Motivation

[sarah b.]

Hey guys,
I've been lurking for a while now, and your advice has helped me a lot already. The ride I've been training for, the MS150 from Houston to Austin, is coming up in less than two weeks, so I thought it was time to come out of hiding and ask a question or two. First of all, I know there are going to be parts of the ride where I want to give up, how do you all stay motivated to keep it going? Secondly, I've learned a lot from the organized rides thread in the tips and tricks category, but do you have any other advice for a new rider embarking on her first extended organized ride? Thank you in advance for all your help!
-sarah b.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I think one of the most important things is to make sure you keep eating and drinking all day long. Don't wait until you are hungry or thirsty - if you wait, it's already too late!

And don't get caught up in a race mentality. It doesn't matter how long it takes you to finish the ride. It matters that you are there and that you are enjoying yourself.

It's funny, I did an MS 2-day ride a number of years back. A woman who I worked with at the time asked if she could ride with me. I knew that she was a fast rider, and I'm not - so my response was that while I'd welcome the company but that I thought that she'd be happier riding at her own speed (I wasn't capable of speeding up to her speed...) - but that I'd be happy to share a room with her. Her response was that she'd be happy riding at my pace. I didn't believe her, but I accepted the company. We started out together, but I could tell she wasn't happy riding at my pace. Then she started talking with a couple of guys who were traveling at her speed, so I again told her that I didn't expect her to stay with me. She took off. But she was so pissed at me by the end of the day because I finished the ride a couple of hours faster than she did! I guess it's the old tortoise & hare story - she and her new riding buddies rode really fast, but when they stopped at the rest stops they stayed for a while. I rode at my usual (slower but constant) pace. I stopped at every rest stop, hit the porta-potty, filled up my water bottles, and grabbed some snacks. Then I got back on my bike and kept on riding....

Have fun on your ride!

[Jennifer Gallow]

I agree with that. It's easy to see riders pass you and try to keep up. Sometimes it's not even a conscious decision, you sort of unknowingly speed up, but keep an eye on your speedometer to make sure you stay on YOUR race pace. 150 miles is a LONG way ... don't burn out to ride with a faster group.

Besides, I've done centuries fast and I've done 'em slow ... this last one we took 8 hours to finish and had the best time ever. AND we felt good enough to go out and celebrate ... those fast rides leave me ready to hit the hot tub and straight to the couch. Not the most fun way to celebrate your accomplishment!

I stay motivated by setting little goals -- reach the next SAG by 9am, keep my heart rate at whatever number for the next five minutes, that sort of thing. I don't stop at all the SAGs but the stops can be motivating too. If you pull in behind someone, make a little goal to get out ahead of them ... it's a sense of accomplishment AND it keeps you from staying off the bike too long. (After a long day of riding it can get pretty tough to get back on!) Make small goals to eat and drink too -- finish one waterbottle each hour. That will make sure you're hydrated and give you a small win as well. PLUS, if you're riding with someone, use them for motivation. My BF and I always drag each other if one or the other is feeling strong and the other is weak. It will pass, and you can switch off, and feed off the excitement and adrenaline of your group.

Sarah B I'm excited for you. Enjoy your ride!

[sarah b.]

Thanks for all of the tips and encouragement! I'm really excited, but kind of nervous, all at the same time. I am determined to complete this ride, but I know it's going to be a challenge for me. I am learning how much of cycling is in my head and positive thinking, so I appreciate the help with motivating myself through the hard stretches and the reminder to pace myself.
-sarah b.

[fixedgeargirl]

Of course, there's always Red Bull.

Right, V.? ;)

[Biking Chick]

Your participation in any organized event to raise awareness and funds for MS makes you a 'winner' before you even turn over one pedal stroke.

Ride for a cure - in support of everyone who's lives have been touched by MS - and when you *think* you can't ride one more mile ... ride that one mile for someone who can't.

[CorsairMac]

Thanks for all of the tips and encouragement! I'm really excited, but kind of nervous, all at the same time. I am determined to complete this ride, but I know it's going to be a challenge for me. I am learning how much of cycling is in my head and positive thinking, so I appreciate the help with motivating myself through the hard stretches and the reminder to pace myself.
-sarah b.


I know it's different for everyone but I found the little goals as someone posted previously make it easier to stay motivated and help make the time go past, and the little treats as rewards: If I make it to the base of the bridge, I'll take a drink as a reward; if I have a banana Now - I can Fly up that hill; little silly things like that. Or set something up that like: I'll drink every 15 mins and eat every 30. Then you get so busy keeping track of your time you lose track of the miles. Let us know how ya do!!...and what kept you motivated!

[KSH]

Hello! I am currently training for the MS 150 from Dallas to Oklahoma!

Hee-hee... I know I have a few people tell me thus far that they logged about 180 miles on their computers at the end of the "150" in the previous years. At least on the "Dallas" one they did!

As far as motivation... I can't imagine giving up... (assuming that the weather is GOOD! I will NOT ride in the rain)... because if you don't finish (even if it takes you many hours!)... then you have failed your committment to complete the race.

