
Introduction:
Mountain biking is a challenging and rewarding sport that can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels. However, it's important to remember that everyone progresses at their own pace. Comparing your abilities to someone else's can only lead to disappointment, discouragement and learning/progressing more slowly. Instead, focus on your own journey and enjoy the ride.
Why Comparison is the Thief of Joy
When you compare yourself to others, you're only focusing on their strengths and your weaknesses. This can lead to negative feelings like self-doubt, envy, and frustration. It can also demotivate you from pursuing your own goals and slowing your ability to progress.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own progress. Compare yourself to where you were yesterday, last week, or last month. Track your progress and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.
How to Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
Focus on your own goals. What do you want to achieve with your mountain biking? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can create a plan to get there. Here’s how to create that plan (click here).
Don't compare yourself to people who have been riding longer than you. Everyone progresses at their own pace. Don't get discouraged if you're not able to do the same things as people who have been riding for years. Even people who have been riding shorter than you may progress faster if they’ve been riding more often or bring different skills to the table.
Focus on your own improvement. Track your progress and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your own goals.
Remember that everyone is different. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Don't try to be someone you're not. Just be yourself and enjoy the ride.
How to Compare Yourself to Yourself
Set realistic goals. Don't try to do too much too soon. Set small, achievable goals for yourself.
Track your progress. Keep a journal or use a tracking app to track your progress. This will help you see how far you've come and stay motivated.
Ride the same trail (or trail section) weeks or months later to compare how you handled the features on it compared to the prior rides on it. This will be a great confidence booster for you to measure the positive changes in this way.
Did the corners get easier? The rocks smaller? The climbs less steep?
How as your state of mind change? - Did you have more fun and feel less fear? Were you able to think less and "flow" more?
Celebrate your accomplishments. No matter how small your accomplishments may seem, take the time to celebrate them. This will help you stay positive and focused on your goals.
Additional Tips
Find a riding buddy or group. Riding with others is a great way to motivate yourself and learn new skills. Be sure the other riders have positive attitudes and encourage you – if not, find others to ride with.
What's worse than riding with people with bad attitudes and who don't lift you up and encourage you? Riding with yourself when you do the same! No negative self-talk!! If you do this on a ride or coaching session with me, I won't put up with it. Don't be your own worse enemy.
Take lessons from a qualified coach. A great coach will help you improve your skills and confidence. I know a guy 😜 – click here to book a session with me.
Don't be afraid to fail. Everyone falls when they're mountain biking. It's part of the learning process. Just get back at it and try again.
Have fun! Mountain biking is a great way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and challenge yourself. Don't let comparison ruin your experience.
Thanks for Riding with Me / Wrap Up
Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. “Someone always has a bigger boat” (i.e., someone always makes more money, has more money, is better looking, has a nicer bike, is faster, etc.). Focus on your own journey and enjoy the ride.
**Bonus** Get Coached
A shameless plug? Maybe, but I believe that skills coaching is the fastest way to reach your full riding potential. Nothing beats having a qualified coach giving you real-time feedback regardless of your riding ability. If want to ride more safely, have more fun, go a little faster and/or just feel less fear on your bike, let me help you get there. Mountain biking doesn’t need to be extreme or dangerous: learn the fundamentals of safe, confident and fun riding.
Click Here to Book Your Next Lesson
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About the author: Joel Zieve is a Certified PMBI Mountain Bike Skills Coach in the Ogden Utah (Northern Utah) area. He specializes in helping beginner, novice and intermediate riders ride more safely, have more fun, go a little faster and feel less fear on their bikes. He is also the host of the Podcast "Aging on Dirt". Click here for more information about his coaching programs.