The Player Mindset and the Need for More Female Coaches with Olympic MTBer Lea Davison

Training Babble: Off-Road Insights for Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling

Summary

Join Coach Dave Schell on the Training Babble podcast as he welcomes Olympic mountain biker Lea Davison. In this engaging episode, Lea shares her transition from downhill skiing to becoming a top mountain biker, discussing the evolution of training techniques from heart rate monitoring to power meters. She highlights the crucial role of mental resilience, the impact of social media on athletes, and the pressures of maintaining a public image. Lea also addresses the challenges female athletes face, including coaching disparities and performance fluctuations due to the menstrual cycle. Reflecting on her retirement, she shares valuable lessons on resilience, the achievements of the US women's mountain biking team, and offers guidance for aspiring female racers.

Takeaways

• Focus on giving your best effort and taking ownership of your decisions.
• Embrace a growth mindset and constantly seek to learn and improve.
• Be aware of the impact of social media and the pressure to create a certain image.
• Prioritize mental resilience and develop a player mindset.
• Don't be afraid to adapt and learn from different coaching approaches. Focusing solely on numbers in training can be detrimental and fuel a toxic narrative around weight and performance in cycling.
• The lack of female coaches and the male-dominated structure of sports can negatively impact female athletes, particularly in terms of understanding and addressing issues like the menstrual cycle and red ass.
• Resilience and the ability to keep going are key qualities for success in sports, and finding joy and happiness in the process is crucial.
• The success of the US women's mountain biking team is inspiring and can have a positive ripple effect on the sport as a whole.
• Up-and-coming female racers should prioritize enjoyment, work hard, and believe in their potential for success.