The Bicycle Effect

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.

Introduction
Part One – There's a lot of bike to ride
Chapter One – The Urban Cyclist
Part Two – I celebrate the bike within you
Chapter Two – Cycling
Chapter Three – Wake Up, Energy
Chapter Four – Bike road
Part Three – Rules of experience
Chapter Five – Right Riding
Chapter Six – Going-watching
Chapter Seven – Maintenance by Inference
Epilogue
Index
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
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.

"At the age of 70, Juan Carlos Kreimer is an Argentinean writer and publisher. He learned to ride a bike nearly in the same days he made 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. Today 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. In the pages of The Bicycle Effect: Cycling as Meditation Juan draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to share with his readers how they can obtain the meditative wisdom and experience that a bicycle can afford." Susan Bethany, Bethany's Bookshelf