I couldn't remember riding home.....

[BlackPanther]

On friday, I got home and put the bike away. The Missus asked if I'd had a good ride home. Without really taking much notice (well, who does?), I said 'Yes' but then I actually thought about it. Out of an 11 mile ride, I remember setting off because I locked the work gates and put my gloves and helmet on. I remember 1/2 way home taking primary in the bus lane coming up to Cantley traffic lights......and I remember standing up on the pedals to shoot up over the North Bridge 2 miles from home. I dont remember anything else though.

Now that's a bit worrying, because 2/3rds of my route is through heavy-ish traffic, with many traffic lights, give ways etc. I always ride home the same way, but didn't remember at least 90% of the ride. I'd vary my route, but there's not much choice, and I like to stick to the main roads for comfort/speed, and to avoid punctures.

Am I alone in this experience? It used to happen on the motorbike, and I'm guessing that because I've been riding to work for over a year, I'm just completely used to it. I'm positive I'm fully alert to upcoming dangers on my ride but it makes you think, doesn't it?

 

[Reiki_chick]

Unconscious competence.
Tis a wonderful thing.

 

[BlackPanther]

Maybe I drank away too many brain cells in my youth. But hey......

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal labotomy.

Actually, that's not true, I crave a nice glass of Pepsi Max with ice when I get in.

 

[jefmcg]

I wouldn't be surprised that you were totally alert and aware during the ride, but as there was nothing of note going on, your brain decided there was no reason to put it into medium term memory.

However, if you are waiting at a red light, and you can't remember how you got there (which should be still in short term memory) then I'd worry.

Of course, I'm not a neurologist ...

 

[GrasB]

Remembering the journey isn't particularly important, in fact I have a feeling that not remembering anything but very conscious decisions is a function of concentration; I can't recall most of what happened on my RoSPA exam drives after the event but I've always got a silver or gold pass.

 

[frank9755]

Fairly regularly on my commute I will pull up at a red light and realise I have no recollection of the preceding few minutes worth of riding. I think it is pretty normal, and happens with drivers too. Essentially it shows that nothing of note happened on that bit, but when I did need to take action - to stop at the red light, I flicked back into conscious thought.

 

[ohnovino]

A couple of times I've gone out for an aimless ride around and ended up outside work, having subconsciously followed my commuting route without even noticing.

 

[corshamjim]

On the odd occasion I've wondered if anyone has ever fallen asleep at the handlebars.

 

[Jezston]

If you are doing the same route every day, and nothing of note happened, then it sounds fair enough. Don't let it make you think you spent the whole time sailing through red lights and causing pile ups just because you don't remember much about it!

Having said that, I should probably let you know that you DID sail through every red light and caused several pile ups. I saw everything, and for a reasonable fee I promise I won't tell anyone.

 

[Bigsharn]

On the odd occasion I've wondered if anyone has ever fallen asleep at the handlebars.

Yes, it was after a large meal. I blinked and opened my eyes 200ft or so down the road. Not really a sleep but close enough

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think about 50% of my attention is taken up negotiating with complaining leg muscles when I'm riding. Then about 45% listening and looking at or for traffic. That leaves about 5% in reserve for remembering what happened on the ride. That 5% of left-over memory doesn't clock the pain (I simply don't remember it, if I did, I'd never get on a bike again) or the traffic, unless that traffic has just tried to kill me, but I will register birds I've either seen or heard en route. I think that means I'm 95% busy and 5% remembering. Except on 110% days, obviously...

 

[frank9755]

On the odd occasion I've wondered if anyone has ever fallen asleep at the handlebars.

This does happen. It is not unknown as the cause of accidents in endurance events such as LEL, PBP or even the Dunwich Dynamo.

I think it is a different thing from the 'unconscious competence' described by the OP - but I have wondered if that state can precede actually nodding off.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

No your not alone, most of us do it now and again, you were riding a route you ride often and you just dropped onto auto pilot, you probably rode it perfectly. My worse moment occurred on the M6 when I was working as a van driver. I had a regular drop off in Crewe, coming back one afternoon I could remember the drive down as far as J10 and next thing I'm approaching J4 with no memory of driving between J10 and J4. I've always assumed I dropped onto auto pilot during that part of the trip, it was the only time it happened and it bothered me that it had happened for a long time.

 

[delport]

I used to have episodes like that when i was a teenager, i'd cycle and virtually blackout.
I got home safely some how, but it put me off cycling for a while.

May'be it's that the journeys are so mundane and repetitive?
The above happened to me either going to or coming back from work, same road used every day.

It's rare for me to have these sort of episodes nowadays 30 years later.Cycling is dangerous enough as it is without switching off mentally.

I also hallucinated after cycling for many hours without food or water, i was doing a 80 mile cycle without a break, in the dark.
And towards the end i was imagining people standing on the pavement, there was no one at all on the pavements or streets as it was 5 am or something.