The psychology of Speed
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From: Indianapolis and Toledo
The psychology of Speed
This is a good read but it's a long one. It does have a lot of truth about riding pstchology and would be a good read for beginning riders.
Suberbike July 2001
Think yourself quicker. Struggling to keep up with your mates? Want to go quicker on track days? Well, maybe it's time to tune your mind rather than your bike.
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt - William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure. (Just after ye olde Sunday blast back to Stratford from the coast)
Build a vision. Will it into reality. Become faster, sharper, slicker. Pull better looking sex partners. Seen it in a magazine before? Probably in relation to picking up women. But not now. This is about your riding skills. maybe you need to set about improving your riding from a different approach. Forget tuning your bike and tune your head instead.
Imagine riding prowess as a pyramid. Perched at the top are the Mick Doohans of this world. Diamond-hard with unbending willpower, balance and hard won understanding og bike physics. Not to mention titanium plates and pins, arthritis and mangled bodies. At the bottom of the pyramid are the newbies, yet to experience the sensual delight we all know and love. The remainder of us lie somewhere in the middle. Forget add ons, bolt ons and clip ons - if you want to improve your riding, start by developing your mental faculties. Therin lies the key to going quickly and smoothly. That's the theory...
Personal potential is like top speed on a bike. whether you choose to crack the throttle wide open is up to you. it is always there; hiding in the darker recesses of Hypothetica, waiting to happen, so why not shine some light on your dormant riding abilities? Think yourself quick and there's a better than average chance you will be. Natural talent is one way to go fast but there are other contributing factors. Determination, confidence and undying self-belief are important too. So what makes one semi-evolved primate faster than another?
We're all broadly similar; one head, two legs, two arms and a central nervous system running the show from the strange jelly-like mass which houses Consciousness Central. The brain is a pretty handy piece of the kit; which is probably the biggest understatement in this magazine. Designed by a random collection of 23 chromosomes, i use mine mostly for perception. hooked up to some peripheral bits and pieces like sight, hearing and touch it is essential equipment for riding a bike. Unfortunately it doesn't come with an instruction manual.
The tuning potential of your brain is enormous; some claim limitless even. the brain doesn't even really need the body that much. Look at Stephen Kawking. Dreaming of faraway universes, black holes, superstring theory and maybe wondering how he can squeeze a few more quid from British Telecom for another advertisement. But the brain doesn't have to be used for learning about Quantum physics. it can just as easily be put to work on thinking yourself quicker. Use it as nature intended and almost instant improvement is garanteed. Training the human brain can be a slow, steady process of conditiong. If you're lazy join a religious cult and they'll do it for you. Think of it as mental tuning. It's generally best if you're the one doing the programming though; otherwise you might end up doing the conga in an orange tonga with the Hare Krishna set.
Setting realistic goals is step number one. Whether it's getting your knee on the deck for the first time, improving your performance out on a Sunday run with your mates or mapping out a race career - the basic principles remain the same.
For a racer the goal is winning. No more, no less. At top level race tacticians might settle for a string of second places rather than a couple of wins and a succession of crashes. Crash or bin merchants rarely win championships. If everyone in the team does their job to the best of their ability, then the rider can focus much more successfully on the business at hand. So team spirit is important too. Ambition, goals, targets - call them whatever you like, but deciding what you want to achieve is paramount.
hurdle number one is fear. Speeding through turns at three figure speeds is an unexpected, if pleasurable evolutionary diversion. But the brain is super adaptable and eventually becomes accustomed to new experiences - this is why your first bike feels incredibly fast upon purchase but less so a month or two later. Shortly after this it craves new experiences. Un less you did direct access and immediately purchased a GSX-R 1000. in which case, the **** stains on your pants are probably still alittle damp...