It's following through with a goal.

That is what will motivate me.... that... and the PRIDE I will have for having finished so many miles in 2 days... for a GOOD cause.

These poor people will MS live in discomfort daily... all year round... what is 2 days of discomfort for me?

Nothing.


Best of luck to you!

[SadieKate]

I just want to post a little heartfelt thank you to everyone participating in the MS rides and walks. I feel like the token MS person on this board but there are probably others lurking out there. Many of you have friends who are affected by MS and know how it can change their lives as well as their families. MassBikeBabe has told me about a close family friend who has been fairly severely affected and how her boys have reacted. I know others of you are probably having similar experiences.

Just want you to know how appreciative I am of all your efforts and how proud I am that so many of you are members of our TE family.

Raise a toast to Fast Friends!

SK

[fixedgeargirl]

Sarah b., how was your ride? Seems like you had good weather. My parents are in town, so I forgot all about going to see the finish. I was showing my parents the town, and wondered why I was seeing all these bikes with numbers on them..... :rolleyes:

Anyway, hope it was a good ride (for a very good cause :D!!).

[sarah b.]

Thanks again for all of your insight! It turns out that I really didn't hit a wall, like I thought I would. We had SO much fun! When I did start to get tired, there was an older man on the side of the road with a sign that said he has MS who told me I could do it! I guess he could tell I was getting tired. I got a little choked up and that kept me pedalling the rest of the way. I did learn a little trick on the hills, counting my pedal strokes provided a good distraction. As people were dismounting to walk up, I would tell myself "just ten more pedals" and I made it up the hill ten pedal strokes at a time. It was a blast and I am now completely hooked! If you want to read our whole story and see pictures, you can go to http://thebteam.typepad.com.
Thanks for your help and I look forward to continuing to be a part of this women's cycling community! :D
-sarah b.

[Biking Chick]

Raise a toast to Fast Friends!SK

:::clink:::

To friends -

[CorsairMac]

When I did start to get tired, there was an older man on the side of the road with a sign that said he has MS who told me I could do it! I guess he could tell I was getting tired. I got a little choked up and that kept me pedalling the rest of the way. Thanks for your help and I look forward to continuing to be a part of this women's cycling community! :D
-sarah b.

yeah - that choked me up too just reading it. Thanks for sharing Sarah! and congrats on a job well done.
I'm thinking we need to pass the She-Ra Princess of Power Tiara to SarahB next!

[fixedgeargirl]

Way to go Sarah!!! I went to your link - sounds like an awesome trip!!! And I choked up when I read the part about the encouraging man in the wheelchair.

Hurray for you! :D:D:D

[nuthatch]

Sarah, thanks for posting your experiences - they'll be my inspiration when we have our MS150 in June!

[Technotart]

I'm one of those types who carries a huge purse with everything I could possibly need for a week of survival after a natural disaster in it -

I am already getting teased about the fact that I will probably carry more first aid supplies for the MS 150 than an EMS truck - help me pare it down!

Do I need rain gear? Do I need a jacket? What items can you not be without on a long ride? (There will be PLENTY of food, water, first aid and tires/tubes available)

Sunscreen is a major one for me I know....

Oh - and Hubster is driving up to the overnight and staying and driving up to the finish line....so he will have my overnight stuff with him...

What should I carry (or not carry) on the bike?

[Trek420]

sarah b. asks "I know there are going to be parts of the ride where I want to give up, how do you all stay motivated to keep it going?"

Good question, yet not an easy one to answer. Congratulations for commiting to a challenging event and a great cause. Great blog sarahb, I had to get out the kleenex.

First off I think it's important to plan and train to finish every mile. There's no shame in taking the sag wagon and no one will fault you for that but a few things will get you in bus for sure:

* Respect the miles, train for them
* Respect your equipment, maintain your bike, you should arrive there with a bike that's clean, lubed, ready to go
* Take care of your body, learn to eat and hydrate on the move

Even with all the training what I didn't expect on last years AIDS ride is the emotional intensity.

I had planned to do this ride for years (I crewed in '97 and ladies, always thank your crew members every chance you get on any ride because they are working harder than you, trust me) but kept chickening out because of some freakishly hard hills. I'd pepper riders with questions "I've done ___ hill, is ____ harder? how many hills are there? how steep, how..." till finally Salvatore (co-worker) stopped me with "you know what? each hill, I just thought of it as another angel and I thanked each hill"

When I arrived at the top of the "Evil Twins" heart rate monitor beeping wildly (how do I turn that off?) and stopped to gulp down gatorade and air, I heard a beep behind me and looked to find another rider. Wasn't his heart rate monitor, he was one of our Positive Peds stopping because the alarm was for time to take his meds. So here I am just trying to stay fed & hydrated, and this guy is riding too and if he misses a dose he dies. So never forget that there are people riding with you who are living with life changing conditions.

He grinned and said "I'm all about keeping going. If I'm feeling energetic I'm fast, if I'm tired I'll take it easy. But just keep going, it's all about getting there".

