Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

GBD Approved

I ain't the person to be giving you advice about this, since my daily commute is a two minute walk! Also monks don't get stressed

But maybe you should think of getting a cycle. 12km is not much and you can commute on a cycle stress free. Alternate between the bike and the cycle. And as cycles very often do, it might get you to your office faster

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

That's a Nice idea indeed may be I can try it out but there are also those rogue riders who tend to consider the foot path also as a road to use when the traffic situation gets worse. There is another situation here when has our beloved city ever made mends to the Foot path and also there are no separate cycle paths. That's true Monk,Cycling can indeed be a faster commute on these ever increasing traffic areas.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

LOL, As u said, alternating between motorbike and Bicycle is a good remedy.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Let me be the devil's advocate - opt for company cabs if available! KRPuram, Tin Factory, ITPL etc are a mess to burn your blood. Trust me, Bangalore is no place for them cyclists.
Keep your bike for errands, highways and those bandh days when roads are free.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Strongly agree with the above; people who know Bangalore esp the traffic will say the same. Opt for company cab, change work timing citing health reasons (or lie if you have to), move closer to office or simply change the job.

Just for the sake of letting people know the traffic situation of Bangalore...
- In the afternoon, on outer ring road that has 2 lane service road on either sides with 6 lane 18 Km stretch, it takes about an hour on a nice to cover this distance
- On rainy days, a 7 Km stretch takes 1.5 hours easily
- On a good Friday evening, it takes easily an hour to do 15 Km stretch, which is the same time it takes from Hosur to Vaniyambadi of 90 Km distance
- This week its the second time our caterer was late to deliver lunch because of traffic jam, for no reason
- Hebbal, Silkboard & Tin Factory junctions are ideal places where one can romance or even get married

Ending with a humor...

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

+100. BMTC strike has opened my eyes in the past few days and Bangalore just keeps beating me when I proclaim it can't get any worse!

I stay near Hebbal. My office is in Manyata Tech Park - 8 kms from home. On a lazy morning, it takes 10 min, on normal days, it takes 30 min. Last 3 days - a cool 1.5 hours one way.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

AbiRam first of all thank you for posting this issue out here. There are many experienced rider/tourer/commuter here who will be very helpful in giving you tips to avoid stress factor from taking.

I also somehow fall in your category, of riding 37kms one way to my work and that also in peak traffic.

Off late I faced a very stressful work cycle plus the traffic while my commute to office has added to my stress, due to this I came across an issue where I forget when I started from office and when I reached my home or the vice versa, I don't remember anything during that commute but I reach the destination safely be it office or home , may be it can account to my road sense and familiarity of the route (I have been using the same roads for 5 years or more). Now I fear of mishaps during such stressful rides and I have come across this kind off situation more in recent times. My query to the experienced riders is If this kind of stressful ride ok or more of a normal thing ? if not please suggest me how to really get a relaxed ride.
I tried listening to music while riding but the traffic situation makes it impossible to use during my commute.

I am highlighting your statements under Bold and Italics. The situation explained above is a clear sign of Fatigue. But since you have been riding for long and your familiarity with the route, your sub-conscious mind comes into action which makes you reach your destination safe and in one piece. But brother, this is asking for trouble. To improve on this factor there are few things which you should keep in mind and start doing it.

1. Get proper sleep, fatigue is a sign of improper sleep and diet, so get that sorted out.

2. At the end of the day when you leave from office, make sure you tend to relax a bit before you leave. Have water, wash your face, just stretch your body a bit before sitting on the bike. We have a poor lifestyle of sitting in front of the PC and on our Desk and not indulge our body in any form of exercise. So, try to get some physical activity in your life this will improve your sleep and also diet.

3. Now I know 30kms in peak traffic after office hours can take a toll on your body and mind. So, to avoid this, choose a place in between your commuting back to office where you can stop for tea, cold drink, or any refreshment. Whenever you feel your body is not answering your mind. You should pull over and just refresh a bit. I know everybody is in hurry to reach back home, but that should not be at cost of putting yourself in Danger.

4. You can add in one or two breaks (or as per requirement) in between your commute from office to home. I have done it many times, and it works.

