Episode 83: How to Ride Happy
Episode 83: How to Ride Happy
Episode 83: How to Ride Happy
Episode 83: How to Ride Happy
When is the last time that you came back from a motorcycle ride completely miserable? I can’t think of one myself! Yeah, I fell quite a lot as a kid on dirt bikes, came home with bloody elbows and bent parts on my little minibike. Mom would patch the elbows and dad would patch the bike. I would wipe away the tears and then off again I would go. As an adult, I’ve had my several bikes to break down where I had to be towed back to town. Just last year, my bike broke down in the middle of the Nevada desert. Took 3 days to get myself and my bike back home to Colorado in a rented trailer, then another 3 weeks to the my bike repaired. But was I miserable, unhappy with my riding experience? Absolutely not. I couldn’t wait to get back on the road again.
When is the last time that you came back from a motorcycle ride completely miserable? I can’t think of one myself! Yeah, I fell quite a lot as a kid on dirt bikes, came home with bloody elbows and bent parts on my little minibike. Mom would patch the elbows and dad would patch the bike. I would wipe away the tears and then off again I would go. As an adult, I’ve had my several bikes to break down where I had to be towed back to town. Just last year, my bike broke down in the middle of the Nevada desert. Took 3 days to get myself and my bike back home to Colorado in a rented trailer, then another 3 weeks to the my bike repaired. But was I miserable, unhappy with my riding experience? Absolutely not. I couldn’t wait to get back on the road again.
Today we're diving deep into the heart of why we all do this – finding that elusive "ride happy" feeling, which if we’re lucky, takes us to a whole other level of happiness. The all elusive Peace of Mind. Stay tuned!
Today we're diving deep into the heart of why we all do this – finding that elusive "ride happy" feeling, which if we’re lucky, takes us to a whole other level of happiness. The all elusive Peace of Mind. Stay tuned!
INTRO
INTRO
When people ask me why do I ride I can just express that in one easy statement. Because it makes me happy. Is that oversimplifying things? Yeah, but, you know… it’s unexplainable.
When people ask me why do I ride I can just express that in one easy statement. Because it makes me happy. Is that oversimplifying things? Yeah, but, you know… it’s unexplainable.
You and I know that this motorcycling thing is NOT for everybody. That’s why you find motorcycles for sale that are 5 years old with 500 miles on them. That biker want-to-be was just not into it. But if you’re like me, it seems like I’m having to put on a new set of tires when I’d swear that I just replaced them last week! It’s because I ride most days. If there is no ice on the ground and I’m not traveling for work, I’m riding that day.
You and I know that this motorcycling thing is NOT for everybody. That’s why you find motorcycles for sale that are 5 years old with 500 miles on them. That biker want-to-be was just not into it. But if you’re like me, it seems like I’m having to put on a new set of tires when I’d swear that I just replaced them last week! It’s because I ride most days. If there is no ice on the ground and I’m not traveling for work, I’m riding that day.
Motorcycling a lot is expensive, not only the maintenance but the proper protective gear that you should be riding with. Lots of costs involved. But you and I do it anyway! Because it makes us happy. Again, maybe it’s that simple truth really doesn’t require too much further explanation.
Motorcycling a lot is expensive, not only the maintenance but the proper protective gear that you should be riding with. Lots of costs involved. But you and I do it anyway! Because it makes us happy. Again, maybe it’s that simple truth really doesn’t require too much further explanation.
Yeah, it's easy to get caught up in gear, preparations for the next big ride, but sometimes the simplest things are what truly make us happy out on the bike. It's not something that we need to overthink. We just go with a destination in mind, or no destination in mind. I once shared the expression, “Young riders pick a destination and go. Older riders pick a direction and go. Yep very true. We just go and see what happens. We go to see who we might meet. We go to meet up with our friends, or we go alone in hopes that we may have a conversation with a total stranger.
Yeah, it's easy to get caught up in gear, preparations for the next big ride, but sometimes the simplest things are what truly make us happy out on the bike. It's not something that we need to overthink. We just go with a destination in mind, or no destination in mind. I once shared the expression, “Young riders pick a destination and go. Older riders pick a direction and go. Yep very true. We just go and see what happens. We go to see who we might meet. We go to meet up with our friends, or we go alone in hopes that we may have a conversation with a total stranger.
So, what are some key ingredients for a truly happy ride? Oh there are so many things, but at the top thing for me is mindfulness. Really being present in the moment. Not thinking about work, not thinking about business travel that’s required for next week. My smile begins when I open the garage door, press the button and start my bike to let her warm up. That’s when my mind says “Ahhhhh”. Then out on the road, just the sound of a well tuned engine, just the wind, the road, the feel of the bike beneath me. I’m happy now just thinking about it.
So, what are some key ingredients for a truly happy ride? Oh there are so many things, but at the top thing for me is mindfulness. Really being present in the moment. Not thinking about work, not thinking about business travel that’s required for next week. My smile begins when I open the garage door, press the button and start my bike to let her warm up. That’s when my mind says “Ahhhhh”. Then out on the road, just the sound of a well tuned engine, just the wind, the road, the feel of the bike beneath me. I’m happy now just thinking about it.
Disconnecting too is huge. I do carry by iphone, my GPS and a SPOT GPS just in case I find my self in real trouble in the middle of nowhere, but most of the time, I keep those out of site. Usually in the pack behind me. I know what some of you will say “Ron, that SPOT GPS with the emergency button is going to do you no good if you can’t reach it after a fall. True, so I alway try to remember that if I’m going out into the serious backroads, I’ll turn on the SPOT and connect it to my jacket within easy reach just in case.
