'Living in the moment': mountain bikers' search for flow. Issue 2 (15th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taylor, Steve; Carr, Anna
• Is Part Of: Annals of leisure research. Volume 26:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2023-03-15
• Subjects: Flow -- mountain biking -- mastery -- adventure; Leisure -- Periodicals; Recreation -- Periodicals; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.481205
• DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2021.1974906
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1174-5398

Abstract

ABSTRACT: As a popular adventure sport worldwide, mountain biking provides a range of challenges and opportunities for participants. This paper aims to understand whether experienced riders actively search for 'flow experiences' that can manifest themselves in a range of euphoric feelings, varying from the loss of awareness of time to sub-conscious control over actions. Exploring findings from research undertaken in New Zealand and England, the paper suggests that committed riders do encounter and can describe a range of flow characteristics when riding, although the findings conclude that such experiences are considered to be by-products of participation, rather than motivational factors in their own right.