Seattleblu

I was out today and many things were flying through my head as I'm riding one of my usual routes. What do you all think about, espcially riding solo? It's usually processing time, but sometimes I just breath the mostly fresh air and enjoy

What's on your mind?

auricpoe

since im a newer rider i think about how to imporve....i watch other riders and see what they are doing different than me.....but mostly i just chill and try to think about nothing cause for me cycling is a stress reliever as well as exersize

shaq-d

that's easy. i'm thinking about my cadence and gear and whether i should push a little harder or i should just survive cause there's that hill coming up, oh here's another obstacle swerve that was nice, look at that bird, oooh hot chick, cripes damn drivers, hmm i have a nice cadence today, maybe stay in the same gear and pump it instead of moving up a gear, etc.

sd

BigFloppyLlama

Usually I can't remember by the end of the ride, but today was different. I was pondering why the water coming out of the shower faucet heats up within a matter of seconds while every other faucet in the house (including the sinks not 5 feet from the shower) takes forever to heat up.

timmhaan

it's a mix between bike related thoughts, work, and personal things. riding my bike is a good way for me to reflect on everything. in fact i've made some major decisions out on the road.

55/Rad

Did I leave the blow dryer plugged in?

55/Rad
Hasn't used a blow dryer since 1982

khuon

I often times come up with hair-brained/half-baked ideas like this one. Funny thing is the same kind of thinking happens when I'm in the shower or on the toilet. Fancy that!

CRSO

I am thinking of how much my a$$ hurts.

Seattleblu

Between all the, "nail in road, car coming too fast...back off buddy...must pull harder...stupid nat...stupid fly...stupid bee...ouch a bee...", the physical workout gives our brains a chance to "decompress" and process the day or thoughts we've been mulling over.

BTW, the new Mavic Ksyrium Elites I just ordered are the bomb! Shoulda done that a while ago. Smooth, solid, fast and lighter than what I had. Best bike money spent thus far.

Gustaf

I usually just think about things I see while I am out ridding. People walking, bumper stickers, someone mowing a lawn, an eagle soaring over head (I see these birds more often that I would have thought).

I try not to worry about cadence or gear, when I am out on endurance rides.

Fugazi Dave

I guess it depends on the moment in the ride. In general, it's either everything all at one time or so little it's like Zazen. The harder I work physically, the more focused my mind becomes. I remember one 18 mile trail run about 4 1/2 years ago where I swear I almost achieved enlightenment. I guess it's the same for any endurance activity I'm involved in. But yeah, that's what I think about...

rmwun54

I get into to a Zen like state and just soak up the opened space that is before me. I also consider my motivation for riding fast, sometimes its just my own sense of desire to rev, somethimes it's that one person ahead of me, or sometimes I just felt like it. Whatever the case its about the feeling of being physically alive and kicking.

travis200

I usually think about stupid stuff to pass the time. Like did I lock my front door? Did I close my front door? I wish there was a cute girl to draft off right now. What will I eat when I get back cause man I am hungry. Why am I cursed to hit every red light.

Prosody

On the best rides there's no thought at all, more a state of stimulus-response. On the worst rides...wait, there are no worst rides.

shokhead

Beating the wind,again.

RiPHRaPH

my mantra is: relax....relax...relax... i used to ponder life's events, but got spun off the back too many times. i ride with former Cat 3-5 racers, so even though there is a structured program (intervals, easy, tempo, etc) i've got to be prepared to jump at a moment's notice.
i sometimes think about my wife and kids and their lifes and think how incredible that i get to ride all these miles while maintaining my responsibilities.

relax and concentrating on my form (knees almost brushing the bar, bend my arms, no death grip, breathing patterns...

Red Baron

I get an odd feeling when I pass a cemetary, especially in rural area's. I think of how lucky I am to still be doing this. I hope it never ends. I often think of friends I lost back in my youth (i'm a viet vet) and of those I sent to hell.

Stubacca

I relax my mind for the most part. On the way too work, it's a great way to clear the head so I can be productive when I arrive. On the way home, cycling helps to take away any stress so I arrive home calm and collected. I come up with great solutions to complex problems, then promptly forget what they were as soon as I step off the bike.

I really don't think about my cycling too much when on the bike. Cadence, gear changes, braking, avoiding obstacles all seem to come pretty naturally with very little thought.

slvoid

Just close my eyes and go to sleep. I know I know, I'm an accident waiting to happen...

Joat

Thinking?

kerny

SEX..........




kern

slvoid

You know those saddles with the hole in the middle.....

mccann98

Not too terribly long ago towards the end of a long ride, I was pondering the difference between agape and agog.

Smoothie104

My last ride was a team time trial on Tuesday night. We averaged a tick Under 28mph for 20 miles, the whole time I was thinking "we're gonna get nuked" We started with 10, but dropped 4 on the tailwind leg running 32mph plus, we could have used them in the headwind section for sure.

we finished 4th out of 5 teams, but still lead the overall.

DnvrFox

Okay, using your "half-baked ideas" strategy, lets put an exercise bike using a toilet seat in the shower - and then you can pedal, sit and think up ideas 3 times more interesting than even your helmet cam!

What do I think?

This is relaxation and get away time for me. I have different "kinds" of days - one day I will be cruising down the trail as if I am a great big SUV, smooth and imposing, other days I will be a sports car - nimble and quick, sometimes I see how slow I can go like a kiddie car, sometimes I will be driving a tour bus, showing off al the sights! Sometimes I am a photographer, planning a presentation of all the neat stuff I see, and wanting to post on the web - and then no one looks (sob!) Today I was just a "plodder!"

But, I too have made some pretty serious decision while peddling my bike. Great time to process stuff.