So for lesser mortals like ourselves fear is undoubtedly our greatest enemy. Fear leads to a drop in concentration and a drop in concentration leads to a decline in confidence. Which leads to more fear. unless this process is arrested, mental focus moves from riding fast 'n' smooth to sheer terror and ultimately to untimely error. Not conductive to going quickly or safely. in general, fast confident riders are more in control than slower more fearfull ones and there is no substitute for this confidence. Test show that a biochemical named corticosterone is triggered by large amounts of stress or anxiety. This is responsible for blocking the retreval of information stored in long term memory. Something that doesn't bother goldfish too much but tends to make lab rats forget their way out of the maze when poked with a stick.
Allow me to paint what may be a familiar picture to some. you're on an unknown road when a corner catches you out. In a blink of an eye, concentration lapses and instead of bringing your substantial intelligence to bear on where the corner is going, you begin thinking how much it's gonna hurt when you fall off; hence increasing your chances of crashing considerably. The increase in fear is directly proportional to the drop in concentration. This fear inhibits rider development. no wonder Mick Doohan had "No Worries" inscribed on the rear of his Arai...
The trick lies in subtly altering your own perception of events. isolate areas where there is room for improvement in your riding and break insurmountable problems down into smaller realistic challenges. Overcome fear by taming it and make it work for you in a positive way. Belienve it or not, it it possible to control your own stress levels through disciplined thought and intermnal dialog. A clam, composed rider is a happy rider. Amplify positive thoughts about yourself and your riding abilities. Neutral thoughts are more likely to be concerned with physical feedback from yourself, the bike and the road you're storming along. Relax your mind and your body will follow suit. Above all, believe in yourself. Negative thoughts are valueless and should be discarded at once. Stay away from those negative vibes, maaan...
Learn to concentrate on the information that is important and ignore the superfluouos. For example, in a corner with a rockface on one side and a drop on the other - focus on a line through the corner and what the bike is doing. Screen out fear of what may happen and concentrate on what is happening. in short, ignore the irrelevant. This is why it's easier to ride on a clear, uncluttered track with no distractions. Exert your will and filter out unwanted thoughts which may hinder or hamper you. Controlled risk taking and stretching yourself a little at a time can pay dividends.
Instead of thinking about what you are unable to do on a bike, concentrate on what you can do and build on it.
Adopt a positive attitude when events refuse to go according to plan. Failure usually results from trying too hard or attempting to 'bite off more than you can chew.' Don't beat yourself up but acknowledge that maybe that particular is out of your reach for now. Step back, re-evaluate and decide whether to keep trying or to reset your target. f*$k ups can help you see what you need to do to get it right.
Motivation and determination lead to achievement and success. The tricky part (for racers at least) is knowing when to be aggresive and when to be calm and collected. So, now you're a tiger, a biking tyrannosaurus. Now get out there and kick ****... or get your knee down at least.
The GP race team manager's view
Chuck Aksland - Team Roberts
"We last worked with a sports psychologist back in 1991 but then we got the boss! (Kenny Roberts senior) The rider is more motivated if the team works well as a whole. Then he can go out and aim for a good result. Knowing there is a support team of forty people behind him helps - plus ther's always the experience, advice and support from Kenny himself. There's always stress and pressure. people deal with it in different ways; some run, some ride motorcross. Everyone is an individual and individuals have to be treated as such. There are a lot of talented people out there but not all of them will make it to the highest level. The ones with determination and focus are those that flourish."
For the likes of you and me who don't have a giant team behind us every time we head out on a Sunday run (or even round the local one-way system) this might mean not having your other half battering you in the back every time you peel off into a corner a bit too fast for his or her liking. But determination and focus applies to you and your favourite stetch of road as much as it does to a GP racer. Empty your mind of all other thoughts Grasshopper and apply your infinite mental capacities to the road ahead. That means forgetting about everyday worries. There should only be the tarmac ribbon unveiling itself in front of your eyes and you. Mind you, out on the road, it pays to pay attention to what is going on in the periphery too. GP stars only have to worry about pit boards. You on the other hand, have to keep a watchful eye for GATSO cameras, Old Bill and other vehicles edging into your path...
