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Whenever a person rides his bike and goes out on the highway or the winding roads of the mountains, a different kind of peace and excitement is clearly visible on his face. In the eyes of common people, traveling means reaching from one place to another, but for a true bike rider, traveling is his real destination. This thing often surprises people as to why bike riders feel refreshed instead of tired even after traveling miles. Psychologists and experts on human behavior believe that biking is not just a hobby or a means of travel, but a deep experience related to human psychology and the desire for freedom. The mentality of people traveling on two wheels is completely different from that of ordinary tourists. They are not in a race to reach the destination i.e. the last point, but want to live with full passion every turn, gust of wind, change of weather and changing scenes on the way. In today’s era, where everyone is running after shortcuts and fast-paced life, this style of bike riders teaches us that the real joy of living life is not in the speed but in the process that we are deciding.
Talking in the language of psychology, the human mind always starts getting bored with the same routine. Caught in the maze of office, home, traffic and responsibilities, the mental health of a person gradually starts getting affected. In such a situation, when a person rides a bike, his brain enters a different state. This is psychologically called ‘Present Moment Awareness’ i.e. the art of living in the present moment. When you travel by car or train, you are protected behind a glass window and the outside world feels cut off from you. In contrast, when you are on a motorcycle, you are directly connected to your environment. The wind blowing on the road, the smell of trees, the scent of soil and the temperature of the weather directly affect your skin and senses. That is why for the riders, the path that leads to the destination is no less than a beautiful painting. They feel the changing environment with every kilometer and leave behind the stress of their daily life.
According to researchers and neuroscience experts, during long bike riding, the human brain goes into ‘flow state’. It is a mental state in which a person becomes completely engrossed in his work or activity and the worries, stress or thoughts of the outside world completely disappear from his mind. When the rider changes gears, adjusts the clutch and brakes and handles the bike at every turn, his entire attention is focused only on the present. This process can be called a type of active meditation. This focus of the mind drives out negative thoughts and increases the secretion of ‘feel-good’ hormones like dopamine and endorphins. This is the reason that after a long bike journey, riders may be physically a little tired, but mentally they feel extremely energetic, calm and refreshed. It is this psychoactive effect that motivates people to take to the streets again and again.
In today’s modern era, there are many means of transportation available, which include car, bus, train and airplane. Traveling in all these modes can be comfortable, but they do not have the openness and adventure that one gets on a motorcycle. The person sitting inside the car is in contact only with the steering wheel and the cold air of the AC. He goes on leaving behind the villages, farms, small dhabas and local culture along the way like a mere spectator. In contrast, a bike rider becomes a living part of the same path. He can stop at a tea stall and talk to the local people, see a beautiful waterfall or mountain on the way and spend a few moments there without any fixed time limit. This flexibility and openness is possible only in bike travel. For riders, the route is not just an asphalt road but a treasure trove of experiences which they want to capture forever in their eyes and memories. That is why for them traveling time becomes the most precious time spent.
Psychology also tells that bike riding liberates a person from his social responsibilities and masks. When a person goes out on the road wearing a helmet, it does not matter who he is, what he does or what his status is in the eyes of the society. There he is just a rider flowing with the wind. This feeling of anonymity and freedom is extremely liberating mentally. When people, bored with the monotony of everyday life, go on a long distance ride alone or in a group of friends, they reconnect with their true identity. They examine their hidden fears, limitations and capabilities. Facing difficult roads, bad weather or minor technical problems with the bike themselves boosts their confidence tremendously. This journey becomes not only a medium to go from one place to another, but also a medium to look within oneself and overcome one’s mental limitations.
The world of bikers is an example of a different culture and brotherhood in itself. You must have often noticed that when two different bikers pass each other on the highway, they greet each other by raising their hands or bowing their heads. Even though they may not know each other before, that shared road trip and their love for two wheels binds them together in an invisible bond. This community of bike riders transcends the boundaries of caste, religion, age and profession. During a long journey, when a rider stops at an unknown place, other riders are always ready to help him. This feeling of mutual camaraderie and belonging, which is becoming very rare in the modern era, is still alive in the world of biking. This community feeling keeps people from feeling lonely and makes them realize that they are not alone in this huge world, but there are thousands of crazy people like them traveling on the roads.