Vicious_Cycler Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Yesterday afternoon, I got in 95 or so miles on the backroads of Wilson, Rutherford, Cannon, and Dekalb Counties, TN. It was fun but muy caliente ! About 15 miles from home, my iPod powered down so I rode on w/o music. I remebered that years ago my wife, then girlfriend, rode 2-up everywhere on a Nighthawk 250; no tunes, just us. I have often wondered if riding hasn't been super beneficial to our marriage. I've several bikes to the present, all w/o iPod or stereos. As a young couple w/ lots of growing to do, conflicts were inevitable. Many times I would ride around w/ nothing but my thoughts in my helmet; it was my Zen time (see Robert Pirsig). By the time I got home, I had a whole new perspective and the conflict could resolve and dissolve. I still have fun but I find I'm not as relaxed as I used to be when I get home (but I have a big grin!). With the right tunes, I hoon a lot more now instead of just motoring and thinking. Maybe I've lost something since plugging in. Maybe I need to dedicate an occassional ride w/o tunes to seeing the sights and getting back in balance. Oh well, just a deep thought moment. Link to comment
TEWKS Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 You may be onto something there (one bad word) Yes Miss Wilson, I do belong in math class. Pat Link to comment
philbytx Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I don't need music when riding and do find it distracting! I really like the Zen aspect....when riding I like to be more in tune with my bike, myself and the planet. I always return refreshed...even in 95+ weather Link to comment
Slyder_Steve Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Wow! Motorcyling without tunes, GPS, XM...what a concept Actually, trying to think of the last time I rode without them...might be on to something here...thanks Cycler! Slyder Link to comment
Troy Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I shut it all down a couple of times a week. I do love my music but I find as you have that the quiet time is valuable. Link to comment
MrHondamatic Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 A long time ago, I had a Goldwing. Could not stand it until I added the Hondaline fairing, along with the oh so pricey Honda radio and speakers. No cheesy aftermarket add on for this guy! Talk about wasting money. I used the radio at first, but after a short while I just left it turned off. I could hear it fine, as could anyone within a hundred miles I suspect, but I never really cared for it, other than bike cleaning time. When I bought the RT, one of the things I looked for on a bike was the lack of a radio. Any that had them, I passed on. Besides, when you are as good a singer as I am, and know some/most of the words to a lot of songs, or make up new lyrics, who needs a radio? Link to comment
Vicious_Cycler Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 Now that's agood one Dave. I never thought of singing. Is moto-singing as quality as shower-singing? Link to comment
JayW Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Two of the most effective opportunities for me to problem solve and perspectivise (word?) are when I ride my RT or mow with my JD tractor. I have no interest in adding tunes to either. Jay Link to comment
OlGeezer Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I don't need music when riding and do find it distracting! I really like the Zen aspect....when riding I like to be more in tune with my bike, myself and the planet. I always return refreshed...even in 95+ weather +1 Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Now that's agood one Dave. I never thought of singing. Is moto-singing as quality as shower-singing? You won't have the nice echo........ and there are more flies..... Link to comment
Haynes Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Gotta have the tunes. I have an Ipod playing into the RT with Autocom headset. The music is from the sixties - when music allowed me to still think while listening. Link to comment
DaveinNCMn Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Two of the most effective opportunities for me to problem solve and perspective (word?) are when I ride my RT or mow with my JD tractor. I have no interest in adding tunes to either. Jay +1 The only differences are that I don't have an RT (yet, anyway) and I drive IH and AC tractors. Don't need no stinking 'tunes....riding (or working with/on one of the tractors) is my entertainment. Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I can't stand 'noise' either when driving or riding. Never have and never will, most I use the radio in the car for is to be alerted to traffic jams on the German and French highways. I just LOVE to be busy with riding ONLY without distractions. But that's the nice thing about this all... we can all enjoy our separate things and still 'moto' ! Link to comment
JJZorro Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Most times I like to just let the noise of riding put me into a kind of hyper Zen state where "everything" becomes clear (or not) and then other times I like my iPod which puts me into a completely different space. I seem to go faster with music than without. Link to comment
MrHondamatic Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Now that's agood one Dave. I never thought of singing. Is moto-singing as quality as shower-singing? Moto-singing is the best. Nobody tells you to STFU when you are at your best. The full face helmet keeps bugs out, and tunes in. Link to comment
BamaRider Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Maybe I've lost something since plugging in. I'd say you're right. Link to comment
Alan D Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Two of the most effective opportunities for me to problem solve and perspectivise (word?) are when I ride my RT or mow with my JD tractor. I have no interest in adding tunes to either. Jay I do the same, except with music, much like background music in a movie. Yep, I'm finally in a movie! Singing, I'm much better in the shower. You would would agree if you could hear me. Link to comment
jaytee Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 On my weekly mountain rides the tunes are almost always in... its my personal soundtrack to the amazing experience of bombing through the trees. That being said, nearly every other day I am on my bike is sans tunes. Commuting? earplugs. Errands? Earplugs. Friend's house? Earplugs. JT Link to comment
Rottweiler Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I've always liked listening to music as a way to clear my mind from all the serious problems that life throws at you. When the music is playing I can't think about the job or the family or the bills. All of life’s little problems disappear and I become fully immersed in what I'm doing, which means enjoying the ride, even if I'm riding to work. I also listen to tunes when I ski. Long before the mp3 and minidisk and even before the walkman, I had a small automotive cassette deck with a small rechargeable 12v battery (all weighing about 5lbs) strapped to my chest in a padded bag as I flew down the trails. I still get a similar rush when I fly down the road on my RT with the tunes from my Sirius radio playing in my custom molded earphones. I am of course concerned for my hearing and my safety and am able to hear the music at a reasonable level and still hear what’s going on around me. For me, it's the only way to fly! Link to comment
Tool Man Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I rode for years without music because I wanted to be at one with the bike and what's going on beneath me. I finally caved one day and bought an I-Pod to give this tunes while riding thing a try. Frankly it was weird, didn't like it and stuck to washing the truck or doing yard work with it. I eventually had Arizona Al make me up a few sets of ear plugs sending one set to Ear-Inc. for speakers. I slowly kept trying the ride with music and finally got use to it. I never ride in city traffic with music but while commuting to the house in Wrightwood I will turn it on when I hit Hwy2. Can I live without it sure, but there are times I just don't want it and work out my thoughts. It's crazy the things I come up with and design while riding without music distration. It ain't easy being me sometimes... Link to comment
stubble! Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I ride on the freeway with tunes. Otherwise it's off, particularly if I'm "playing" Link to comment
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