BIKING IS A STATE OF MIND

Sometimes science is helpful to simple people too. Recently while reading the Journal Of Neurochemistry, I came across an article that referenced the brain activity of people while riding a motorcycle.  In a nutshell the brain chemistry of a biker is very unique, there are very few activities that stimulate the brain in such a unique way. 

Charlie Parker on a 1939 Harley Davidson Flathead

It has been well known by bikers for over a century that biking does wonders for the brain. It stimulates portions of the brain that are related to creativity, criminal activity and random acts of kindness. Yes, quite a strange collection of behaviors, but not all that surprising to me. You know the Wright Brothers did a lot of biking before they created and built the first air plane. Charlie Parker rode  thousands of miles on motorcycles before he turned his attention to the alto saxophone. Butch Cassidy and Billy The Kid.....you guessed it loved motorcycling .Leo Buscaglia (The Hug Doctor) and Mother Teresa both were avid motorcyclists. Now there is no guarantee that biking will bring you fame and fortune, but it certainly will change your brain chemistry for the better.....unless you have the recessive gene xl22 like Butch Cassidy and all the other infamous criminals that have paraded through history; then your riding will get you locked up for a long time.

Change your state of mind with a good long bike ride; who knows maybe because of it you will make the world a better place.  

One Reason I Like Riding In Crappy Weather

Most people associate motorcycle riding with warm, sunny weather. When there is a blue sky, gentle breeze and no chance of rain, one sees bikers out on the road enjoying the great day. I'll be out there too, but I look different than the majority of the other riders. 

I'll have all my protective gear on and to many I will look like a nut case! There will be riders wearing flip flops, t-shirts and shorts. Others will be dressed a little more appropriately for that possible flesh meets road experience, but the general dress code is dictated by " dress light and let the wind blow and sun shine on me"! I know people who will wear a helmet most of the time, except when it is a hot,sunny day. Just too uncomfortable to be cooped up in a helmet. Evidently they can schedule rides which guarantee no crashes. So in nice weather I really stick-out, not because of the usual reasons of social awkwardness and unkempt hair, but due to my dressing for the possible crash.  


For this reason, I enjoy riding in inclement weather. People just see a guy who is adventurous. Honestly it really doesn't matter what others think, but there is something nice about not being an odd ball once in awhile. I really do like riding in the rain and chilly weather is just fine for me too.

Your Bike Is Ready.......Is Your Body?

The motorcycle season is here in Northern Minnesota.  Many bikers have prepared their bikes for the season, but very few have considered making sure their body is ready. Being in shape is certainly important, but The Nobodies are more interested in the superficial. Beloved President of the Nobodies, Kickstand got some new tattoos,colored his hair and beard. " I feel like I'm 40 again"!, Kickstand exclaimed to a Cycle World reporter. An article appeared in their May issue. The issue focuses on bike and body maintenance. Kickstand is featured as a biker who does everything wrong.  

When asked if being ridiculed by Cycle World  bothered him,,Kickstand  replied " I just march to a motor with a different rpm." Granted the Nobodies are certainly nonconformists. For instance the average weight of motorcycle club members in the nation is 221 pounds, while the average weight of a Nobody member is 122  pounds. The average cc's in the nation is 1,200 while in the Nobodies it is 400. Most motorcycle clubs average 40 speeding tickets per year, while the Nobodies get 16 citations yearly for going too slow, consequently blocking  traffic flow. Clubs usually consume 1,400 gallons of beer yearly, while the Nobodies consume 1 gallon of beer and 400 gallons of ice tea.

ASK KICKSTAND

Ask Kickstand is an email advice column dedicated to motorcycle questions. These questions can be technical; regrading mechanical issues, safety related, philosophical, spiritual or relationship issues. 

Disclaimer: Kickstand is not a psychiatrist, a professional mechanic, Motorcycle Safety Trainer, pastor or a social worker. If a reader chooses to follow Kickstand's advice it is with the understanding that neither Kickstand nor the Nobody Motorcycle Club will be held liable.

Dear Kickstand,

I have a problem that seems impossible to resolve. I have contacted therapists, social workers, pastors, psychics, college professors, life coaches and international motivational speakers. No one is remotely interested in helping me. I have been clear that I do not lack money and would reward anyone who could help me. Yet I seldom get a response and often have had people hang up on me or excuse themselves from our initial conference and not return. I hope your will be willing to assist me.

About 10 years ago, I was inline skating several times a week. One day as I was putting on my skates, I  mindlessly started spinning the wheels on one of the skates then the thought came into my mind that "those little wheels could fall off". I went for my skate, but was some what fearful about having an accident. I started every skate after that by spinning the wheels on one of my skates and thinking about how my life depended on those little wheels. Within a month I stopped inline skating and put the skates out of sight, as they caused me to feel anxious. Several months later as I was grocery shopping with my then 3 year old child, one of the wheels on the shopping cart was wobbling side to side causing a racket and making the cart shutter. I had a sudden fear that the cart could flip over hurting my child. I switched carts and continued shopping. Over the course of the next several weeks, I would inspect a shopping cart before placing my child in the seat and eventually I even felt uncomfortable with a cart the rolled smoothly choosing to have my child walk by my side. In a matter of weeks I discontinued using shopping carts and carried a shopping basket instead. This was inconvenient as I could not buy a weeks worth of groceries, but I continued the practice. To make a long story short this mistrust of wheels over the past 10 years has progressed to the point of not even driving a car! My husband of course was at first mildly amused, but as the years have passed and the fear has spread to other wheels he is very concerned. Then the unthinkable occurred; last week I was afraid to ride my motorcycle. I have ridden a motorcycle for over 30 years. It is a big part of my life and really a big part of my personal identity. I cannot imagine never riding again. Please help me!


