Part 1: The movement of Flow
The Opinionated Cyclist is focused.
The Opinionated Cyclist feels twitchy today,. He gazes neath the brim of his LAS hexial helmet upon the road ahead. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular; a surreal environment of majestic mountains densely choked with trees, rivers and accompanied with few motorists or people. Smooth pavement snakes through the thick forage rising unpredictably as the steep gradient ascends above 6000ft. Unseen, this road so far from civilization offers little relief for the elite or recreational pedal enthusiast.
The Opinionated Cyclist knows this road well, many times has he conquered this 24 mile climb, however on this day the battle lacks the same vehemence, pain and suffering. His legs hum a familiar tune, rhythmically those fleshy pistons pump quicker than days past
He glances to a heart rate monitor – 171 – threshold. 171? He frowns, momentum temporarily suspended, as he ponders the reading. How can this be? He feels like the bike has no chain, gravity no longer tugs at his price gouged carbon fibre steed, his heart feels passive – rested.
The road sweeps left as the gradient kicks up another notch, yet he maintains a smooth cadence without changing gears. Dropping 2 cogs on his cassette, he rises out of the saddle attacking the remnants of the first battle of the day, his vision is hindered, blackened from focus, blurred from sweat.
The road is slick, moistened from a lingering cloud. The once jaw dropping scenery quickly becomes obscured from view, sight restricted to a mere 10 yards. Minutes pass by, not a car is seen, not a sound is heard, the mind is numb, the mind reticent.
Flow has been achieved.
One is focused, vision becomes blurred, the road ahead is all that matters, the only thing that matters....
Flow is awesome.
Movement(s) of Flow: When you feel at one with the movements you are making you are experiencing a dimension of flow; the merging of action and awareness. Instead of the mind looking at the body from the outside as it were, the mind and body fuse into one. In cycling the bike becomes and extension of your body and mind. Handlebars become attached to your arms, cranks – your legs, seat post – your spine.
This oneness with movement does not require effort in flow. Indeed the feedback is processed by the mind spontaneously, like breathing, changing gears, pumping the pedals; yet the process(s) all performed so seamlessly, effeciently. And it is this process of the body and mind during flow where we operate nearest to full capacity, all seems so effortless, a totally absorption of action and awareness merged into one.
The absorption of your movements occurs when the athlete is completely focused upon the objective at hand. When you feel that you have the skills to meet the challenge and your focus is absolute – a dimension of flow has commenced. Your focus is part of a holistic experience and is of course dependent of other components (heat, sweat loss, fatigue, glycogen depletion etc..)
The movement of flow can best be defined as a sensation of floating or flowing, a sense of lightness, ease of movement. An athlete will become so focused on the objective that they remember not seeing or hearing anything or anyone. The noises and movements of all in their vision is merely there, not seen, heard or heeded. The totality of the experience is truly spectacular.
The demanding nature of cycling leaves one feeling exhausted, aching, suffering deep within one’s self from one moment to the next. We must draw upon enormous reserves of will and stamina day to day in our training and racing. And yet as in my case I found a happy medium of no pain, anger, happiness, sadness even under the excruciating heat and steep pavement. I ignored the pain so completely, I entered an effortless rhythm that transformed my agony into ecstasy. It is a strange high we crave, this…flow. Yet the more we feel flow the more motivated we become providing a blueprint for returning to this optimal state of mind.
I hope your adventures provide the same state of mind, it all makes life a life more worth living.
So end part I; The movement of flow. Stay tuned for part II: The objective of flow.
-G
I don’t know where the term “character building” fits in here but suffice it to say that it already has.
I just have to wonder how many cyclists can go through this same thing and have no words to elucidate it as you so eloquently have. You’ve got a leg up on the competition, Gordon!
If you keep on working hard, good things can happen. And hopefully they will. Someone like you truly deserves opportunity.
P.S. – Enjoy your new bike, it really looks heavenly!
The website was absolutely fantastic! Lots of nice information and animus, both of which we all need!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
I admit, I have not been on this site in a long time… BTW it was another happy to see It is such crucial case and to avoided by so many, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more awake of possible issues.