The battle for positive mental well-being is very real and crosses all aspects of life. Whether work related, education or sport, mental health can have both detrimental and positive impacts.
Statistics tell us that in the UK, One in Four people will experience some form of mental health and the severity of the problem is increasing. But why do we still find the subject difficult to discuss and shy away from sharing our feelings? According to the statistics we all know someone that might need support, and as riders are we any different?
As individuals, unless we really start understanding, recognising the signs and begin talking, pride will often come before a fall and in Mountain Biking that hurts.
"Trail Head' is my quest to explore, and understand the tools and techniques needed to develop a positive mindset on and off the bike. Making practical and effective use of this knowledge, I want to develop my own skills on a bike, enter competitions, and share this journey. I hope 'Trail Head' will empower others to also overcome the barriers we place in front of ourselves when we are out on the trails, but also provide the tools that will compliment everyday life as well.
By recruiting professional riders, friends and industry professionals to also share their experiences of emotional pressure, and personal coping strategies; 'Trail Head' is a work in progress and at present I'm not sure what form it may take. If it becomes a book, i'll aim for an easy to read, light hearted and inspiring guide to managing mental well-being for riding at the best of our abilities, whatever the level, whatever the age, wherever we ride. As an event or workshop, i'll aim to develop a platform to continue this valuable discussion within our riding community. This process takes time, and this project is certainly an organic one.
'Trail Head' will be ideally become a inclusive piece of work that will include story telling, exceptional visual creativity, exercises to help our minds, discussion, mentorships and include key messages from some of the world's best riders.
I'm sure this journey will develop and I'm learning every time I ride my bike, or ride with friends, meet new people, enter an event, or head out on a road trip. The more information gathered, the more I learn and news will be added to the Radius Blog and Social Media.
Statistics tell us that in the UK, One in Four people will experience some form of mental health and the severity of the problem is increasing. But why do we still find the subject difficult to discuss and shy away from sharing our feelings? According to the statistics we all know someone that might need support, and as riders are we any different?
As individuals, unless we really start understanding, recognising the signs and begin talking, pride will often come before a fall and in Mountain Biking that hurts.
"Trail Head' is my quest to explore, and understand the tools and techniques needed to develop a positive mindset on and off the bike. Making practical and effective use of this knowledge, I want to develop my own skills on a bike, enter competitions, and share this journey. I hope 'Trail Head' will empower others to also overcome the barriers we place in front of ourselves when we are out on the trails, but also provide the tools that will compliment everyday life as well.
By recruiting professional riders, friends and industry professionals to also share their experiences of emotional pressure, and personal coping strategies; 'Trail Head' is a work in progress and at present I'm not sure what form it may take. If it becomes a book, i'll aim for an easy to read, light hearted and inspiring guide to managing mental well-being for riding at the best of our abilities, whatever the level, whatever the age, wherever we ride. As an event or workshop, i'll aim to develop a platform to continue this valuable discussion within our riding community. This process takes time, and this project is certainly an organic one.
'Trail Head' will be ideally become a inclusive piece of work that will include story telling, exceptional visual creativity, exercises to help our minds, discussion, mentorships and include key messages from some of the world's best riders.
I'm sure this journey will develop and I'm learning every time I ride my bike, or ride with friends, meet new people, enter an event, or head out on a road trip. The more information gathered, the more I learn and news will be added to the Radius Blog and Social Media.
The Mental Multi Tool - Don’t leave home without it.
How many of us have left home for a long ride without a simple multi tool, tyre levers, maybe a spare tube and no patches, or even a pump? Ten minutes out and you remember you left an essential part of your kit on the kitchen table and then as easily as that the ride can change. This forgetful moment could result in an unwelcome negative mindset, and for some, that may be a feeling that’s difficult to shake off for the entirety of the ride.
I’m sure we’ve all done it, and if so did you feel a little anxious? Maybe a little more vulnerable if you were on a solo ride, far from home, with no back-up tube or CO2 canisters. Did the ‘What if?’ scenarios begin running through your mind. If you’re riding with mates, they’ll bail you out by offering up a spare tube, a helping hand, or a loan of their multi tool. But if you’re riding solo the mobile phone is always at hand for a pick up, and lets face it, we’re hardly likely to forget that because how will we capture that ‘selfie’ Insta banger, or monitor the Strava records.
