Is your bike an extension of your body?

[Winston001]

Some interesting research finds that the brain represents tools as temporary body parts. http://www.physorg.com/news164892284.html

So when we use a toothbrush, it takes virtually no concentration because our brains "see" the toothbrush as an extension of the arm.

So it occurs to me that the brain of an experienced rider is likely to amalgamate the bike into an extension of the body. That makes sense to me. It takes me a few kms to feel comfortable butonce there, there is a sense of being intune with the machine.

Quite often people say "being part of the bike". Looks like there is a scientific basis. :Punk:

[Taz]

No it's a bike......

[slofox]

Yep - works for me..."in the zone" springs to mind...

[Maha]

Yep - works for me..."in the zone" springs to mind...

I think I had a thread on that subject ages ago, being in the zone has happened but a few times, not always.

Maybe this thread.....http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=95466

[NOWOOL]

Some interesting research finds that the brain represents tools as temporary body parts. http://www.physorg.com/news164892284.html

So when we use a toothbrush, it takes virtually no concentration because our brains "see" the toothbrush as an extension of the arm.

So it occurs to me that the brain of an experienced rider is likely to amalgamate the bike into an extension of the body. That makes sense to me. It takes me a few kms to feel comfortable butonce there, there is a sense of being intune with the machine.

Quite often people say "being part of the bike". Looks like there is a scientific basis. :Punk:

That is the whole Idea of a mechanical device. The more integrated an extension of biophysics the better the tool. Says a lot about the state of academia if it needs a study to prove the obvious.

[Oakie]

Yes. It's not always but it can be. I'm thinking of those times when I become aware that I've subtly altered the course of the bike just by squeezing a leg in tighter against the tank without having the conscious thought to do so.

[vgcspares]

when in the zone and everything's under control then it is but get it wrong and it's a bike with an inertia all of its own

[JohnC]

Yes,I'm involved in shooting sports and one thing you learn very early on,is that thinking about what your doing will lose you points faster than anything else.The only thing that works is to practice until everything becomes sub concious.
The same applies to riding a bike,and a lot of other things in life,,,like walking,,ever try to break that down as you were doing it ?:yes:

[James Deuce]

How dare you insult my bike like that!

[NOWOOL]

Yes,I'm involved in shooting sports and one thing you learn very early on,is that thinking about what your doing will lose you points faster than anything else.The only thing that works is to practice until everything becomes sub concious.
The same applies to riding a bike,and a lot of other things in life,,,like walking,,ever try to break that down as you were doing it ?:yes:

Yeah but to put it into body memory takes 30,000 times of motion is a long time to fit a machine to a body. I'm into shooting sports too and my body still wants a remington 11-87 for shotgun and a AR-15 for rifle no matter what i give it.

[NOWOOL]

How dare you insult my bike like that!

Dude, if you took that as insult then nature is trying to weed you out....your icon shouldn't be a fork but a spade shovel or tombstone.

[Headbanger]

Makes me wonder what happened between the extension to my body and its last owner.....:shutup:

[CookMySock]

Yeah riding my bike is the same as driving an excavator.

Steve

[slofox]

Yes,I'm involved in shooting sports and one thing you learn very early on,is that thinking about what your doing will lose you points faster than anything else.The only thing that works is to practice until everything becomes sub concious.


Most especially true of trap shooting. Thought = miss in that game...

[James Deuce]

Dude, if you took that as insult then nature is trying to weed you out....your icon shouldn't be a fork but a spade shovel or tombstone.

You obviously haven't seen my body, or your sense of humour.

[BMWST?]

a big part is "muscle" memory.Our body has an extremely accurate motor system.When you walk up a flight of stairs your brain registers how high each step is.Then you watch someone else walk up the stairs and the feet barely raise high enough to clear the next tread.Its in yer memory.
The old saying,you never forget how to ride a bike.When i got the PD i hadnt ridden a bike for at least 15 years....after a very short pause.....which side is the gear shift,i was off and all the required inputs just happenned without real thought.

[Ixion]

So, putting this into the context of chicks and vibrators ................ ?

[Winston001]

How dare you insult my bike like that!

Fair enough James, in your case, the bike has the brain and is trying to detach the carcase on top. :devil2:

[Winston001]

a big part is "muscle" memory.Our body has an extremely accurate motor system.When you walk up a flight of stairs your brain registers how high each step is.Then you watch someone else walk up the stairs and the feet barely raise high enough to clear the next tread.Its in yer memory.

The old saying,you never forget how to ride a bike.....

Mmmm.....but stairs have a common ratio of rise:run which has existed since the Egyptians. So once our brains understand the standard gaps in stairs, they adjust our steps for whatever stair slope is encountered.

[Winston001]

Says a lot about the state of academia if it needs a study to prove the obvious.

