March - April 2007

Cycling Confidence Boosters

#1 Try to avoid situations where you are of a lesser standard that most of all the other riders around you.

#2 No matter how hard you try to be confident, in our ways, a negative thought can pop in your head (“Why am I so useless..,? “No, can’t do it,” etc.). Stop the thought and replace it with a positive one, usually of past cycling success.

#3 After you finish each ride, ask yourself what went right, what felt good, what you achieved, how you’ve improved.

#4 When possible, surround yourself with positive, encouraging people. It works wonders for confidence. You don’t need people around you who say things like “Let’s face it, neither of us are ever going to be much good” or There’s no chance you’ll stick to that training program.”

#5 If you are frequently successful, you are obviously going to be highly confident of your chances of achieving success next time around. Success or failure? Confidence could take a dive or go sky high, depending on how you choose to look at it. Judge yourself by how well you do, not by whether anyone else happens to do better that day.

from Cycling Today (England) March 2000