| Author | Message | ||
     Ponytail |
Curious to know what/if you all do anything to mentally prep yourself before you ride...whether it be just for the ride to work, or for pleasure. I ask, because I haven't ridden in 2 weeks due to among other things, work related issues that are filling my head to the point where I just don't feel like I'm mentally sound enough to be on a bike. What kind of questions, if any, do you ask yourself to determine if YOU are mentally with it enough to get on a bike? When do you say "when"? Curious to read the responses since there is such a diverse group here. | ||
| Glitch |
When do you say "when"? where I just don't feel like I'm mentally sound enough to be on a bike. You answered your own question. | ||
| Whodom |
PT, Doing routine maintenance/checks on the bike can be a help ("Zen and the Art of M/C Maintenance" and all that). I can't think of any better way to get rid of that kind of stress than to go for a long ride. OTOH, Glitch is right- you don't need to be out in traffic or attacking serious twisties if that's your mental state. Maybe you should just find a deserted country road and go for a leisurely cruise. | ||
| Freezerburn |
I find that getting on the bike clears my mind and I get rarely distracted. I am always excited to get on my bike - even for a short commute. In a car on the other hand I have found myself dreaming with my eyes open. Maybe a ride will give you the mental vacation you obviously need. If you are totally burnt out then I suggest taking a real vacation. | ||
| Fcbuell |
This is an important question. I'm not scared of riding my bike, but I always do ask myself.. did I get good sleep and am I aware? Am I stressed or nervous? that would be distracting. Do I have to pee? Then do the once over for loose parts, brakes, gas etc.. Feeling a bit of anxiety for each ride I think is normal and part of the excitement in riding (especially a Buell). But I think you get used to turning it into a big fat smile over time. | ||
| Dr_greg |
It's the end of the semester here -- equally tough on the students and professors (I am the latter). Lots of things to think about. Took a 300-mile round trip ride to Taos (New Mexico) last weekend; just about turned around early on because I just couldn't focus. My focus improved as soon as we hit the curves, but I still felt I wasn't 100% there. Not good. | ||
| Ponytail |
I've been riding for about 8 years now, and yeah, there are those times where I feel the need to go for a ride in order to clear my head. But even with that, before I take off for work, while sitting on the bike, I close my eyes and VERY quickly remind myself to basically not be an idiot and remind myself to be calm knowing that I'm probably going to be sitting in traffic...basically just try to get myself to focus on the task at hand. But lately, I can't visualize anything 'cept stranglin' my co-worker. The last time I rode, I was on the Buell, and before I knew it, I had crept up to 90mph, could not recall the last 5 miles that I had just ridden and had gotten myself pretty pissed off at the stuff going through my head. I'm definitely not getting enough sleep, which is a huge part of it, but it's one of those endless loops...hard time sleeping=more anxiety=hard time sleeping... I know alot of you folks are daily riders, and as far as I know, none of ya's work in a library. Keep the responses coming, please. I'm also curious to see how many of ya's just kinda get on it and go without much thought. | ||
| Angelwild327 |
It might help if you MAKE your motorcycle your new center of relaxation or your "zen" focus. You can, if you're good  , make the sound of that beautiful Buell engine, bring you to a really good "happy" place. Which means, that no matter how crappy you feel, everytime you turn the key and start it up, your mind clears and you're good to go! | ||
| Ponytail |
Whodom, I kinda thought that would help too. But the Buell is basically stock, and I plan on keeping it that way. I haven't messed with bikes in a few years, but thinking back, I remember how much I enjoyed working on, riding and showing my old Sportster. So, in an effort to bring back that M/C maintenance and feeling of Zen thing, I ordered some stuff for the Springer that should keep me busy for awhile. I ordered some go-fast stuff as well as some bling.  | ||
| Stealthxb |
stay loose, weight the peg, look ahead...what is here now is already here what is next needs to be sorted out | ||
| Buellgler |
