When life has been tough I tell myself, "just put your head down and pedal". In other words don't think about it, just do what you have to do.

When I'm riding and a hill is tough or the wind, I think of myself as Chechu Rubiera when he used to ride at the front of the blue train for Lance. He always had this look of complete determination on his face. My favorite domestique. Some of it has to do with the fact that I always take the lead when I ride with my husband because I'm the stronger rider (he hasn't been riding that long). It helps me pull us along.