Disconnecting too is huge. I do carry by iphone, my GPS and a SPOT GPS just in case I find my self in real trouble in the middle of nowhere, but most of the time, I keep those out of site. Usually in the pack behind me. I know what some of you will say “Ron, that SPOT GPS with the emergency button is going to do you no good if you can’t reach it after a fall. True, so I alway try to remember that if I’m going out into the serious backroads, I’ll turn on the SPOT and connect it to my jacket within easy reach just in case.
Speaking of getting lost, I had the chance to me the very popular British travel writing Sam Manicom this past summer at the BMW Rally in Oregon. He gave me one of his stickers which says “I’m never really lost on my motorcycle”. Yep, I get it. Maybe now and then, as long as we have a full tank of gas and plenty of daylight, maybe we should get lost on purpose now and again! You never know where the road might take you. Hey worse case, get out your Garmen GPS and find your way back home again with a little help from a satellite in space. Hey technology is not all bad!
Speaking of getting lost, I had the chance to me the very popular British travel writing Sam Manicom this past summer at the BMW Rally in Oregon. He gave me one of his stickers which says “I’m never really lost on my motorcycle”. Yep, I get it. Maybe now and then, as long as we have a full tank of gas and plenty of daylight, maybe we should get lost on purpose now and again! You never know where the road might take you. Hey worse case, get out your Garmen GPS and find your way back home again with a little help from a satellite in space. Hey technology is not all bad!
Embracing the challenges of motorcycling can be a real happiness booster. I think this is the primary distinction between those of us who ride a lot of miles in most any weather, and those who are a little less crazy and don’t. Ha ha. I’ve never had the same ride experience twice. I think it’s because the weather has never been exactly the same twice around here in Colorado. Also with our twisty mountain roads, pushing your limits a bit can be fun if you’re careful, whether it's finding that perfect apex on a corner you’ve ridden a million times, or simply riding further than you thought you could. There is science involved in the balance, exceleration, and braking. I think it’s safe to say that all of us can become better riders. The more we ride, usually the better we get. And the better you get, the more fun it is.
Embracing the challenges of motorcycling can be a real happiness booster. I think this is the primary distinction between those of us who ride a lot of miles in most any weather, and those who are a little less crazy and don’t. Ha ha. I’ve never had the same ride experience twice. I think it’s because the weather has never been exactly the same twice around here in Colorado. Also with our twisty mountain roads, pushing your limits a bit can be fun if you’re careful, whether it's finding that perfect apex on a corner you’ve ridden a million times, or simply riding further than you thought you could. There is science involved in the balance, exceleration, and braking. I think it’s safe to say that all of us can become better riders. The more we ride, usually the better we get. And the better you get, the more fun it is.
And don't forget the social aspect which is very unique to motorcycling. Riding with friends, sharing a coffee under a summer shade tree. I’m thinking right now of some of my favorite coffe stops where you can sit outside. Serenity Coffee in Riverside, Wyoming Jamoka Joes here in Loveland, Colorado. Train Car Coffee out in Nederland, Colorado right next to the Carolcel of Happiness. Creating memories together is a huge part of the joy of that happiness factor.
And don't forget the social aspect which is very unique to motorcycling. Riding with friends, sharing a coffee under a summer shade tree. I’m thinking right now of some of my favorite coffe stops where you can sit outside. Serenity Coffee in Riverside, Wyoming Jamoka Joes here in Loveland, Colorado. Train Car Coffee out in Nederland, Colorado right next to the Carolcel of Happiness. Creating memories together is a huge part of the joy of that happiness factor.
Face it, your motorcycling friends are a little different than others. It’s that shared passion... it's what makes this community so special.
Face it, your motorcycling friends are a little different than others. It’s that shared passion... it's what makes this community so special.
Similarly, helping others find their own riding joy. Whether it's mentoring a new rider or simply offering a friendly biker wave on the road, spreading the love multiplies the happiness. My biker wave typically is a peace sign, which of course, makes sense for the host of a podcast called “Peace Love Moto”. Ha ha.
Similarly, helping others find their own riding joy. Whether it's mentoring a new rider or simply offering a friendly biker wave on the road, spreading the love multiplies the happiness. My biker wave typically is a peace sign, which of course, makes sense for the host of a podcast called “Peace Love Moto”. Ha ha.
It may be obvious but I think it’s worth saying. The real joy of riding can be found by being grateful that you can do it. If you have a bike in the garage and you have both the physical and mental capabilities to ride it. Well my friends, you are blessed. You have a lot to be thankful for. You have a lot to be happy about. While we ride, it is indeed a wonderful world.
It may be obvious but I think it’s worth saying. The real joy of riding can be found by being grateful that you can do it. If you have a bike in the garage and you have both the physical and mental capabilities to ride it. Well my friends, you are blessed. You have a lot to be thankful for. You have a lot to be happy about. While we ride, it is indeed a wonderful world.
Thank you for listening today. If you enjoy this podcast, I would appreciate your review on whichever platform you’re using, Apple podcasts, Spotfiy, etc… A review really helps to get the word out about the love we have for motorcycling and the positive image we try to present.
Thank you for listening today. If you enjoy this podcast, I would appreciate your review on whichever platform you’re using, Apple podcasts, Spotfiy, etc… A review really helps to get the word out about the love we have for motorcycling and the positive image we try to present.
Until next time, ride safe and ride happy! I wish you peace. I wish you love.
Until next time, ride safe and ride happy! I wish you peace. I wish you love.