So, after hearing the interview with David Bryne on NPR's 360 (check out what David is into here: http://www.davidbyrne.com/) I ran right out and bought a copy of the "Bicycle Diaries". It's a lovely red book that, in its hardcover version, does away with the awful dust jacket. Thank you David.
Here's the quote from the introduction that articulates this thing that is so essential about road biking, "the activity [riding bike] is repetitive, mechanical, and it distracts and occupies the conscious mind, or at least part of it, in a way...that allows some of the unconscious mind to bubble up."
That's the space where a bike-ku will come to me. I also find myself thinking about physics and love. Mountain biking on the other hand (which is what I've been doing more of these days) is different. Trail riding occupies your whole mind. It's much more like zen to road biking's transcendental. When I'm on the mountain bike I'm so focused on the trail, the obstacles it presents that I can't let my mind wander at all. There's no bubbling. I would suspect that if you do, even the most experienced bikers will end up off the trail, or face down in the dirt. David's book is about road biking.
Bicycle Diaries is good, but sometimes poorly paced. He manages to be entertaining and to really unpack the places he visits via two-wheels. However, don't go to it expecting a lot about actual cycling. This is to say that it is not the cycling version of Murakami's "What I talk about when I talk about running." which manages to distill the love, laughter and purpose of running. Byrne's book is more like Byrne's music or perhaps, Byrne himself, it's meandering and complex--haunting at times, but never too serious. There is something to be learned from it and a bit to just let wash over you. For what it's worth, I recommend it.
