When my bike frame failed last fall, I tried different frames to determine which new frame to pick. All the frames were great which made it difficult to decide on a new frame. Elements Cycles used the term “one with the bike”. That is the feeling I used to pick the new frame. It is a feeling of mind, body, and spirit all working together while on the bike.
Today I went out on the flats to practice riding the bike using my aero bars. Riding in aero is a new skill for me. Like past rides in aero, I needed to consciously made modifications to keep the bike stable as I was more forward on the bike then when my hands were on the brake hoods.
After about 15 minutes into the ride, something clicked in my brain. I no longer had to consciously think about balance and bike mechanics. The work became subconscious. I was having fun feeling the wind instead of fighting the wind. I looked forward to each twist in the road as I whizzed around a corner. I waved or said hi to other cyclists. I was having fun going around a bump in the road instead of getting back onto the hoods to go around the bump.
I was “one with the bike” in mind, body, and spirit today.