Why We Ride: The Survivor Gene

[Norm]

As I got on the motorcycle today for the 6th day in a row, with my wife downgrading my status from crazy bastard to f$%^&ing idiot, I started to think: The first thought I had riding down 495 was will I get feeling back in my hands sometime today. It was 17 degrees with the wind chill. The second thought related to a special on 60 minutes. 2 guys were isolating a substance from red wine that apparently activates a "survivor" gene, or something like that. Eating very little also activates this gene. They had all kinds of research showing rats live longer, etc and one of the big drug companies bought the rights for 100's of millions of dollars if I remember right. As I rode I watched vigilantly for ice, frost, cagers, and adjusted my visor 300 times to close out the cold air and when the fog inside the mask dangerously obstructed my vision, I cracked open the visor, only to feel the sting of the cold again. My only thought: survival. And I liked it. I believe riding activates the survival gene. It gives us life, soothes, if not heals, our ailing and aging bodies. It is the very danger, the thrill if you will, that vitalizes an otherwise unthreatened and dangerously complacent and indulgent species.

 

[Fz6Sa]

No doubt that bike riding brings some of our "cave-man" instincts (Most females have them as well), and that this is one of the major reasons why we enjoy it so much :rockon:

 

[Oscar54]

I agree that danger and extremes adds excitement to life!

But your wife is right,"You're F#@%ing crazy!"

Ride Safe.

Lew

 

[Deleted member 2349]

good ideas...could also be a reason every once and a while, taking a chance on cops and cagers just to peg the speedo...that always brings a nice feeling of peace.

 

[D-Mac]

good ideas...could also be a reason every once and a while, taking a chance on cops and cagers just to peg the speedo...that always brings a nice feeling of peace.

+1. I'm not a speed freak, but once in a while it's a great feeling to open it up. I've never felt more alive than when on a bike (or more tired/cold/miserable at other times either). It's the highs and lows that make it great.

Back when I bought my first car I used to crank down the windows in the winter and turn on the heater on the hottest days in the summer just to feel the extremes. Friends thought I was crazy.....and I was.

 

[D-Mac]

As I got on the motorcycle today for the 6th day in a row, with my wife downgrading my status from crazy bastard to f$%^&ing idiot, I started to think: The first thought I had riding down 495 was will I get feeling back in my hands sometime today. It was 17 degrees with the wind chill. The second thought related to a special on 60 minutes. 2 guys were isolating a substance from red wine that apparently activates a "survivor" gene, or something like that. Eating very little also activates this gene. They had all kinds of research showing rats live longer, etc and one of the big drug companies bought the rights for 100's of millions of dollars if I remember right. As I rode I watched vigilantly for ice, frost, cagers, and adjusted my visor 300 times to close out the cold air and when the fog inside the mask dangerously obstructed my vision, I cracked open the visor, only to feel the sting of the cold again. My only thought: survival. And I liked it. I believe riding activates the survival gene. It gives us life, soothes, if not heals, our ailing and aging bodies. It is the very danger, the thrill if you will, that vitalizes an otherwise unthreatened and dangerously complacent and indulgent species.

Yup. Animals that are slightly undernourished also live much longer than those that are well fed (>25% longer I recall). Of course castration has the same effect on improving longevity.....but that's a high price to pay for a longer lifespan (testosterone suppresses male immune systems). [Science rant over]

 

[Mississippi]

It gives us life, soothes, if not heals, our ailing and aging bodies. It is the very danger, the thrill if you will, that vitalizes an otherwise unthreatened and dangerously complacent and indulgent species.

+1 for sure. I just started riding last year, and my only regret is that I did not start sooner.

 

[DaveOTZ]

OK If I geek out tell me Ill keep it shut...

funny side note Im reading this thread... starts snowing... Im stuck in the city... wife calls to tell me to drive slowly...

So... I study occupational therapy... We are involved in a lot of cognitive and learning issues... I like to treat the origin of an issue so I study a lot of neuro-anatomical...ummm... crap...
So raise your hand if you were the kid who found it difficult to pay attention in class, maybe you understood a lot of what you learned, but found that your grades didn't reflect what you knew... There are many conditions including, ADD, ADHD, Sensory modulation issues, etc. that involve a piece of the brain called the dopaminergic tract... Also, the area commonly seen to be under-active in many people with addiction problems...

