Shut Up Legs!

Whether you are an instructor who rides outside competitively, or recreationally, or maybe just once in awhile, or maybe you don’t even own a bicycle, we can all learn so much from Tour de France riders. These athletes overcome almost insurmountable mental and physical challenges to complete not just each and every stage, but to finish the 21 days, 3,600km over some of the most grueling terrain a cyclist can encounter.

To do so, they must not only be in top physical shape, but they must be at the top of their mental game. Doing what they do hurts. There is no denying that cycling, though beautiful and fun and exhilarating, can be also one of the most painful and grueling athletic endeavors there is, especially when taken to the limit that it is in races such as the Tour de France. So how do these riders get beyond that suffering?

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. One of my very favorite riders for many years is the man they call the “Diesel Engine”, a long-time domestique on team Saxo-Bank, the German rider Jens Voigt (pronounced Yens Voit). Listen here as Jens describes some of his techniques for overcoming his body’s desire to quit:

Here’s another quick and humorous view of his favorite comment “Shut Up Legs!”

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4 Responses to “Shut Up Legs!”

1. Lorie says:

   July 23, 2010 at 3:57 pm

   In life, as well as sport, we all face challenges that threaten to overwhelm us at times and which tempt us to just “call it a day.”

   I’m sure no one would have blamed Jens for jumping in that Sag wagon. But, his decision not to, is a testament to what is possible when we decide to face incredible challenge with courage, determination, and best of all a touch of humor.

   It certainly puts some of my recent challenges in perspective and reminds me to dig deep and face them head on!!

   Thanks wonderful stories such as this, they are truly inspirational!!
2. Billl Roach says:

   July 23, 2010 at 6:51 pm

   These guyes, the Jens Voight’s and George Hincapie’s, make the tour so special. It’s one thing to endure the pain for big bucks and big acclaim but another indeed to endure it for the pure love of the sport and a modest living.

   In my Spinning classes, I teach that there is a real moment of truth when the pain starts. If we let our minds wander, then we lose focus and our effort dwindles. But we can instead use the pain to help us refocus. I suggest students refocus on their goals for being there in the first place as they accept and embrace the pain. Then, as an alternative strategy, I suggest that they shift their minds to the mechanical thoughts necessary to ride well i.e. form, posture, cadence.

   The roots of cycling are in the hopes and dreams of low income youth in France and Belgium who saw racing as a way to a better life. Their dreams are akin to the dreams of youth today dreaming of a career in the NBA, or in an earlier generation perhaps dreaming of a career as a professional boxer. These are cyclings roots and people like Jens Voight honor that.
3. Marsha says:

   July 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm

   I told my class about “shut up legs” in last week’s class and it has already become part of our lexicon. Jens Voight is both a warrior and a gentleman, one of the best in any sport.
4. pascal hannecart says:

   July 26, 2010 at 1:46 pm

   I used the “shut up legs” citation this morning in my 2 classes, it was addapted to the training.

   I like what you say Bill about the roots of cycling, You find it, it is how cycling start. A good friend of mine was from this generation, he rode the Tour a few time and did some nice ranking on Paris-Roubaix; he was one of Bernard Hilnaut’s “domestique”.
   I really loved listening him talking about this past time, how hard the work was and how little was the return.
   That is one thing we have to thank Lance Armstrong of, he brings more professionalism and money in cycling but with that a part of the “roots” dissapear, but I am out of subject here …