The theory of positivity!

Over the decades of riding I have ridden with many many riders, young, old, BMX, Road, Cross Country, Trials, Downhill, Unicyclist, Tandems, Singlespeeders (Fixies), Track, Tri, Dirt Jumpers, 4Xer's, Lake jumpers, Dragster riders, Free Riders I don't even like to compartmentalise these guys and gals, because some of them are very guarded about their niche, they like to be individualy identified in their chosen discipline and get shirty if you tie them in with other groups,
Being a cycling journalist and having an appreciation for all the types of cycyling I dont like to take sides, when some one starts getting passionate about their corner of the sport rather than be judgemental or deprecating I like to listen and feel that passion, encouraging and appreciating.
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog, now if you happen to be reading this because you like the title than this is definitely aimed at you,
You see I have been on rides with guys and the first thing that comes out of their mouth when they hit the trail is, I have not been riding lately, or I have been working heaps and I might not be fast as normal, you get the idea, a kind of concession at the start of the ride to explain an as yet identified deficency or weakness in their riding capability.
I have always attacked every ride I have ever been on with an intensity that is bourne from positivity, I dont envisage blowing up halfway along the trail, I dont picture myself crashing a section I am about to hit, I dont envisage the guys on the ride whipping me on climbs.
Why am I telling you all this? I want you to know what I have known for years, I have known and am now sharing the "The theory of positivity!"
What is it what does it mean?
I am about to give you the ultimate virtual Power*Balance bracelet, something that once you assume in your mantle as a rider will destine you for greatness on your bike for the rest of your riding life.
It really is quite simple, you have an intuitive power within your self based on your own self belief will enable you to acheive absolutely anything you set your mind, there are no guarantess that you will become the next Cadel Evans overnight, but think about this.
Riding is about progression, it is about building on success, each time you acheive a high level of performance you need to be able to build on your mental state to empower your self to great heights next time.
When you start a ride make sure that your theory of positivity is in place, don't go in with the glass is half full mentality, think positive, I will, I can, not I wont I cant.
You will be surprised at what you can acheive and just how well you can peform when you believe in your self.
Riding is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical, Once you start beleiveing you can, your fitness will improve and catch up with your riding ability, and then your riding abillity will begin to catch up with your physical ability, they are hand in hand, one will unlock the other.
But before all this can happen you need to free the mind, if you have ever riden with with me, maybe not but eventually you will or some one like me, you will notice a defining quality, it is a positive attitude, I try hard every ride, I can ride after a sleepless night, on an empty stomach, carrying injury or on a bike that is not mechanically 100 percent.
All these factors really dont matter, I only need to turn a pedal and get on with it, I will never share a negative feeling with another rider, being self defeating achieves nought!
So there you have snapshot of what makes me tick as a rider, no one wants to see a rider fail, remember this if you set out to try your best and fall short you didnt fail you suceeded in doing your best.
Each and every time you begin a ride with this attitude you take a better part of your self to the next ride and little by little you become complete, believe you can picture it in your mind, and never be negative.

So when do we ride?