Peace Love Moto - Where Motorcycling meets Mindfulness

They keep their adventure bikes in storage units near airports and treat North America like a long-term map project. When work calendars finally line up, they fly in, grab their gear, and ride another slice of the Backcountry Discovery Routes, then leave the bikes staged for the next jump. It’s simple, repeatable, and honestly kind of brilliant if you’ve ever stared at a BDR route thinking, “I’ll do that someday.”Aly Quinn (oncology nurse turned clinical informatics pro, mom of four, and a rider who refused to stay on the back seat) and Dylan Morris (police officer, lifelong motorcyclist, and proud keeper of an eye-watering garage count) share what this “one bite at a time” travel style looks like in the real world, including the unglamorous parts like batteries and storage. We also get into the moments that make motorcycle travel unforgettable: a backyard shed Airbnb, a hot tub, and an accidentally ordered extra pizza that turns into a small act of kindness with a big impact.Then the conversation goes deeper. Aly explains how SheADV creates real women’s off-road training and community, and she tells a story where a wrong turn becomes a masterclass in calm problem-solving and support. We talk motorcycle safety training, the ADV culture of helping strangers, and why riding is more than miles. For both of them, motorcycling is mindfulness, flow state, and a way to process grief and reclaim freedom.RESOURCES from Aly:SHEADV:  I’d love to call out SheADV for providing me with an amazing opportunity to share my love of riding with a female riding community, make adventurous friends, and access great training. https://www.sheadv.com/RideBDR: And Backcountry Discovery Routes for their amazing community, curated adventure routes and incredible volunteers who have become dear friends. https://ridebdr.com/New Sponsor:  JAGWear Motorcycle Gear. Use link:  https://jagwear.com/?ref=LOVEMOTO for a discount on your next purchase.  Each purchase also supports the Peace Love Moto podcast.Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

The older I get, the more I realize I’m not chasing speed, I’m chasing silence. Episode 178 is a trip back to one of the earliest Peace Love Moto themes: that strange, beautiful moment on a motorcycle ride when the noise of life fades and you feel like you’ve disappeared, in the best possible way.I start with a little honesty about the show itself, because I nearly quit after ten episodes. What kept me going was you, the listeners, who reached out and said the stories mattered. That brings me to a recent visit with my parents and a memory that still hits hard: my dad as a farm kid, spending long hours on a tractor while his mind wandered into the music his band played on the Chevrolet radio show. He told me he was so immersed that he basically forgot he was driving, yet the rows came out perfectly straight. If you’ve ever experienced a motorcycle flow state on a long stretch of road, you know exactly what he means.Then I share a story about a gifted piano student who can’t perform because of fear, until her teacher gives her a simple instruction: play for yourself, and go be happy. On stage, the crowd disappears, the room disappears, and even the piano disappears. That’s the same mental reset many of us find while riding for stress relief, mindfulness, and peace of mind, whether we’re commuting or roaming backroads.New Sponsor:  JAGWear Motorcycle GearUse link:  https://jagwear.com/?ref=LOVEMOTO for a discount on your next purchase.  Each purchase also supports the Peace Love Moto podcast.Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

In part one, Matthew took us along on his journey of spending over two decades leading expeditions around the globe. We dug into what it really means to seek out adventure—not just for the thrill, but for the quiet, unexpected moments that shake us awake. Matthew opened up candidly about how the stillness of the natural world and motorcycling helped him find grounding and perspective. We wrapped up with him sharing the profound impact of reaching out to help others, and why giving often ends up giving so much back to us.Today, we pick right up where we left off. We talk about the antidote to our screen-filled isolation, the unspoken bond of the biker wave, and why simply pulling over, being still, and taking in the beauty around us might just be life’s greatest superpower.So settle in, grab a good cup of coffee, and enjoy the conclusion of my conversation with Matthew Robertson.Resources:MatthewRoberson.comhttps://www.instagram.com/matthewrobertson_1/Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

