The Bicycle Effect: Cycling as Meditation

Juan Carlos Kreimer

Aug 2016 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The bicycle is not just a vehicle used to transport ourselves, to exercise one's body or to obtain joy. It's a device which allows us to attain a much wealthier mental state than one would think possible. Once we ride it, it's possible to experience a feeling close to that achieved by meditation. The movements of the legs, the energy which arises through the body, the cadence of our breathing and the floating attention on what's happening around us and in our mind all create a similar state to the one we achieve when we sit crossed-legged, with our eyes closed, allowing our thoughts to drift simply and naturally. Zen calls it mindfulness.

About the author

Juan Carlos Kreimer is an Argentinean writer and publisher. He learned how to ride a bike nearly as early as he took his first steps. He has cycled in every city he has called home: Buenos Aires, New York, Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro to name just a few. Now in his early 70s, he continues pedaling around 20/30 miles a day. From 1982, when he started his Zen practice and began to meditate regularly, he found a strong relation between both practices.