Oct 31, 2022·edited Oct 31, 2022Liked by Griff Wigley
Interesting post!
I have always suffered a similar problem to yours. My grade school was too easy. I was never challenged. I really needed a Talented&Gifted-type program but had no idea. When I hit high school algebra, I was lost. Having NEVER needed to work at anything academically before, I had developed no study skills. My reaction was...panic. I became convinced that if something wasn't easy for me, it was impossible for me. So, I'd give up on it. Higher math was only the first of many "learning phobias" that I developed. This has affected my entire life and career, as I applied this self-sabotage to many areas of endeavor.
One of the most important milestones in my lifelong fight against this condition was actually MTB. I am (truly) a badly coordinated little poindexter. I could run fast (thanks, bullies!) and ride a (mostly road) bike fast, but that was it. Catch a pass or dribble a basketball? Lets just say I was always among the last picked for any team other than track.
When I discovered singletrack at age 56, for some reason, something clicked in my head. It was HARD, progress was/is frustratingly slow, but this time I could not give up. Per addictio ad astra?
I just had a reminder of the power of mind over bike. Last week in Bentonville I rode a twisty, paved bermed DH trail called Choo Choo. The thing was, it was filled in with wet leaves. This forced me to ride only along the spine atop the linked berms, which was the only surface with any traction. NOT the way I generally ride berms. I was doing well until I lost mental focus for a second and looked over the edge....
OF COURSE the bike immediately tried to launch itself into oblivion. I had to lock up the brakes and down I went; luckily I fell back onto the trail.
This past Saturday morning, back home at Palos, I made a huge effort to not lose that focus on where I waned to go, to look DOWN the trail, not at my front tire as introverted cyclists are wont to do. This resulted in four Strava PRs and even more 2nd and 3rd best efforts over various sections, mostly the twisty ones.
Interesting post!
I have always suffered a similar problem to yours. My grade school was too easy. I was never challenged. I really needed a Talented&Gifted-type program but had no idea. When I hit high school algebra, I was lost. Having NEVER needed to work at anything academically before, I had developed no study skills. My reaction was...panic. I became convinced that if something wasn't easy for me, it was impossible for me. So, I'd give up on it. Higher math was only the first of many "learning phobias" that I developed. This has affected my entire life and career, as I applied this self-sabotage to many areas of endeavor.
One of the most important milestones in my lifelong fight against this condition was actually MTB. I am (truly) a badly coordinated little poindexter. I could run fast (thanks, bullies!) and ride a (mostly road) bike fast, but that was it. Catch a pass or dribble a basketball? Lets just say I was always among the last picked for any team other than track.
When I discovered singletrack at age 56, for some reason, something clicked in my head. It was HARD, progress was/is frustratingly slow, but this time I could not give up. Per addictio ad astra?
I just had a reminder of the power of mind over bike. Last week in Bentonville I rode a twisty, paved bermed DH trail called Choo Choo. The thing was, it was filled in with wet leaves. This forced me to ride only along the spine atop the linked berms, which was the only surface with any traction. NOT the way I generally ride berms. I was doing well until I lost mental focus for a second and looked over the edge....
OF COURSE the bike immediately tried to launch itself into oblivion. I had to lock up the brakes and down I went; luckily I fell back onto the trail.
This past Saturday morning, back home at Palos, I made a huge effort to not lose that focus on where I waned to go, to look DOWN the trail, not at my front tire as introverted cyclists are wont to do. This resulted in four Strava PRs and even more 2nd and 3rd best efforts over various sections, mostly the twisty ones.
This sport is a mind game like few others.