Why We Ride

Soon after launching his career as a clinical psychologist in 1992, Dr. Barnes merged his interest in people with his life-long passion for motorcycling by writing about the human dimension of riding and working on bikes for enthusiast magazines. He settled in as a regular contributor to Motorcycle Consumer News in 1996; since then, 200 (and counting) of his monthly columns have explored wide-ranging psychological aspects of the motorcycling experience. Mark has also written almost as many gear and accessory reviews, technical/how-to articles, and feature stories about motorcycle-related events and destinations, and he presented his own research on the multifaceted appeal of motorcycling at a Popular Culture Association conference. Having ridden extensively both on- and off-road, sampling racetracks and virtually every type of bike in the process, Mark has amassed a wealth of observations and insights over four-plus decades of involvement. That personal history, coupled with his training as a scientist, clinician and communicator, has allowed Mark to capture in words the elusive physical, emotional and interpersonal elements that make the world of the motorcyclist such a rich and exciting place

Why would anyone want to do something as dangerous as motorcycling? For those who love to ride, no explanation is necessary. For everyone else, there's Why We Ride. Designed as both an explanation for outsiders and an anthem for those within the fold, this new book presents the insights of Mark Barnes, PhD, a motorcycling clinical psychologist.

Table of ContentsPrefacePART ONE: WHY WE RIDEIntroductionThe SurveyCategory One: EngagementCategory Two: AutonomyCategory Three: MasteryCategory Four: ExhilarationCategory Five: TranscendenceCategory Six: RelaxationCategory Seven: PracticalityConcluding CommentsPART TWO: SELECTED COLUMNSFrom the GARAGEThe Joy of Maintenance Perfect Imperfection Just Say No Necessary Evils Your Rite to Ride Making it Personal Necessity is a Mother Garage Fever From the ROADHuman Relations 102 The Verdict Can't Live with 'em, Can't Live without 'em Feels Like the First Time...Again The Call of the Open Road Get Lost! What Should Be vs. What Is Doh! Brain Fade and the Perils of FatigueFrom the TRAILDirty Thoughts Half the Fun Back to School Near-Life Experiences Experts From the TRACKConcentrating on Concentration Learning Curves The "Trust Me" Line You Just Can't Get There from HereFrom the COUCH (Freud goes for a ride)Twin Brain - Part OneTwin Brain - Part Two Moto-Voyeurism Linkages Spiritual Motorcycling Self-Diagnostics Shifting Riding in the Zone Motorcycle Camping Moto-Connoisseurism Safe Distance Displacement Black Boxes The Voice of (In)Experience Loud Pipes Do What? Top Ten Reasons... Moto-Placebos Oh, What a Feeling! Getting in Touch with Your Inner Cartographer (or not)From the HEART (personal favorites)Wrecks Sensory-Motor Satori A Cure for What Ails Us Riding Through the Valley of the ShadowGiving Ourselves a HandMilestonesPART THREE: FLOW FOR RIDERSIntroductionAspect One: Challenge-Skill BalanceAspect Two: Action-Awareness MergerAspect Three: Clarity of PurposeAspect Four: Clarity of FeedbackAspect Five: Present Task FocusAspect Six: Paradox of ControlAspect Seven: Absence of Self-ConsciousnessAspect Eight: Transformation of TimeAspect Nine: Autotelic ExperienceConcluding Comments