[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.