great topic! There are several things I do. They are weird, like me, like my bike. 1) Pre-flight inspection, unless post-flight inspection had been completed. 2) Suiting up, considering the nature & duration of my trip. Always making sure that I will have the capacity to add or remove layers as weather requires. IMHO, staying comfortable is of utmost importance. Last summer, best ride of my life turned into worst ride of my life when I got caught in slow traffic on a hot ass day. I cooked, was miserable, and all I could think of was getting off the bike, not what you should be thinking about with 50 miles to go in 55 mph traffic and lots of it. 3) Visualize what I am about to do for a spell. If I'm going on twisty ride and it's early a.m. I might even stretch out or do 10-20 pushups just to get the blood flowing. Coffee is good. So are doughnuts. 4) If I'm going to be in city traffic, I try to prepare my mind as if I were going into battle. Actually, I do this for every ride. 5) Repeat: tickets are bad, tickets are bad, tickets are bad, be cool, be cool, be cool, nothing stupid, nothing stupid, nothing stupid. 6) Repeat step 5 as needed. 7) Remind myself that I'm one of the lucky ones. Healthy & wealthy enough to own a motorcycle (a Buell no less!), riding is a privilege. Aim to keep it that way. 8) Remind myself that riding is (for me) the best, most effective form of instant gratification, my instant stress relief. Once I leave my driveway there is only one thing that matters: focusing on the task at hand. Consequences can be severe from a momentary lapse of concentration. If I were you, suffering from work induced stress, the first thing I'd do is get on the bike for a short trip to rent a movie, get some coffee, or whatever. Nothing major, just enough to remind me of why. You'll prolly end up asking yourself WHEN is my next big trip? | ||
| Ponytail |
Dunno if it'll be the NEXT big trip or not, but I finalized plans to get to Sturgis for the first time, this year. I better have this crud outta my head before that...cuz if it's not, my co-worker will be in grave danger.  Awesome post Buellgler. Thanks! (Message edited by ponytail on May 02, 2006) | ||
| Henrik |
Ray; sounds like stress to me - I recognize the symptoms all too well. Breathing exercises, behavioral modification therapy, meditation etc. are all good remedies. Each of those would also help teach you to focus on a particular task (like riding) while shutting the anxiety producing crap from work etc. out. Good call on your part to realize that you are not in a "good place" for riding. Once, years ago, I blew through a red light because my mind was concentrating on things other than riding. Once, just a few years ago I blew a simple right hand turn, 'cause my head wasn't in it. Both very scary situations and both times entirely my fault for not focusing. I try to assess myself before going on a ride. I also try to go through the same "ritual" before riding off: walk around bike, do basic checks like lights, blinkers, brake lines, get into gear, start bike, put in earplugs and put on helmet, let bike warm up - check cylinder temp by hand, put on gloves, get on bike, think: "relax, smile, breathe, have fun", ride off. Henrik | ||
| Kurosawa |
Simply being on the bike sharpens me up instantly. I'm suddenly more aware of everything around me, looking further down the road, running scenarios. If that ever stops, it's time to put the bike back on eBay where it came from, 'cause I'm not gonna last long otherwise. | ||
| Stretchman |
Firstly, for a lot of people, it's spring. They are just rolling out their scooters and taking them for rides. During this you go through basically the same thing as post coital depression. All winter long they have been cooped up waiting for that moment when they could scoot, and now that they have, well, they're starting to look for munchies and a smoke. This too shall pass. Me, since we ride year round, am taking the time, via a post I read on this board, to further my scooter education. Bought two books on the dynamics of Sport Bike riding, and am learning to approach the bike differently now. After riding cruisers for 7 years plus, I developed some habits which needed to be broken, and I have to reschool myself. Maybe there's something that you are trying to tell yourself. If you're female, you could let me hypnotize you.  Other than that, I don't know what to suggest. Maybe beer. If that doesn't work, try scotch. Stretch | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Stretch, this one's for you..if you've never seen Foamy... check this out... you can understand him, just watch a couple times.. **WARNING..material contains language which some may find offensive** http://www.friendsoffoamy.com/index.php?id=97 | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Ok, can't help it...here's one more Foamy toon.. this is Meditational Melee... hope you all get a laugh out of it..again, listen a couple times..he talks fast, but it's pretty freakin' funny! http://www.friendsoffoamy.com/index.php?id=107 | ||
| Kdan |