The treatment for many of these kids (in addition to meds) is called sensory integration... the stimulation of certain senses at the same time.
When we ride we are using our vestibular (balance we get from our ear canals) and Proprioceptive (sensors in our joints that tell us where our parts are) at the same time were concentrating on the road and feeling the tactile (skin feeling) input from the bike...

In many of these kids they get upset and restless often and the sensory integration therapy calms them... I know personally Im very focused and calm after a good ride... Think about the factors and consider the possibility that you may have been one of these kids...

Or maybe Im just trying to justify freezing my ass off instead of taking a warm train...

Again, Im sorry if I just geeked out... I just know I barely got through undergrad without a bike and now Im almost done with my masters with a bike...

 

[Smittyboy]

This explains perfectly what I've been feeling/noticing!!! When it was warm and I could ride I almost made deans list, but now it's $hitty out and snowy (wasn't for the snow I'd be riding) I can't focus on anything! I got my bike last summer, then the following semester I got the highest gpa of my life... Coincidence? I think not... Now it's scientifically proven... BIKES INCREASE GPA AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

 

[Nelly]

I've never felt more alive than when on a bike (or more tired/cold/miserable at other times either). It's the highs and lows that make it great. /QUOTE]

Totally agree with you. What about the sense of achievement you get when you bring your bike home, or even get to work when the conditions have been shocking?

Nelly

 

[OZXJR]

I've never felt more alive than when on a bike (or more tired/cold/miserable at other times either). It's the highs and lows that make it great.

Too true,I have been riding for 25 years.....practically everyday and that feeling never leaves you :thumbup:

 

[Hollywood416]

I think it kinda falls into that Adrenaline junkie category as well. Personally since I was a teen I always needed something to satisfy my wild side. It's been one thing or another but always comes back to that adrenaline rush....for me it started with BMX then somewhat in order went like this boxing, bull riding, Hot rod 4x4's, Motorcycles, CrossCountry ATV, Motocross and now back to the bikes again. :thumbup:

 

[KensFz6]

So raise your hand if you were the kid who found it difficult to pay attention in class, maybe you understood a lot of what you learned, but found that your grades didn't reflect what you knew... There are many conditions including, ADD, ADHD, Sensory modulation issues, etc. that involve a piece of the brain called the dopaminergic tract... Also, the area commonly seen to be under-active in many people with addiction problems...

:Im With Stupid: I was just wondering about this the other day. I'm coming up on finals week but I just can't bring myself to work on any of the assignments that are due soon.

I'm a perpetual procrastinator and also have trouble paying attention but usually understand or remember things even though I wasn't focused on it at the time. I came to wonder about the connection to addictive behaviors as well.

 

[wrightme43]

I know this for me is true. When I ride my bike into work I am happier all day, more motivated, and sell service even better than normal. Everything is brighter and more real, I feel more alive and at peace and it comes thru in my interactions with other humans.

Or to put it in two short words I saw on a coffee mug.

Winter Sucks



lol

thanks for the geek out, I dig that stuff and it makes good sense to me, cause I am that kid too.

 

[wolfc70]

Totally agree with you. What about the sense of achievement you get when you bring your bike home, or even get to work when the conditions have been shocking?

Nelly

That is the best part of riding, getting someplace is an event. You feel a sense of accomplishment in arriving to a destination. Even though the same trip in a car is utterly boring. The sense of accomplishment does seem to dwindle once your bike dries and all of the road grime seems to hide your bike.

 

[DaveOTZ]

Thanks for the replies... It's a tough theory to prove...
Currently there is a type of therapy called hippotherapy it provides kids with rhythym and motion input from horseback riding to help them learn to walk or even balance...

I think at some point I might be able to get something more concrete... In the meantime some FZ self medication...

On the side note... first ride in decent rain today... felt amazing!!!

 

[FZyLarry]

I bought my fist road bike strictly because it was the cheapest transportation I could afford (and being in San Diego the weather wasn't an issue). As the stress & strain of learning to be a good sailor started growing on me I noticed that when I got really wound tight I could go for a ride out of town and by the time I got back, everything was good again. I've been using motorcycles for mental health ever since, going on 30+ years now.