The motorcycle can take you somewhere beautiful, but it can also take you somewhere honest. In this Part 1 of a two part episode, I sit down with filmmaker, writer, and world traveler Matthew Robertson to talk about what decades of global adventure travel have really taught him and why the biggest shifts often happen off the map. We start with the pull of the open road, the solitude, and that addictive outdoor “flow state,” then follow his winding career from marketing and acting to building an adventure company designed around one simple goal: keep traveling, keep learning, keep living.Resources:MatthewRoberson.comhttps://www.instagram.com/matthewrobertson_1/Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

After 15 days overseas, we return home to Colorado and unpack what Norway and Sweden revealed about pace, attention, and why so many of us crave an unhurried life. We made a deliberate choice to step out of the tourist flow, trade crowds for small coastal villages, and listen to locals. What we found felt rare: clean streets, shops built around true craftsmanship, and conversations that don’t get interrupted.In today's episode, I share the moments that stayed with us: meeting friends again after years, getting a locals-only tour of historic villages, discovering hand-carved wooden goods made by the person behind the counter, and tasting food that’s fresh enough to remind you what “real” flavor is. In Sweden, we even join a public sing-along that turns a room of strangers into a community, and it highlights something subtle but powerful: people seem present, not rushed, and not glued to screens.Then we bring it back to motorcycling. Because the best rides aren’t about beating the clock, they’re about simplicity, mindfulness, and that deep exhale that shows up when the cell signal drops and the only thing left is the road, the weather, and your thoughts. If you’ve been feeling stressed, scattered, or stuck on your phone, this ride-along reflection offers a practical reset for your next solo ride or weekend trip.Subscribe to Peace Love Moto, share this with a rider who needs a slower pace, and leave a review with the one place you go when you want life to feel simple again.Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

Motorcycles can be freedom, therapy, and a reset button, but they can also be something bigger: a direct line to serving people who need real help right now. We’re revisiting a conversation that stuck with us for a reason, because Kiki Azim and Kirsten Madura don’t just talk about making a difference. They build systems that turn riders, donors, and volunteers into measurable humanitarian impact.Kiki is the founder of Rebels with the Cause, a humanitarian motorcycle tour through Pakistan that supports village schools, funds essential supplies, and provides wheelchairs that restore mobility and dignity. Kirsten leads Engines for Change, a nonprofit effort rooted in sustainability, grassroots organizing, and disaster recovery, including fiscal sponsorship that helps community-led projects grow without getting crushed by paperwork. Along the way, we dig into gratitude, chronic illness, the courage to ask for help, and why the motorcycle community is uniquely positioned to fight loneliness and isolation through service.Rebels with a Cause:  https://www.rebelstour.com/Engines for Change:  https://www.enginesforchange.org/Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

Rain taps the gear, nighttime hangs over the fjord, and I’m recording from a ship’s deck in Norway, far from my usual home base in Loveland, Colorado. What started as a delayed 40th wedding anniversary trip quickly turns into something bigger: a reminder that the world can feel enormous on a map, yet strangely close when you meet the right people. Karen and I come to Norway carrying a lot of gratitude, and we get to live it out through real connections, not just sightseeing. We reunite with Maria, a former exchange student from Oslo who once lived with us, now building her own family. We also look ahead to Sweden next, where Karen’s roots pull us toward cousins and conversations that make travel feel personal. Then we walk through old cobblestone streets and run into a motorcycle meetup. Different machines show up side by side, Harleys, BMWs, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda Goldwings, and somehow the brands do not matter. What hits me is the instant sense of belonging: riders as brothers and sisters, good people with a shared love for nature, community, and the calm thrill of motorcycling. It is a motorcycle podcast moment that speaks to rider camaraderie worldwide, even when you’re thousands of miles from your own garage. Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

