The ride began heading all uphill on a gravel covered road in the woods, getting steeper with every pedal stroke.

Nothing like biking uphill to help you “warm-up” (which I definitely was) before I slipped onto single-track, scattered with log bridges and rock gardens. As I headed up a steep hill with a sharp switch-back turn at the corner, I hit a root head on and despite some resistance at first, gave one more strong and swift pedal to get up and over.

I’ve learned a lot about myself and life through mountain biking. There’s nothing like lessons from nature and your own body to put you on the right track and remind you who you really are and how things really work as you move towards goals.

During my last “mountain bike Monday” ride, I captured three of these lessons and felt inspired to share them with you. Whether you’re a mountain biker, runner, road cyclist, business owner, entrepreneur, or someone who needs a pep-talk because you feel like you’re never going to reach that goal of your’s, this is for you.

These lessons are especially for those of us who are motivated to achieve something, but have had a setback or challenge thrown across the trail.  I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t.  So how do you reach your goals no matter what happens?

How to Reach Your Goals In Mountain Biking and Business

Keep it pointed where you want it to go

Keep it pointed because if you hit it sideways you’re going down. Picture this: you’re bumping along in the rock garden on your mountain bike, picking a path through every jagged edge.  All of a sudden you go a little sideways with the front tire, and find yourself bouncing off (sideways, of course), hoping you get clipped out to put your foot down before your hip, knee, or elbow go down.  The message here: Keep your focus and always keep your effort and energy aligned where you want to go. If you’re easily distracted, practice short bouts of focused activities that are aligned with your goals – set a 20 minute timer and go. Just like doing rock garden repeats, which will no doubt, keep you on your toes (and hopefully on the bike).

Keep momentum

If you approach a log bridge or gnarly root in the middle of the trail without enough momentum, guess what happens? You get stuck, you fall over, or you stop.  Approach your goal without enough momentum, and you’ll do the same.  What builds momentum?  On the trail – pedal faster, workout to get stronger, ride the downhills with more speed. In business – get stronger from the inside out, build upon the last success you had, and don’t delay.  When the goal is upon you, crush it with momentum and massive action.

Stay on the bike and keep pedaling

Don’t get knocked off by every little bump. When I first started mountain biking, I was scared of going down (hard), so if I felt I was going to fall or lose control going over an obstacle, I would clip out quickly and stop.  As I got more comfortable, more daring, and more experience, I learned that if you hit the obstacle and feel like you’re going down, sometimes all you have to do is give one more strong and swift pedal to stay on the bike (and on the trail).  You have to practice so you know when to take this risk, or when to break your fall. Whether you stay on the bike, or whether you fall and have to get back on – keep going because you have what it takes to persevere.

Do you have a goal you want to get, no matter what?  Keep it pointed where you want it to go. Keep momentum. Keep pedaling. Thanks to a few rough rides, a lot of glorious ones, and more miles than I can count on my green machine – I’m learning how to be a goal-getter and a trail blazer (on my mountain bike and in business).

What’s something that biking, hiking, running, swimming, or climbing has taught you about yourself?  Do share in the comments below. I’d love to hear your latest insight from the trail.