Mental Road Block Anyone have this problem or the quick fix?

[yzaddict106]

Hey guys,
I dont post on here much, but this is the forum with the most people, that i know of, so i figured this would be the best place to find the answer to my mental roadblock. Here's the deal. I am right on that edge of a B/C rider down here in Texas. When Im on my game, I can run with the B guys. I plan on making the jump this summer, but i have got to be able to ride that speed %100 of the time. When i go out to ride, i ride decent. I know while I'm riding that i can go faster, but i cant do it. Kind of like knowing your eye can twitch, but you cant make it happen sorta thing. but when something goes wrong (bike breaks, run out of gas, crash, ect) once i get back on the track i ride not only 100% better, but 100% smoother as well. It lights a fire up under my butt and i ride well. But i CAN NOT for the life of me figure out how to turn this on and off. I need to be able to go out and ride that pace everytime Im on the track. Anyone have any tips on how to do this?

thanks,
DJ

[crfjedi393]

From personal experience, I'd say you should just make the jump and ride with the faster class. I'm thinking the fact that you will find yourself fighting from the back of the pack may have the same effect on your psyche as some sort of breakdown that you must overcome. It may come easier than you think. And even if the first race or two doesn't work out that way, you will still gain speed from riding in a faster class.
One thing I noticed in your post is that you said you "have got to be able to ride that speed 100% of the time". Don't put that much pressure on yourself. Go into it thinking you will ride that pace as much as possible and the next race you will ride it a bit longer. Nobody jumps from one class to the next and wins 1st place. At least, I never have. If you expect to finish mid-pack or less, you will do much better.

[Keetoman393]

I agree with what Jedi said. You will definately learn from the experience of riding with the big dogs. B class in Texas is semi pro!

[xr250r]

well whenu crash or what ever it gets ur ardrenilen pumpin which in turn makes u stronger adn more flexable and u tend to think ahead a bit better and all u have to do is find a way to get your ardrenilne pumping before the race and i bet u will do a lot better.
ps. all i do is think of a very scary time i had on a bike once and it gets me goin and i can run our local trails at 100+kph average so just find sumthin to get u excited and do it

[Dell30rb]

I agree, make the jump. I am on that same cusp myself. You've got to realize that its all in your head. I have found that using a routine when you warm up at a track helps alot. For example I always stretch, do two laps, no more. Then come back in, stretch again, take a little break. For me this keeps arm pump away and lets me get loose at the track much quicker.

In b-ball, the coaches always tell you to do the same routine every time before taking a foul shot. Dribble the ball two times, three times, take a deep breath, make a gang sign, whatever. It will clear your mind and help you be consistent each time. I use this idea with motocross. If you do the same routine every time you warm up for a day of riding you will be much more consistent. It works for me, give it a try.

Also, it helps just to think yourself fast. If you think you are a fast C rider that can hang with the B riders, that's what you are going to be. If you make the jump to the B class you will probably finish poorly your first few times, but you will get it. And poor finishes or not, you will actually be a B rider, instead of just a C rider that can hang it out sometimes.

[YZ450Rider]

Ya i just got my new 450 and i have a mental block on corners with it, but i am also new at trying to do alot of MX things. I just was a casual rider for 6 years on fourwheelers and on my buddies dirtbike. I just now am obssessed with my new bike. My mental block is just because i am still getting use to it. But i know things will change when i ride it more and more. College is taking up all my time right now

[pjg351]

Originally Posted by yzaddict106

Hey guys,
I dont post on here much, but this is the forum with the most people, that i know of, so i figured this would be the best place to find the answer to my mental roadblock. Here's the deal. I am right on that edge of a B/C rider down here in Texas. When Im on my game, I can run with the B guys. I plan on making the jump this summer, but i have got to be able to ride that speed %100 of the time. When i go out to ride, i ride decent. I know while I'm riding that i can go faster, but i cant do it. Kind of like knowing your eye can twitch, but you cant make it happen sorta thing. but when something goes wrong (bike breaks, run out of gas, crash, ect) once i get back on the track i ride not only 100% better, but 100% smoother as well. It lights a fire up under my butt and i ride well. But i CAN NOT for the life of me figure out how to turn this on and off. I need to be able to go out and ride that pace everytime Im on the track. Anyone have any tips on how to do this?

