Confidence..yep..that's what's missing

[crazycanuck]

We did a mtb event yesterday at i'd say the coolest track in Western Australia. Turner hill has been designed & well taken care of by two cool track making guys with quite a bit of help from The DEC. It tests everyone! Very flowy, not too much pea gravel, quite a few interesting log overs n just tons of fun. It's just...ahhhh...

I figured out two things. One, i need a new set of legs. Ok, I need to do more intervals & hill work

Second, confidence. Confidence..confidence..confidence. I love mtn biking but confidence keeps me back. I'm getting there!

I guess what i'm trying to say is: If you're struggling with any sort of cycling..it's not about the bike..it's about how confident you are with your skills.

Can't wait for my dirt time on Wed

[tzvia]

Couldn't have been said better. Confidence holds me back on technical sections.
I've been working it slowly on the trail I ride about every weekend. There are 3 technical hills that I am learning to ride down; a short, medium and large, with lots of big rocks, ruts and jumbled stairsteps. Until about 2 months ago, I walked all three, but I finally got the nerve to ride the first, then the second. Now it is much drier here and much more sandy too, and yesterday my bike slid a bit going down still another technical decent that I've been riding for the last year. Almost went over a 30 ft ledge but rode through. Then did about 2/3 of the big downhill (chickened on the top 1/3 that is a big rocky diagonal rut). OK, still a chicken, but learning now to handle the bike one hill at a time.

[Aggie_Ama]

Great post CC. I have found once you have many of the basics mountain biking becomes very mental. A lot of things I just have to tell myself I can do (over and over again) and I can do it. I still struggle with things because I haven't gotten confidence to say I can.

As my avatar says, "Can't never could". My mom always told me that and now I find myself saying it when I am trying to give myself confidence.

[Irulan]

If you ever have the chance to take advantage of any coaching opportunities or skills clinics, DO IT. These events are huge confidence builders. They certainly have changed my life for my level of confidence. Many clubs put them on, and there are other groups that do them to like Dirt Series, and some traveling professional coaches.

I'm off to coach a clinic this morning.

[Aggie_Ama]

+1 on clinics. I am blessed to live where the local mountain bike club puts on one weekly for women. It is encouraging and I am learning a lot and having a blast! DH has really been impressed with my improvement in skill and confidence. Plus our sponsors give schwag and I have won a couple of goodies.

[crazycanuck]

One of the Pro mtb riders in WA & her IM friend are leading a women's skills weekend in a few months time & have reg'd.

She & another supremo mtb chick are doing monthly skills sessions which have turned out to be great fun! These two ladies are the best to learn from & are well respected in the Perth mtn bike community.