Milan Kundera's exploration of speed highlights the distinction between human experience and mechanical acceleration. While a motorcyclist is liberated from the constraints of their body, a runner remains acutely aware of their physical limitations and the realities of aging. This consciousness of the body brings forth a deep connection to time and personal struggle as the runner is immersed in the act of running, where sensations like blisters and exhaustion continually remind them of their humanity.

In contrast, when speed is handed over to machines, individuals experience a detachment from their own physicality. This shift brings a form of ecstasy, as people can now engage with pure speed, unencumbered by the weight of their bodies. Kundera suggests that this delegation transforms the experience of movement, leading to a disembodied form of exhilaration. It raises questions about the implications of technology on human experience and our relationship to time and existence itself.