The Mental Side of Climbing Mountains–We GET to Do This!

Jul 16

When I first started cycling in Colorado, I quickly learned that your legs are not the first thing that will quit on a mountain pass.

It’s your mind.

Sometimes it’s in between the steep grade and the slow speed, you’re settled in for a long climb, and then your brain starts playing tricks on you and wants to negotiate a simple, easier route.

"Maybe this is far enough."
"Maybe I don't actually like climbing."
"Maybe I need a nice flat ride instead."

Every cyclist has these moments.

The difference between a good day and a great day often comes down to what happens next.

Training for the Colorado Ride isn't just about building stronger legs. It's about building the mindset to handle hard days, stay consistent, and keep moving when the climb gets long.

The good news? Mental toughness is trainable.

Here are four ways to prepare your mind for the miles, the climbs, and the moments when you'll need to remind yourself:

We GET to do this.

Here’s a cheat sheet to remind yourself how to power through longer climbs.

1. Break Climbs into Smaller Wins

Looking at a 3, 6, or 10-mile climb or 2,000 feet of elevation gain can really feel intimidating. Instead, play a mental game with yourself and set smaller goals as you push towards the summit. For example:

Ride to the next town
Make it to the next mile marker
Ride 5 miles and then “reward” yourself with a short drink or snack break.

Smaller wins feel great, and once you’ve hit one, sometimes you may even feel like you don’t need to stop. It’s all mental, and you’re stronger than you think

Small victories help to build momentum, and before you know it, you've climbed farther than you thought possible.

2. Practice Positive Self-Talk

Pay attention to the conversation happening in your head.

When your mind says, "This climb is too hard," try replacing it with, "This is exactly what I'm training for."

Or swap "I have to do this workout" with "I get to train for Colorado."

It might seem simple, but your mindset influences how you approach every climb.

3. Ride When Conditions Aren't Perfect

Not every training ride should happen on a perfect 70-degree day with no wind.

Sometimes the best preparation comes from riding when you're a little tired, when it's windy, or when motivation is low. Those are the days that teach you how to stay steady when things don't go according to plan.

Colorado’s Ride won't be perfection (but it will be pretty darn close ;)

4. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

Training isn't about crushing every ride.

Some days you'll feel strong. Other days you'll climb slower than you'd like.

Instead of judging your success by speed alone, celebrate the habits you're building. Every ride adds fitness, confidence, and experience. Those small gains are what prepare you for the climbs waiting in Colorado.

5. Bring Snacks

You never know if you’ll run into a convenience store or a place to buy snacks on longer rides. On the longer distance training rides, make sure you have enough water, electrolytes, and food for long stretches without services.

Remember Why You're Training

Every mile, every hill, and every early morning ride is preparing you for something awesome. When you're climbing through Colorado's mountains, you'll be grateful for every training ride that challenged you—especially the really challenging ones that tested you the most. The ones with rain, snow, when you didn’t dress properly.

Keep showing up. And when the climbs get tough, remember: we don't have to do this—we get to do this.