Find your Flow…
Oct 21st, 2009 by Leo
Repost of a city biker in Athens
Flow, it’s what makes work interesting, video games addictive, and it’s also what makes for a great ride rather than something dull or frustrating. The key to flow in video games is that there needs to be a level of challenge, but not too much or too little, just enough to keep you interested and reaching for more mastery. So what does it take to get a good flow for your daily ride?
#1 Throttle and the “Right” Bike
Let’s start with the throttle: You need to be able to open up the throttle. If you ride a particularly fast bike in tight quarters, and don’t get to open up the throttle, you won’t be able to get into a flow. You need to be able to open up the throttle at least half way, to feel the front end getting light, to lean forward and get going – even if it’s just to the next set of lights…
If you don’t get to open it up on your regular ride you’d probably have more fun on a less powerful bike. This is why people buy 600’s instead of liter bikes or buy a Ducati 848 instead of an 1198 at nearly the same price(!). It’s also why experienced sport riders sometimes love 250’s and even two stroke 125’s. And why a scooter can sometimes be more fun than a big bike. It’s the difference between riding all out vs. putt-putt-ing along in 1st and 2nd gears. You need to be able to open up the throttle to get Flow…
But at the same time, you can’t get flow riding full throttle all the time… If you’re riding WOT (wide open throttle) for most of your commute, or to every light – then *you* need a faster bike. The bike might be fine for others, but for your riding style and ability you need a little more bike – but I think most people have the opposite problem.
#2 Suspension settings
There’s also something to be said for suspension settings. Great high speed handling means the ride will be harsh and boring at commuting speeds. A scooter (with a relatively primitive suspension) is more fun at 40mph than a Hayabusa… The Hayabusa is just waking up (both its engine and suspension) whereas the scooter has to work its smaller engine and tires a bit. Steering, throttle, and braking require a bit more care at 40mph on a scooter… Not TOO much care, but a good bit more – making it a little harder to ride… That’s where you get FLOW.
If you had your suspension set up at a track, it won’t be soft enough to get it working on the street. Part of the fun is feeling the suspension compress and work on the corners. So if you’re mainly on the street, softer settings might make life easier and more fun.
#3 Comfort and dress
Comfort. One thing that can kill flow before it gets started is any kind of physical distraction. If you’re sitting uncomfortably, or you’re tense, you won’t get it. If you’re too hot – or too cold…
Since we’re getting to the colder months here in NY, it’s useful to point out – your winter gear should be comfortable to wear *while you’re on the bike.* I’ve had plenty of (let’s call them) outfits that were comfortable standing around or sitting – but just slightly uncomfortable in riding position. That tiny bit of unnoticeable discomfort adds up over the course of a ride…
Sometimes it can be something small like the brand of ear plug. I get flow more often with quieter ear plugs – but I didn’t notice this for the longest time. But often, in the colder months, bundling up makes it harder to look up, or turn my head while riding. It doesn’t make it impossible or dangerous to ride, but adds just enough of a distraction that I don’t become fully absorbed in the ride. So I think getting the right combo of gear, especially for cooler weather is an absolute MUST that takes some trial and error.
Got any tips on finding your flow? Flow killers? Share the wealth in the comments section!
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I spend too much time dodging idiot drivers to feel anything remotely close to “flow.” Perhaps I don’t understand what you mean by the term.
Probably my only hope would be a track day.
Haha, sometimes there are idiot drivers on the track too – and they can make it harder to have a good ride.
Part of it – sometimes – is VISION. When (for whatever reason) traffic surprises me, and I’m stuck going super-slow because I’m out of sync with my surroundings, that totally kills flow. But on better days when my attention is outward and I’m seeing enough that I’m in control of my environment – then dodging the bad drivers is just part of the fun.