HIKERS FOR BIKERS

Addictions are a serious problem for many people. Back in the day only a few types of addictions were recognized, while now the list is expansive. An addiction to biking has become recognized as a serious problem in the past five years.  "There are people who struggle with keeping off their bike rather than keeping on the wagon", explained Arthur Argoneknot, an expert in moving addictions. He went on to explain that since we Americans are so driven to achieve and accumulate possessions we are prime candidates for activity addictions. "Many Americans cannot sit still, they need to keep moving and since many of us are prone to sedentary lifestyles we look for motorized means to meet our needs", Argoneknot elaborated.  It is estimated that 5,000 bikers in America suffer from this debilitating addiction. "They cannot hold a job or relate to anyone unless it is connected with riding", Argoneknot further explained, "Their entire identity is associated with accumulating miles and seeing what is around the next corner". Traditional therapy only works for a small number of people with motorcycle additions, because they usually ride their cycle to their session many simply end up riding past their destination and leave town for weeks at a time. Recently an unlikely group of people have offered a very effective alternative to traditional therapeutic interventions. Hikers have come to the rescue of bikers!    

Lony Luelanely president of The National Society Of Hikers was intrigued by this biking addiction. "When a psychiatrist friend of mine told me about Cyclesomatosia I was more than fascinated", Lony explained. " The need for continuous motion and the desire to see what was around the next corner sounded very familiar to me. It did not take me long to realize that also described  why I enjoy hiking."  He continued,"As I talked to my hiking friends we realized we could offer a healthy alternative to biking away one's life with all its physical consequences; back pain, hypertension, poor hand circulation, peg  toe, obesity, bug teeth, yellow linedisease to just name a few." Hiking has so many benefits and allows a great deal of social interaction while participating. Lony is a member of the Superior Hiking Trail Association in northern Minnesota. They started small by offering short day hikes to bikers and in a matter of three years their project Hikers For Bikers has grown into a 22 state program that is recognized by the NAAPA (National Association Of Academic Psychiatry Administration).  "We are thrilled by the results we have seen through this innovative intervention, explained Dr Van Drutten President on NAAPA, and we believe as studies are completed other countries will embrace this program."

Road Hog one of the recent participants in a Hikers For Bikers weekend trip said," In a matter of a few hours I fell in love with hiking and also fell in love with one of the other participants." I sold my bike, bought a backpack and all kinds of camping gear and got married!"

Dirty Dog another biker sold on Hiking Therapy said, " I have found hiking to be a healthy alternative to biking. I am now able to keep a job and have lost 90 pounds. The only thing I really miss is going fast around corners. The best replacement has been running very fast down steep trails."

Of course there are some participants who are not able to transfer their love of biking into hiking. "We are not the magic cure-all,explained Lony, but we have help many people get on the road to recovery"