

The sound of one hand rasping.

But not blue.

Kelly Brook

Strangely, that was my immediate thought as well…….

Usually nothing, that’s why I like mountain biking – clears my mind.

food / beer

The sound of one lung gasping

usually s***! f***! or b*******! as yet another obstacle gets the better of me

“I swear my heart shouldn’t be beating like that”

Generally I’m riding to clear my thoughts, and my mind will wander through hundreds of thoughts, like “was that a buzzard” “oh look another rabbit with mixy.”

usually s***! f***! or b*******! as yet another obstacle gets the better of me

why does simonfbarnes get the better of you? 😆

IGMC

My thoughts are usually governed by what I think I’m making a real hash of at the time.

At the moment it’s mainly “smoooooth – don’t stomp”
accompanied by the occasional “pain is just the sensation of weakness leaving the body”.

On the mtb I sing/humm music from biking vids on the dh bit. On the road bike I either try to think about things around me or when it get tough I try to ‘enjoy’ the pain.

Excel models
Real ale
Freaky weasel sex
Annoying song tunes

Uphill – ouch, ouch, ouch, ladies bottoms, ouch, ouch, ouch.
Downhill – weeeeeeee, ladies bottoms, shit shit shit, weeeeeeee.

I am the count and I love to…
when it’s hurting on climbs or on sprints – I blame it on doing loads of gym work in my early twenties counting the reps.

Other than that offroad I look at the views, listen to my internal jukebox
On the road I listen to my ipod.

why does simonfbarnes get the better of you? 😆

Excuse my ignorance – i’m new – but who is this simonfbarnes of whom you speak?

I usually get an annoying song stuck in my head, or worse still just a short looped bit of an annoying song.

This weeks one has been the Alouette ette ette bit from Cherl Kerl’s latest ditty. Joyous 😆

Normally why the **** am I at the back again, and I hope the horns is soon

food

Annoying songs – on long road climbs I often get one verse of a nursery rhyme (young kids) stuck on loop. Makes it even more frustrating when you have to maintain cadence to keep up with the rhyme and you’ve run out gears!

Faster… always faster…

“…trundle….trundle… ahh this feels good… haven’t been out in how long… oops some uphill… jeez this hurts… it never used to hurt… why’s Paul disappearing into the distance… can’t… get… on… terms… oh sweet god, what’s happened to my thighs… breath… breath… cough… wheeze… bloody kids… finally some downhill… sh*t didn’t lift the front… and again… and again… pedals level… lean with the berm… AAARRGGHH… trees… bumpy… don’t… clench… teeth… OOFF… wet roots… oh god… gonna crash… HAH HAARGGHH… made it.

Really must do this more often”

Abridged version of last visit to GT.

While climbing I tell myself the harder you push today, the easier it will be next time. On the downhills I think AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

Don’t you know? We’re thinking about you – and we’re right behind you.

Actually, I think of everything, all at once. Just like at any other time.