Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

Ramey "Coach" Stroud's story is one of perseverance and goals, where failure was not an option. Listening to him talk about overcoming what most would consider impossible, even medically, inspires that with the right mindset and vision, you can do anything. When a spinal injury left him paralyzed from the chest down, he didn't get his house ready to deal with his handicap for the rest of his life, he learned to walk and ride a motorcycle again. A story where the impossible becomes the possible. Defying the Odds: Coach Ramey Ramey “Coach” Stroud has been a champion motorcycle racer, skydiver, firefighter, scuba diver, ultra-marathoner, wilderness EMT, rodeo cowboy and adventurer. He has been recognized by the BMW Motorcycle Owner’s of America Foundation as their “Individual of the Year” for helping motorcycle riders gain new skills. He’s helped thousands of riders on five different continents and in so doing has received international honors for his training and safety programs. From the Nevada desert to the sands of Argentina, from Istanbul to South Africa, from Marrakech to the Ozark's, Coach has helped professional motorcycle racers bring home the gold and new riders get on the road to adventure. While it is clear that Coach Ramey loves adventure, his passion is teaching and he loves helping others achieve their potential.In 2003, a motorcycle race crash left Coach Ramey with a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. It took a year of daily exercise for him to just stand up from the wheelchair and then another year of hard work to crawl over onto the seat of a motorcycle and sidecar. After four years of intense rehabilitation he was walking with two canes and then the world was his. Since then he has ridden around the world on three wheels. He has returned to coaching racers and adventure riders. He has written a book for new riders. And he still rides hard at the age of 70. His next goal?The ALCAN5000 in 2018.Website: http://RideCoach.com Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkyioWNmXUktjwmm5aZu0RQ6tyr2FxlSM Show Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Exercise Specialist, Thom Rieck, shares some simple exercises to help keep your body fit for motorcycle riding. Graham Field talks shares his thoughts on keeping your options open while you travel. And Bob Earl talks about Mule Pack Panniers, high-density polyethelene flexible motorcycle panniers. Exercises for Better Riding: Thom Rieck Thom Rieck is an Exercise Specialist at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. He’s a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer and PEAK Pilates Instructor. He has been working as a personal trainer for over 10 years and he’s also an avid motorcyclist. He shares some simple exercises to do to keep you flexible for motorcycle riding.Website: trainwiththom.tumblr.com Mule Pack Panniers: Bob Earl - “molded from high-density polyethylene, the same material used to make whitewater kayaks and highway road barriers” - “a capacity of 28 liters the streamlined design is engineered to provide safe, dry, and secure storage for all manner of gear, as well as an extra layer of protection for you and your bike” - “Mule Pack's overlapping lid joint and marine grade EPDM gasket system keeps out rain and spray” - “the contoured top of the Mule Pack adds strength and provides a more secure surface to strap on a tent, sleeping bag, or other items you need to carry” - “no paint or coating to worry about scratching or flaking off” - “hardware is marine grade stainless steel” - “bracket mounting system works with most of the popular side rack systems” - “Securing and removing the Mule Pack is as simple as tightening or loosening two large hand knobs located inside the box. This feature along with lockable lid latches keeps your gear safe and secure.”Website: http://acmezoom.com/ Don’t Be So Rigid: Graham Field Graham Field is a motorcycle adventure author from the UK, now living in Bulgaria. The author of three books In Search of Greener Grass, Ureka and Different Natures. Books are available for individual purchase or as a replica pannier box set. Graham shares his ideas of not keeping a rigid schedule on the road, and how being flexible can enhance your trip.Website: http://grahamfield.co.uk/ Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Do you know where you are on the ADV Skills Level chart? You should, because it affects your choices, outfitting and how you describe yourself when deciding if a rough section is for you. ARR’s Rider Skills instructor has come up with a rating chart for adventure riders to explain what a novice to experienced rider is. And Ted Porter from the Beemer Shop in California gives the low-down on how to set your adventure motorcycle suspension preload.More motorcycle travel episodes available on Adventure Rider Radio at adventureriderradio.com. Want to help out? Rate and review us on iTunes or on your favourite podcast app, tell your family, friends, riding buddies or club about ARR.Check out our other show ARR RAW, round table talks about motorcycles and travel. Subscribe to both shows to listen to inspiring and interesting guests, learn from professional riding instructors and industry experts about all things motorcycle.Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website.Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Daniel Rintz is a filmmaker, photographer and adventure motorcyclist from Dresden, Germany. Born in East Germany at a time when world travel was impossible for his family, Daniel’s whole world opened up when the Berlin wall fell and he embraced the opportunity to travel. Since then, he’s explored by bicycle, train and automobile, but motorcycling remains his passion.In 2008, with a rough plan and no money, Daniel and his friend left East Germany for an around the world motorcycle adventure. With no safety net, they planned to work to finance their trip as they went along. In 2010, while in Asia, Daniel met Josephine (Joey) Flohr who was on a backpacking trip. She joined Daniel in his passion for motorcycling and they have been doing trips together ever since.Daniel and Joey have recently completed a 3 year motorcycle adventure, and are putting together a film about their journeys, a sequel to Daniel’s first film “Somewhere Else Tomorrow”.In this episode, he shares some great tips on making money on the road, travelling in Africa, and more.Visit their website at www.open-explorers.com to learn more about Daniel and Joey, and their movies.To help support their new movie go to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/open-explorers-new-movie-freedom-africa#/ Getting Your Motorcycle to Africa: African Overlanders, Duncan Johnson Duncan Johnson has motorcycled the East and West coasts of Africa, and along with his family, runs African Overlanders. They offer a vast amount of services including motorcycle and other shipping, accommodations and storage. They also offer 4x4 buy back services, where you can purchase a vehicle and at the end of your trip, you sell it back to them.Duncan has some great tips on getting your motorcycle in to Africa, so tune in and learn what’s involved.http://www.africanoverlanders.com/ http://discoverafrica4x4.com/ Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When buying a motorcycle jacket - do you shop for style, comfort or crash protection? And what is crash protection really? Is there a certifying body that say the garment will save you? So many questions but we will get some answers on this episode, so that the next time you find yourself in front of the jacket rack, you have a clue what you really want. With David Hough. Motorcycle author and journalist Dr. Gregory Frazier completed his sixth trip around the world not long ago. So where does a guy that travels this much hang his hat (read helmet)? And for that matter, where should you hang yours when you park your bike? Well, this may seem like a simple task, but Dr. Frazier has a few stories about riders that have learned through the school of hard knocks about what can happen to a misplaced helmet. We aren't talk about scratches. :) Dr. Gregory Frazier has done several motorcycle trips around the world, he’s been shot at, spent time in jail and has had some incredible wildlife encounters. He’s a journalist and photographer and his work has been published in many motorcycle publications.Website: http://horizonsunlimited.com/gregfrazier/ David L.Hough - 80 year old David L. Hough has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years. He and his wife, Diana, have travelled extensively by motorcycles in North & South America, central Europe, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. While employed at The Boeing Company in Seattle for more than 36 years, he mostly commuted to work by motorcycle. Combining his travel and commuting experience, he became a highly skilled rider and continues to share his knowledge through various magazine publications and several books, including Proficient Motorcycling. David is a certified motorcycle safety instructor and has taught motorcycle training courses. He's been an influence in the development of courses by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Sidecar/Trike Education Program. An award winning author, David L. Hough was inducted in to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his lifetime efforts towards motorcycle safety. On this episode, David talks with Jim Martin about counter steering, a much difficult concept to explain and grasp. A necessary skill when it comes to riding, David enlightens us on how it's done.Email: [email protected] David L. Hough's books: http://www.amazon.com/David-L.