Riding on Autopilot - Scary

[N A Chess]

Anyone experience this? Quite often I have no recollection of, for example, having gone through a set of lights or a zebra crossing on my journey and find it quite unnerving. Never had a problem so I must be aware even though the mind wanders during a ride. 


I'm thinking of changing my route just to keep the concentration levels up.


Stay safe.

[ChristoT]

I do it, mainly on motorways though. It's not dangerous, as long as you keep focus on the road (imagine watching TV without pressing the internal record button). To insure that, I have a system of regular checks, and often a spot of target focus. Such as "what's the car ahead of me doing?", and then reading the road as best I can about that.


NO WISECRACKS, LOFOS!!!

[Punkstig]

Easily done on motorway/ dual carriageway but if you're doing it in town and far from home then stop, remove helmet and take 5 minutes, preferably at a coffee shop.
Everyone's mind wonders but let's face it, being on a bike isn't the safest place for it to happen!

[noggythenog]

I believe when you go into the zone your subconcious actually drives better than you ever could, ive only ever experienced it computer racing games & the driving becomes almost elevated for that time until you snap out of it & crash :evil , like touch typing, focus on the keys & thping & you lose it but get in the zone & you go quicker & quicker without feeling like you are concentrating, almost like meditating or something.


Id start worrying if it happens when you arent driving though as it could be a sign of something astray in the brain like an epileptic absence.

[ChristoT]

Id start worrying if it happens when you arent driving though as it could be a sign of something astray in the brain like an epileptic absence.

:eek :eek :eek  Got me worried now...  :lol

[darrsi]

I do it all the time, have done for years.
It's when you get to work wearing pyjamas that you have to start worrying.

[stevierst]

I do it after a night shift. I ride the easiest route home, and can't remember how the hell I got there when it finishes. It's really friggin scary!
I tend to vary the route a bit now, that certainly helps.

[darrsi]

I believe when you go into the zone your subconcious actually drives better than you ever could, ive only ever experienced it computer racing games & the driving becomes almost elevated for that time until you snap out of it & crash :evil , like touch typing, focus on the keys & thping & you lose it but get in the zone & you go quicker & quicker without feeling like you are concentrating, almost like meditating or something.


Id start worrying if it happens when you arent driving though as it could be a sign of something astray in the brain like an epileptic absence.

Did you just say 'thping' ?  :lol
Concentrate lad, it's s lovely new word, but concentrate.  :lol

[noggythenog]

:lol :lol :lol


These bloody ipads arent too good for accuracy, neithers my brain!

[darrsi]

:lol :lol :lol


These bloody ipads arent too good for accuracy, neithers my brain!

They're so much easier to use if you park the bike up and take your gloves off.  :lol

[unfazed]

Is that what used to be refered to as Micro Sleep and was considered to be a cause of "accidents for no apparent reason"

[darrsi]

Is that what used to be refered to as Micro Sleep and was considered to be a cause of "accidents for no apparent reason"

How could you ever prove that?


Tell me later, i'm fast asleep at the moment!  :z :z :z

[red98]

dont think ive done it on the bike,but the work journey in the car is the one for me....same route every day across town stopping for paper and seeing the same cars and people every day...on autopilot...probably explains why most accidents happen close to home  ......great tip to change you route every now and again 

[Exupnut]

Its happend to me aswell.  Always when there's some sort of drama goin on which I think about when riding. Its weird how we can just lose that time without remembering the last few minutes. For me it revolves around cameras. In my head are all the locations but if u ask me where they are i couldn't tell u but if i start driving a road i can remember where they are. When i lose concentration for a few seconds and snap out of it i think "did i double flash the cam i passed". I havn't been done by a camera yet so I must be doin somethin right i s'pose. But it does worry me a little afterwards not to have the requisite control of our concentration which we absolutely need when riding. I dont listen to music on the bike either cos it just takes u away from what ur doin. RIDIN SOMETHIN THAT COULD KILL U QUITE EASILY.  I do agree that it seems to happen on roads i know so its down to me to be more mindfull @ those locations. Good topic this one. It may save someone an accident.

[nick crisp]

I do sometimes listen to music on the bike, especially on long trips, but I find that when the traffic is busy, or I'm concentrating on route, or anything that requires extra concentration, I won't have heard whatever's been playing during that bit of the ride. The only time I really "tune in" to the music is on a quiet stretch of road, a long, dull motorway stretch, or at a long wait at lights. It's not something that requires a conscious decision. Riding the bike is generally something that uses most of my concentration anyway, I just seem to automatically zone everything else out when needed.
I don't remember if I've ever had any lapses of memory about a ride... :lol

[darrsi]

I do sometimes listen to music on the bike, especially on long trips, but I find that when the traffic is busy, or I'm concentrating on route, or anything that requires extra concentration, I won't have heard whatever's been playing during that bit of the ride. The only time I really "tune in" to the music is on a quiet stretch of road, a long, dull motorway stretch, or at a long wait at lights. It's not something that requires a conscious decision. Riding the bike is generally something that uses most of my concentration anyway, I just seem to automatically zone everything else out when needed.
I don't remember if I've ever had any lapses of memory about a ride... :lol

I dunno how you listen to music, that's the ultimate distraction, i need to hear everything around me at all times.

[nick crisp]

I don't find it a problem at all. Many riders use ear plugs - the music blocks out no more than do those. I have never had a problem due to not being able to hear what's going on around me. A colleague of mine arrives at work on his bike, and can't hear a thing I say to him until he removes his earplugs. I guess it's what you get used to.