Sincerely,
Wheelie Scared


Dear Wheelie Scared,

First let me assure you that I can help you. In a matter of a few days you will not only be riding your cycle again, but all your wheel fears will be gone. You see it is all in semantics. Do you have wheel fears or real fears? I believe the answer is neither. I believe you have reel fears. You have been watching too much lousy American Television! The combination of numbing advertisements and mindless shows of psycho killers, horrendous car and personal accidents along with reality shows that are far removed from reality and the redeeming qualities of humanity.  Stop watching television and starting using your wheels again!
  

Motorcycle Maintenance Do It Yourself

Doing maintenance on your bike can save you money and be enjoyable too. Some regular maintenance doesn't require advanced skills or knowledge. Youtube is a great resource for step by step instruction.  I recommend starting with changing oil and oil filter on your bike. The investment in tools is minimal. All you need is an open end wrench (specific size for your drain plug) to remove the drain plug, a oil filter wrench, a container to drain the used oil into and a funnel to add the new oil. You may want to purchase a service manual for your bike, especially if you want to try additional maintenance projects. Other possible beginner maintenance would be checking air pressure in your tires. Make sure you purchase a good tire gauge and if you want  an inexpensive air compressor will allow you to do this at your home. Lubricating cables, cleaning brake rotors and brake shoes are other simple tasks. If your cycle has a chain drive, cleaning, lubricating and tightening your chain are also beginner projects. Tightening your chain would require you to purchase a torque wrench to assure you tighten the rear axle to required specifications.

I think the next project could be replacing your tires. This would require purchasing about $200 in tools. You would need specific socket wrenches, torque wrench, valve stem remover, tire irons, rim protectors, bead breaker and wheel balancing stand. In my area it costs $50 per tire to have this done at a bike shop, so you will recoup your investment very quickly. There are good Youtube videos that you can watch to help you decide, if you want to tackle this project. I have been doing my own tires for 8 years and although it is a bit of work and wrestling with getting tires on and off I enjoy it. Below are a few pictures to give you some idea of the process. I forgot to take a picture of my balancing axle I use, which I purchased a Aerostitch of Duluth. Other maintenance projects that I do are brake pad replacement, valve adjustment, cable replacement, battery care and cooling system care.    

New Tire ready to ride

Ready to  install

Rear wheel off, center stand or jack required to remove the wheel

Removing old well worn tire

Using tire irons and rim protectors to remove old tire

Bead breaker

THE DEFLATING WINTER MONTHS

Winter is a season I enjoy. I like snow and many of the winter sports, but as a motorcyclist the winter months take a toll on my body. Many people gain weight in the northern states during the winter. 

Inactivity and additional eating due to boredom are contributing factors, but many avid motorcyclists actually loose weight during the winter months. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota recently published their study on  Motorcyclist's Winter Weight Loss. The study showed that 60% of their test group of avid motorcyclists lost between 6 - 25% of their total body weight. The average weight loss was 11%! It appears that there are subtle changes in the motorcyclists brain chemistry which affect the appetite and the metabolism. The riders craved raw vegetables and plain yogurt and lost interest in fatty foods, unhealthy snacks and red meat. "This combined with an increase in their metabolic rate caused substantial weight loss," explained Dr. Toldyaso. This unusual medical malady is being called The Flat Tire Syndrome, since the majority of the test subjects had rather large "spare tires" at the beginning of the study. "For many people this weight loss is a  benefit, but for people who are average or below average in their weight range this syndrome can become a serious medical issue," explained Dr. Toldyaso . "It appears some who may have more serious cases of the syndrome could lose substantially more weight and this could present a health risk."        

I was wasting away and didn't know it 

This study was eye opening for me, as my wife would often tell me I seem to waste away during the winter months. I usually responded with a smile and a witty comment like " I just feel like being a bunny  rabbit in the winter!" Yesterday she was empathetic that I put on my motorcycle ride wear and lay on the floor so she could take a photo. I was shocked. Well either I need to move to a warmer climate or start riding my cycle all winter.

    

WAITING FOR SPRING

In the northern states, winter can be very hard on bikers. There are only so many bike repairs and upgrades one can do, then it is just a matter of sitting in a rocking chair an waiting for the snow to melt. I have found a few other activities that help pass the time and prepare me for another biking season.

1.  Get a few more tattoos

2.  Grow a beard

3.  Get another piercing

4.  Go on line and find another used sleeveless shirt on E bay

5.  Get some cosmetic surgery.... fight off the grandpa look

6.  Go out in the woods, wrestle down a wolf and pull out one of its teeth

7.  Make a wolf tooth necklace

8.  Watch Motorcycle Jeopardy

9. Learn how to knit

10.  Go to Florida and rent a bike for a week


Well, I've done all of the above and there is still snow on the ground in Northern Minnesota. I'm about ready to go nuts.