Bicycle Consciousness Cleanse

Today I found the latest issue of "Natural Awakenings." This is a health food magazine for Myrtle Beach and the area. It has a bunch of, "cleansing," articles. I thought I'd apply them to bicycling. The first one is, "consciousness Cleanse."

"Three weeks to a better future" (by Debbie Ford)

"This month is a powerful time to assess where we've been, acknowledge where we are right now and dream our most beautiful life into being. Starting now, we can move from the outdated modes of our limited thinking mind to tune into our eternal divine mind. Acting on these three recommended cleansing phases- one a week for the next three weeks- will work to lift us out of resignation and mediocrity into hope and excitement, and connect us with a future filled with surprises, possibility and deep purpose."

This will be a three week program for cycling. I am using cycling mostly as a metaphor for consciousness. We are trying to evolve our training into a cleansed version. Right now, we have limited bodies, and we want to take our, "cycling body," past its current limits. After we raise our fitness level, what can we do that we couldn't before? For me, stay with the group ride the entire time without dropping off.

Week One: The Past

THe first week of the 21-day cycling cleanse is dedicated to "creating a powerful magnet of desire and cleaning out the turbulent [cycling] emotions, outdated [cycling] beliefs, unresolved [cycling] incidents and restricting thoughts that have taken root in our minds and hearts.

• Paraphrasing, After congratulating yourself for being a cyclist, "Write a list of your past successes versus your past disappointments in cycling." Let's remember to all keep high goals, Look at what worked for you and what didn't. I'm searching for the equivalent of a "grudge" in cycling, or something that it doesn't help to hold on to. What hidden tendencies kept you from going all-out in that race or group ride? Was it just doubts in your head? Was it something someone said? Did you remember to stretch? Are you pedaling in squares instead of circles? What kept you from, "just pedaling faster?"

  Okay, so there are million little diversions in cycling. We want to get rid of at least 20 of them that keep you from focusing on increasing your ability to ride fast, or ride well off-road if that's what you do. "I just don't have the right gearing." "I didn't hydrate." "I've got to improve my diet." "My water bottle nozzle is too skinny. I can't get enough water out of it." At this time of the season, as Debbie Ford says, is a perfect time to focus on your own biking ability. Hopefully you have put on all the base miles by now. (I know I haven't.) Let's get ready to,"bike forward."
  

• Let's get rid of 100 things in your routine that can keep you from focusing on the core of your cycling. Should you put those spare parts up on Ebay? Do you have 20 pairs of sunglasses? Focus on only the few items you need for riding. Do you have 10 mini-pumps? Find 2 that work the best. One for your wife and one for you. Do you have bike maps for Deluth, South Dekota. Awe man, this is hard.
  

  Okay as a true bike addict, let's start over. Get rid of 100 things that keep you from cycling.
  

• Do you have too many cds? Wow, I still have cds. Can you sell them? Too many books? Sell your extra books. Same with dvds.
• If you must have, "Esquire," "GQ," or, "Maxis," limit it to one in the house at a time.
  
• Do you have a subscription to "Under Water Basket Weaving of America Monthly," on your IPAD? Can you do with reading less?


• Do you have too many supplements? By now you should know what works for you and what doesn't. Or what fits into your lifestyle. I only eat Clif Bars or similar vegan options. They're also easy to get almost anywhere. Otherwise Health Valley is my choice. Maybe you like Gatorade and a powerbar. Goo anyone? Hammer Gel? Whittle it down.


• Maybe you can also whittle down your cooking? Have you mastered certain recipes? Maybe you have honed your cooking skills to quick, nutritious meals. For a while, can you focus on recipes that you need?


• Too many blog subscriptions?


• Okay fine, maybe you have too much cycling reading material. Time to take what you have found useful and keep just that handy. Maybe 2 training books instead of 5.


• Too many computers or computer programs? Too many can be distracting. Do you really need to use Twitter AND Facebook?


• Too concerned with appearance to be a better cyclist? Do you have too many mousses or gels? Maybe you can get a more efficient hair cut, or let it grow with no haircut at all,