On The Pegs May 2020 - Volume 5 - Issue 5 | Page 80

On The Pegs
80
MIND GAMES
After you’ve ridden a section it’s important to analyze what did and didn’t
work. Repeat your visualization of the perfect ride, so that it’s the last thing you
remember about the section. Then clear your mind completely and move on
to the next section. Use the time between sections to relax, both mentally and
physically. You will not perform at your best if you carry mental baggage from
section to section.
Fear is a vital part of our psyche. The problem with fear occurs when we are
unable to control it and it keeps us from performing at our best. Fear is so
detrimental because it constricts the body and, for many people, generates
thoughts of all of the bad things that could happen. Riders at all levels experi-
ence fear. The better riders have learned to control their fear and attack the ob-
stacle with 100 percent confidence. As we learned earlier, we tend to do what is
on our minds. I am not saying that you can point your bike at a 10-foot vertical
wall and turn off your fear and make it, that’s stupidity. But, if something scares
you that’s just above your comfort zone and you have the skills to attempt it,
you have to turn your fear off and ride with 100 percent confidence.
Trials riders often neglect nutrition. The most important thing mentally and
physically before and during competition is to keep your blood sugar levels at a
high, consistent level. The first organ to suffer when the blood sugar level drops
is the brain. The ultra-endurance athletes have found that the first sign of low
blood sugar is a lack of concentration, not feeling tired. Because trials is such an
intense mental sport, it’s essential to put nutrition on top of your list to remain
at your best over the entire event.
There are many different theories about nutrition, but most athletes have
found that it’s beneficial to have a diet that’s made up largely of complex
carbohydrates. This also applies during the competition. If you just drink just
water without consuming food, you’ll start running out of energy after about
one hour. There are different ways of keeping your blood sugar level up. Some
people prefer snacks of fruit or energy bars along with water. Other people use
sport drinks with an occasional snack. It’s important to determine what works
best for you. A note on sport drinks -- not many are designed for long dura-