Wu-hsin...

[Bumblebee]

Wu-hsin that state that you enter when the mind is not occupied by emotions or thoughts thus you are open to anything. There is no ego, no aggression, nothing to prove, no image to maintain, totally humble, always doing the correct thing in full even when no one is looking, total awareness of everything, total harmony, completely centered - all without thought. Your mind exists totally in the moment. Not in the past, not in the future. You are just there in the now that is now. Everything happens as if it was going to happen anyway without effort. It's just a smooth flow of motion that doesn't have your mind interfering with anything.

You approach a turn, throttle back, set your line and entry point, touch the throttle to set the suspension, roll into the turn, apex the turn perfectly, add throttle as you exit the turn and roll out of the turn...then throttle back for the next turn and on you go through the next and the next...all with absolutly no thought. You are in the moment and totally aware of every pebble in the road, where the stripes are, all hazards, how to handle any emergency that presents itself at any moment, you know what is coming next, the dynamics of the motorcycle is instinctive, the wheel is at the proper point in the lane through the turns as if it was on rails with no other option. It all happens as if it was going to happen anyway in a very smooth fluid flawless motion.

When you're riding and very proficient in slow school stuff as well as handling at speed you can occasionally reach that state of mind. The high powered crotch rockets can't touch you in a turn even though they stick to the ground better and are double your horsepower. Any half-wit monkey can ride fast in a straight line. It takes discipline and knowledge to handle slow skills and maneuvering. They think, they clutter their mind and allow their thinking to interrupt their motion. They turn mechanically. You flow through the turn. As a direct result they get left far far behind but that's not important because you're riding for the moment..they're just a target in your mirror that's taken in as part of the total awareness of the environment...any thought about their riding is only a passing thought after you park the motorcycle for the day when you realize why they couldn't keep up.

This is the difference between pilots who forcefully maneuver a machine through the sky and aviators who pilot an aeroplane how it was intended. Boat drivers vs sailors who understand the water and winds. Motorcycle drivers vs riders. You've seen these individuals do what they do best. You can't help but notice them. They're very humble and very good. They know there is always more to learn and and they can become better by continuing to learn as much as they can every time they go out. By comparison professionalism is a pathetic attempt at some vague illusion of actual skill. The individuals who achieve Wu-hsin make something difficult appear effortless. It's because they have reached a higher level of consciousness and learning. When they reach that state of mind it actually is effortless to them. And yet they continue to learn so they can be better next time.

That is what riding is really all about.


That's enough philosophy as the Sun touches the mountain tops on this Summer Solstice evening...

Keep two wheels down and safe riding everyone. I'll see you in the twisties...

Bumblebee.

[xxxbotchlaxxx]

http://www.youtube.com/v/5UqCIyMbLbQ&hl=en&rel=0

go about 2 minutes into this clip, that is what it made me think of 

[MrF]

But how do you pronounce it?

[Bumblebee]

Dammit Bumblebee , now i want to go out tomorrow and buy a bike , that post is now poking at me (are you sure you weren't meant to be a writer!!)
 Good writing 

Thank you very much.
I have a strong background in science, art and the real world. It makes for some interesting insights, and often very practical application, when integrating all three aspects into a single concept.

And yes, I do write a bit. (Ever since college, people have been telling me that I should write more and the few that have seen my stuff seem to enjoy it)

[happycommuter]

I've read about this state being called 'in the zone' but it scares me because it feels so close to 'zoning out.' 
Most of the time the demands of traffic rule out velvety smooth anything.  It's stressful (albeit less so than a claustrophobic car) and you're on edge, even if serene.  Recently traffic has been light (people on vacation or whatever) and I'm finding myself riding with no memory of the last several minutes or miles.  It freaks me out.  Turns, ramps, merging: I must have done it to get where I am now, but I was on autopilot through it all.  I'd like to believe that my usual alertness was on and I wasn't missing the ubiquitous hazards, but who knows?

Also, today I found myself able to go through some corners with proper gusto, and midway through the conscious mind piped up that um, we're leaning more than usual, is this OK?  "Shut up, brain, it's fine.  Things are under control."  But it was too late, that second of doubt had caused the briefest removal of throttle and stolen perfection away.

In traffic, there is that feeling that bike and body are a step ahead of the slug in my skull.  You see brake lights ahead and are squeezing the brakes as the mind registers the stimulus and authorizes the already accomplished response.  It really is second nature.

Oh yeah, Hang Man's counter-steering thread had me concentrating on that while riding, and it totally screwed me up.  I was thinking too hard and the bike wouldn't stay on course and my arms hurt.  Thanks a lot

[Hondo]

I know I'm there when everything flows for me, whether street or dirt.

Everything feels effortless.

When I'm there I am either smiling or extremely focused.

That's why I ride.

[nh700]

yea i love that feeling when im just goin thru the twisties and everything is out of my head and all i focus on and give my undivided attention to is gettin ready to go thru the next curve and havin the bike lean just rite and have the bikefeel like its on rails... just seamless n smooth riding...just reading this makes me just wana go out 4 a sweet ride in the mountains...but i just got back from that so ill wait till my next day off...maybe

[Sideways]

It's pronounced Yut-UUUhhhhh!
mod: sorry I was being sarcastic, I know what you're talking about though!