---
title: "Belief in Breakfast: Boosting Your Cycling Speed"
date: 2024-02-24
categories: ["Mindset","Fuelling"]
url: https://www.semiprocycling.com/digest/belief-in-breakfast-boosting-your-cycling-speed
author: Damian Ruse (SEMIPRO Cycling)
---
# Belief in Breakfast: Boosting Your Cycling Speed

![](https://www.semiprocycling.com/digest/images/2b11cd00c8405cfe7aedbdb4.webp)

This study investigates the impact of perceived breakfast ingestion on short-duration, high-intensity cycling performance.

**It was found that cyclists performed better when they believed they had consumed breakfast** (either a carbohydrate meal or a placebo) compared to a water control, suggesting a psychological rather than physiological effect on performance.

Recommendations for you based on the study's findings:

1. **Perception Matters:** Believe in the nutritional strategy you adopt; the psychological boost can enhance performance.

2. **Pre-Exercise Nutrition:** Experiment with pre-exercise nutrition to find what psychologically prepares you best for training or competition.

3. **Training Fasted:** Consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of fasted training, but remember that the psychological aspect of feeling fuelled can be just as important.

Read study here: [https://journals.humankinetics...](https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/13/4/article-p504.xml?content=abstract#d1027044e470)

## On my mind: Separating yourself from your performance

More of a reminder than anything is to focus on the joy and process of training rather than solely on outcomes or metrics of success. This mindset can help mitigate the emotional rollercoaster tied to performance fluctuations.

Here's some ways to apply this concept:

1. **Focus on the Process**: Embrace each training session as an opportunity to improve, learn, and enjoy the act of cycling itself. Appreciate the moments on the bike, the environment, and the sensation of pushing your limits.
2. **Set Process Goals**: Instead of obsessing over hitting certain times, distances, or power outputs, set goals related to your training habits. For example, aim to maintain consistency in training, improve your technique, or increase your weekly training volume gradually.
3. **Measure Progress Holistically**: Recognise that progress isn't just about faster times or higher power. It's also about how you're feeling, your technique improvement, and your overall enjoyment of the sport.

By focusing on the process and finding joy in the act of cycling itself, you can avoid the pitfalls of constantly seeking external validation through performance metrics. This approach promotes a healthier, more sustainable relationship with the sport, leading to long-term improvement and satisfaction.

Damian