A basic bicycle tool kit takes away the smallest of negative emotions linked to our bikes going wrong, and subsequent emotions that can potentially ruin our happy go lucky ride, or adventure into the wilderness far from home. That tool kit is such a mental security blanket that allows us to happily ride further, and possibly help us avoid those demons like fear, anxiety, stress, anger or frustration.
If we leave home without this multi tool, then we might feel a little annoyed with ourselves. A spare tube might make us ride a little more conservatively, and not ride to our full potential for fear of puncture, even change our route, cutting our ride short. If we leave home without a snack, which is easily done, especially when rushing out the door to meet mates, we know we will soon be hitting a hunger wall. Starving, with energy levels depleted, and a good ride cut short because we know the energy from a snack is both as much physical as it is mental. A handful of Haribo can make anyone smile.
So here’s the question. Why do so many riders leave home without a tool kit for their minds?
Why do riders hit the bike parks or trails over and over again, knowing that confidence is lacking, and this will be the reason certain features will be given a wide berth? Why avoid entering competitions because of a limiting belief in ones riding abilities? Why not conquer that fear of consequence, or banish that worry what others might be thinking, that crushing belief that somehow you might make a fool of yourself, when in reality, everyone is stoked you’re just trying.
We have this built-in emotional state that seems to relish the crumbling of a normal human being into a bag of anxiety or nerves, weighed down with an overwhelming pressure that we place upon ourselves, or let others place upon us. This same emotion encourages us to swerve right and take the chicken run to avoid the feature we so desperately wish to conquer. We avoid the line we know is sketchy but faster, or the gap jump we wanted to clear, or the drop we wanted to send; Defeating us again and again. We convince ourselves that next time will be different, we say to ourselves ‘today’s the day’, this is the run, this is it – NAH, NAH…NO....BRAKE... SWERVE….Chicken Run, Safety, Bugger.
Then we let the frustration attack us. Disappointed in ourselves, telling ourselves we ‘failed’ again, and chances are we will repeat this action in the near future, unless we change something.
We spend thousands on our bikes, our dream bikes. We endlessly upgrade according to reviews and influencer recommendations, and we’re suckers for colour matching, or the newest tech. Coil spring versus air shock, and even changing our entire bikes to find out if 29” is better than 27.5”, or was that just me. There’s carbon vs aluminium, and some prefer steel, some we try them all. Bars, brakes, pedals, grips, stems, the list goes on, the joy of riding bikes - We invest so much in our toys.
We upgrade and head out without thinking. Our dream rides are built to improve our performance, trend after trend we take it all on board, buying into a very quick feel good factor until we realise that we still can’t corner properly, or clear the jump. We might have visions of being like the professionals, freeriding our local spot like Brendog, shredding a trail like Sam Hill, ‘Flat out Feet Out’, or whipping like Kade Edwards. Let's face 99.9% of people reading this are not even close, but we can dream, or we could visualise.
The influencers are there to inspire. Promotions are constantly being sent our way, whether YouTube, online magazines, social media and thankfully still in glorious print. The images and influences play on our minds, the brands have us over a barrel, but that’s OK, because it’s our passion. I have been the same sucker for a decent advert since I got my first pair of Vans in 1981 and still buy them today.
So we arrive at this point, fully inspired, we have our dream bike, we’re kitted out in the finest apparel from your chosen brand, wearing our super light, new crash helmet, we are generally looking on point.
I’ll stop right there, as I think you get the picture.
Here’s a few more Questions.
How many of us invest anywhere close to this or any amount of time, finance and energy on upgrading our minds, and our own positive mental well-being? How many of us have invested a fraction of time or purchase costs on developing our confidence, or our self-belief, or ways to overcome peer pressure with a little more personal assertiveness? How many have taken the time, not money, to invest in building a positive set of tools for your Mind so you don’t take the ‘Chicken Run’.
Why spend thousands on a passion, but spend little or nothing on developing the one thing that is vital to getting the best from our bikes?
