Do hard things

Vicki "Spitfire" Sanfelipo is a registered nurse, longtime motorcyclist and founder of Accident Scene Management, now the world's largest motorcycle trauma training organization. She joins The Ride Inside to explain how riders can prepare to respond effectively when a crash happens, from securing the scene and assessing injuries to controlling bleeding, managing airways and knowing when long-standing "rules" about helmet removal or moving an injured rider may not apply. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

As women become an increasingly visible part of motorcycling, clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes examines what their growing participation can teach the riding community about gender, perception and the many different ways people experience motorcycles. Drawing on observations from dealerships, riding culture and his own assumptions, Barnes argues that stereotypes often obscure a more interesting truth: motorcyclists of every gender bring different priorities, perspectives and sources of enjoyment to the same shared passion. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

This episode contains a graphic account of a serious motorcycle crash, emergency medical response and rider fatality. After unexpectedly encountering a devastating motorcycle crash, clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes reflects on accident scene management, rider training, protective gear, airbag vests and the importance of riding within your limits. His firsthand experience offers a sobering motorcycle safety lesson about preparedness, risk reduction and knowing what to do when a ride suddenly becomes an emergency. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

Motorcycling offers far more than transportation—it can be a powerful source of discovery, creativity and personal vitality. Clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes explores how riding, learning new skills, understanding and maintaining motorcycles, planning trips, customizing bikes and connecting with other riders can keep motorcyclists curious, engaged and fully alive. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

Veteran riders develop a sixth sense for danger by learning to recognize the subtle "tells" of distracted drivers, unpredictable vehicles and changing road conditions. Clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes explores how situational awareness, defensive riding and prudent risk management can help motorcyclists anticipate hazards, create space and make smarter decisions before a potential threat becomes an accident. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

If you're having a midlife crisis but you're not buying a motorcycle, are you really having a midlife crisis? Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Doing hard things won't kill you—but not doing them just might. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

FORGET EVERYTHING YOU KNOW: Mark quotes that old movie "Willow" by reminding us that to move forward, sometimes we must un-learn certain things. By approaching things as a beginner would, we can gain the benefit of learning from a new perspective. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

NOTHING TO DO:  When does the freedom to do nothing at all take over? Mark looks at how, for a motorcyclist, having no agenda can actually be a huge boon to your schedule, happiness and life. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

POINTERS:  Rider education is a necessity throughout the lifespan of any motorcyclist. That's not hyperbole, and it's also the first thing you'll hear Mark say in this episode. He believes it deeply, and by the time you're done here, you will too. Send your questions to us via email: [email protected]. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.