Cycling and distortions in time...
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Cycling and distortions in time...
Today I got a bit of news at work that will require some significant changes in the way I'm thinking about and approaching a project. I thought I'd take a quick 30 minute ride during lunch to clear my head before approaching the challenge. Well, two hours later I realize I'm 29 miles away from my office. I've got most of the challenge figured out, but what happened to the time? It seemed as if it were only 20 or 30 minutes. And how did I get from center city Philadelphia to the mid-point of the Perkiomen Trail? I was in what we call the "flow". When left brain is taking care of the immediate business at hand (stop lights, making turns, etc.) And right brain is busy working out the challenge. Ever have anything similar happen to you?
Oh, and here's a photo of the spot along the trail where I realized I was more than 30 minutes out.
Oh, and here's a photo of the spot along the trail where I realized I was more than 30 minutes out.
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#2
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The time-distortion thing? Oh, yea.
The "being able to concentrate on a complex problem while I'm riding my bike" thing? Definitely NOT!
I dunno what it is, but when I ride my bike, I zone out. It's almost like I enter a meditative state where my mind clears of anything except the road rolling by.
I get this in the shower, though:
The "being able to concentrate on a complex problem while I'm riding my bike" thing? Definitely NOT!
I dunno what it is, but when I ride my bike, I zone out. It's almost like I enter a meditative state where my mind clears of anything except the road rolling by.
I get this in the shower, though:
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#3
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Sometimes while driving a car long distance I will kind of "awaken", not that I was sleeping, but suddenly become "aware" and wonder what happened to the time after when I last recalled where I was. I look around to see that I am on course / schedule and wonder if there had been any risk during the missed time. This hasn't happened recently but I know this has happened to other people. White Line Fever I think it is called. (not the movie)
https://www.gadling.com/2012/08/31/hi...w-to-avoid-it/
exerpt:
"Highway hypnosis is a trance-like mental state brought on by the monotony of the road. In other words, you're zoning out, and while one part of your brain is still able to operate your car, the other half is in la la land. If you've ever driven a stretch of highway and have no memory of it, you've had white line fever, baby. The important thing to take away from this is that it's nearly as dangerous as nodding off at the wheel."
https://www.gadling.com/2012/08/31/hi...w-to-avoid-it/
exerpt:
"Highway hypnosis is a trance-like mental state brought on by the monotony of the road. In other words, you're zoning out, and while one part of your brain is still able to operate your car, the other half is in la la land. If you've ever driven a stretch of highway and have no memory of it, you've had white line fever, baby. The important thing to take away from this is that it's nearly as dangerous as nodding off at the wheel."
#4
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Our brains have two hemispheres and the connection between the two (corpus callosum, for anatomy buffs), is fairly tenuous in males due to hormone related underdevelopment. It's entirely possible to have two independant functions occur, which is what happened to you. Your navigational controls were on autopilot, so to speak.
I try to avoid doing that, but once about a year ago I was pushing 40 MPH on my bike while I was thinking about something entirely unrelated. For about 4 seconds I was a bit apprehensive of the situation, until I remembered that I was riding my bike down into the Floyd Fork valley. I felt like the guy in On Golden Pond who panicked because he got lost in his own backyard.
I try to avoid doing that, but once about a year ago I was pushing 40 MPH on my bike while I was thinking about something entirely unrelated. For about 4 seconds I was a bit apprehensive of the situation, until I remembered that I was riding my bike down into the Floyd Fork valley. I felt like the guy in On Golden Pond who panicked because he got lost in his own backyard.
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The time-distortion thing? Oh, yea.
The "being able to concentrate on a complex problem while I'm riding my bike" thing? Definitely NOT!
I dunno what it is, but when I ride my bike, I zone out. It's almost like I enter a meditative state where my mind clears of anything except the road rolling by.
I get this in the shower, though:
The "being able to concentrate on a complex problem while I'm riding my bike" thing? Definitely NOT!
I dunno what it is, but when I ride my bike, I zone out. It's almost like I enter a meditative state where my mind clears of anything except the road rolling by.
I get this in the shower, though:
#6
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In my case, it's not really like highway hypnosis (I've had that happen ... scary stuff).
I'm almost hyper-attuned to what I'm doing ... so much so that I remember virtually all of it. But I'm attuned ONLY to riding the bike. Other thoughts, cares, doubts and the like float away.
Maybe all those people who called me an airhead in high school were right. Hmmm.
I'm almost hyper-attuned to what I'm doing ... so much so that I remember virtually all of it. But I'm attuned ONLY to riding the bike. Other thoughts, cares, doubts and the like float away.
