Motorcycling & Flow State

Motorcycling is more than just a hobby or mode of transportation – it’s an experience. When you ride a motorcycle, you become one with the machine and the road, and everything else fades away. Time seems to stand still, and you’re completely focused on the task at hand. It’s a feeling that’s hard to put into words, but it’s often referred to as being in a state of flow. This state of flow is often associated with extreme sports, such as surfing, skiing, and yes, motorcycling.

When you’re riding a motorcycle, you need to be fully present and focused on the machine you are riding and the road ahead. You need to be aware of your surroundings, anticipate potential hazards, and make split-second decisions. You are so consumed by the activity, that there’s no room for distractions or wandering thoughts. Your mind and body are completely engaged in the activity, and you become one with the machine.

It is said that awareness in the state of flow is akin to your state when meditating. Monks use physical tasks like walking,  chanting, or sweeping the floor to put themselves in the present. Being lost in that act allows them to live in the moment more completely. The wasted energy spent on tending to your ego & mind is instead spent on the activity itself; the activity becomes who you are. Is this meditative state absolute for me when on the bike? Absolutely not, there are still some thoughts & distractions. But these distractions are minimal for extended periods of time, while I’m motorcycling.

As you ride, your body moves in harmony with the motorcycle. You lean into the turns, shift your weight, and adjust your body position to maintain balance and control. It’s a dance between you and the bike, and everything else fades away. Your mind is clear, and you’re completely focused on the ride. However, being in a state of flow while motorcycling requires skill, experience, and focus.

The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… the best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile

Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, who introduced our world to the concept of flow, points out eight characteristics of the state of flow:

  1. Complete concentration on the task;
  2. Clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback;
  3. Transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down);
  4. The experience is intrinsically rewarding;
  5. Effortlessness and ease (a well-practiced skill);
  6. There is a balance between challenge and skills;
  7. Actions and awareness are merged, losing self-conscious rumination;
  8. There is a feeling of control over the task (experienced).

Studies have shown that being in a state of flow has numerous benefits. It improves focus, creativity, and productivity. It also reduces stress and anxiety and can lead to a sense of fulfillment and happiness. Motorcycling, in particular, has been shown to improve cognitive function, increase self-confidence, and promote a sense of freedom and independence.

References:

My Best Is Still Ahead

Friends & colleagues often talk about retiring early .. maybe at 45. A retired life filled with “not for money” activities – is what many of us aspire for. With this in context, it was a surprise when I stumbled upon a story & a fact involving a couple of luminaries – Mahatma Gandhi & Peter Drucker.


Brushing up on my history a couple of weeks ago during a visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, I discovered that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned from South Africa when he was 45 years old. This was reinforced when helping my son through his 8th grade history lessons today again. MK Gandhi started tormenting the Britishers in India only after that.


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In his interview with Tim Ferris, Jim Collins narrates the story of his first meeting with  Peter Drucker – his mentor. Jim asks the management guru, who at the time was 86 years old, which amongst his 26 published books was he most fond of. Drucker simply says “the next one”. He went on to publish 10 more books after this incident.


It’s never too late! The mindset required to keep looking ahead & maximising the impact you can have is admirable. Reminds me of my grand mom – an avid reader through her life, she found herself struggling to hold heavy books in her late 80s. She restricted herself to light & small books. Imagine her thrill when she discovered Kindle! No fear of gadgets, new things to learn .. just the joy of reading into her 90s.

Mad Traffic, Learning Opportunity

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It was the usual morning rush hour – bumper to bumper, slow moving traffic on a narrow Bengaluru road. Clogged in both directions. The car just ahead of me, seeing an opening in the opposite lane, decides to overtake. She is slow & fails. She is now parallel to the car she was trying to overtake, on the wrong side of the road & obstructing oncoming traffic. Nonchalantly, she switches on her left indicator on & tries to squeeze ahead. Infuriating behaviour!

As wisdom goes: every time you are upset, is an opportunity to know yourself better. 

Why do some people indulge in such behaviours & others not? What thoughts might be behind such actions?

When someone abstains from such behaviour, they are:

  • .. valuing fairness to those waiting, over getting ahead themselves
  • .. valuing civility & common good, ahead of self interest
  • .. prioritising restraint, over being opportunistic & inconveniencing others
  • .. acknowledging others time & convenience to be as important as own

I wish more of us could think on these lines .. more often!

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Picture courtesy: pxhere.com