Your mind "tweak"?

[FirstPath]

Originally Posted by TXRKC

I dont tell myself anything. I leave pretty early in the mornings (5:45 am) and there have been mornings when I have my gear on, open the garage door, get on the bike and before I even start it, get back off the bike and take the truck. Sometimes I'm just not mentally in the mood to ride and sometimes I'm just too tired. I have a 38 mile commute each way, mostly freeway and a lot of freeway constuction going on in the area. Some days just dont feel right.

I have done that myself as well. I have several different ways to ride home from work. How I feel often depends which way I go. I try not to make the decision based on fastest way home or most convenient.Sometimes the quickest way home doesn't read to me as the safest at that time. Trust your gut feelings, keep your cool and stay focused on the task at hand.

Scott in Shoreview
'79 Suzuki GS550

[svejkovat]

Mentioned this a few times here. I'm almost always imagining the worst.... graphically. A running clip of bad outcomes in my head at any given moment. A bit morbid, but I know it keeps me alert.

A little constant apprehension is worth it to keep riding into my old age.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by 390beretta

Panteh, Where are you? I know you're more "pensive" than a lot here.

I live downtown Boston. I ride a KTM690R here and keep it in the garage under my high rise. I also have a dual sport bike in Cave Creek, which I use as basic transportation when I snow bird.

Your threads strike me as overly inward looking. I just don't see riding a motorcycle the work you make it out to be. You remind me of those who constantly seek out counseling from therapists and physicians. Living and breathing just isn't that hard for most of us...

I don't think Phoenix is nearly as lethal as you make it. Urban Boston isn't that tough either. They both require a different approach, but neither is harrowing to ride.

Probably the only thing I try to remind myself while riding is not to get angry because somebody barged my rightful space in a lane...far too common.

[ragtoplvr]

The need to constantly be on guard is why I find it difficult to ride more than 200 or 300 miles without a extended break and or a nap. Althought I want to, and I am physically capable, my mind must rest.

It does piss me off that becasue of the mind dead drivers, I am quite unlikely to ever do a SS 1K. Now I gave up caffeine, and I am looking forward to my next longer ride, so I can see how much difference it makes.

Rod

[ten_fiver]

Originally Posted by 390beretta

ten-fiver

I agree, you don't need a mind teak when you ride in Wyoming! I used to live there. Try riding in a large city sometime.

True, but I have been out of the state before.

[ten_fiver]

Damn, I need to stay out of this thread. I did 2 tours in Iraq and it didn't seem nearly as dangerous as all of you are making motorcycle riding out to be.

[Mambo Dave]

Originally Posted by ragtoplvr

It does piss me off that becasue of the mind dead drivers, I am quite unlikely to ever do a SS 1K. Now I gave up caffeine, and I am looking forward to my next longer ride, so I can see how much difference it makes.

Rod

Rod, you're in Missouri, lol. I fail to make the connection between the typical driver and you not being able to complete a 1k ride ... especially in an area of the country that you have so many choices of routes to take to see so little traffic.

What do you think our choices are here in Florida? One way or another a round-trip will have anyone attempting it to hit nearly every drugged-out crazy populated area with drivers that don't seem to care if they even kill themselves. Day after day they see what happens to those around them, day after day they continue to ignore what they've seen, or ignore the rains (as in tonight) and large numbers of collisions ensue. Hell, I just came across a new flatbed tow-truck tonight in a fresh (less than one minute old) accident where he hydroplaned and smakced backwards into the median. Of all people, one would think the tow truck drivers would learn from all the hydroplaned wrecks they pick up each week... but no-one here ever learns anything.

I hope to start taking my Mercury & Lead injections soon, too, to fit in a little better.


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My anti-tweak - I've been admittedly commuting while exhausted a lot lately. I just can't sleep with this night schedule they have me on now, and daylight-times are too full of other things to take care of. It's sorta amazing how often one can ride in that state and not get himself taken out. I'm about ready to quit my job to avoid riding the 400-a-week... I think I've been more than lucky, and it isn't worth driving a car that far each day.

But if I can ride anti-tweaked, then I'm not sure anyone really needs a 'tweak'

[390beretta]

Hey ten fiver......Sincere thanks for your service to the country. I mean that!

[390beretta]

Just a thought: There have been times when my wife and I both have not felt "on top of the game", for whatever reason. We don't hesitate to say "I think I need/want to take the Jeep today". I think that's totally the way it should be. Before you do anything, you need to first: Assess your ability to ride, whether that's due to being tired, stressed, under the influence, angry, etc. If you're not totally "competent" to ride; then don't. As a lot of other posters have mentioned.

[Hudson7]

The same thing I told my son when riding his bicycle around town, everybody in a car is trying to kill you and they can if given the opportunity. Seems to work thus far...