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A mountain biking addict reflects onย being okay with the off days
By Sarah Hansing
There are days on your bike where you feel fit. fast. amazing. practically invincible. Itโs almost like all of those hours of suffering through climbs, chasing after people faster than you have finally paid off, and you are just in the ZONE.
Well, yesterday was not one of those days.
All of the ingredients were there for a perfect ride; the weather was amazing, I had plenty of time to ride, my bike had some nice fresh parts on it. I was ready to GO!
So, I put my cycling kit on, grabbed my bike, and started pedaling for the trails.
My initial thought: โuh oh.โ
About 2 miles in: โummmโฆโ
And at mile 3.2, it just hit me: โnope.โ
I just wasnโt feeling it. I tried, I really did! There was no good reason for me to NOT ride my bikeโฆ except there was. Its ok, sometimes, to not have the ride of a lifetime, or an epic ride, or even just the ride you had planned for. Mountain biking taps into some of the best things about our instincts and reactions; for better or for for worse.
So, on the days when youโre just not feeling it, be kind to yourself. Itโs ok. Donโt force it. Go for a hike with a friend, or go read the book youโd rather be reading. Your bike wonโt be mad, and youโll be just that more stoked to get on it next timeโthere’s a big difference between โlazinessโ and โjust not feeling it.โ
Donโt worry! You wonโt have lost that lovinโ feeling for your bike forever, just long enough to give yourself and your body the rest it needs.