The TT racer's view
Adrian Archibald - Honda Britian squad
Adrian Archibald is the Isle of Man TT lap record holder for the junior (600cc) class and, as such, is a fine example of someone not easily given to panic attacks. Away from the bike he is calm, easygoing, almost placid individual which might be important. Riding very quickly on the road, particularly the 10M TT, isn't a palce where it is adviseable to bite off too much, too soon.
So, Adriann what;s the secret to riding fast on roads? "I think experience counts for a lot, experience of the roads you are on and experience of the bike and tires you are on. You've got to be confident and that means confident about what you are riding on." said Archibald.
And how, pray tell, do you get this confidence? That comes from experience of course, just doing a lot of riding, doing a hell of a lot of riding because if you don't, you will struggle."
Is this a man impervious to fear, the main cause of most people struggling to ride quickly? Not at all. "Of course sometimes you get a fright, sometimes you do scare yourself, but you can't dwell on that. You've got to shut that out."
And here's the crux of the matter. How do you manage to achieve that? "For me it's a matter of concentration. If you are concentrating and focusing on the riding and the road in front of you, you don't have time to let your mind wander and start to imagine hurting yourself in a crash. Concentrate on just riding and the next bend and you wont have time to think about anything else."
You mean it's not a case of just taking your brain out and riding as fast as you can? "Not at all," laughed Archibald, "being a total headbanger isn't the best way, unless you wnat to end up in the hospital. Concentrate as hard as you can, blank everything else out and jsut concentrate on where you are going and what the suspension and tyres are doing."
Check your head
Here are a few golden rules
Ride as much as you can
Learn about your bike, its suspension and tires in all weathers
Only press on when you are sure you know the roads, otherwise, back off a little and learn them first
Concentrate on your strengths when riding hard, don't give negative thoughts a chance to get in your way
Concentrate on your weaknesses on other rides, picking out a goal to work on per ride
Keep your mind focused, don't give it time to wander off into unhelpful areas
Don't put too much pressure on yourself, if you are getting dropped by your mates, accept that you are going to take time to improve
If you ride like a brain-out nutter you'll crash, trust us. Think about your riding
Relax
_______________
Suberbike July 2001
Think yourself quicker. Struggling to keep up with your mates? Want to go quicker on track days? Well, maybe it's time to tune your mind rather than your bike.
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt - William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure. (Just after ye olde Sunday blast back to Stratford from the coast)
Build a vision. Will it into reality. Become faster, sharper, slicker. Pull better looking sex partners. Seen it in a magazine before? Probably in relation to picking up women. But not now. This is about your riding skills. maybe you need to set about improving your riding from a different approach. Forget tuning your bike and tune your head instead.
Imagine riding prowess as a pyramid. Perched at the top are the Mick Doohans of this world. Diamond-hard with unbending willpower, balance and hard won understanding og bike physics. Not to mention titanium plates and pins, arthritis and mangled bodies. At the bottom of the pyramid are the newbies, yet to experience the sensual delight we all know and love. The remainder of us lie somewhere in the middle. Forget add ons, bolt ons and clip ons - if you want to improve your riding, start by developing your mental faculties. Therin lies the key to going quickly and smoothly. That's the theory...
Personal potential is like top speed on a bike. whether you choose to crack the throttle wide open is up to you. it is always there; hiding in the darker recesses of Hypothetica, waiting to happen, so why not shine some light on your dormant riding abilities? Think yourself quick and there's a better than average chance you will be. Natural talent is one way to go fast but there are other contributing factors. Determination, confidence and undying self-belief are important too. So what makes one semi-evolved primate faster than another?
We're all broadly similar; one head, two legs, two arms and a central nervous system running the show from the strange jelly-like mass which houses Consciousness Central. The brain is a pretty handy piece of the kit; which is probably the biggest understatement in this magazine. Designed by a random collection of 23 chromosomes, i use mine mostly for perception. hooked up to some peripheral bits and pieces like sight, hearing and touch it is essential equipment for riding a bike. Unfortunately it doesn't come with an instruction manual.