Maybe all those people who called me an airhead in high school were right. Hmmm.
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#7
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I have exactly the opposite experience, most of the time. I'll come home from what felt to me like the most pleasurable all-day bike ride of my life, look at the clock, and realize that I've only been gone an hour. Anybody else have THIS experience?
#8
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I have a combo experience, where for the first part, I look at my watch to see if I should turn around, and "What?!? Only 30 minutes?", then I go just a little bit further and "Great Scott!!!! 2 hours!?!?!?!?! Where did the time go????"
I can only surmise that I suffer from 'cycle-induced chronological nonlinear traversal disorder...
I can only surmise that I suffer from 'cycle-induced chronological nonlinear traversal disorder...
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I find that if I really hammer, I go fast enough that I am younger when I get back than when I left. At least Einstein said so ....
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hahaha oh those last two are quite humorous!
#11
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No, Einstein said that you are younger than your twin who was sitting on the couch.
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I have a combo experience, where for the first part, I look at my watch to see if I should turn around, and "What?!? Only 30 minutes?", then I go just a little bit further and "Great Scott!!!! 2 hours!?!?!?!?! Where did the time go????"
I can only surmise that I suffer from 'cycle-induced chronological nonlinear traversal disorder...
I can only surmise that I suffer from 'cycle-induced chronological nonlinear traversal disorder...
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Time passes quickly while riding a route that I am familiar with and slows way down when I go someplace new. That is a good thing or else starting almost every ride from home would soon get very boring.
I underestimate time spent riding out on the high plains and overestimate the time spent on more scenic rides.
I underestimate time spent riding out on the high plains and overestimate the time spent on more scenic rides.
#15
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When I ride I develop tunnel vision and see a white light off in the distance.
I always thought I was experiencing a near death experience, but it turns out I was just going way faster than I thought I was:
I always thought I was experiencing a near death experience, but it turns out I was just going way faster than I thought I was:
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#17
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Today I got a bit of news at work that will require some significant changes in the way I'm thinking about and approaching a project. I thought I'd take a quick 30 minute ride during lunch to clear my head before approaching the challenge. Well, two hours later I realize I'm 29 miles away from my office. I've got most of the challenge figured out, but what happened to the time? It seemed as if it were only 20 or 30 minutes. And how did I get from center city Philadelphia to the mid-point of the Perkiomen Trail? I was in what we call the "flow". When left brain is taking care of the immediate business at hand (stop lights, making turns, etc.) And right brain is busy working out the challenge. Ever have anything similar happen to you?
Oh, and here's a photo of the spot along the trail where I realized I was more than 30 minutes out.
Oh, and here's a photo of the spot along the trail where I realized I was more than 30 minutes out.
Then you post a pic from wen you were 30 minutes out.
So, does this mean tht you where going 60 MPH+/- to get back to the office?
Gonna have to make a day trip to that trail.
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Hold it, you wante to go for a 30 miute ride, but where out for 2 hours and 9 miles when you realised somethingwas amiss.
Then you post a pic from wen you were 30 minutes out.
So, does this mean tht you where going 60 MPH+/- to get back to the office?
Gonna have to make a day trip to that trail.
Then you post a pic from wen you were 30 minutes out.
So, does this mean tht you where going 60 MPH+/- to get back to the office?
Gonna have to make a day trip to that trail.
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#19
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In my experience you're too busy telling stories as you ride along to concentrate on any complex problem. Not that I'm complaining. No, in fact, your stories help keep the miles (and the climbs) rolling along quickly and painlessly.
Rick / OCRR
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Did you by any chance hear Rod Serling's voice before you went into the cycling "trance", maybe saying " You are about to enter the Twilight Zone...."?
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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The first time I met Laura S on a ride, she and I blabbermouthed all the way to the top of a big long climb. Vertical Bob caught us and remarked about how he was surprised either one of us got a word in edgewise.
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#24
Procrastinateur supreme
I'm a big fan of Flow theory - I read one of Csikszentmihalyi's books a long time ago and ate it up. Now, when confronted with a problem, I gather as much data about it as quickly as I can, and then I go do something enjoyable - it may even take a delay of hours or a day to do something in flow - and sure enough, the solution pops into your head as if you had actively worked it out.
You did the smart thing - to avail yourself of one of the beautiful trails around Philly - to have the experience immediately. The nice trails around Philly are what I miss most about the city.
[h=2][/h]
You did the smart thing - to avail yourself of one of the beautiful trails around Philly - to have the experience immediately. The nice trails around Philly are what I miss most about the city.
[h=2][/h]
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