-Hough/e/B001JOWE2I Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Social media has become a popular source of how we share our life, including our travels or adventures. And through social media, we share our photos and usually include a write up to show what we’re doing, where we’ve been. And if we want to get back to basics, well photography has been around for a long time, and looking at a photo can you put you right in to the picture, you can imagine the sounds and smells, and it gives us insight in to things we might otherwise never get to see. And journal keeping, be it on a blog or by written word, has the same effects on us, except we use our imagination to picture where the author is.Both are incredible ways to share stories, and for us to look back on where we’ve been, to refresh the memories from long ago. In this episode we talk to Tim Burke, who documents his journeys through photography and we have a flashback to an interview with Graham Field, who is an avid daily diary keeper. Every Picture Tells a Story: Tim Burke Tim Burke is from Seattle, Washington and in April he quit his job, sold off his belongings and shipped his motorcycle to London to do a trip around Europe. At first, it was about the motorcycle adventure, but very quickly he grew to love photography and it became a large focus of the trip. His photographs have been featured in some motorcycle branding catalogues, magazines and social feeds. For Tim, photography on the road is a way of sharing his experiences with other people. He has some great tips on travelling on a motorcycle with photography equipment, and he also shares his story on how he got to where he is.www.fb.com/timburkephoto www.instagram.com/timburkephoto Graham Field - How he Documents His Life We decided to share part of this episode which ran in August, 2014 where Graham Field tells how he has kept track of his life, and he also reads some of his diary to us. He’s the author of three entertaining motorcycle adventure travel books and you can find them on his website at www.grahamfield.co.uk. Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A story of a RTW motorcycle trip that morphs in to a two-wheeled adventure of the camper kind, and Zac Kurylyk from Canada Moto Guides shares his thoughts on what he calls the comeback of the parallel twin. Two-Wheeled Adventures of the Camper Kind Alan Curtis (Curt )and Lyn Williams have been riding motorcycles since they were teenagers, so when Curt was coming up with ideas for an adventure, including sailing around the world, it was a natural choice for them to go on a motorbike adventure . First the plan was to ride to the UK, but three years later they are still travelling the world. And now they have converted an Isuzu NPR diesel truck in to a camper home and are continuing their travels around Canada, the United States and in to South America. An overland motorcycle adventure on board their rv truck conversion.Website: http://www.twoxtw.com/ Parallel Twin vs Thumper Zac Kurylyk, the managing editor at Canada Moto Guide shares his ideas about how he sees a surge happening with twin parallel engines in the adventure riding industry. Read his article on this topic in Canada Moto Guide magazine: https://canadamotoguide.com/2017/07/13/parallel-universe-the-surprising-comeback-of-parallel-twins/Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.comMusic by https://www.bensound.com/ | Song: Jazzy Frenchy ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On this episode we talk about group riding dynamics for motorcyclists. Two methods of keeping your group riding together without eating each other’s dust or following dangerously close. Both these methods allow you to keep track of the entire group while you ride and other tips, including how to handle yourself when riding with a group.More motorcycle travel episodes available on Adventure Rider Radio at adventureriderradio.com. Want to help out? Rate and review us on iTunes or on your favourite podcast app, tell your family, friends, riding buddies or club about ARR.Check out our other show ARR RAW, round table talks about motorcycles and travel. Subscribe to both shows to listen to inspiring and interesting guests, learn from professional riding instructors and industry experts about all things motorcycle.Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website.Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What would it be like if you couldn't just turn on your computer and ask google all the questions you want to help plan your trip? Everything from planning and packing, to routing and picking your destinations. All the answers at your fingertips. And what if in the 1980's it was so against the norm for someone to set out on a long distance motorcycle trip, let alone a woman? Would you still have the nerve to ride around the world?Elspeth Beard has just published a book this summer, the one that we talked about in an interview with her last year. We'll remind you that it's the story of a 23 year old woman who in 1982 set off on a solo motorcycle trip around the world. Something relatively unheard of in those days, for both women and men. In fact, on her trip she only met two other motorcycle adventurers in the 2 1/2 years she was on the road. Broken-hearted, she wasn't doing well in school and decided to embark on this trip to prove herself. Ridiculed by the editor and his "chauvinist colleagues" at a popular motorcycle magazine in London, she was only all that more determined to