Time doesn’t crawl on a motorcycle the way it does behind a desk. One minute you’re carrying the noise of the world in your helmet, and the next you’re 50 miles out with a quiet mind and a clock that makes no sense. That “time stands still” moment is real for many riders, and I wanted to understand why it shows up so reliably on long rides.We unpack the psychology behind it, including the time paradox of memory: when your days are repetitive, your brain stops creating fresh memory anchors, so routine can feel painfully slow while you’re living it, yet strangely empty when you look back. Then we flip the camera to the rider’s view. Motorcycling forces total attention through a nonstop sensory stream: balance, lean angle, wind, scanning, surface changes, and constant micro-decisions. When every part of your brain is focused on staying upright and aware, the internal timekeeper can fade into the background and anxiety loses its grip. Call it flow state, call it mindfulness, call it the zone, it’s one of the healthiest “weird tricks” your brain can pull.I also bring in Neil Peart, legendary Rush drummer, lyricist, and devoted long-distance motorcycle traveler. His song “Time Stand Still” captures that touring rider’s urge to freeze the frame and really see the people and places around you, not to escape life, but to live it more fully.If you’ve ever felt the road moving through you, you’ll recognize yourself here. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more riders can find the show.Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

Wind therapy sounds gentle until you are leaned over in a hard crosswind, peeling your fingers off the grips at the next coffee stop and realizing you just spent 75 miles getting punched sideways by air. That is where this ride begins: Mark rolls up on his Triumph Rocket 3, I’m on my BMW R1250GS Adventure, and a simple plan turns into a 300-mile loop into Wyoming where the wind and rain decide to make the rules. We talk through what gusty riding really feels like and what it teaches fast: the instinct to fight back, the death grip on the handlebars, the shoulders creeping up to your ears, and the mental spiral that comes from trying to control something that will not be controlled. The core shift is acceptance. The wind always wins, so the skill is learning how to stay smooth, hold your line, and let the bike move without letting your mind panic. If you’ve ever searched for “how to ride a motorcycle in strong crosswinds,” this conversation puts the technique and the mindset in plain language. Then the story opens up into something bigger than motorcycles. Weather patterns do what they do, and life does the same: a medical scare, an unexpected bill, a tough conversation can hit like a sudden 40 mph gust. But directions change. The same wind that beats you up as a crosswind can become a tailwind on the way home, and the force that felt personal starts to feel like flow. If this helps you ride smarter or breathe easier, subscribe, share the episode with a riding buddy, and leave a review. What is the worst wind you’ve ever ridden through, and what did it teach you?Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

Route 66 turns 100, and that milestone pulls me back to the ride that quietly rewired my outlook on people. I’m Ron Francis in Loveland, Colorado, and I’m retracing a moment from a solo motorcycle trip that started as a simple plan: follow the towns from “Get Your Kicks On Route 66” and enjoy the open road. What I didn’t plan for was a morning in Gallup, New Mexico that hit harder than any mile marker or desert vista.Traveling alone on a motorcycle makes you approachable in a way a big group often isn’t. You pull off your helmet, you look like just another human passing through, and conversations find you. Outside a local cafe, I met an older man who looked worn down, and my first reaction was pure ego: I assumed I was the helper and he was the one who needed saving. I offered breakfast, ready to feel generous, and I almost offered the kind of “charity advice” that is really just judgment in nicer packaging.Then he spoke, and everything shifted. With quiet dignity he shared his Navajo heritage, his past as a recovering alcoholic, time in jail, and the chaplain’s words that helped him rebuild his life. He talked about honest work, gratitude for each day, and the rare treasure most of us chase without finding: peace of mind. By the time the meal ended, I realized the lesson wasn’t about what I could give him. It was about what I needed to learn from him.If you care about solo motorcycle riding, Route 66 history, and the real meaning of kindness, this story is for you. Subscribe, share it with a riding buddy, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more riders can find the show. What’s a moment when a stranger taught you something you didn’t expect?Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemotoGear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com📬 Get in TouchContact: [email protected], Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy