Do You Talk to Yourself on Your Commute?
05-06-15, 07:15 PM
#26
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One reason I ride is to get away from people so talking to myself would defeat my purpose.
05-06-15, 07:39 PM
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I used to talk to my self but now I don't. It always ended in an argument.
05-06-15, 10:09 PM
#28
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One other spiritual benefit I enjoy more frequently and usefully on the Road is:
When I'm peeved by a driver’s actions, instead of the middle finger and obscenties, I give my own special Bicyclist's Curse. I vigorously and repeatedly point my finger at the offender while shouting, “You, you, you…” with the intention that future harm befalls them. It’s more satisfying to me than the other gesture, with the hope of future metaphysical retribution.
I do also bestow Bicyclist's Blessings to drivers who show even a modicum of respect and compassion, with a friendly wave, a “Bless You,” and wishes for good things for them in the future. Even in car-crazy Boston, I perform numerously more blessings than curses. Probably about 2-3 blessings a day on a 14-mile commute vs about 1 curse every 3-4 weeks.
I feel empowered to perform these rituals, because my friend who introduced me to adult cycling once commented when a threatening rain turned sunny, “God smiles on His Bicyclists.” To anyone who reads this post, consider yourself authorized to bless and curse too.
I do also bestow Bicyclist's Blessings to drivers who show even a modicum of respect and compassion, with a friendly wave, a “Bless You,” and wishes for good things for them in the future. Even in car-crazy Boston, I perform numerously more blessings than curses. Probably about 2-3 blessings a day on a 14-mile commute vs about 1 curse every 3-4 weeks.
I feel empowered to perform these rituals, because my friend who introduced me to adult cycling once commented when a threatening rain turned sunny, “God smiles on His Bicyclists.” To anyone who reads this post, consider yourself authorized to bless and curse too.
Originally Posted by Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven
05-07-15, 04:40 AM
#29
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What Would Jesus Ride? Not carbon fiber on 23's, that's for sure. Maybe a Holy Ghost bike?
05-07-15, 06:24 AM
#31
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Depends, sometimes I sing children's songs too.
05-07-15, 06:26 AM
#32
Senior Member
Yup. When I'm in busy traffic, I keep a running commentary going in my head about what is going on around me.
"OK, that guy is turning off, I can go ahead. Red light coming up, better unclip. Car in the driveway there, is he pulling out? Keep an eye on him. Is that truck turning? Yes - OK, don't hook me....."
I started doing this after I saw a traffic safety video that suggested the practice as a way to keep alert and get in the habit of situational awareness. Now I just do it without thinking about it. I do it when I'm driving as well. It works.
When I'm not in traffic, just riding recreationally on a quiet road, I constantly have songs playing in my head.
"OK, that guy is turning off, I can go ahead. Red light coming up, better unclip. Car in the driveway there, is he pulling out? Keep an eye on him. Is that truck turning? Yes - OK, don't hook me....."
I started doing this after I saw a traffic safety video that suggested the practice as a way to keep alert and get in the habit of situational awareness. Now I just do it without thinking about it. I do it when I'm driving as well. It works.
When I'm not in traffic, just riding recreationally on a quiet road, I constantly have songs playing in my head.
And singing happens. But usually just the chorus or one catchy part of a song. And I often butcher the lyrics.
05-07-15, 06:30 AM
#33
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On long rides I've tried to keep up a running commentary, to see if I could describe everything I saw, as if I was writing it down. I thought it might help me remember some of the cool stuff I see. But I couldn't do it. I'd ramble on for a few miles and then at some point I'd notice I wasn't doing it any more, and couldn't remember where or when I'd stopped.
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05-07-15, 08:42 AM
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I always do. Because everyone has a need for smart conversation every once in while. No, I'm not schizophrenic. Neither am I. Don't listen to that guy!
05-07-15, 02:47 PM
#36
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Mostly just cursing at motorists for trying to kill me, or telling myself that I won't die going up the hill
05-07-15, 03:35 PM
#37
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Yup. Keeps the people away.
