ABSTRACT
I have had a great proportion of my “aha” scientific moments while riding my bicycle. These epiphanies often catch me by surprise. This could be a result of solitude with my own thoughts; however, I still allocate attention to the proximity of vehicles, pedestrians, garage sale signs, smells of flowering trees, head winds, and various novel environmental details. I also feel kinder and happier during and after bicycling outdoors, a feeling I attribute to a rise in endorphin levels. Given that similar inspirational and positive moments are rare during and after I ride my stationary bicycle or treadmill, I consider this environmental stimulation to be an essential contributing factor to my integration of thoughts. In my informal survey of colleagues, I do not think I am alone in this experience, and wonder how the integration of movement with novel experiences may stimulate learning and the consolidation of new information with old.
