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bicycling as meditation

Old 06-06-07, 03:08 PM
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bicycling as meditation

Hey kids,

So, I've found that I enjoy riding at just about my cardio threshold. I like this because I can focus on nothing more than breathing and staying upright. There is nothing else, no phone, no computer, no moral, ethical, or social delemas, it's all just reduced to breathing. For someone like myself who has a very hard time focusing on anything, this is a godsend.

Anyone else use their bike to get their head in order?

Thoughts on the subject?

-- James
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Old 06-06-07, 03:19 PM
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I find what you found when I approach women. Biking puts me out there, on two wheels, in open air. It's much better than a car or foot. They get flattered when my black bike with me on it and my large helmet roll up next to them right after making eye contact. I don't know of any better way of conveying confidence than this.
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Old 06-06-07, 06:28 PM
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I focus on what I am doing maybe too much and find that riding a bike clears my mind.
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Old 06-06-07, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by jbarros

Anyone else use their bike to get their head in order?

Thoughts on the subject?

-- James
Yep. Works too, until i have to crawl off the bike.
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Old 06-06-07, 06:44 PM
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I am usually swamped at work. Cycling gives me a chance to sort things out and remove a bit of stress. Plus, when I get stuck on ETL coding issues I tend to solve them while riding.
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Old 06-06-07, 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by jbarros
Hey kids,

So, I've found that I enjoy riding at just about my cardio threshold. I like this because I can focus on nothing more than breathing and staying upright. There is nothing else, no phone, no computer, no moral, ethical, or social delemas, it's all just reduced to breathing. For someone like myself who has a very hard time focusing on anything, this is a godsend.

Anyone else use their bike to get their head in order?

Thoughts on the subject?

-- James
Yeah, James, I think it`s a lot like meditation. Oftentimes I look at my riding experiences as being Bicycle Zen. In sitting meditation one focuses on some aspect, usually something to do with breathing, while watching thoughts and trying not to get hooked on one and start thinking. Just breathing, watching, listening, feeling, being mindful. To me riding a bike is very similar. I`m focusing on my surroundings, my cadence, the sensations my bike sends me, not lost in some mindless--and potentially dangerous-- distraction. Awareness, instinct, reaction, not thinking. The mind`s doing its natural thing, not mentally jerking, uh, around. Riding my bike ranks up there with eating, breathing and all that other necessary stuff. I think if the Dalai Lama rode a bike, it`d probably be a fixie. Total concentration.
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Old 06-06-07, 09:03 PM
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Auto-pilot mode
I get in auto mode for couple minutes at a time in traffic.
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Old 06-07-07, 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
I am usually swamped at work. Cycling gives me a chance to sort things out and remove a bit of stress. Plus, when I get stuck on ETL coding issues I tend to solve them while riding.
Cool. I tend to solve my programming issues while sleeping, but maybe after I get my DBA certs I'll start getting inspired while riding. I just don't have the focus to breath, ride and think at the same time yet

-- James
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Old 06-07-07, 12:27 AM
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Originally Posted by keytree
I think if the Dalai Lama rode a bike, it`d probably be a fixie. Total concentration.
Really? what with his fascination with technology and clockworks, I would have figured him for a 21 speed at least. either way, I think it would be awesome to see.

-- James
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Old 06-07-07, 01:03 AM
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I have been practicing yoga for 30 years now and from my perspective yeah it can be a meditation if you can become one with the breath with the bike in motion. Meditation to a greater degree is about phasing out of thinking and becoming more in tune with your feelings in relationship to the here now. So Luke go with your feeling the force is with you; nuff said.
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Old 06-07-07, 05:50 AM
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Yes. I call my bike rides my rolling meditation.
Focus on the bike ride, focus on breathing, focus on my surrounding. Every else is forgotten for a while.
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Old 06-07-07, 06:05 AM
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All the time.
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Old 06-07-07, 06:14 AM
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Meditate

Road cycling is a theraputic, both physically and mentally source of mind freedom.
I am recovering from a few spinal surgical procedures and cycling eliminates the dis-comfort.
I hate using the word pain any more.
Also as a product design engineeer, some of my better ideas have come on two wheels.

You are Correct!
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Old 06-07-07, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by djSlvt
get flattered when my black bike with me on it and my large helmet roll up next to them right after making eye contact. I don't know of any better way of conveying confidence than this.
If you can look someone in the eye with a bike helmet on... then that's confidence.
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