5. Also what I do at times, I have 3 to 4 different routes for my commute some are longer and smooth and some are shorter and cumbersome, So when I get bored of one route I switch to different route for few days. What it does is it changes the scenario around you which keeps your brain active.

I do not believe in riding in stress whether it is commuting to office or under the Fear that I am gonna meet an accident. The moment I get that feeling I pull over, and then just freshen up and move. So as per me IT IS NOT OK AT TO RIDE IN STRESSED CONDITION WHERE YOU GET MEMORY LAPSE, NOT AT ALL.

The above content and scenario is as per my experience, if you want to ask anything else, feel free brother.

Ride Hard & Ride Safe

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Increasing traffic was so frustrating for me that I switched to a gearless scoot from motorcycles. After a hard days work, it really pushes buttons to ride a motorcycle in today's idiotic and chaotic traffic conditions.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Ok.. now, since we are talking about traffic, I am pretty sure the conditions are almost similar to Delhi NCR.. my office is 12 kms and it used to take me close to an hour to reach office..

One thing I did do is, start a little early.. I reach office in 25 minutes which is 35 minutes less than my usual time..

I slowly started leaving a little late and I figured out the safest time for me to leave to office is 8:30 am.. even 5 minutes late will lead me to reach my office 35 mins late.. and same thing goes in the evening.. if I leave any time after 6:45 pm, I reach home in 30 mins.. if I leave at 6:30, it takes me 45mins..

I have been in the similar situation as you, except this was in car or when I am completely stressed sitting in front of my system the entire 9 hrs without a break.. yes, I used to have my lunch at my desk.. to overcome this, take 5 mins break every 1.5 hrs, relax yourself, chat with your colleagues or just lay down for 5 mins, keeping your eyes closed. Do keep an alarm if you are a fast sleeper.. the best option would be to go for a short walk and not think of work... Keep your mind relaxed.. I usually play a game else just search for bikes because I feel relaxed when I read something about bikes.. on my way to office, I usually try to figure out how my bike behaves which keeps my conscious awake..

Another solution would be, once you reach home, practice Yoga...

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

I am glad that [MENTION=85525]AbiRam[/MENTION] created this post . thank you .

I was about to post question How to ride Safe in bangalore Traffic .

I upgraded from scooty to bike recently and now I am missing the effortless ride .

There are many precaution I take while commuting my 5KM office route.

The top most is keep safe distance but but what if I keep distance from a car and another bike comes and occupy that space :banghead:

Second , when I leave for office , I consider myself 10 minutes late ride slowly behind cars as a car sometime . I do see many rider hurrying god knows where , except deliveries guys I do not have respect for such riders.

Third top most I do not filter much specially if there is mud or sand on edge of road and stay/stop behind a car , but people behind in car/auto want me to move side as fellow bikers are doing . Am I doing wrong here ?

I pity myself when all the bikers zoom ahead and here I am thinking of safety on road thinking why I chose this .

There are many , these three are most important for me to reach office/home in one piece and peacefully.

I accelerate to overtake , have to hard break to avoid rear ending cars stopped in zig zag fashion . Daily on old airport route .


Could you guys advice for safety too along with stress riding as while considering safety while riding eventually building stress

Thanks

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Thanks a lot Shivanshu, helps a lot for your suggestions, I have tried a lot many possibilities of alternate routes in my 5yrs of riding and failed to get the best result so far. Apart from traffic woes I must seriously consider your suggestions for the stress free ride to office and back and yes getting some physical exercise is a must and i can see my self bloating with out any form of physical activity.

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Thanks again for your suggestion [MENTION=27501]rreneav1987[/MENTION], I do try that nowadays to relax for a while and go on for coffee breaks, sleeping option is a bit difficult with colleagues pestering every now and then. I also tried dropping my colleagues while on my way it helps a bit to break out of my usual silent rides (off course the traffic sound is deafening) but it is not possible everyday.

Re: how to cope with Stressed Riding?

Public transport.. nothing else.. these things you have mentioned above are everywhere.. people honking at you to move when the signal is Red. People want space and keep honking and they know they can't go 2m ahead of you.. people rising bikes on the bicycle lane, pedestrian walkway etc etc.. if you are more concerned about reaching safe, then public transport is the best option.. you don't stress yourself and you can be worry free