thanks,
DJ

Hello son is that you! boy talk about dayjarvu Everything you just typed there related to my son. And i can tell you it frustrated me just as much as him. So this is the plan of attack we came up with! First of all i tried to get him to relax more on the line, and not get to wound up about winning the first corner. i convinced him that if he found himself up there, than that was a good result, and to be happy with say sitting in the top ten. That was a lot better than being stuck in the start gate or starting in neutral which he had accomplished many times A few good deep breaths helped as well, then once the race was underway, the first thing was just try and survive the first corner without doing anything to eratic, this is where you don't want to crash as he also found out more than once. Then for the rest of the race, it was about being as smooth as you can, ride the ruts and rills and not the brakes, everytime you land power on then brake hard, release and ride the ruts again and so on. As time went on the speed increased and the confidence grew, and passing blokes became a lot easier, in fact he looked like he was going slower, but that's what smooth riders look like. Sure you have to have drive, focus, and a bit of ticker! and some days will be bad or just unlucky, but thats racing. What i'm really trying to say is don't think you should be in the top 5 when you move up! just try and do it right and you will be on the podium in no time! good luck

[triplendo]

Have you ever noticed that the competitors in the Olympics go through the motions of the competiotion before it actually begins? They are seeing themselves doing what they know that they're capable of. When you go to the gate close your eyes and see yourself getting the holeshot, see yourself going fast. It sounds far fetched, but it works.

[mossy]

Makes me wonder how you train on the bike, I divide it up into 3 catorgories for Australias best U/20yr old riders. Moto's, skills and speed training. think you could be lacking speed training and you just do skills,fun ride and moto's. Could be you need some T.F.U. cream.

[kschilk]

Maybe I'm readin' a bit more into what you're sayin', than what's there but damn....this all sounds kinda' familiar.

I was in a similar spot, years back but I hadda' move up (AMA sez so), 'coz of the points I'd accumulated. I felt I wasn't ready, since I was rarely winning motos and wasn't consistently making the top five. Reluctantly, I signed-up for my first B-class (naturally, it was OPEN B ) race and from that moment on, I was a consistent top-five finisher and within a short time, most often in the top three. I think riding in the C-class was holding me back, for the following reasons....

1. I was spending more time dodging "squids", than actually racing....I was in the habit of riding more defensively, than aggressively.
2. I was complacent because even though I wasn't consistently winning, I was still considered one of "the fast guys" (in that class). Trading that status, for likely becoming a lapper, wasn't terribly motivating.
3. The "drive" wasn't there, after all...it was only C-class, right? If I felt that I wasn't "on my game" that day, there was no real shame in slackin' off and settlin' for 2nd or 3rd...no point riskin' a crash & yadda yadda.

In B-class, I had something to prove...being in the back of the pack wasn't an option and I was much more driven. I hooked-up behind the fastest guy I could catch and just hung-on, doing whatever it took to stay with him. Next moto, I got by him and chased a faster guy....kind of a leap-frog progression. I was riding waaay over my head....'til I finally realized that this was, in fact not at all, riding over my head. I needed to be pushed, to find my limits. I say, make the move and see how fast you really are.

[Freak]

Originally Posted by triplendo

Have you ever noticed that the competitors in the Olympics go through the motions of the competiotion before it actually begins? They are seeing themselves doing what they know that they're capable of. When you go to the gate close your eyes and see yourself getting the holeshot, see yourself going fast. It sounds far fetched, but it works.

I agree. I'm somewhat of a powerlifter and everytime I would go to bench 315 and see those three wheels on there, I would fold. I kept playing it over and over in my mind and seeing me make a good lift with 315. Not long after I started that, 315 was easy. It's all mental. You have the skill, just need to keep playing it over and over and see yourself getting the holeshot and staying out front. You can do it man. Good luck!