Riding to clear your mind

[solman]

With all the stresses of work and family life, I find that riding one day a week aggressively really helps me get thru the weeek.   I tried to go a week without a good ride and found myself going stir crazy.  As hard as I tried not to go out today, I finally had to go for a quick ride.  It gives me the mental clarity that I need to forget about everything else for a few hours.  Some use driinking, some use drugs, I use riding.  What do you do to get yourself thru the week.

[Sven]

Here, December and January are the rainiest of our year.  And like today, when it's not rainy, it's sunny and C-O-L-D.  So winter is a bit of a challenge.  But before Christmas, there will be a warmer day when I'll suit up and burn off a few gallons out among the cotton fields.  (You know, like you have there in AZ!)

Nine months out of the year, I get my lift on my commute to work.  There's this place where the road narrows from seven lanes to two, and there are no cross streets, and I like to get ahead of as many cars as possible.  I justfy those 117 MPH in a 45 MPH zone bursts by the fact that getting ahead of even a couple cars means one less period sitting at a light at the bottom of the hill.

[solman]

Yea, I know that some are limited due to seasonal problems.  I guess it wouldn't bother so much not to ride if that was the case for me.  Luckily it isn't the issue most of the time.

[Heyu]

 I have cabin fever and would love to be able to go for a ride it's the best thing there is. Motorcycles the only drug that works every time for every problem

[solman]

I have cabin fever and would love to be able to go for a ride it's the best thing there is. Motorcycles the only drug that works every time for every problem

That is a truism, probably why I broke out for ride today.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I ride for recreation everyday but only as a reward to a good work out. If I don't work out I don't feel like I deserve to ride, a personal thing.

[GooseMan]

I havent been on my bike since October...I'm starting to go nuts!  Sigh...only 3-4 more months of winter....

[interfuse]

A few months ago I was having some relationship problems -- riding was about the thing keeping me sane. Now that it`s winter here I spend most of my time dreaming about riding.

[solman]

So I am guessing that I am not the only one that uses riding to stay on the sane side of life.

[pmackie]

Yea...riding does it for me as well, either dirt or street...

But when I've had a really stressful time a work, there is nothing like a good multi-day, multi-province/state ride with a few good buddies to really readjust the attitude.

However, my bikes been parked since mid Oct as well, and only 3-1/2 months to go, either dirt or street. We will be breaking out the skiis next week, as the local hill just opened. Skiing with my kids will take the place of riding for the next 12 weeks, and I should get out most weekends.

[speedwaymaniac]

sadly i was in the same situation as interfuse. Riding is wonderful for me its the best form of escapism, once I'm on the bike i CAN'T be sad for anything more than 10 minutes, simply because riding is so enjoyable, even in the cold and wet.
Secondly if you're not in the right frame of mind on a bike you'll end up road-kill before long, so i always snap into place pretty quick for that reason if no other.

[smooth operator]

I havent been on my bike since October...I'm starting to go nuts!  Sigh...only 3-4 more months of winter....

  I hear ya bro,I'm going to have alot of mind clearing to do come spring! I need to get a bike with knobbies and studs for the winter!
     Dan

[CWO4GUNNER]

I work out and get my cardio up to release stress which also force the release of opiates from the brain, a natural narcotic pain killer which causes euphoria with only positive effects. Then I get on my bike and ride and savor only the ride flight for what it is, freedom. Without the opiates its just not the same. Incidentally when released from the brain the effect last for 3 to 5 hours. 

[solman]

I work out and get my cardio up to release stress which also force the release of opiates from the brain, a natural narcotic pain killer which causes euphoria with only positive effects. Then I get on my bike and ride and savor only the ride flight for what it is, freedom. Without the opiates its just not the same. Incidentally when released from the brain the effect last for 3 to 5 hours. 

My brother does the same thing, he uses a punching bag.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Whatever as long as it releases that pent up energy and the exhaustion causes the release of that brain elixir. I think that why allot of folks suffer from depression because like a bike that sits too much we get loaded up. So if I miss a work out day, I punish myself by not riding so I can get back in the groove.

I work out and get my cardio up to release stress which also force the release of opiates from the brain, a natural narcotic pain killer which causes euphoria with only positive effects. Then I get on my bike and ride and savor only the ride flight for what it is, freedom. Without the opiates its just not the same. Incidentally when released from the brain the effect last for 3 to 5 hours. 

My brother does the same thing, he uses a punching bag.