[trabant00]

For engine powered stuff when you relax you get better results.

Every time I try to push for lap times on the track I end up exhausted after 20 minutes with worse times, inconsistent laps, plenty of oh shit close moments and most importantly I don't enjoy myself. Instead when I relax, focus on riding with good technique I end up with faster times.

But of course the temptation to push is huge, especially if you can't get any faster for longer periods.

Also interesting: I've broken my records multiple times right out of winter after 3 months of not riding. Can't explain that.

[ehnto]

Same with downhill mountain biking. If you are relaxed, you are loose, and you flow smoothly which is fast. If you push too hard, you get caught out by dozens of little things you weren't expecting because you are in new territory and that slows you down.

There is a time to push though, in order to move your abilities further and get familiar with the aforementioned edges of your abilities. But race day is not the right time.

On your last paragraph, that happens to me all the time. A week of practice practice and can't do it, put the bike away for a week and then I can do it first try. I think of it as a limitation on how quickly we can change and update our muscle memory, reflexes and intuition.

[abakker]

Watch for the literal perfect example of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ryQOiX05k

Aaron Gwin wins this World Cup Downhill race after breaking his chain in the first 50 yards. No pedaling after that and yet he's so smooth and fast.

[rhn_mk1]

This effect is similar with racing games, and generally enything requiring good reflexes. When exhaustion kicks in after 20-30min of trying, accuracy and lap times/scores plummet.

I would attribute it more to being focused rather than being relaxed, but those two states are connected.