Cycling Psychology

I took a new bike route to work last week, cycled it MWF. I varied my route home but had the same new route in all three days. It was noticeably easier the third day I did it. I am pretty sure I did not get myself in better shape in one week, so I think this is all psychological. When you know the route and what is coming ahead, it is just easier to face it I think. Possibly it was just that I paced myself differently on the route knowing what was coming up, but my total time was about the same all three days.