The tuning potential of your brain is enormous; some claim limitless even. the brain doesn't even really need the body that much. Look at Stephen Kawking. Dreaming of faraway universes, black holes, superstring theory and maybe wondering how he can squeeze a few more quid from British Telecom for another advertisement. But the brain doesn't have to be used for learning about Quantum physics. it can just as easily be put to work on thinking yourself quicker. Use it as nature intended and almost instant improvement is garanteed. Training the human brain can be a slow, steady process of conditiong. If you're lazy join a religious cult and they'll do it for you. Think of it as mental tuning. It's generally best if you're the one doing the programming though; otherwise you might end up doing the conga in an orange tonga with the Hare Krishna set.
Setting realistic goals is step number one. Whether it's getting your knee on the deck for the first time, improving your performance out on a Sunday run with your mates or mapping out a race career - the basic principles remain the same.
For a racer the goal is winning. No more, no less. At top level race tacticians might settle for a string of second places rather than a couple of wins and a succession of crashes. Crash or bin merchants rarely win championships. If everyone in the team does their job to the best of their ability, then the rider can focus much more successfully on the business at hand. So team spirit is important too. Ambition, goals, targets - call them whatever you like, but deciding what you want to achieve is paramount.
hurdle number one is fear. Speeding through turns at three figure speeds is an unexpected, if pleasurable evolutionary diversion. But the brain is super adaptable and eventually becomes accustomed to new experiences - this is why your first bike feels incredibly fast upon purchase but less so a month or two later. Shortly after this it craves new experiences. Un less you did direct access and immediately purchased a GSX-R 1000. in which case, the **** stains on your pants are probably still alittle damp...
So for lesser mortals like ourselves fear is undoubtedly our greatest enemy. Fear leads to a drop in concentration and a drop in concentration leads to a decline in confidence. Which leads to more fear. unless this process is arrested, mental focus moves from riding fast 'n' smooth to sheer terror and ultimately to untimely error. Not conductive to going quickly or safely. in general, fast confident riders are more in control than slower more fearfull ones and there is no substitute for this confidence. Test show that a biochemical named corticosterone is triggered by large amounts of stress or anxiety. This is responsible for blocking the retreval of information stored in long term memory. Something that doesn't bother goldfish too much but tends to make lab rats forget their way out of the maze when poked with a stick.
Allow me to paint what may be a familiar picture to some. you're on an unknown road when a corner catches you out. In a blink of an eye, concentration lapses and instead of bringing your substantial intelligence to bear on where the corner is going, you begin thinking how much it's gonna hurt when you fall off; hence increasing your chances of crashing considerably. The increase in fear is directly proportional to the drop in concentration. This fear inhibits rider development. no wonder Mick Doohan had "No Worries" inscribed on the rear of his Arai...
The trick lies in subtly altering your own perception of events. isolate areas where there is room for improvement in your riding and break insurmountable problems down into smaller realistic challenges. Overcome fear by taming it and make it work for you in a positive way. Belienve it or not, it it possible to control your own stress levels through disciplined thought and intermnal dialog. A clam, composed rider is a happy rider. Amplify positive thoughts about yourself and your riding abilities. Neutral thoughts are more likely to be concerned with physical feedback from yourself, the bike and the road you're storming along. Relax your mind and your body will follow suit. Above all, believe in yourself. Negative thoughts are valueless and should be discarded at once. Stay away from those negative vibes, maaan...
Learn to concentrate on the information that is important and ignore the superfluouos. For example, in a corner with a rockface on one side and a drop on the other - focus on a line through the corner and what the bike is doing. Screen out fear of what may happen and concentrate on what is happening. in short, ignore the irrelevant. This is why it's easier to ride on a clear, uncluttered track with no distractions. Exert your will and filter out unwanted thoughts which may hinder or hamper you. Controlled risk taking and stretching yourself a little at a time can pay dividends.
Instead of thinking about what you are unable to do on a bike, concentrate on what you can do and build on it.
Adopt a positive attitude when events refuse to go according to plan. Failure usually results from trying too hard or attempting to 'bite off more than you can chew.' Don't beat yourself up but acknowledge that maybe that particular is out of your reach for now. Step back, re-evaluate and decide whether to keep trying or to reset your target. f*$k ups can help you see what you need to do to get it right.
