{"id":180162,"date":"2020-10-30T13:55:15","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T13:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=180162"},"modified":"2021-11-25T14:16:23","modified_gmt":"2021-11-25T14:16:23","slug":"7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/10\/30\/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Compare Yourself to Other Cyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you ride your bike on a regular basis, you probably think of it as something that has a positive impact on your mental health and helps keep stress levels at bay. Unfortunately, some of the bad habits we struggle with in other aspects of our lives can also make their way into our cycling routine. What is one of the quickest ways to obliterate the positive feelings that should accompany cycling? Succumbing to the temptation to compare yourself to other cyclists. Although there\u2019s definitely nothing wrong with looking to others for inspiration or keeping track of your progress to see how far you\u2019ve come, as the above quote from Theodore Roosevelt underscores, joy can be hard to find when you\u2019re constantly stacking yourself up against those around you. If you suspect that this tendency might be starting to cloud your feel-good vibes, read on to be reminded why comparing yourself to others is never the road to success.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Resist the temptation to compare yourself to other cyclists. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It has a negative impact on performance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When we\u2019re continuously searching for external validation, it ends up serving as a distraction and can even result in diminished performance. By letting those around us, whom we aspire to be better than (or at least as good as), loom too large in our minds, there isn\u2019t enough room left to focus on what really matters. Rather than looking to others as a means of comparison, we should observe what they\u2019re doing successfully and try to apply it to ourselves.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re more likely to hurt yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the same way that constant comparison can be consuming, it can also have a negative impact on the body-mind connection that helps keep us safe on our bikes. When your goal is no longer to do your personal best but is geared primarily towards outperforming someone else, you stop listening to your internal warnings and signals. Judgement leaves you distracted, and you\u2019ll forget to monitor things like your physiology and cadence. There\u2019s nothing wrong with having a competitive streak but even when the stakes are high\u2014the top athletes know that to focus too much on anyone but themselves can have crippling consequences.<\/p>\n

\"Donwhill<\/a>
Remember that your focus should stay on yourself, not on others. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Being aware of what is happening around you is different than comparing yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Just as it is important to be cognizant of what is going on around you during a race or group ride in order to stay safe and ride strategically, it is equally necessary to distinguish between awareness and comparison. In a race, for example, having insight into what others may or may not do allows you to prepare yourself accordingly to counteract tactics or utilise them to your own advantage. But again, it is necessary to think of this insight as information that can be helpful to you and your performance, not as a means of appraisal.<\/p>\n

People are not on equal footing to begin with<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most problematic aspects of comparison is that it only accounts for a tiny piece of the puzzle that ultimately makes up who each of us are. Not to mention just because someone makes something appear effortless\u2014it doesn\u2019t mean that it actually is. Whether you\u2019re talking about cycling or some other skill or talent, there are always going to be multiple factors that are completely outside of your control and that have a significant impact on success. Of course, it is important not to go to the other extreme and be defeatist simply because you feel someone has a natural advantage. Set goals while remaining realistic about what\u2019s actually achievable and what\u2019s not.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>
Some factors are completely out of your control. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Comparison zaps motivation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The drive to outperform or impress someone else might keep you going in the short-term but it doesn\u2019t provide the kind of lasting incentive that you need to progress over time. The key to letting those around us lift us up rather than drag us down is to look for motivation rather than comparison. It\u2019s great to have people who inspire you and there\u2019s no doubt that positive examples can make us better athletes. It\u2019s about looking at the situation from the right perspective.<\/p>\n

Data is only one part of the story<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Strava is a great tool for many reasons but there is a fine line between its function as a motivation booster and an obsessive preoccupation. When you get all wrapped up in the numbers or completely consumed by someone\u2019s segment time, you forget to have fun and will ultimately end up getting burned out. On top of that, no one will like riding with you if you set off in blind pursuit of an invisible rival every time. If you find yourself fixating on numbers, try ditching the data for a while in order to rebalance your focus. Once you\u2019ve had a chance to clear your head, you can return and start using those numbers and Strava segments constructively.<\/p>\n

The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re searching for motivation to pedal faster or push through when you feel like quitting, it is important to remember that you\u2019re always reliant solely on yourself and that you\u2019re the only one who is going to benefit from the progress you make. A preoccupation with others just sets you up for disappointment, bitterness, and is a slippery slope towards jealousy. In cycling, there\u2019s always going to be someone faster and stronger than you, and you can\u2019t do anything about that. Rather than focusing on others, monitor your own performance and be mindful of the areas where you thrive and where you struggle. Remember that every minute you spend comparing yourself to or envying someone else is a minute of your life you miss out on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":180165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[329,334],"tags":[4531,4532,1585,4530,355],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-180162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-comparison","tag-competitiveness","tag-strava","tag-theodore-roosevelt","tag-training","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n7 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Compare Yourself to Other Cyclists - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d If you ride your bike on a regular basis, you probably think of it as something that has a positive impact on your\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/10\/30\/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Compare Yourself to Other Cyclists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What happens when you do?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/10\/30\/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u0160koda We Love Cycling\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-30T13:55:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-11-25T14:16:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2020\/10\/7.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"tereza\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"7 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Compare Yourself to Other Cyclists\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Megan Flottorp\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/10\/30\/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/10\/30\/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-compare-yourself-to-other-cyclists\/\",\"name\":\"7 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Compare Yourself to Other Cyclists - 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