Why do you want to climb?
With no extra training or workouts or sweat, I am going to make you a better climber. You get to do this from your couch! And yes, I'm serious. All you have to do is answer a simple question.
It seems like a silly question, yet knowing the answer will give you the inspiration to accomplish your goal. Note that the answer IS your goal - so with my homework assignment, you really get a two-fer. Your goal is not just being able to ride up big hills - your goal is the *reason* you are climbing those hills.
So why do you want to climb? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to impress your husband with a new physique? Would you like to be able to count the muscles in your legs? Do you want to experience the views from the top of mountains? Do you want an excuse to drink beer or eat ice-cream at the end of the day? Do you want to ride with friends who are currently stronger than you are? Do you like zooming down the descents? Do you want to participate in a tour that will involve some hills? Are you looking for one more challenging thing to do outside in the fresh air? Are you bored with always riding between Davis and Winters? Do you want an excuse to buy a new bicycle? Do you want to humiliate your riding buddy? There are as many different reasons to be climbing as there are cyclists. Your assignment is to figure out what *your* reason is. There is no right reason, no wrong reason, no moral reason (see the humiliation item above). There is just *your* reason (or reasons). It can change as often as you wish - and you don't even have to share it with anybody else!
No matter the task, if you wish to do it well and wish to stick with it, you need a *reason* to be doing it. Climbing is hard. It takes both physical and mental effort. And you will enjoy it more if you can quickly recall why you set out to do it in the first place. How often have you found yourself doing something difficult and literally asked yourself, "Why am I doing this?!" Instead of waiting until the climb to ask yourself why you are sweating and panting and wobbling all over the road - answer that question right now. Then keep that answer handy in the front of your mind. If you begin to struggle on the climb, that's the time to trot out your goal and concentrate on it for a moment. Grab that goal by the throat and shake it a few times. Remind yourself how important that reason was to you back there on your couch. When the going gets tough, it isn't your body that typically stops the party - it is your mind. You've forgotten the reason you were doing this difficult task. or the goal isn't as important as you thought (Quick! Get a better one!). To get to the top of those climbs, relax your upper body, relax your breathing and keep an image of that goal in your head. You will likely be amazed at how your body will respond.
- Darell, the EVnut.
