The “Ride More” Mentality is an insecurity in oneself, a belief that you’ve never done enough, while deserving more for your effort. This self-doubt deflects from the actual work: building a wider foundation or fine-tuning for that next percentage point of improvement.

The Diminishing Return

There is a diminishing return on ‘riding more’. As a rider/racer begins to ride more, they see and feel an increase in speed, capacity, and outcome. As this process continues though, the ride more mentality yields smaller and smaller benefits. This causes riders to doubt themselves, while ignoring the true areas for growth and benefit.

By only focusing on “riding more”, you’re ignoring other physical and mental traits that will help you increase performance consistently. It’s less about low quality, quick wins, and more about high quality, sustainable improvement.

It feels good to get out and ride, but that ride was just time on the bike. Sometimes seat time is needed, but most times when improvement is desired, there are many other factors at play to build a wider, more stable, foundation.

What does “riding less” look like?

1. Strength training off the bike: Build a stronger, more resilient rider
2. Short, power sessions w/ recovery breaks: Allows for intensity and maximum focus
3. Technique Work: Slow and methodical to train the brain
4. Proper Fueling: Prepare the body like you would fuel the bike.

“Riding less” doesn’t mean sitting on the couch. It means you spend more time on things that round out weaknesses while improving the entire rider/racer.

Unstuck Yourself

To continue to grow and learn as a rider/racer, you must be willing to update, expand, and edit your previous way of thinking.

Too many riders/racers stay stuck in the past because it’s what their dad did or it’s what they’ve always done. This way of thinking holds you back, because you won’t be adapting or progressing as the sport, or life, evolves.

Dirt biking is not your entire identity, don’t let it determine your self-worth.