Why We Ride: A Psychologist Explains the Motorcyclist's Mind and the Love Affair Between Rider, Bike, and Road (CompanionHouse Books) In-Depth Explanation, Sports Psychology, and the State of Flow

An honest account of the love affair between rider, bike, and road!

• Why it's worth it: What makes all the hazards and hardships of riding a motorcycle worthwhile to perfectly sane, intelligent, and responsible individuals
• Motivation to ride: Examination of the complex gratifications, relentlessly compelling passions, and deeply personal experiences that motivate motorcyclists
• Sports psychology, psychoanalysis of common riding experiences, and reflections on the author's personal journey as a rider
• Thought-provoking exploration of the human dimension of motorcycling, with the results of the author's own empirical research on the motorcyclist's mindset

Why would you do something as dangerous as motorcycling? Why do you spend so much time, money, and energy on this hobby? Why do you get so excited about riding? Why? It's perhaps the most common question that motorcyclists hear from non-riders, but to those "in the fold," no explanation is needed.

Designed as both an explanation for outsiders and an anthem for those within the fold, this informative and enlightening volume presents the insights of Mark Barnes, PhD, a motorcycling clinical psychologist and moto-journalist.

A popular columnist at Motorcycle Consumer News for more than 20 years, Dr. Barnes articulates in Why We Ride the elusive physical, emotional, and interpersonal elements that make the world of the motorcyclist such a rich and exciting place. His wide-ranging text covers both sports psychology and the psychoanalysis of common riding experiences, including the results of Dr. Barnes' own empirical research.

Inside this book, you'll discover a collection of articles with updated commentary and viewpoints from the author's unique perspective as a clinical psychologist, motorcycling journalist, and avid motorcyclist; discussions, based on the author's personal experiences, of different types of motorcycling (street, trail, track, and more) and different ways to approach the hobby; a look at wrenching, shopping for gear, planning trips, and other ways riders indulge their passion when they're not on the road; an in-depth explanation of the quasi-mystical state of "Flow," a hot topic in modern sports psychology, and how riders can achieve it; the results of the author's own research into motorcyclists, including how they got started, what they consider their peak experiences, and what keeps them going.

Heartfelt and honest, this is a straightforward account of what makes real motorcyclists tick. Affirming what riders already know about the rewards of motorcycling and imparting a new level of understanding to those who just don't get it (yet), Why We Ride makes an excellent gift for bikers, aspiring motorcyclists, and loved ones who keep asking Why?

For those who love to ride, no explanation is necessary. For everyone else, there's Why We Ride!

Why we Ride―A Psychologist Explains the Motorcyclist’s Mind and the Love Affair between Rider, Bike, and Road is entertaining and thought-provoking and well worth a read. ―Ultimate Motorcycling

For its concise explanation of the manly art of bench racing alone, Why We Ride is worth reading. ―Driving

Becoming a skilled rider requires layering; obtaining skills and polishing them over extended periods of time, refining them and always working to improve. Reading “Why We Ride” can be approached the same way; gradually assimilating stories and the lessons therein, and adopting them for personal use. ―Ride-CT

Heartfelt and thought provoking, here is a straightforward account of what really makes motorcyclists tick. ―Motorcyclist's Post

WHY WE
RIDE

Why would you do something so dangerous? Why do you spend so much time, money, and energy on this hobby? Why do you get so excited about riding? Why? It's perhaps the most common question that motorcyclists hear from non-riders, but to those "in the fold," no explanation is needed. In this informative and enlightening volume, psychologist and longtime Motorcycle Consumer News columnist Mark Barnes, PhD, affirms what riders already know about the rich physical, emotional, and interpersonal rewards of motorcycling while imparting a new level of understanding to those who just don't get it (yet). Why We Ride is Dr. Barnes' heartfelt, honest, and thought-provoking account of the motorcyclist's mindset that welcomes all into its pages.

INSIDE WHY WE RIDE:

• A collection of articles with updated commentary and viewpoints from the author's unique perspective as a clinical psychologist, motorcycling journalist, and avid motorcyclist
• Discussions, based on the author's personal experiences, of different types of motorcycling (street, trail, track, and more) and different ways to approach the hobby
• A look at wrenching, shopping for gear, planning trips, and other ways riders indulge their passion when they're not on the road
• An in-depth explanation of the state of flow, a hot topic in sports psychology, and how riders can achieve it
• Results of the author's own research into what makes real motorcyclists tick, including how they got started, what they consider their peak experiences, and what keeps them going

Soon after launching his career as a clinical psychologist in 1992, Dr. Mark 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.