Our mental ability is the most priceless tool we possess, and if we learn to use it wisely, our minds are the most powerful tool on the trail. You can have all the gear that leading brands throw at us, be influenced as much as your brain and wallet can handle, but it’s your mind that will get you to the top of the hill and back down with a bigger smile on your face. We don’t need to upgrade our minds, we only have the one we were given, default settings and all. Like our bikes, our mind just needs a little tinkering, a dash of trailside maintenance, the odd tweak here and there, servicing once in a while, and if we can spend thirty minutes cleaning our bikes, we can spend ten refreshing our mind.
Positive mental well-being is the best feeling. The results we can achieve in life are outstanding if we choose to follow the paths that lead us to a simple adage, Positive Thinking Positive Outcome. But does it really work? Well, the next time you have some spare cash, consider your own mental strength and how an investment in yourself might help. Consider taking part in a relaxation session, and be genuinely honest with yourself, did it make you feel different? Did it make you feel positive? I have delivered deep relaxation and visualisation techniques to BMX racers, surfers, gymnasts, motocross riders, parents, kids, and business people and each one has said, ‘Wow, what just happened?’ All I did was just talk to them quietly, and give them the chance to relax their mind and focus on letting go of any tensions. Throw in some visualisation on an area they’d like to succeed and it becomes the perfect way to tap into the awe inspiring mind of ours and it’s free. A free library of positive experience that can be drawn upon when needed, and if you do try it, you unbox a means to visualise what you’d like to achieve.
The question to ask yourself here is: What is your idea of success? If you race, the answer might be to podium, or achieve a top ten. If you just love riding your bike, the answer must be to simply enjoy yourself and have fun. Depending on our level of riding, we all want to try that new feature at the bike park or on the trails, and wouldn’t it be great to have the kind of positive mindset to help us achieve our progression to recognise our success. This is where our mental multi tool comes into play, and I really believe that the ethos behind the Trail Head Project can help others achieve this.
How many of us have left home for a long ride without a simple multi tool, tyre levers, maybe a spare tube and no patches, or even a pump? Ten minutes out and you remember you left an essential part of your kit on the kitchen table and then as easily as that the ride can change. This forgetful moment could result in an unwelcome negative mindset, and for some, that may be a feeling that’s difficult to shake off for the entirety of the ride.
I’m sure we’ve all done it, and if so did you feel a little anxious? Maybe a little more vulnerable if you were on a solo ride, far from home, with no back-up tube or CO2 canisters. Did the ‘What if?’ scenarios begin running through your mind. If you’re riding with mates, they’ll bail you out by offering up a spare tube, a helping hand, or a loan of their multi tool. But if you’re riding solo the mobile phone is always at hand for a pick up, and lets face it, we’re hardly likely to forget that because how will we capture that ‘selfie’ Insta banger, or monitor the Strava records.
A basic bicycle tool kit takes away the smallest of negative emotions linked to our bikes going wrong, and subsequent emotions that can potentially ruin our happy go lucky ride, or adventure into the wilderness far from home. That tool kit is such a mental security blanket that allows us to happily ride further, and possibly help us avoid those demons like fear, anxiety, stress, anger or frustration.
If we leave home without this multi tool, then we might feel a little annoyed with ourselves. A spare tube might make us ride a little more conservatively, and not ride to our full potential for fear of puncture, even change our route, cutting our ride short. If we leave home without a snack, which is easily done, especially when rushing out the door to meet mates, we know we will soon be hitting a hunger wall. Starving, with energy levels depleted, and a good ride cut short because we know the energy from a snack is both as much physical as it is mental. A handful of Haribo can make anyone smile.
So here’s the question. Why do so many riders leave home without a tool kit for their minds?
Why do riders hit the bike parks or trails over and over again, knowing that confidence is lacking, and this will be the reason certain features will be given a wide berth? Why avoid entering competitions because of a limiting belief in ones riding abilities? Why not conquer that fear of consequence, or banish that worry what others might be thinking, that crushing belief that somehow you might make a fool of yourself, when in reality, everyone is stoked you’re just trying.
We have this built-in emotional state that seems to relish the crumbling of a normal human being into a bag of anxiety or nerves, weighed down with an overwhelming pressure that we place upon ourselves, or let others place upon us. This same emotion encourages us to swerve right and take the chicken run to avoid the feature we so desperately wish to conquer. We avoid the line we know is sketchy but faster, or the gap jump we wanted to clear, or the drop we wanted to send; Defeating us again and again. We convince ourselves that next time will be different, we say to ourselves ‘today’s the day’, this is the run, this is it – NAH, NAH…NO....BRAKE... SWERVE….Chicken Run, Safety, Bugger.