Ponytail, I've been there myself. I found myself up in the mountains once with serious lack of focus. I turned it into a nice leisurely mountain cruise before I kilt myself. I work nights and 12 hour shifts at that and ride to work. When I get out in the morning, I do a check on the bike, wipe the dew off the seat and have a smoke while the sun finishes coming up...I practice some deep breathing and just wipe my mind before I climb on...A lot of people coming in to work look at me funny, but I'm ok with that. I'm going to be in the right frame of mind before I jump into traffic. Luckily my new commute is painless and short. When I lived 25 miles away, some mornings were kinda sketchy. | ||
| Svo1023 |
maybe it has to do with my location, living in central florida,lost tourists, idiot commuters. i know everytime i suit up something is probably going to happen so if i am not 100% i am risking serious injury ar loss of life,might be a morbid way to look at it. but no matter my state of mind when i put the key in the ignition it's like a switch gets flipped,and i'm ready for battle. i have been doing battle on the streets of central fl. for about 25 years a few mishaps and some close calls, lucky? maybe some. mike | ||
| Jackbequick |
I think mental prep before the ride is less important than where your mind is during the ride. We just had a fatality in our area. That was a man on an FLH type H-D on a wide smooth road with wide shoulders. Looks like a human error, "loss of focus" or maybe a case of riding with diminished capabilities. Sad. Jack | ||
| Cmhxb9 |
Preflight check, then... One Our Father. One Hail Mary. One short prayer...Oh Lord, I ride with you, won't you please ride with me?! | ||
| Jimidan |
I go though a short recitation each time I ride, that includes: look through the corners, bend it over, stupid, and don't show off. I think the most important one is to resist showing off. Showing off gets more people into trouble than anything else, both with the law and crashing. I know for guys anyway, we have that urge all the time...it must be a competitive mating strategy or something. Testicular poisoning, as it were. As I get older, it has diminished, along with everything else... jimidan | ||
| Stealthxb |
I just tell myself to avoid cops and hospitals. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. | ||
| Ratyson |
Basically, what I do is this: Start the bike up, and put on my gear. Sit on the bike for a moment and remind myself to ride my own ride, stay at my comfort zone, and watch for idiots. Then I am off. I go over this in my head many times while riding as well. Especially when in traffic, or in the twisties with other riders. It can become too easy to try and keep up with someone who has more advanced skills than myself. So, at the onset of the twisties, I remind myself again; ride your own ride, stay at your own pace, this is NOT a race. | ||
| G234146 |
If I'm tired, sleepy, or upset, I will not ride. I've dropped my bike in the parking lot just cuz i'm too upset and I forgot I had a kickstand!  | ||
| Cosmo751 |
I always prep the bike first, this kind of sets my mental state - oil, check, tire pressure, check. Nothing falling off ? Ready.. Then I run through the rule set : no riding after drinking, not even one. No riding while even moderately tired. No ridding while P.O.'d - ever. Finally, I visualize the ride. Where am I going ? What am I doing ? What are the known hazards ? Then, like others have said, I embark on my sortie, watch out for the dummies and cops and ride my own ride. | ||
| Stealthxb |
Y'all think too much! Just put the damn thing in gear and twist the wrist. If you need to turn...lean or die! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
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| U4euh |
Daggum Stealth, you beat me to it! If your talkin to yourself and asking questions and this and that, maybe you shouldn't be riding it in the first place. Please I am not trying to get into the routine boxing match that has been around here lately but I know whether or not my bike is ready to go, because I pay attention to it, before and after each ride. I know I NEED to ride to blow off some stress. If after I get on the bike I find that I am daydreaming, I slow down to cruising speed, look for a place to pull over, be it a gas station or a nice hole on the side of the road, sit and enjoy the beauty of my bike, and those with me if be,and maybe the surroundings. I don't know why, but I ride with a clearer head. And sitting at home just makes it worse. My wife understands that, sometimes, but she does say that I have more energy after a ride, even if it is 5 miles down to the corner store. But that is me! I agree with the 1st couple of post though, if you have to ask yourself if you should be riding, the answer is already no, you shouldn't get on. As Stealth said, put it in gear, lets ride! | ||
| Debueller |
Stealth, Servicing dealership: oxymoron? |
