The Importance of Commitment

I faced a lot of injuries throughout many of my earlier years of riding bikes. Some years were filled with 3-4 separate injuries back to back. It was through these relative experiences that I learned the value of commitment. I used to think riding was all about being "ballsy" and taking risks without thinking, but now I've come to realize commitment is one of the most scary but important things to conquer.

I can recall many instances in life where I was scared of doing something and instead of taking my time and considering the best way to tackle the obstacle, I just decided to turn off my brain and huck it. Sure, this is a good mindset to have for something with little to no genuine risk, like being scared of jumping off a bridge into water or bungee jumping. But when there is serious risk involved, this mindset is blatantly dumb.

Yes, you should never really allow fear to debilitate you but at the same time, It's fear that keeps you from doing silly things. Fear is a very important emotion to have, it puts stress on you to make sure that whatever you do you do right.

Let's say you're riding and want to try a flip on a jump. Yes, you could turn off your brain and go right ahead and just huck it and hope for the best, you might land it or you might not. Or you could give it a couple of run-ups, feel things out, let the fear build up, and then do it. The second option is the longer option but it is the most thorough.

When I was trying my first double backflip to airbag I was so scared and just wanted to get it over with. Eventually, I decided I was a hundred percent going to do it. I went as fast as I could and pulled as hard as I could, I landed directly on my neck. The issue is that I fully committed to trying it but I didn't fully commit to landing it. I didn't think about the technique or anything, I just hucked it. I was very lucky to have been not injured but that chance could have been minimized further if I took a moment really to think about what I was doing and how I was going to do it. I could have asked for tips more tips and watched videos but instead, I just went for it blindly and made one of the simplest mistakes.

From now on, every time I do that trick I break it down into individual steps. I think about how fast I need to go, where I need to pull, and how hard. By making this mental checklist I can confront the trick strategically, I am ensuring I know exactly what I'm doing and will make no mistakes.

The Importance of doing this is the difference between taking five tries to land a trick or landing it on your first try. It's important to put effort into the mental side of riding and not just the physical side of just trying it. Practice the motion in your head, break it down, and focus.