This is a great thread, ladies! So many fabulous thoughts and stories and inspirations!!

Here's some cute ones that have gotten me through tight spots and difficult rides:

Carpe Trailem: Sieze the trail

Courage is not the absence of fear, it's riding straight through it

This heat is nothing compared to a sweat lodge!

And my favourite for keeping pumped on a great ride: From the Headstones song "Come On": Right now, it's the only moment that counts, right now, right now, it's the only time I don't doubt, right now, right now...etc

Absolutely true about wording - could, can, will don't quite do it for me: I'm doing it! that's the stuff!

And all the little bits of advice I've had....the one A-frame that I still picture my husband going over in front of me to show me the line....and I nail it everytime, thanks to him!
...on a slow, boring, grinding hill - think in circles, pedal in circles
...breathe in for 2 pedal strokes, breathe out for 3
...on that scary little drop you've done before - just do it! don't think!

Hey, anything that gets you up, over, around or though the tough parts works!

And, yes, it's GREAT to debrief after a ride or a race. If something was wrong in how I rode, that's how I learn to do it better next time. I love that whole take the negative thing and turn it around into a positive that hangrl wrote...I can just see you Grinning with mud and rain all over you! That's sooooooooooo cool!

And there's the quiet encouragement I try to give myself when I'm having a poor ride and can't seem to be coordinated or strong about anything: I feel crappy, but I'm still out here doing it. Good for me!!

Keep smiling, ladies!

namaste,
~T~