The Fear
Just as a quick side-note. I'm typing this from my cute little new iPad mini. On the train. Amazing. New Years treat.
Anyway, back to the blog. This week (yes, it's a little late) I'd like to discuss the process of fear, that goblin in the cupboard that is every cyclists mind. It plagues us from the very beginning to the 100th time trial, to the nervousness behind every ride we embark on. For the newbie cyclist, this fear can be an unknown emotion not welcomed by the fresh enthusiasm that grips our newly discovered sport. What I would like to do in this post is perhaps help my fellow beginners to understand and even embrace these oddly uncomfortable butterflies. As a sufferer of anxiety, I can empathise all too well with the jitters that come with undertaking new, unknown experiences.
I was at an opening night last week for the HotChillee 2013 Global Event Series. Whilst it's great to see the 'family' back together, what's more awesome is the fresh faces that appeared. This year seems to have kicked off to a great start and it sounds like yet again the London to Paris event will be a huge success. What's even lovelier about the new faces that came down to the event is that, through Goose (one of the Ride Captains and also one of the people that helped me push myself to where I am now, legend) I was introduced to two ladies who were going through exactly the same process I did last March. They had sorted themselves some bikes, and had rode along with Group 6 at the first training ride.
I was introduced to them, apparently, to give them some beginners pointers. This was quite the honour for me as you can imagine, and quite so because given the opportunity I will happily jabber on about cycling for hours. What became apparent to me, though, after a short while in conversation, was that those nerves and jitters I had felt so strongly last year were not mine alone. These ladies were explaining the details of the new world they were discovering, explaining almost to the letter the very same concerns and queries I held myself last year. It's humbling to have been available to chat to them, and perhaps soften some of the worries and answer some of the questions that so many experienced cyclists overlook when introducing the sport. However, while minds can be put at ease - there is always a finishing point I stress to make to any discerning beginner. Embrace the fear.
Pretty much everyone who attempts a new challenge, especially of the physical kind, will know what I refer to when I speak of the fear. What surprises most is that I will always confirm that the fear will never leave them. It remains, whether you expect it or not, and will always be there to remind you of it's existence. So what do I mean when I say "embrace it"? Surely fear is a negative reaction? Fortunately it isn't. It's actually one of the most positive emotions you can experience as a cyclist. Why? Because if you can combat it, stare it in the face, grab it, throttle it and even enjoy it - THAT is when you will reap the benefits. The chemical reactions that surround fear, the emotions and the sheer gratification you'll get from using it as a tool to better yourself is positively unrivalled.
To put what I mean into context I will give you an example. On the month running up to last years Alpine Challenge I was a wreck, a bag of nerves. Unable to sleep. Unable to train without being plagued by doubt and when face to face with the challenge itself I was overcome with the fear so much so I had to spend a long time telling myself NOT to quit. So I didn't, I embraced all of that turmoil, like a brave kid entering a dark landing during a thunderstorm, I marched up to my fear. At the start line, shaking, unable to talk, I perched the fear on my handlebars. We looked each other point blank in the face. "You can follow me up this hill or you can sod off" I said, "I'll follow" it proclaimed. And so it did. Without it I would not have had the guile to complete my mission, and upon completion I would not have had such a surge of sense of achievement - without which I doubt I would have carried on to this day.
At present I am enjoying the fear that comes with entering my first criterium races in March. Here's hoping it keeps me going just as well, and here's hoping it brings its good friend adrenaline.
Be afraid, be very afraid, and then kick the fear in the face. It feels awesome.
Anyway, back to the blog. This week (yes, it's a little late) I'd like to discuss the process of fear, that goblin in the cupboard that is every cyclists mind. It plagues us from the very beginning to the 100th time trial, to the nervousness behind every ride we embark on. For the newbie cyclist, this fear can be an unknown emotion not welcomed by the fresh enthusiasm that grips our newly discovered sport. What I would like to do in this post is perhaps help my fellow beginners to understand and even embrace these oddly uncomfortable butterflies. As a sufferer of anxiety, I can empathise all too well with the jitters that come with undertaking new, unknown experiences.
I was at an opening night last week for the HotChillee 2013 Global Event Series. Whilst it's great to see the 'family' back together, what's more awesome is the fresh faces that appeared. This year seems to have kicked off to a great start and it sounds like yet again the London to Paris event will be a huge success. What's even lovelier about the new faces that came down to the event is that, through Goose (one of the Ride Captains and also one of the people that helped me push myself to where I am now, legend) I was introduced to two ladies who were going through exactly the same process I did last March. They had sorted themselves some bikes, and had rode along with Group 6 at the first training ride.
I was introduced to them, apparently, to give them some beginners pointers. This was quite the honour for me as you can imagine, and quite so because given the opportunity I will happily jabber on about cycling for hours. What became apparent to me, though, after a short while in conversation, was that those nerves and jitters I had felt so strongly last year were not mine alone. These ladies were explaining the details of the new world they were discovering, explaining almost to the letter the very same concerns and queries I held myself last year. It's humbling to have been available to chat to them, and perhaps soften some of the worries and answer some of the questions that so many experienced cyclists overlook when introducing the sport. However, while minds can be put at ease - there is always a finishing point I stress to make to any discerning beginner. Embrace the fear.
Pretty much everyone who attempts a new challenge, especially of the physical kind, will know what I refer to when I speak of the fear. What surprises most is that I will always confirm that the fear will never leave them. It remains, whether you expect it or not, and will always be there to remind you of it's existence. So what do I mean when I say "embrace it"? Surely fear is a negative reaction? Fortunately it isn't. It's actually one of the most positive emotions you can experience as a cyclist. Why? Because if you can combat it, stare it in the face, grab it, throttle it and even enjoy it - THAT is when you will reap the benefits. The chemical reactions that surround fear, the emotions and the sheer gratification you'll get from using it as a tool to better yourself is positively unrivalled.
To put what I mean into context I will give you an example. On the month running up to last years Alpine Challenge I was a wreck, a bag of nerves. Unable to sleep. Unable to train without being plagued by doubt and when face to face with the challenge itself I was overcome with the fear so much so I had to spend a long time telling myself NOT to quit. So I didn't, I embraced all of that turmoil, like a brave kid entering a dark landing during a thunderstorm, I marched up to my fear. At the start line, shaking, unable to talk, I perched the fear on my handlebars. We looked each other point blank in the face. "You can follow me up this hill or you can sod off" I said, "I'll follow" it proclaimed. And so it did. Without it I would not have had the guile to complete my mission, and upon completion I would not have had such a surge of sense of achievement - without which I doubt I would have carried on to this day.
At present I am enjoying the fear that comes with entering my first criterium races in March. Here's hoping it keeps me going just as well, and here's hoping it brings its good friend adrenaline.
Be afraid, be very afraid, and then kick the fear in the face. It feels awesome.
Like it goop. You sound like a bad-ass fearless moofo. Apart from the iPad.
ReplyDeleteI'll bore you with Pablo Casals, probably the greatest 'cellist ever. He suffered with debilitating stage fright all his life. Climbing in America, in the early part of last century, his hand was crushed by a falling rock. His first thought was relief at never having to face the fear of going on stage again! Thank God he recovered and spread that Catalan beauty throughout the world.
DeleteOnce again, brilliantly written Moo - keep it up.
Thanks both! :)
ReplyDelete