{"id":6790,"date":"2025-03-12T14:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/?post_type=moa_podcasts&#038;p=6790"},"modified":"2025-03-24T14:32:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T18:32:35","slug":"chore-no-more","status":"publish","type":"moa_podcasts","link":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/moa_podcasts\/chore-no-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Chore no more"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6790\" class=\"elementor elementor-6790\" data-elementor-post-type=\"moa_podcasts\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b53b504 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3b53b504\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dccb86a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2dccb86a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are two kinds of people who exercise: those who consider their fitness regimen (however extensive or modest it may be) an onerous means to a desired end, and those who enjoy it as intrinsically pleasurable. The former type often employs distraction (music, screens, conversation) to minimize their awareness of the physical discomforts involved; they can\u2019t wait for it to be over. The latter type minimizes distractions in order to relish those very same bodily sensations, which are interpreted not merely as discomfort, but as gratifying evidence of their achievement in that moment\u2014they have found the edge of their envelope and want to hover there as long and as vividly as they can. Obviously, the chances of sustaining an exercise routine are far greater when we don\u2019t have to force ourselves to do it and instead look forward to such activities in their own right; the fact they also deliver benefits elsewhere in our lives can just be (very valuable) icing on the cake. And if we want to maximize the number of waking minutes spent feeling good instead of bad, we\u2019ll certainly come out ahead if we can put whatever time we spend exercising in that ledger\u2019s positive column, rather than counting it as obligatory drudgery. I\u2019m guessing the greatest challenge for a personal trainer isn\u2019t designing effective regimens to improve their clients\u2019 strength, stamina and flexibility, but rather bolstering their motivation to stick with any program at all. Hence the fitness world\u2019s adage, \u201cThe most important exercise is driving to the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-6784 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mark-Barnes-w-RS-tight-2-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-6784 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mark-Barnes-w-RS-tight-2-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mark-Barnes-w-RS-tight-2-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mark-Barnes-w-RS-tight-2-768x742.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mark-Barnes-w-RS-tight-2.jpg 964w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript>This principle applies in spades to rider training. The vast majority of motorcyclists don\u2019t bother with any type of skill development or maintenance whatsoever, formal or informal. They may have taken an MSF Basic RiderCourse at the outset to get a motorcycle endorsement on their driver\u2019s license or a discount on their insurance, but that was as far as they got. Such folks consider the fundamental activity of riding all the practice they need, just as people may think whatever physical activities they perform during an average day suffice as support for adequate fitness\u2014after all, if they\u2019re doing what they need to on a daily basis, isn\u2019t that proof they\u2019re fit enough? We may be able to accomplish the most commonly required tasks, whether easily or with some strain, but what happens when the challenge ramps up? If we\u2019re just barely capable of the regular stuff, it\u2019s highly unlikely we\u2019ll do well on anything beyond that, with considerable potential for failure or injury. If the heaviest thing we lift is a water pitcher, how can we expect to move a couch without negative repercussions? Are we really going to right a toppled motorcycle? If the greatest cardio stress we endure over the course of a day is a couple thousand steps walking on level ground, what can we expect when a broken elevator forces us to take six flights of stairs? Forget hiking out of the woods to get help with a broken ADV bike!<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"lazyload\" style=\"border: none;\" title=\"Embed Player\" data-src=\"https:\/\/play.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/35242895\/height\/192\/theme\/modern\/size\/large\/thumbnail\/yes\/custom-color\/f2cb9f\/time-start\/00:00:00\/hide-playlist\/yes\/download\/yes\/font-color\/000000\" width=\"100%\" height=\"192\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>When we\u2019re talking about riding skills, even the cursory practice we get on casual rides may be quite sparse, depending on how often we actually occupy a saddle. If the hardest thing we do there is navigate a few familiar curves and intersections, how could we possibly handle a sudden loss of traction, a panic stop or an evasive maneuver? How about simply executing a U-turn because the road is blocked? Without any meaningful reflection, we can put our faith in an unrealistic fantasy that the surge of motivation prompted by a crisis would magically be accompanied by a commensurate surge in competence. This is akin to believing we could win any street fight if we\u2019re just angry enough, even though we\u2019ve never learned anything about self-defense apart from watching action movies. Not a good bet.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>My point is this: We need to regularly push ourselves beyond the minimum requirements of routine life if we\u2019re to have any hope of successfully managing irregular stressors. This is true in a multitude of dimensions, but I\u2019ll stick to riding skills. I could extoll the benefits of regular practice, highlighting its contributions to safety and joy during the rest of our time with wheels turning, along with the psychological perks of greater confidence and a sense of accomplishment. I\u2019ve done that in other essays, and I\u2019ll do more in the future. Here, however, I want to explore what can be done to make skill development more fun in and of itself. Maybe you already spend time on it because you value its effects, applying firm self-discipline to offset your begrudging reluctance. I applaud your efforts, but I think you\u2019ll do even better if practice is less of a chore. If you currently do no such thing, I hope to spark some curiosity about what you\u2019re missing\u2014not only with regard to the aforementioned benefits (after all, those haven\u2019t been enough to persuade you thus far), but also the inherent fun of \u201cworking\u201d on your skills. Yes, this \u201cwork\u201d can be fun with the right approach.