Motivation and determination lead to achievement and success. The tricky part (for racers at least) is knowing when to be aggresive and when to be calm and collected. So, now you're a tiger, a biking tyrannosaurus. Now get out there and kick ****... or get your knee down at least.
The GP race team manager's view
Chuck Aksland - Team Roberts
"We last worked with a sports psychologist back in 1991 but then we got the boss! (Kenny Roberts senior) The rider is more motivated if the team works well as a whole. Then he can go out and aim for a good result. Knowing there is a support team of forty people behind him helps - plus ther's always the experience, advice and support from Kenny himself. There's always stress and pressure. people deal with it in different ways; some run, some ride motorcross. Everyone is an individual and individuals have to be treated as such. There are a lot of talented people out there but not all of them will make it to the highest level. The ones with determination and focus are those that flourish."
For the likes of you and me who don't have a giant team behind us every time we head out on a Sunday run (or even round the local one-way system) this might mean not having your other half battering you in the back every time you peel off into a corner a bit too fast for his or her liking. But determination and focus applies to you and your favourite stetch of road as much as it does to a GP racer. Empty your mind of all other thoughts Grasshopper and apply your infinite mental capacities to the road ahead. That means forgetting about everyday worries. There should only be the tarmac ribbon unveiling itself in front of your eyes and you. Mind you, out on the road, it pays to pay attention to what is going on in the periphery too. GP stars only have to worry about pit boards. You on the other hand, have to keep a watchful eye for GATSO cameras, Old Bill and other vehicles edging into your path...
The TT racer's view
Adrian Archibald - Honda Britian squad
Adrian Archibald is the Isle of Man TT lap record holder for the junior (600cc) class and, as such, is a fine example of someone not easily given to panic attacks. Away from the bike he is calm, easygoing, almost placid individual which might be important. Riding very quickly on the road, particularly the 10M TT, isn't a palce where it is adviseable to bite off too much, too soon.
So, Adriann what;s the secret to riding fast on roads? "I think experience counts for a lot, experience of the roads you are on and experience of the bike and tires you are on. You've got to be confident and that means confident about what you are riding on." said Archibald.
And how, pray tell, do you get this confidence? That comes from experience of course, just doing a lot of riding, doing a hell of a lot of riding because if you don't, you will struggle."
Is this a man impervious to fear, the main cause of most people struggling to ride quickly? Not at all. "Of course sometimes you get a fright, sometimes you do scare yourself, but you can't dwell on that. You've got to shut that out."
And here's the crux of the matter. How do you manage to achieve that? "For me it's a matter of concentration. If you are concentrating and focusing on the riding and the road in front of you, you don't have time to let your mind wander and start to imagine hurting yourself in a crash. Concentrate on just riding and the next bend and you wont have time to think about anything else."
You mean it's not a case of just taking your brain out and riding as fast as you can? "Not at all," laughed Archibald, "being a total headbanger isn't the best way, unless you wnat to end up in the hospital. Concentrate as hard as you can, blank everything else out and jsut concentrate on where you are going and what the suspension and tyres are doing."
Check your head
Here are a few golden rules
Ride as much as you can
Learn about your bike, its suspension and tires in all weathers
Only press on when you are sure you know the roads, otherwise, back off a little and learn them first
Concentrate on your strengths when riding hard, don't give negative thoughts a chance to get in your way
Concentrate on your weaknesses on other rides, picking out a goal to work on per ride
Keep your mind focused, don't give it time to wander off into unhelpful areas
Don't put too much pressure on yourself, if you are getting dropped by your mates, accept that you are going to take time to improve
If you ride like a brain-out nutter you'll crash, trust us. Think about your riding
Relax
_______________
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,327
From: ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!! ALABAMA #1 SEC CHAMPIONS!!
Potential to be a good read but I found it to be written too simplistic, redundant and not reflective of the methodologies used to condition the brain. I got about midway in the article and skimmed the rest.
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