Is riding "good for you?"

[DocWong]

I usually recommend to my patients that ride to continue riding. So not only is riding "doctor recommended," but here's some research to back that up!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itCbTMj0ACqXppwLJqoe39s4d-Gg

The article:
Motorcycles help keep you young: Software Expert

11 hours ago

TOKYO (AFP) — Riding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains, the scientist behind popular "Brain Training" computer software said Wednesday, citing a new scientific study.

"The driver's brain gets activated by riding motorbikes" in part because it requires heightened alertness, Ryuta Kawashima said after his research team and Yamaha Motor conducted a string of experiments involving middle-aged men.

"In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low," he warned. "Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."

Kawashima is the designer of "Brain Training" software, which incorporates quizzes and other games and is available on the Nintendo DS game console under the name "Brain Age" in North America.

A self-professed motorcycle fan, 49-year-old Kawashima cited a new study conducted jointly by Yamaha and Tohoku University, for which he works.

One experiment involved 22 men, all in their 40s and 50s, who held motorcycle licences but had not taken a ride for at least a decade.

They were randomly split into two groups -- one asked to resume riding motorcycles in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or cars.

"The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function tests," Kawashima said.

In one test, which required the men to remember a set of numbers in reverse order, the riders' scores jumped by more than 50 percent in two months, while the non-riders' marks deteriorated slightly, he said.

The riders also said they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.

"Mental care is a very big issue in modern society," said Kawashima. "I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute."

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved

 

[vaara]

Sweet!

Now I know why, at age 44, I'm as immature as most people half my age.

 

[Cyclesuzy]

Riding = good for you
Crashing = not so much!

 

[hookah]

Thats cool, now I have a good excuse for the wife

 

[vaara]

I sent that to my dad, who hates motorcycles. He constantly does Sudokus and crossword puzzles to stave off Alzheimer's... his dad had it and died a miserable death from it.

 

[wiffledaddy]

I really feel like after years of commuting and riding the roads, I see the whole picture. I am rarely, if ever, surprised by something that happens on the road. I try to see and evaluate every single vehicle and every potential threat -- a constantly moving target.

Also, if I were forced to commute by car and rot in traffic, I would have offed myself years ago. So, that's another way motorcycles have improved my mental health.

 

[Godsdarling]

I sent that to my dad, who hates motorcycles. He constantly does Sudokus and crossword puzzles to stave off Alzheimer's... his dad had it and died a miserable death from it.

Peter that is terrible. I am sorry

Riding improves moods and brain cells! Now if everyone in America would get on board there wouldn't be a need for midol

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Peter that is terrible. I am sorry

Riding improves moods and brain cells! Now if everyone in America would get on board there wouldn't be a need for midol

We don't really want EVERYONE on board, now, do we???

I know that if I don't get the bike out on the weekends, I start getting a little "grumpy"...

 

[TLC]

Riding turns my bad days into good ones, and my good ones into great ones.

good find doc!

 

[vaara]

Peter that is terrible. I am sorry

Thanks. My dad is now approaching the age when my grandfather started having symptoms, so as you can imagine he's starting to freak out a bit.

I keep telling him he should take up riding, but even though he's pretty youthful for his age, maybe 73 really is a bit too late to start.

 

[Jack the Smack]

I wonder if exploring new routes on a motorcycle improves brain activity more than taking your usual route and daily commute on a motorcycle.

 

[MotardJunkie]

Doc I ride 1 day a week and sometimes 2. Is this only for daily riders or is riding on weekends good enough? Dont know if you have that answer but I am curious.
We riders definitely have to keep a heightened sense of alertness and balance so I believe the article.

oh and for vaara regarding alzheimers. The number 1 thing you can do to stave off alzheimers is floss daily. they say it reduces alzheimers by over 70%

No joke the bacteria that breed in you gums is a huge factor in alzheimers.

Sorry to threadjack Doc I will leave that for another thread.

 

[clutchslip]

Sweet!

Now I know why, at age 44, I'm as immature as most people half my age.

Yeah, well I'm older than you and even MORE immature.

Wait... that didn't come out, right.

 

[louemc]

Yes it is Good for you, But.... do it right, the brain doesn't get much of a work-out if you ride your bike like a wuss.

Ya Want results? Get professional Instruction, and get it on And doing it in the dirt, is such a blast having a blast

 

[Squidly McSmearstain]

It happens every year......

3.5 Years ago my second son was born. In a fit of "responsibility" I sold my FZ1 and all my gear in one fell swoop. It was painful, but I did it to be a better Dad. My wife was thrilled.

Over the ensuing year I felt myself grow more easily irritated. I felt I was mentally less agile. I found it more difficult to concentrate. After a year I told my wife I was going to buy another bike. My wife was less than thrilled.

After getting back on the road, I felt improvements to my mental clarity and quicker decision making capability. Plus, I was a LOT happier.

Say what you want, but I generally don't ride during January, February and a good chunk of March. I feel it mentally when I don't ride. I definitely lose something. It happens every year; get me off the bike and my brain turns to mush and I become much grumpier.

 

[CuriousMike]

Let's ignore the fact that Kawashima "Brain Age" games have been subjected to other studies that say they don't work.

 

[Sidewalk]

1. Why do I not think this study was unbiased? A motor fan doing a study with a moto company? Hmmmm...

2. Some of your families suck. My sister works at a dealer, commutes on a bike and rides off road. My brother-in-law commutes by bike when he can (truck driver). My mother has her M1 but doesn't ride. She does attend my racing when she can. My father and step-mother both ride. I have my trailer loaded at home right now for a race this weekend, my wife will be racing her own motorcycle this weekend for the first time s

Get better families people!

 

[Jack the Smack]

2. Some of your families suck. My sister works at a dealer, commutes on a bike and rides off road. My brother-in-law commutes by bike when he can (truck driver). My mother has her M1 but doesn't ride. She does attend my racing when she can. My father and step-mother both ride. I have my trailer loaded at home right now for a race this weekend, my wife will be racing her own motorcycle this weekend for the first time s

Get better families people!

My sister and her (pretty much fiance) boyfriend both ride SV-650s. My mom and dad ride cruiser bikes. I've convinced 3 friends of mine to get motorcycles, 2 of them bought rice rockets in the past month, 1 of them is going to take the MSF soon.

Knowing a ton of people who ride motorcycles rocks. Before when I talked to my friends before they rode, they made fun of me for talking about motorcycles all the time. Now they participate and add to the discussion.

 

[ST Guy]

Sweet!

Now I know why, at age 44, I'm as immature as most people half my age.

Works at 57 as well. I'm looking forward to finding out if it works at 80 and beyond.

 

[Climber]

All that I know is that after a long day of working, I feel more alive when I'm riding my Motorcycle to the gym than I do when I'm forced (only heavy rain causes this) to drive my car to the gym.