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Attending to our technique is often associated with parking lot drills, and for good reason. A smooth, flat, clear surface in a large empty space is a great place for learning and honing low-speed maneuvers. Distractions and dangers are minimized, and it\u2019s easy to do the exact same thing with plenty of repetition, which is essential to a) developing a conceptual understanding about what works through trial-and-error learning, adjusting one variable at a time, and b) consolidating muscle memory so the techniques learned become reflexive and no longer require much conscious thinking to execute. Out on the road, what we\u2019ve learned at a snail\u2019s pace carries over to a surprising degree. For example, if we get comfortable with a steeper lean angle at 12 mph, we\u2019ll be less intimidated by it at 40 mph. If we get used to the sensations associated with activating our ABS in a hard stop from 25 mph, we won\u2019t be startled by it when slowing abruptly from highway speeds. Of course, there are other things that don\u2019t translate as directly, like counterbalancing a bike by leaning to the outside during a tight U-turn, versus reducing the required lean angle in a fast sweeper by moving our bodies to the inside.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:image {\"id\":6607} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6607 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bmwownersnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/weightlifter-by-marcus-chan.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6607 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/bmwownersnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/weightlifter-by-marcus-chan.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Practice isn\u2019t confined to dedicated drill sessions. It can happen any time we\u2019re paying attention to our technique and trying to refine it. In fact, whenever we don\u2019t pay attention to what we\u2019re doing and spend time riding sloppily, we\u2019re \u201cpracticing\u201d bad technique and increasing the likelihood of behaving similarly in the future. We\u2019re always deepening the grooves of our habits, for better or for worse; in this sense, every ride is a practice session whether we intend it to be or not. This doesn\u2019t mean mindless riding automatically builds skill; quite the contrary, it can erode our skill set. Consciously taking opportunities to notice and improve our technique in any situation can yield progress\u2014and add to the fun. I\u2019m not suggesting we make every outing an endless series of dauntingly difficult self-imposed challenges! I am suggesting a certain mindset can enhance both enjoyment and competence simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Finally, there\u2019s formal training at a riding school. I\u2019ll just mention it here, since this discussion is about what we can do autonomously on a routine basis. However, the mindset I\u2019m about to describe is most definitely applicable to exercises done under the supervision of a riding coach, as well as the practice necessary after such instruction to cement and sustain the lessons learned.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The mindset I, uh, have in mind is a bit difficult to articulate. It\u2019s somewhere in between artistry, playfulness and puzzle-solving. When I\u2019m really enjoying practice, it\u2019s because I\u2019ve made a game of it\u2014a game in which I adjust the level of difficulty based on my emotional whims, not some goal-oriented schedule of incremental advances. If I feel the need for a crushing victory, I make it super-easy. If I\u2019m in the mood for a challenge, I\u2019ll make it harder. If I\u2019m doing very well and want to see just how far I can go, I\u2019ll make it harder still. In the parking lot, this might take the form of changing the maximum diameter of a circle or the target distance for a panic stop. If I don\u2019t want to spend time setting up cones or I\u2019m doing this on the way to or from a ride, I\u2019ll just use the parking space lines as reference points. The idea is to make the process as quick, simple and streamlined as possible, removing anything that resembles a hassle (the opposite of fun!). Having located a suitable lot near home makes these sessions even more convenient. I remove every barrier I can.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>When out on a ride, I can consider each curve a chance to carve a silky smooth, late-apex arc, selecting an outside-inside-outside line that respects the margins of safety available based on surface conditions and the presence or absence of traffic. I might focus solely on the geometry of my path, or incorporate attention to my braking and throttle transitions, aiming for the absolute least impact on chassis pitch. There\u2019s no pressure to meet a certain standard, I\u2019m just playing at the edge of my moment-to-moment ability without exceeding a relaxed pace, paying attention to how each subtle input affects the bike\u2019s behavior and my own sense of precision and control, seeing if I can get a more elegant result each time. It\u2019s important to not become self-critical when this doesn\u2019t happen; I just turn my attention to the next opportunity. Becoming a drill sergeant ruins the mood. The crucial discipline is being attentive, not whipping myself into shape.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:separator --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<p><!-- \/wp:separator --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6982 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"135\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6982 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner-300x34.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner-1024x115.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MOA-Foundation-Logo-banner-768x86.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p><em>The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes<\/em> is brought to you by the <a href=\"https:\/\/bmwmoaf.org\/fundraising\/safemiles-endowment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MOA Foundation<\/a>. You can <a href=\"http:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/page\/membertypes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">join the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America<\/a> quickly and easily to better take advantage of the Paul B Grant and Clark Luster programs mentioned in this episode.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:separator --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<p><!