Trusting the process

Have you ever felt like you can’t ‘get’ a skill? Or that you’re ‘just not cut out for mountain biking’?

Felt like you understand the theory but just can’t quite get it? Or have crashed a few times and ready to give it away?

Unlocking new skills can take time. No one becomes really good at something overnight. Mastering skills takes weeks, months and years. And if you start later in life, it can be hard. It can be unlearning things, and overcoming past traumatic experiences.

Dedicated practice of skills on a flat open area, or repeating the same jump again and again might feel a bit boring, especially when you want to just go for a ride or explore new places, but it really does fastrack your progress. And it’s essential to hone your skills before you add in other elements, like terrain or speed.

Some people are quick to pick things up, others take more time. But I can almost guarantee that if you start to compare yourself, it becomes disheartening and de-motivating. 

Working on technical maneuvers has been a step up in my own riding awareness and has challenged me in many ways. It’s been incredible to go through the process of learning, getting feedback from other coaches, and practicing. 

But it has also been frustrating. As someone who has always been good at sport and quick to learn new things when it comes to physical activity, it has been frustratingly slow progress. Especially post-kids, and without the strength I used to have that allowed me to sail through most things.

But I know that it will come together eventually with more practice, visualisation, good sleep and some strength training.

So this is a reminder to take your own journey. Trust the process. Seek feedback. Keep practicing, and things will happen. Or crashes will happen less and less often. You’ll feel safer, more stable, more confident and find more flow.

The process in itself is full of rewards. The feeling of achievement, and the improvements in your riding will be obvious, but you’ll also have that experience of working towards a goal and staying committed to the process. And that is absolutely worth the tough moments.

Claire sweeping for the Juliana/Santa Cruz Women’s Ride Out at Sea Otter 2025