Nothing is more frustrating than feeling stuck in your riding. One week, you’re nailing your courses, feeling confident, and thinking, "This is it! I’m leveling up!" Then suddenly, everything falls apart. You’re making mistakes you thought you’d fixed, your confidence takes a hit, and you start wondering: Am I actually getting worse?

Spoiler alert: You’re not.

But if you don’t understand what’s happening, you might talk yourself into believing that you are—and that’s the biggest mistake of all.

Progress Is Not What You Think It Is
Most riders expect improvement to look like this:
 A steady climb—more skill, more confidence, more success, day after day.

But real progress? It looks more like this:
 Peaks, plateaus, and dips that make no sense at first glance.

Here’s the truth: Progress isn’t just about moving forward. It’s also about what you do when you feel like you’re not.

If you don’t know how to handle the plateaus and setbacks, you’ll end up:
 Getting frustrated and doubting yourself
 Making desperate changes that don’t actually help
 Losing motivation and settling for less than you’re capable of

And that? That’s how riders get stuck for years.

Why Progress Feels Like It’s Disappearing (When It’s Not)

Progress isn’t a straight line because learning doesn’t work that way.
Here’s what’s really happening when you feel like you’re not improving:

1. The Plateau: When It Feels Like Nothing Is Changing
You’re training hard, showing up every day, but seeing zero improvement. It feels like you’re stuck, wasting time, and going nowhere.

 A plateau isn’t a stop—it’s a setup. Your brain and body are processing what they’ve learned, even if you don’t see instant results.

 What to Do: Change something. Tweak your training, challenge yourself in a new way, or shift your focus. Plateaus are where the biggest breakthroughs happen—if you push through instead of giving up.

2. The Setback: When It Feels Like You’re Getting Worse
You were on fire last week. Now? You can’t seem to do anything right. You’re making mistakes you thought you’d fixed, and it’s shaking your confidence.

 A setback isn’t failure—it’s feedback. It’s revealing a weak spot that needs work. This is the phase where real learning happens.

 What to Do: Instead of panicking, ask yourself:
 What is this setback teaching me?
 Where is the gap in my skill or understanding?
 What’s one thing I can adjust today?
The riders who learn from setbacks are the ones who actually improve.

3. The Breakthrough: When It All Clicks (Until It Doesn’t Again)
You’re in the zone, riding at your best, and feeling unstoppable. This is the reward for all the hard work. But here’s what most riders don’t realize:

 This phase isn’t permanent. The more you push your limits, the more often you’ll cycle back to setbacks and plateaus. That’s not regression—it’s growth.

 What to Do: Enjoy it, but don’t get complacent. Stay curious, keep refining, and be ready for the next challenge. Progress never stops—it just shifts.

The Difference Between Riders Who Keep Improving & Those Who Don’t
The ones who keep improving don’t avoid the plateaus and setbacks—they know how to use them.
The ones who stay stuck let doubt take over and convince themselves they’re not getting anywhere.

Which rider do you want to be? 

Dive deeper into this topic by listening to the full Podcast Episode 'The Truth About Progress'

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Progress isn't always obvious, but it's always happening, if you don't talk yourself out of it. So don't stop. Keep showing up. Keep adjusting. Keep moving forward. 

You're improving more than you think. If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email at [email protected].