05-08-15, 09:59 PM
#38
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I often whistle tunes... Don't think I ever talk out loud except swearing about potholes...
05-08-15, 10:39 PM
#39
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I talk to the treeeeees, but they don't listennnn to meeee
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05-08-15, 11:15 PM
#40
Anywhere I roam
I like to go crashing through the woods on singletrack in the middle of the night without a light while whistling a made up jolly sounding song from my head. I can't keep it up for mor than 30 seconds at a time before I bust out laughing.
05-09-15, 12:25 AM
#41
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I talk to myself. I talk to my son. I talk to animals. I infrequently talk to people in my regular life outside of my family, I like the solitary work as a chemist, but oddly I'm also a school teacher. I have found doctors of a certain kind are more interested in you when you continually mumble to yourself in the hospital. I dislike when my wife goes away for a long weekend and tells friends that they should visit since she thinks I'll feel lonely and need to talk to someone.
I'l talk to bad, non-attentive drivers. I say thank you to courteous and safe drivers. A few times I have talked to drivers thanking me for riding predictably and being visible. I hate the care aid at the rehab center that doesn't pick up on social cues that I'm eating alone reading a book using grunts and monosyllabic responses.
In the car and the bike I give alerts for turns, stops, hard/sudden stops, and bumps. And occasionally if know a beverage is being consumed I'll say driving.
Being a distance swimmer I used to talk to myself in Spanish while swimming, I'm not Spanish at all I just took it in high school. I think that I remembered a lot more due to that.
I'l talk to bad, non-attentive drivers. I say thank you to courteous and safe drivers. A few times I have talked to drivers thanking me for riding predictably and being visible. I hate the care aid at the rehab center that doesn't pick up on social cues that I'm eating alone reading a book using grunts and monosyllabic responses.
In the car and the bike I give alerts for turns, stops, hard/sudden stops, and bumps. And occasionally if know a beverage is being consumed I'll say driving.
Being a distance swimmer I used to talk to myself in Spanish while swimming, I'm not Spanish at all I just took it in high school. I think that I remembered a lot more due to that.
05-09-15, 05:18 PM
#43
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I sing out loud (and I sing bad) until I notice someone in the earshot.
Sometimes when behind a female cyclist, "dat ass"
Sometimes when behind a female cyclist, "dat ass"
05-09-15, 06:24 PM
#45
Junior Member
The internal chatter drops off on longer solo rides and puts me in a space to think deeply about whatever is challenging me off the bike. It's a sort of meditation on really good days.
05-09-15, 10:35 PM
#46
Velocommuter Commando
No.. I think everyone does talk to themselves; however, it's not "Cool" to admit it so there is a high percentage of deyners out there. I talk to myself. What I talk about is I'm either processing what is going on around me, counting down stale green lights, or reflecting on memories both good and bad.
05-10-15, 02:28 AM
#47
contiuniously variable
Oh right, i dance, sing, and talk to myself. Sometimes people yell at me when i'm jammin to a tune. The oil slaves are just jelly methinks ....
- Andy
- Andy
05-26-15, 09:31 AM
#48
You gonna eat that?
When cutting through areas where there are a lot of pedestrians, I've started whistling whatever song last ran through my head. It gives them an indication someone is coming along. Eventually I ring my bell if they don't look back or file up.
The nice thing about whistling is that people tend to find it annoying (especially in the key I whistle
) so it doesn't invite conversation but only serves to notify of my presence.
The nice thing about whistling is that people tend to find it annoying (especially in the key I whistle
) so it doesn't invite conversation but only serves to notify of my presence.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
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"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
05-26-15, 01:50 PM
#50
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Nope. Although, when cycling I get in the zone and my mind blanks out. Passing thoughts, eg what I am looking at & what I hear, are present, but the background noise (in my brain) and the conversations I tend to hash out in there just fade away into nothing. That is until someone buzzes me, throws a melon at me, or cuts me off to make a turn 50ft ahead.