A Journey of Rediscovery: Rediscovering My Passion Through Community and Self-Exploration

Riding is multifaceted. The moment you lose yourself in the experience, the obligations life puts on your shoulders melt away and you reach your flow-state. We all ride bikes for the joy it brings. How can we lean on the community around us and the self-exploration we all find; in order to ensure that the passion we have evolves and grows through different life stages.

Reaching a healthy mixture of solace and social interaction is key for any person. It is remarkably rare to find someone that is one-hundred percent introvert or extrovert. We all at times need to plug into community or take time on our own- the frequency of leaning into the social energies looks different from person to person.

The time spent on the bike looks no different. Sneaking in a last second solo ride can be just the thing needed to escape and deal with the various stresses and responsibilities life can throw at you. Frankly, I have had my most intimate prayers and meditations riding through the sunrise in 30-degree weather. The mixture of the accomplishments had out on a ride and the endorphins you get through engaging your mind and body creates an awesome mindset to be apply hindsight on life.

Yet, at some point time alone on the bike transitions to time out with friends and many of us needs the added dimension community offers. Personally, I have noticed when mountain biking is done alone, it’s easy to fixate on personal achievements, training statistics and yourself. While these things are inherently good, too much of any of these things can be harmful. I have found that riding amongst a community is an excellent counterbalance to the above.

- Notably the order things can look different. Time alone on the bike is needed as much as the social aspects. The two have a complementary relationship. Address what is lacking in your own relationship with biking.

Mountain Bike Coaching has been a transformative path for myself and has counterbalanced my temptation to lean into my ego. At first, Mountain Biking was a vehicle for me to find value and success. My world revolved around training for races, and translating the training to desired results. This worked when I did well, however once results did not go my way, my identity was challenged.

My mindset transformed when I started mountain bike coaching at 17. For the first time, results did not come from my performance, instead they derived from others success. Spending a day on the saddle as a coach requires a different mentality, instead of trying to hold the best manual I can, or posting the best Strava PR on the downhill, I was out on my bike for the sole purpose of seeing the client succeed on the bike. Coaching transformed my mindset from self to focusing on other success over my own. It is powerful and humbling to see others accomplish feats that they once thought were impossible. Before I started coaching, most of my time on the bike was self-serving. However, coaching added another dimension to my passion and contributed to me rediscovering Mountain Biking.

SO... How can you rediscover Mountain Biking? How can you see your passion for the sport grow through different life-stages. Finally how can you reconnect with that childlike first time discovery?

As mentioned above, too much of one thing can be harmful, and the entrapment of focusing solely on the self exists for everyone. While MTB coaching is how I rediscovered Mountain Biking, rediscovery looks different for each person.

Here are some ways we can resist the pitfall and rediscover what you love!

1) Volunteer at your local trails

2) Try trail building

3) Learn new skills on your bike and apply them on your go to trails

4) Try another discipline (dirt jumping, gravel, downhill, road)

5) Under-bike your go to trails (If you ride a full suspension bike try a hardtail) Will this encourage you to embrace a different style of riding?

6) Look for a mentor or mentor someone else at a different life stage

7) Look for a local bike shop and go on their weekly social ride

8) Volunteer at a local cycling team. (NICA might be a good place to start)

9) Go on group rides, laugh and be goofy, take joy through the groups accomplishments!

TAKEAWAY

While we are no longer children, we need to continue to engage ourselves, be playful, laugh, and connect with our inner-child. A life long passion looks similar to the child like state of discovering something new. We need to continue being curious and have new experiences. While the original reason you felt drawn to Mountain Biking sparked your passion, the reason might lose its potency and rediscovery is needed. Find another outlet and re-engage your passion. Often complacency sets when rediscovery is not present.

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Until next time,

Joe Boyd