neurocycler

Nice... That and climbing a ridiculously long mountain pass, the background noise of life seems to fade away.

Kind of Blued

Attacking a steep 100-200m hill out of the saddle with the perfect rhythm, then wondering why I'm going so slow after I hit the apex, then looking down and realizing I climbed it in the big ring.

"What just happened?"

mymojo

That's where I find mine too. Of course, the moment I realize it, it seems to vanish.

Carbon Unit

I have had two such moments. One of them was only two weeks ago.

The first was when I as able to climb a hill near me that took me six months to be able to climb. I didn't know that I only had one functioning lung when I was trying to do this. The problem has been fixed with surgery. However, I as able to climb the hill before the surgery with one lung.

My next moment was about two weeks ago. I climbed a hill in my 42/13 that in the past I needed to spin up in my 42/23. I wasn't breathing hard and my legs weren't burning. That put a huge smile on my face.

mollusk

I've had many Zen moments. Sometime just riding around. Sometimes training, Sometimes racing.

Pcad was not involved with any of them

papawoody

My most zen moment is the first time going up an unfamiliar climb . 2nd place is 1st time on any new isolated route . but climbing is the best .

dem219

I have two very different types of zen moments.

The first, sometimes occur when I am riding along with busy traffic in the city. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes when its difficult I get more focused - like tunnel vision and get into a good rhythm and push everything external out of mind.

The other situation is almost just the opposite - when I'm on a long easy quiet flat straight stretch, and I get into a zone where spinning just feels incredibly smooth and effortless and I end up going faster with less work than when I am actively trying to push it.

pdxtex

sunny saturday afternoon. 2 cliff bars and a can of rockstar, no wind, over 70....man i can do that all day.

bubbagrannygear

Sometimes I'll be riding and realize that I am over a hill that I had been sort of dreading earlier in the ride and then further realize that I can't remember a single thing about having climbed it. Really strange and not unpleasant feeling. Sort of like waking up to discover that instead of being in your bed you are on a bicycle somewhere on a familiar route - or maybe like returning to your body from some other place and having no clue where you have been.

Anyone else experience this ?

surgeonstone

Nice imagery, ditto.

Handelfan

Absolutely. Every time I get on a road I haven't been on before, it's like the feeling you had when you first started riding all over again.

I also like when you just dedicate a whole saturday to do some epic ride-fest, stopping in little cafes, and taking in views from high places. Days where you just take the time to enjoy being outside with the wind on your face (not too strongly IN your face though).

surgeonstone

Early morning or evening, sun slanting through the trees, close tight road with vegetation swishing by, legs going 100 rpm, heart around 150, that feeling spreading through my thighs of warmth and strength leaving my butt just barely on the saddle, hands loose on the hoods, deep heavy breathing and the sweet sound of wheels echoing over the pavement, a light ssshhh-chunk, sssshhhh-chunk as a well lubed chain moves quietly over cogs and chainwheels. A little slice of heaven on earth.

BarryJo

For me it happens often, when body and bike become one.
When going hard seems effortless.

patentcad

I'm just a never ending stream of continuous friggin velo Zen.

Zen this you idiots. It's road cycling. Get a grip.

patentcad

i.e. no chain.

Spookeay Bird

When after a good ride I relax at night.
I turn down the lights have a glass of wine and look at my bike and think how symbiotic our relationship is.
I think she did and looks great and I can tell she is thinking the same thing of me.

Beaker

Two for me:

1) As others have said when you get the entry to a sweeping downhill curve *just right* so that it feels like your bike is on the end of a pendulum. Sweetness.

2) Climbing a hill/mountain with the sun - get to the top and view the dawn - that just never gets old.

BarryJo

Admit it, while you're riding your 15,000 miles/ year your brain is constantly working on new BF material.
There's no other explaination.

BarryJo

I had serious problems with the front derailleur keeping the chain on during last nights group ride.
I can assure you it was not a zen moment riding the last 20 miles in the big ring.

ticktockpedal

when after the last couple of rides you think maybe your bike computer is broken.
when you realize it isn't.

patentcad

It's quite spontaneous, as is the case with every BF Genius.

patentcad

That's not what Lance and the boys meant by 'no chain'.

Perhaps they were alluding to the fact they they may have not been bound by the chains and constraints of riding without the assistance of substances like EPO.

BarryJo

3. The Doping Judge -
Whatever professional cyclist is in question, you can be sure they doped. It doesn't matter if there's proof or not, or if anyone even cares that they doped. The Doping Judge is immune from any attempts at logic and reason, as well as the slight chance that the cyclist may indeed have never doped. When summoned to jury duty, the verdict will ALWAYS be death.

radshark

+1 Last year I rode 30 km with a in nice consistent tail wind. Blissful ride - all I could hear was the sound of my tires humming on the pavement.

blueride2

When I'm drafting behind Angelina Jolie.