-- \/wp:separator --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The primary goal, whether I\u2019m in a parking lot or out on the road, is to be graceful. If I\u2019m jerky or stiff or something happens I didn\u2019t expect, I might slow down, or stop and stretch, or see if I can reproduce the experience and discern what I missed earlier. It\u2019s an intriguing puzzle to be solved, and I\u2019m genuinely interested in identifying all the components. The action is also a piece of artwork to refine, getting this or that movement to be more aesthetically pleasing. I take pride in the sense of mastery that comes with an advance, but I don\u2019t get caught up in demanding achievement. Maybe today, for some unknown reason, I\u2019m just not able to pull off as tight a figure-8 as I did last time. No sweat, I\u2019ll probably be able to do better in the future. If I start getting frustrated about hitting some arbitrary benchmark, it\u2019s time to switch my focus. I can do U-turns from a standing start and come back to figure-8s later, or at my next practice session. Hmmm\u2026 My left-hand U-turns aren\u2019t quite as smooth as my right-hand ones today. I wonder why. Am I counterbalancing further on one side than the other? Am I looking as far around on the weaker side as I am on the stronger side? It\u2019s just a pragmatic question; can I answer it with a few more attempts? If not, it\u2019ll probably become apparent another day. How about some hard braking now?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Just like in weightlifting, running or yoga, the idea is to work at the edge of our capacity in the moment. If we can\u2019t lift as heavy, run as far\/fast, or go as deeply into a stretch today, we\u2019ll still get the full benefit by simply doing what we can. <em>The trick is to savor the feeling of being at that edge, wherever it happens to be right now.<\/em> Over time, that edge will move and our personal frontier will expand. There\u2019s no need to force it and risk injury and\/or discouragement. It doesn\u2019t take much frustration to poison the well and decrease the chances of returning to the project. A little tension can be motivating, but too much will be counterproductive. Sure, there\u2019s a time and place for pushing ourselves hard, but being a slavedriver is apt to reduce our pleasure and therefore the frequency and duration of subsequent efforts. Until practice becomes ingrained in our riding routine, it must be treated as a fragile endeavor. A calm, non-judgmental, upbeat attitude is most of the recipe for success. A regular investment of time in this mindset will yield results\u2014even if it\u2019s just a five-minute warmup at the start of most rides or a deliberate focus on smoothness through a single series of curves at some point during each outing. It\u2019s a private game to be played whenever the opportunity arises.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>We may do best with a workout buddy or on our own. We may prefer the repetition of a familiar sequence or the spontaneity of mixing it up. We may find keeping track of our accomplishments edifying and inspiring, or burdensome and fodder for self-criticism. Whatever our personal proclivities, the crucial thing is to incorporate some version\u2014<em>the version we enjoy most<\/em>\u2014on a consistent basis. If we make it fun, it\u2019ll feel like play instead of work. And we can make it fun by subtracting the pressure to perform, engaging our curiosity and creating a thing of beauty.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If you want some suggestions on how to practice, there\u2019s a wide variety of good instruction readily available on YouTube. Several of my favorites are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MotoJitsu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MotoJitsu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MotoControlEn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moto Control<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MCrider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MC Rider<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@motorman857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jerry Palladino (Ride Like a Pro)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@DanDanTheFireman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DanDanTheFireman<\/a>, but there are many others. Indulge your personal preferences. Find one you like and dig in. Ready for a slightly greater commitment? Consider an online training program, such as Jon Delvecchio\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/streetskills.thinkific.com\/courses\/CorneringConfidence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cornering Confidence<\/a> or Yamaha Champions Riding School\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ridelikeachampion.com\/courses-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ChampU<\/a> (both of which are available to MOA members at a substantial discount). The old MSF motto is true, \u201cThe more you know, the better it gets.\u201d We don\u2019t have to tolerate tedium to get that payoff.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:separator --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<p><!-- \/wp:separator --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><em>Mark Barnes is a clinical psychologist and motojournalist. To read more of his writings, check out his book <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Why-Ride-Psychologist-Motorcyclists-Relationship\/dp\/1620082284\/ref=sr_1_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Why We Ride: A Psychologist Explains the Motorcyclist\u2019s Mind and the Love Affair Between Rider, Bike and Road<\/a>,<em> currently available in paperback through Amazon and other retailers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are two kinds of people who exercise: those who consider their fitness regimen (however extensive or modest it may be) an onerous means to a desired end, and those who enjoy it as intrinsically pleasurable. The former type often employs distraction (music, screens, conversation) to minimize their awareness of the physical discomforts involved; they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6781,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"podcast":[81],"class_list":["post-6790","moa_podcasts","type-moa_podcasts","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","podcast-the-ride-inside"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moa_podcasts\/6790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moa_podcasts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/moa_podcasts"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moa_podcasts\/6790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"podcast","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bmwmoa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast?post=6790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}