Well that's the good thing about scientific research - it doesn't assume "common sense or common knowledge". Research tests ideas and from time to time discovers counter-intuitive stuff. Someone else can find that. :D

Its said that we know more about the dark side of the moon than we do about the human brain.

[bogan]

road bike, most of the way to becoming extension of my body, dirt bike, not so much.

[BMWST?]

Mmmm.....but stairs have a common ratio of rise:run which has existed since the Egyptians. So once our brains understand the standard gaps in stairs, they adjust our steps for whatever stair slope is encountered.

they are supposed to have but a lot do not comply the best way of describing it is how easily you can negotiate a set of difficult stairs compared to someone not so familiar with them

[CookMySock]

road bike, most of the way to becoming extension of my body, dirt bike, not so much.Yeah. Dirt bike is more an extension of my mouth, hehe.

Steve

[NOWOOL]

You obviously haven't seen my body, or your sense of humour.
From your comment i'm sure they have a lot in common! LOL

[cave weta]

Ha ha ha - as soon as I read the thread title I thought ....

' does this apply to Harley riders?' -

133074

Then I remembered this photo and I thought yep- them too :laugh:

[Cheshire Cat]

Oh yes...I' much more confident on a bike than in a car:no:

[EJK]

Toothbrush is a toothbrush. A fork is a fork.

[James Deuce]

Unless it's a spork.

[Bend-it]

Unless you're Optimus Prime!

[cave weta]

Is your bike an extension of your body?

133088

[beyond]

Yep - works for me..."in the zone" springs to mind...

Oh, yeah, the "zone" is that extension for me :)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=102234

[NOWOOL]

Ha ha ha - as soon as I read the thread title I thought ....

' does this apply to Harley riders?' -

133074

Then I remembered this photo and I thought yep- them too :laugh:

Nah, dude.......Harley riders don't live in caves, don't live with parents, and 82% pay cash for their new bikes (compared with 12% of jap riders).
Also, if you take into account that Harley's are the preferred bike of outlaw bikers then you kinda put yourself into a uncomfortable place or dissing both the wealthy and the criminal element.
Not the best place to be for a homo-scooter, doley, enviro rider.

[bogan]

Nah, dude.......Harley riders don't live in caves, don't live with parents, and 82% pay cash for their new bikes (compared with 12% of jap riders).
Also, if you take into account that Harley's are the preferred bike of outlaw bikers then you kinda put yourself into a uncomfortable place or dissing both the wealthy and the criminal element.
Not the best place to be for a homo-scooter, doley, enviro rider.

sounds like they cant take a joke either :dodge:

[NOWOOL]

sounds like they cant take a joke either :dodge:

Nah, we live in a serious world with responsibilities without relying on parents to blame or bail us out.

[bogan]

Nah, we live in a serious world with responsibilities without relying on parents to blame or bail us out.

Why so serious?

<img src='http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/joker.jpg' />

sorry, i just couldnt resist :shifty:

[crazyhorse]

Imagine a bike being an extension of you - What a funny picture that would make ................ LOL

[cave weta]

Nah, we live in a serious world with responsibilities without relying on parents to blame or bail us out.

But despite Being 'outlaw' :laugh::laugh: scuse me -but it sounds so funny!

you lot are so sensitive!- Ive never seen another group of motorcyclists that can be identified from the rest of us by their precious attitude toward their outlaw biker lifesyle.
I do work regularly for the country's biggest harley tour company and relocate their bikes and do corporate passenger tours and pillion rides for them. all nice people but they spend so much time trying to live the image.....
I just smile and walk away...

I ride a KTM, I paid cash for it -my mum didnt buy it for me, I dont have a single peice of KTM parifinailia or even a logoed shirt- I just ride good bikes and enjoy it - and have been enjoying it since 1974 - Oh and I own 11 other bikes - all paid for.

Get the picture Mr serious outlaw?

[snuffles]

Some interesting research finds that the brain represents tools as temporary body parts. http://www.physorg.com/news164892284.html

So when we use a toothbrush, it takes virtually no concentration because our brains "see" the toothbrush as an extension of the arm.

So it occurs to me that the brain of an experienced rider is likely to amalgamate the bike into an extension of the body. That makes sense to me. It takes me a few kms to feel comfortable butonce there, there is a sense of being intune with the machine.

Quite often people say "being part of the bike". Looks like there is a scientific basis. :Punk:

GEEK:2guns::2guns::2guns::2guns::2guns:

[gatch]

Also, if you take into account that Harley's are the preferred bike of outlaw bikers

That makes complete sense ! Most outlaws are far too heavy, refuse to handle properly, are decidedly low-tech and to the non-outlaw type, are about as appealing as a long stint in jail, bwaahahaha


Oh yes...I' much more confident on a bike than in a car:no:

Me too, I drive like an absolute Nana in a 4 wheeler, unless its in a kart at Daytona.