Can you tell us about the state you get into when you ride?
When I ride, I strive to find my flow state where I am receptive, open, and focused on the moment. I’m ultra-present with myself and my needs, and by being proactive about meeting them. Sometimes the gravel ride gets rough, or I feel a little demoralized. In those situations, I know my mind is trying to sabotage my ride, so I get hyper-focused on my breathing, my pedal stroke, the sound of the gravel crunching beneath my tires, and the wind on my face.
I find that the simple act of being present in the moment tends to make me feel grateful for where I am and the adventure of gravel riding. I am choosing to do this after all. So, feeling gratitude tends to put things in perspective for me.