The Pros and Cons of Long-Distance Motorcycle Riding

1. Low-Impact Exercise
2. Decrease Stress
3. A Look at the Negatives
4. Everything in Moderation
5. Shipping your Bike

If you are a motorcycle rider, you known that there is nothing quite like feeling the wind in your hair as barrel down an open road. There is something uniquely energizing about feeling the power of an engine between your legs. Motorcycle riding is something many people enjoy, and for good reason. There are many great benefits to riding motorcycles, just as there are many reasons to use caution – especially on long-distance rides. Let’s examine those reasons.

It is odd to think of, but the act of riding a motorcycle can actually have health benefits. According to the article “6 Surprising Benefits of Motorcycle Riding” published on CASBO.org, the website for the California Association of School Business Officials, one can achieve healthier, stronger knees and thighs from prolonged riding. In the article, it states that orthopedic surgeons have found that riding a motorcycle strengthens the muscles used to hold the patella and other bones of the knee in place.

Low-Impact Exercise

Even more fascinating, according to naturopathic doctor Dr. Pamela Reilly, because of the muscles involved, motorcycle riding qualifies as a low-impact form of exercise. As such, motorcycle enthusiasts will generally have improved insulin sensitivity for up to eight hours after riding. This, in turn, helps one’s metabolism, cuts the storage of fats, and promotes healthy weight loss.

In fact, Dr. Reilly asserts in the CASBO article, that the act of riding a motorcycle employs the principles of constant resistance exercise. While riding, a person burns approximately 600 calories per hour, compared to 200-300 calories per hour for someone at rest.

Decrease Stress

In the article “The 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Motorcycle Riding” found on the website BrapWrap.com, a motorcycle clothing/accessory marketplace, it states that a study funded by Harley-Davidson America found that riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes resulted in a 28% decrease in cortisol, a biomarker that indicates stress. Further, the study found that participants’ heart rates increased by 11% while riding and adrenaline levels went up by 27%, as they would with other forms of healthy light exercise. In short, riding free is a great way to improve your emotional disposition and relieve you of the burdens of stress.

In addition, since riding is typically done in sunlight, there is a resulting increase in Vitamin D, which is important to overall bone health and has an added positive influence on mood.

According to the piece “Motorcycle Riding Health Benefits” found on TuneTrends.com, the act of riding a motorcycle requires good posture translating into improved core strength in the abdomen. Muscles in the neck and back also get a good workout with each ride.

A Look at the Negatives

As much as motorcycle riding can have health benefits, the act also has some health risks. For instance, in the article “Do Motorcyclists Have Erectile Dysfunction? A Preliminary Study”, published in IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal found that there is a connection between riding and ED.

Further, according to the “Study of Vibration and its Effect on Health of the Motorcycle Rider” published in the Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, it was found that motorcycle riding can cause numbness and stiffness in fingers, pain and stiffness in the shoulder, as well as low back disorders.

Canadian inventor Randall Dale Chipkar alleges that extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) radiation can travel through a standard motorcycle seat to affect the rider’s groin and torso leading to such conditions as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer, and bone cancer. Based on his research, Chipkar was granted a patent for an ELF EMF shielding motorcycle seat. Chipkar also published a book on his research: “Motorcycle Cancer? ELF EMF Radiation Truth Exposed for Rider Safety.”

Everything in Moderation

Motorcycle riding has many advantages ranging from improved mood to muscle workout. But like everything, it must come in moderation to do good. So, when it comes to national bike rallies like Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia, and Myrtle Beach, it might be best to ship your motorcycle to the event. You wouldn’t be alone, many avid bikers who love to ride choose to ship their cycles to their rallies each year. This gives you the best of both worlds – you get to ride in a beautiful environment with fellow enthusiasts and don’t have to battle the elements and expose your body to the harsh health risks sometimes associated with long-distance riding. Nor do you put undue wear and tear on your bike.

Shipping your Bike

When you choose to ship your motorcycle, make sure you use a reputable transportation company like A-1 Auto Transport that works with licensed, bonded, and insured carriers.

A-1 Auto Transport offers many options for delivering your bike including:

• Enclosed transport
• Open air
• Door to door
• Terminal to terminal
• Crated transport

Experienced shippers like A-1 Auto Transport offer real-time satellite tracking, as well as insurance coverage so you can have maximum peace of mind. If you are planning on attending a rally this year, do yourself a favor and look into shipping options like A-1 Auto Transport – it could be what’s best for your health and for the health of your motorcycle.