In cycling there’s a thing called a “false flat” when you’re riding along and you see far into the stretch of road ahead because the road is straight and looks flat. So mentally you think “ooh this is awesome. The road is flat. I’m gonna ride easy for the next while.” /1

But after a few mins of pedalling you start to feel a little more tired than usual. You’re like “am I bonking? Did i not eat enough before the ride? Why do I need to lighten my gears? This shouldn’t be so hard, what’s wrong with me? Harden the fuck up baby!” /2

So you keep pedalling thinking this should be easy, you just need to get over it. But then you get more & more fatigued. If you started your ride well rested or flying down a hill, it’s now hard. But if you just finished climbing a hill & were looking to coast, it’s awful. /3

A false flat is a stretch of road that looks flat but is actually a gradual incline that isn’t perceptible to the eye. It looks flat & east to manage, you can’t see any challenges along the way. But it’s actually extra work & gets harder to manage the longer you ride along it. /4

Many of us are in an emotional, psychological, physical & social false flat. In theory if you are surviving financially, aren’t severely ill, don’t have to worry about crises with loved ones & have social connections, you’re supposed to be “ok.” But really you’re wearing out. /5

Slow down, conserve your energy or stop to rest if you can. And most of all, stop asking what’s wrong with you or why you can’t coast. Stop asking why you’re so tired. Just accept you are tired from pushing up that gradual hill & that you can’t see the end of it. Not yet. /end