Rider mental preparation?

**Leyton** · 4th January 2010, 09:39

Hello

I am just wondering if there are any other crazys out there whom pray before they ride LOL is that a bad thing ? Should one not have to pray every time they take their bike out for a good blat ?

Religious or not, I am wondering if others do this to as a force of habbit to focus your mind at task.

Ok just for clarification, This is not about some mythical hoodacky watching over you. This is about Mental Preperation.

This is after you have washed and maintained your bike

Leyton

**p.dath** · 4th January 2010, 10:01

Never set out with the attitude that your going to have an accident, or you might make it happen. Ditto if you have trouble on a corner. Never think you're not going to make it, because you might give up and make your thoughts come true.

I don't believe in any christian God, and have nothing to pray to. So for me, it's matter of juming on in anticipation of the fun I am about to have.

**Jantar** · 4th January 2010, 10:02

You have missed the option of checking the bike before riding. I would rather rely on knowing the bike is up to scratch than pray to some mythical being to watch over the ride.

**cowboyz** · 4th January 2010, 10:07

i talk to myself, and being godlike that I am its kinda like praying

**Leyton** · 4th January 2010, 10:13

Originally Posted by Jantar

You have missed the option of checking the bike before riding. I would rather rely on knowing the bike is up to scratch than pray to some mythical being to watch over the ride.

Yeah thats a good one dude, Much done well before she gets rolled out of the garage though

I have edited my post to reflect this is about mental preperation. It has nothing to do with what religion or what not

**James Deuce** · 4th January 2010, 10:21

I do everything I can to avoid the gaze of imaginary friends.

**Motu** · 4th January 2010, 10:56

I'm certainly not religious,but believe in taking a mentally positive approach.One of the most important things I've learned riding trials is that you have to believe you can do it,picture it in your mind and make it happen.Any self doubt leads to disaster,you need to stay positive all the time.(works in life too,but I 'm not too good at that part.) So I say affirmations (non religious prayers I guess) about how well the ride is going to go,my good reactions and being observant of road hazards,I talk to my bike,telling it what a great machine it is and that I trust it's decisions for my well being.Mental preparation is everything.

**CookMySock** · 4th January 2010, 11:09

I always think of your mum as I ride around there..

Steve

**Leyton** · 4th January 2010, 12:40

Hey good to see I am not just nuts!

LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A6BXKgayrA <-- Example of prep LOL

**vifferman** · 4th January 2010, 13:35

Assuming you believe in a SupremeOmnipotentBeing who listens to prayers, what proof (or otherwise) is there that this is going to protect you on the road (assuming of course, that that is what you prayed for)? Maybe it's not in the plan for you to be safe, as in the GreaterSchemeOfThings it's better for your immortal soul if for example, you were in a crash and paralysed.

I do believe in God, and I do pray, but not usually before I go out for a ride. And I've been wondering lately about what response God has to my prayers, if any. If I pray for my MutantTroglodyteSpawn, does he bless them with riches, heaps of babes, health, and OtherGoodStuff?
Apparently not.
Things seem to get worse for them the more I pray.

Is this because ultimately things have to turn to absolute shit so they'll resort to abandoning the anti-God stance they have?

Is it because the more I pray, the more Satan and his minions work to fuck them over?

Is it because God is too busy running the universe to worry about petty things like what happens to one-six-billionth of the world's people?

Is it because it's all pre-ordained anyway, so no interference is required unless things drift off course?

Is it because God only steps in if it's something BIG and contrary to ThePlan?

**centaurus** · 4th January 2010, 13:36

I always try to take a moment to get my thoughts together before riding. It gives me a chance to get rid of other thoughts/worries and concentrate on the task at hand. Especially when coming back from work and sharing the road with tired drivers, it's really important I concentrate on the road and I am not distracted.

I've read about this in a defensive riding book, tried it out and since then, I always sit on the bike for a few moments before starting, giving the bike a chance to warm up and me a chance to concentrate on riding and be 100% focused.

And in all honesty, I did save me from a few crashes at the first corner caused by idiot and distracted drivers looking anywhere except where they were supposed to. Being focused from moment zero, I got a chance to spot and avoid them.

**Leyton** · 4th January 2010, 13:51

Originally Posted by centaurus

I always try to take a moment to get my thoughts together before riding. It gives me a chance to get rid of other thoughts/worries and concentrate on the task at hand. Especially when coming back from work and sharing the road with tired drivers, it's really important I concentrate on the road and I am not distracted.

Yeah thats the way I see it, I usally just sit on me bike until it feels about right then I'm off, by that time it has stopped reading "Low" and around 50 degrease, time to set sailing

And I am positive it helps with my riding, more so with the first few km's getting out of town!

**FJRider** · 4th January 2010, 16:52

Originally Posted by James Deuce

I do everything I can to avoid the gaze of imaginary friends.

My imaginary friends think I'm cool ....

**PrincessBandit** · 4th January 2010, 18:57

I don't pray before going out on the bike as a matter of course, but I do know for sure I was being watched over the day of my accident.
For the record, checking the bike over before leaving should be standard although there are times I don't do this....

**Ixion** · 4th January 2010, 19:00

Originally Posted by vifferman

Assuming you believe in a SupremeOmnipotentBeing who listens to prayers, what proof (or otherwise) is there that this is going to protect you on the road (assuming of course, that that is what you prayed for)? Maybe it's not in the plan for you to be safe, as in the GreaterSchemeOfThings it's better for your immortal soul if for example, you were in a crash and paralysed.

I do believe in God, and I do pray, but not usually before I go out for a ride. And I've been wondering lately about what response God has to my prayers, if any. If I pray for my MutantTroglodyteSpawn, does he bless them with riches, heaps of babes, health, and OtherGoodStuff?
Apparently not.
Things seem to get worse for them the more I pray.

Is this because ultimately things have to turn to absolute shit so they'll resort to abandoning the anti-God stance they have?

Is it because the more I pray, the more Satan and his minions work to fuck them over?

Is it because God is too busy running the universe to worry about petty things like what happens to one-six-billionth of the world's people?

Is it because it's all pre-ordained anyway, so no interference is required unless things drift off course?

Is it because God only steps in if it's something BIG and contrary to ThePlan?

Nah, it's just because he hates you.