Finding Flow on Two Wheels: How Letting Go Translates to Life

Anyone out there on Strava? I am 🙋‍♀️, but not for the normal competitive reasons a regular athlete may choose. I’ve never been one to really care how good I am compared to others at athletic endeavors. I kind of assume I’m the bottom of the leaderboard, or better said, entrants-board. The only reason I really use Strava is so I can record where I’ve ridden, my mileage, and elevation gain. I will admit to occasionally looking at my medals. You see as an entrant-only-athlete a medal seems like a very far fetched goal, so I kind of get a chuckle out of the notion, and I’m always a bit surprised when I see medals next to my name.

Now just because I am not a leaderboard seeking athlete doesn’t preclude me from setting BHAG (big hairy audacious goals) for myself. Last summer I signed up for the Breck Epic—a 6-day, 240-mile mountain bike stage race in Breckenridge, Colorado. You read that right—240 miles over six days at altitude. I’d been mountain biking for about two years, had never raced before, and my longest ride was maybe 35 miles. Most people thought I was crazy. My husband was supportive (bless him). My coach thought it was ambitious. I thought it was exactly the kind of challenge that would change me.

And it did.

The first two stages were humbling. I walked sections I thought I’d ride. I got passed—a lot. I cried in my helmet once. But something shifted around Day 3. I stopped thinking about speed, about times, about what other riders were doing. I just… rode. I found my rhythm. I found my flow.

Flow, in the psychological sense, is that state of total absorption where you lose track of time and self-consciousness. Athletes call it “being in the zone.” For me on a mountain bike, it’s when the trail stops feeling like an obstacle and starts feeling like a conversation. My body responds before my brain can second-guess it. The rocks, the roots, the switchbacks—they’re not threats, they’re prompts. And I answer them without thinking.

Here’s what I’ve learned about finding flow:

Let go of outcome. The moment I stopped trying to beat a time or a person, I rode better. I breathed better. I made better decisions on the trail. Attachment to outcome is the enemy of flow.

Trust your body. Your body has been training. It knows things your anxious brain doesn’t. When you get quiet enough to listen, your body will lead. This translates off the bike, too—in creative work, in parenting, in business. Over-thinking is the creativity killer.

Embrace the suck. Days 1 and 2 of the Breck Epic were hard. But they were necessary. You don’t find flow by avoiding difficulty—you find it by moving through difficulty until it becomes familiar. And familiar becomes fluid.

The view from the other side. On the final day, I crossed the finish line of the Breck Epic. I didn’t win. I wasn’t fast. But I finished 240 miles on a mountain bike at 10,000 feet of elevation. And in doing so, I proved something to myself that no leaderboard could ever quantify.

The flow I found on two wheels—that total presence, that trust, that surrender to the process—is something I carry into every other part of my life now. Into my business. Into my relationships. Into the messy, beautiful, non-linear journey of being a human trying to live well.

You don’t have to race 240 miles to find yours. But I do think you have to let go of something. The need to be fast. The need to be first. The need to look like you have it together. Let it go—and see what flows in.

Written by: Dana Grinnell, Founder of Free Living Co

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “finding flow” mean in cycling or exercise?

Flow is a mental state of complete absorption in an activity where effort feels effortless. In cycling, it’s when you stop thinking about the miles and simply ride—your body and mind synced with the terrain, the cadence, and the moment. It’s both meditative and deeply rewarding.

How does cycling support mental wellness?

Cycling releases endorphins and serotonin, reduces cortisol, and provides meditative rhythm that quiets mental chatter. It’s also a form of active mindfulness—being present with your breath, the road, and your body—making it a powerful tool for stress relief and mental clarity.

What is Strava and how do cyclists use it?

Strava is a fitness tracking app popular among cyclists and runners for logging routes, mileage, elevation, and time. It has a social leaderboard feature, but many people use it simply to track personal progress and explore new routes rather than compete.

What is a BHAG and how does it apply to fitness goals?

BHAG stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal—a bold, long-term target that stretches beyond your current ability. In fitness, it might be a century ride, a marathon, or climbing a challenging mountain pass. BHAGs build discipline, confidence, and resilience regardless of whether you achieve them perfectly.

How can non-competitive athletes set meaningful goals?

Focus on personal milestones rather than comparisons—longest ride, most elevation, new route explored. Track consistency over performance. The goal is to keep showing up and enjoy the process, not to beat others. Personal bests and showing up regularly are victories worth celebrating.