Then we let the frustration attack us. Disappointed in ourselves, telling ourselves we ‘failed’ again, and chances are we will repeat this action in the near future, unless we change something.
We spend thousands on our bikes, our dream bikes. We endlessly upgrade according to reviews and influencer recommendations, and we’re suckers for colour matching, or the newest tech. Coil spring versus air shock, and even changing our entire bikes to find out if 29” is better than 27.5”, or was that just me. There’s carbon vs aluminium, and some prefer steel, some we try them all. Bars, brakes, pedals, grips, stems, the list goes on, the joy of riding bikes - We invest so much in our toys.
We upgrade and head out without thinking. Our dream rides are built to improve our performance, trend after trend we take it all on board, buying into a very quick feel good factor until we realise that we still can’t corner properly, or clear the jump. We might have visions of being like the professionals, freeriding our local spot like Brendog, shredding a trail like Sam Hill, ‘Flat out Feet Out’, or whipping like Kade Edwards. Let's face 99.9% of people reading this are not even close, but we can dream, or we could visualise.
The influencers are there to inspire. Promotions are constantly being sent our way, whether YouTube, online magazines, social media and thankfully still in glorious print. The images and influences play on our minds, the brands have us over a barrel, but that’s OK, because it’s our passion. I have been the same sucker for a decent advert since I got my first pair of Vans in 1981 and still buy them today.
So we arrive at this point, fully inspired, we have our dream bike, we’re kitted out in the finest apparel from your chosen brand, wearing our super light, new crash helmet, we are generally looking on point.
I’ll stop right there, as I think you get the picture.
Here’s a few more Questions.
How many of us invest anywhere close to this or any amount of time, finance and energy on upgrading our minds, and our own positive mental well-being? How many of us have invested a fraction of time or purchase costs on developing our confidence, or our self-belief, or ways to overcome peer pressure with a little more personal assertiveness? How many have taken the time, not money, to invest in building a positive set of tools for your Mind so you don’t take the ‘Chicken Run’.
Why spend thousands on a passion, but spend little or nothing on developing the one thing that is vital to getting the best from our bikes?
Our mental ability is the most priceless tool we possess, and if we learn to use it wisely, our minds are the most powerful tool on the trail. You can have all the gear that leading brands throw at us, be influenced as much as your brain and wallet can handle, but it’s your mind that will get you to the top of the hill and back down with a bigger smile on your face. We don’t need to upgrade our minds, we only have the one we were given, default settings and all. Like our bikes, our mind just needs a little tinkering, a dash of trailside maintenance, the odd tweak here and there, servicing once in a while, and if we can spend thirty minutes cleaning our bikes, we can spend ten refreshing our mind.
Positive mental well-being is the best feeling. The results we can achieve in life are outstanding if we choose to follow the paths that lead us to a simple adage, Positive Thinking Positive Outcome. But does it really work? Well, the next time you have some spare cash, consider your own mental strength and how an investment in yourself might help. Consider taking part in a relaxation session, and be genuinely honest with yourself, did it make you feel different? Did it make you feel positive? I have delivered deep relaxation and visualisation techniques to BMX racers, surfers, gymnasts, motocross riders, parents, kids, and business people and each one has said, ‘Wow, what just happened?’ All I did was just talk to them quietly, and give them the chance to relax their mind and focus on letting go of any tensions. Throw in some visualisation on an area they’d like to succeed and it becomes the perfect way to tap into the awe inspiring mind of ours and it’s free. A free library of positive experience that can be drawn upon when needed, and if you do try it, you unbox a means to visualise what you’d like to achieve.
The question to ask yourself here is: What is your idea of success? If you race, the answer might be to podium, or achieve a top ten. If you just love riding your bike, the answer must be to simply enjoy yourself and have fun. Depending on our level of riding, we all want to try that new feature at the bike park or on the trails, and wouldn’t it be great to have the kind of positive mindset to help us achieve our progression to recognise our success. This is where our mental multi tool comes into play, and I really believe that the ethos behind the Trail Head Project can help others achieve this.