I have learned from the gals on this board to "ride your own ride", riders will pass you, let 'em, you'll pass others that's good too. But you never gain anything and may blow yourself out trying to pass or keep up with a particular rider. My Achilles heel is I don't like to be passed by anyone on a mountain or comfort bike ;-) "hey, I should be ahead of them" but ya know, sometimes they are just faster, let 'em go, you just keep going.

also I want to ask you ladies for your thoughts on this. In an essay at

http://sheldonbrown.com/thons.html

Sheldon Brown writes that charity bike rides send the "wrong" message about cycling, that it's hard, that it's suffering, and that discourages people from riding. Well, yeah, some rides are just plain hard. But I feel that I'm as proud that I've encouraged people to get back on a bike as I am of the money and awareness I've raised.

In my office 3 people have started riding to work, the security gaurd now knows that they *can* bring their bikes in the building because I do, 2 women on the 5th floor are peppering me with questions and want to start riding to work (of course I refer them to TE), co-workers Corey and Tom are shopping for bikes, one of my sponsors is training for her first century, Walt who thought he could not ride anymore due to a degenerative back condition I've got him convinced to get a recumbent and keep riding.

Their thinking I'm sure is that "If 49 year old chubby arthritic Dita can do the AIDS ride, I can bike 9 blocks to work" I'm fine with that ;-) So we raise awareness of issues but also cycling in general

[CorsairMac]

(There will be PLENTY of food, water, first aid and tires/tubes available)


don't necessarily count on them having tubes. Read what I just posted under my charity ride today here in NM. It was a very valuable lesson learned about depending on SAG. As for what else to carry, I carried a CO2 pump, extra cartridges, my cell phone, ID, ElectroMix packets so I could make my own replacement drink and Larabars. Because my diet is so restrictive, I tend to carry my own food as a better safe than sorry thing. The rest stops had PowerGels, fruits, Gatorade and water and that was it. Some people were happy with that, some weren't. Lesson learned, next time I'll have a tube with me too just in case!

[Trek420]

from the wisdom of CorsairMac "don't...count on them having tubes....I carried a CO2 pump, extra cartridges, my cell phone, ID...."

sad but true there are riders who count on volunteer mechanic support on rides for the upkeep of their bikes. When I've needed help, ghost shifting, flats, I got kudos from volunteer wrenches because my bike is clean, lubed, I have what it takes to fix a flat on board (except for knowing how to do it fast).
"this is what one does" I said
"no, riders arrive with threadbare tires, expect to flat, expect a new tire and we run out" they said.

My LBS agrees. I had a Pre-Primavera check up and asked if he has time to check the bike before ALC4. He said that when he offers this to riders before a major ride....and for free...some simply volunteer that "If I have a problem, they'll fix it there".

Stuff happens, things break, can't anticipate everything but it's just more fun when you have the basics to fix stuff if problems occur.

Plus you might not need the tube, might want to help someone else, some cute rider with a flat ;-)

On one Diabetes benefit ride they ran out of food both at the stops and after. That's unusual but it's good to bring some cash just in case you need to "make your own rest stop". Another time was the Healdsburgh Harvest Century which was 104 in the shade that year, we stopped at a little country store and bought bottled water.

[nuthatch]

I'm doing our MS150 in June and I've been thinking about the Sheldon Brown article that Trek420 posted. (And thanks, trek, for your post - very instructional and motivational :) )

There's an almost religious quality to the concept that our suffering on charity rides offers some sort of redemption for both ourselves and those we ride for. That's one way to view what we do, but I've always thought of it as, in a very tiny but positive way, living that day with those people who have that condition. It's our very meager way to share their day with all it's ups and downs, challenges and rewards. It's hard and it's fun and, well, it's just life! And that's what every bike ride is, whether for a cause or just on your own. It's a tiny, focused slice of life, lived at it's most intense - potholes, flats, tired muscles, bonking, natural beauty, endorphins, conversation, conundrums to be solved, etc. And that's what I think needs to be shared with those who don't ride - what a wonderful experience it is.

So, brava to all you heroines out there who ride, making the world a better place one pedalstroke at a time!

[KSH]

Gosh... I cried reading about your experience.

I think I will be crying (good tears of course) all weekend long when I do the MS150 (May 14th and 15th 2005!)!

That was so sweet of that old man too!

*Wipes another tear*

[Biking Chick]

It's our very meager way to share their day with all it's ups and downs, challenges and rewards. It's hard and it's fun and, well, it's just life!

What a great (and succint!) statement.

I believe that you do receive in kind what you give to others in the this world - some people call it karma - all I know is that it is true. I believe that it is our personal obligation to reach out beyond ourselves in helping others honor who they are. I think it's safe to say that everyone here has discovered that their passion for life involves biking - we are fortunate as there are people who have yet to discover what their passion in life is. I am blessed but that is only part of the equasion and isn't complete until I put my blessings in motion and share them with the rest of the world. The joy I receive of reaching out is returned when I can *indulging* myself in my passion of cycling ... as John Lennon said, "Instant Karma".