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Mindset For A Comp Rider


bing

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so I find myself in a strange situation. I have been riding pure trials (comps and stuff) for about a year properly. I've found a bike style I'm happy with, and went to today's British round full of confidence. that went totally out of the window after I 5'd the first section, then went onto 5 everything apart from 1 section on the first lap. this is on green(novice route) by the way. I haven't progressed any further in all this time, I can't even clean a section at tykes level, which is a lot easier than a national. am considering going down to primary on order to build my confidence back up which has now well and truly deserted me. I know this is probably a backwards step, but considering I can't even get through one section without dabbing, maybe I should try and win a few of these white routes ( and have fun again). then step back up to green. because I'm not enjoying comps at all, not even slightly. was ready for jacking in completely about 3pm this aft but after chilling out on the drive home this is what I thought about. maybe people will say I'm too good for white, but if I can't clean at least one green section a round, maybe this is the only way?

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Keep at the green sections, try to set yourself targets for each section and don't let dabs knock your confidence.

Riding white sections will not improve your riding as much as sticking to the harder stuff.

I find when you try to enjoy yourself more than thinking about mistakes you can ride alot better.

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Its possibly because you can be technically a fairly shit rider, but do well in comps, equally you can be a good rider and do shit in comps.

Comps require comp practise, knowing when to take a tactical dab rather than a 5, knowing what technique would be the safest for the situation (eg a line you might do on the back wheel when out riding, you'll either 5 it or clean it. Hope between points on both wheels and you've got a good chance of cleaning or taking a dab), knowing how long it actually takes you to ride sections, techniques to conserve energy, knowing to plan your route so you don;t get stuck somewhere in the section you don;t wanna be, etc etc etc.

Its a completely different thing to every day riding. It doesn't matter if you clatter through a section like a bull in a china shop if the end result is a clean or a couple of dabs.

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it properly winds me up when I 5 something, because I know I can ride well most of the time. was riding Shipley glen last week and learnt how to gap. did loads of green and blue level riding and did it ok. get to the comp today and it all goes out of the window. didn't do anything I've learned, and had the worst day out ive ever had. hope it's not this bad again

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I should mention that I'm now 31, and have done quite a few different sports to varying degrees of success. I played golf to a quite good level, got my name on a major trophy at the local club, beating some of the best players in the club at that time. so i know what it takes to win. I'm properly passionate about trials and into it, anyone who rides with me will tell you this. I want to win but I can't get my head right. where as if all the same people at trials came to play golf with me, I'd have no trouble playing to win and wouldnt lose my temper. don't know what's up wih me

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maybe, that's why I was thinking of doing the last national at Shipley on white route, and do green at tykes. I think I'd enjoy it a bit more. I've done green at Shipley a couple of times and rode there quite a bit, so I know the terrain. but national level green is properly hard, probably blue level at tykes. I need to rediscover my love for comp riding, cos at the moment I f**king hate it

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I'm sure this will create controversy but I find I just have bad days once in a while. I can be doing stuff one day that I'd never done before and progressing well. Then I might try to do the same things another day and completely fail. I just wouldn't be feeling it that day. Theres bound to be someone here thats going to argue that "bad days" don't happen but I think they do. Maybe you just had a bad day for that comp.

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Weren't you riding someone else's bike? Could have a lot to do with it.

yeah, but it wasn't that radically different to mine, was just more wary of bashing. big improvement over mine was rear disk. new hope trial zone, it was amazing

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Sounds like you're getting mad because you didn't win a comp?!

A few things:

  • When you ride, you automatically look for fun lines / things you can do / you might be able to do. Comps MAKE you ride a certain line, which may suit some people but you might not enjoy riding therefore you don't practise therefore you;re not very good at.

  • Riding a green level route set out in your local riding spot with no pressure, thats set out how you want it, where no one is looking at you, where you're not knackered from the previous sections etc doesn't mean you'll be able to do it in a comp situation.

  • If you ride a route that you didn't five EVERY section on, then thats the right route for you.

If you don't enjoy comps, why do them? I thought riding was for enjoyment...

You wern't good enough, move on, improve and go back better prepared next time. Everyone has off days.

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I'm not mad cos I don't win, I get mad at 5ing stuff and needless dabs. I accept the fact that

there are better riders than me in my class who will win it week in week out. as you say, I didn't 5 everything, so you are maybe right that green is for me. you sound like a good bloke to ride with, could do with having you on my bag and generally geeing me up :)

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When I'm at a comp I watch a few riders before hand and see what line they do. Then I always walk the section, to see if there's any little things that could throw me off. There is a time limit' but try taking you time' at your own pace. I do the tykes rounds and I've only ever cleaned a section once, i do the blue and its not nice when a 12 year old beats you :giggle: if your at the next comp I'll come have crack.

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cheers Dave, I might just do that.

When I'm at a comp I watch a few riders before hand and see what line they do. Then I always walk the section, to see if there's any little things that could throw me off. There is a time limit' but try taking you time' at your own pace. I do the tykes rounds and I've only ever cleaned a section once, i do the blue and its not nice when a 12 year old beats you :giggle: if your at the next comp I'll come have crack.

being 31 and getting beaten by 11 and 12 year olds who are sponsored up to f**k and have everything bought and prepared for them is a tad demoralising :)

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BING now you know exactly how I felt after that comp at addingham moorside when you and neil were saying I rode shit all day.

I'd like to think i'm a pretty competent street rider then that happened. It pisses you off so so much.

That's why I gave comps in, deffo not for me, I don't find them fun at all. I like the atmosphere and seeing everyone and that but when it comes to the actual riding it frustrates me. Prefer to ride for fun.

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I made my first comp this saturday, actually went really good to be me since I've never actually ridden natural at all. I finished at 9th place out of 30 peoples which have ridden all for like 3-4 years and I've been riding under 1. I rode the green route and I thought it where really fun. The thing is that you have to walk the route and really plan your riding well and don't take unnecessary risks, well thats how you SHOULD do, even though I like show off no mather what hehe;) And you need to calm down and don't feel stressed and JUST think of your riding. This is pretty natural to me:) BTW stay in the green route:)

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Dont ride for the result. Ride for fun. A good result its a bonus!

Im not sure on what to do when it comes to comps. Ive never ridden one, and Im not sure which routes are for me.

I do ride natural, and Im not out of my comfort zone when I do it. Its choosing which is right for me.

Ross reckons I could do red, but Ive no clue :(

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