achieve her goal. After years away, she returned home, wiser and with the knowledge that she could do anything she set out to do. But, publishing a book at the time seemed like a dead end road, as no one was interested in her story. And after storing away all her notes, audio files and memories for almost 35 years, she finally wrote the book that she wanted to all those years ago. And here we have it, Lone Rider - The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World. Elspeth Beard has shared some of her audio files with Adventure Rider Radio, the sound of her younger voice all those years ago that she recorded to share with her parents. And, we also talk to someone who was in a position to either empower or disempower her while she was on this trip, something Elspeth wasn't aware of at the time that we created this episode for you, our listener. The author of Lone Rider, Elspeth Beard, is an avid motorcyclist and award-winning architect living in a converted water tower in southeast England. To this day, she still rides her trusty BMW R 60/6. Elspeth's book is available on Amazon. Hear more about Elspeth at http://www.adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2016/9/1/elspeth-beard-first-british-woman-to-motorcycle-around-the-world?rq=elspeth%20beard Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Journey to the End of the World - Expedition 65 If a little is good wouldn’t a lot be better? When a group of experienced travellers plan a trip from Cartegena to Ushuaia they made sure they had fully equipped bikes, an extensive support system and contact network, even a support van and trailer equipped with a generator to charge accessories. As the story goes, Jim Hyde, of RawHyde Adventures had an epiphany while guiding a trip in South America. He was stopped with his group of clients with only about 30 minutes to spare before rushing off to their evening destination. While the clients busied themselves with various selfies and bike shots, Jim realized that when he visits these incredible world destinations, he is almost always on a tight schedule, with minutes to soak up this world class sight and move on. It hit him there and then that he needed to do a trip, where there was more time for places like these along the way. So he came up with an idea to run an expedition where a group of riders would all pitch in to organize and do a trip the length of South America. A dozen riders were hand picked for the adventure, and the group went about planning and organizing a trip they would call Expedition 65. It was to be an adventure unlike a guided trip, where the riders are a team of like minded individuals that work together. With all these people planning and organizing you could be forgiven for imagining that it all worked and the trip went off without a hitch, but of course it didn’t happen that way. Problems with overloading, breakdowns, missing paperwork for border crossings, an overloaded support van incapable of carrying a broken bike and disagreements over the arduous and time consuming effort of making a film of the trip added challenges to the trip. In the end, the trials and tribulations fade, friendships were solidified, comfort zones were expanded, a movie was made and an incredible coffee table book was produced showcasing the adventure day by day… When it comes to planning, due diligence is expected, but is meticulous planning better or a problem in itself? Colin Evans: Author of Journey to the End of the World "Though he may have come late to biking, Colin Evans has fallen hard for it, with an enviable collection of iconic sportbikes and a very worn-out BMW R1200GS to show for it. He has ridden and written about his adventures on four continents to entertain and annoy his friends (colindotpdx.tumblr.com) and currently resides in Portland with his wife Rosine and daughter Claire." ~~ Octane Press Alfonse Palaima: Journey to the End of the World Photographer "When he's not in Los Angeles hiding from society, Alfonse is collecting passport stamps. Photography and travel are his biggest passions, and motorcycles always get him to the next location. Rounding the world one region at a time, Alfonse has racked up hundreds of bylines while crossing 23 countries and six continents as an industry journalist with 14 years under his belt. Follow his journeys at MotoInsider.com or at Octane Press." ~~ Octane Press Journey to the End of the World: The Expedition 65 Adventure Motorcycle Ride from Colombia to Ushuaia is available from Octane Press or anywhere books are sold. Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear PSSOR Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com Music by Wepa Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you're travelling to or live in the United States, and you're looking for a long distance motorcycle adventure utilizing mainly back roads and trails, the Trans-America Trail may be just what you're looking for. On the website, it says that dual-sport motorcycle is required for the more challenging sections, and the best time to do the entire trail is probably late June in to early September, to avoid snow in some of the states. The TAT maps and roll charts have been designed to ride only from East to West, no matter where your starting point is. Fuel stops are fairly regular, motel locations are marked on the maps, and if you're camping you might want to do your research ahead of time if using a roll chart, as they're not marked on there. A GPS is not required to do the TAT, as the roll chart is used with your odometer, but the GPS is a great back up. Make sure you plan well in advance, as you'll have to purchase your maps and roll charts on the TAT website, and allow enough time for delivery. While waiting for it all to arrive, you can start packing and making travel arrangements. In this week's episode we talk to British rally racer, Jenny Morgan and Brad Barker, from The Ride of my Life. Jenny rode the TAT a couple of times, first on a Yamaha Tenere 660 and then the CBX500 with the Rally Raid package. When we spoke to Brad, he was riding the TAT and offering a challenge to The Ride of My Life followers, which include some prizes. Trans-America Trail: www.transamtrail.com Jenny Morgan: Jenny Morgan is a British rally racer who rode the Trans America Trail (TAT) on a 50 day trip, covering more than 12,000 miles from the west to east coast and back again on the Trans-America Trail. Website: www.jennydakar.com ADV Rider Forum: http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/trans-am-500-the-seven-year-itch.1061450/ Brad Barker: Brad Barker is the producer of The Ride of My Life YouTube videos and website, with the goal of discovering the good stuff, exploring and riding to different places in the world, and to impact lives in a positive way. Website: www.therideofmylife.net Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products MotoBird Adventures Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Beth and Kevin Young, 2uptogether, are so passionate about sharing adventures with each other that they ride 2 up, even in the dirt. The've been riding for 19 years, and are advocates for short adventures, close to home. Saying that motorcycle riding has made them closer, Beth & Kevin share their experiences with photographs on social media, hoping to inspire other couples to ride together. Twitter: 2uptogether Facebook: www.facebook.com/2uptogether Website: http://www.2uptogether.com Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1iOZraIRbM0VYpUg7PCeg Rider Skills with Bret Tkacs Skills Development Activity: Threshold braking The average experienced rider with or without training stops around at about 70% of the capability of his/her motorcycle and roughly 30% further than the average car. Since most training standards are nearly 40% below the motorcycles capability attending traditional rider training does not help you reach the maximum braking capability your motorcycle offers. The numbers I have put on the chart below are rounded off to make things simple and are not exact. During guided training your speed should be measured with radar and then adjustments made for brake application. However in the absence of a school like this in your area this will give you a much better estimate of your ability than the scoring you may have received during any conventional motorcycle training using stopwatch/distance standards. Bret Tkacs~ Motorcycle Skills Expert Setup: 1. Mark off a braking area up to 50’ (15 meters) with chalk on good asphalt or pavement. 2. Make your “begin braking here” point with an easy to see marker such as a bottle or large cone. 3. Check your speedometer accuracy against a GPS or phone app (speedometers or commonly 10% optimistic on speed giving you the impression you stop better than you do) 4. Practice steady approach speeds (each speed on the chart. 5. Have a fellow rider observe you as you practice braking at your “begin braking here” point to ensure you do not begin slowing or braking early. The Drill: 1. Approach the “begin braking here” point at the speed on the chart, do not slow or brake before the point. 2. When the markers disappear from your peripheral view then begin braking stopping in the shortest distance you safety can. 3. Put down your side stand and take the distance to the leading edge of your tire and compare it against the chart. 4. Do not move up to the next speed until you are relaxed and consistent at the lower speeds. 5. To get a truly accurate measure or to safely learn to brake from speeds higher the listed below it is recommended to work with professional instructors training in this type of skill development such as Puget Sound Safety’s; Advanced Street Skills program (pssnw.com) Show Sponsors Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz PSSOR IMS Products In Association With: Good Adventure Company Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What's your preference? A motorcycle GPS or smartphone APP? Perhaps you're someone who still likes traditional paper maps. We've talked to Cesar Palacios from Garmin, Guido van Eijsden, APP developer of Scenic and Sam Manicom, world moto traveler, adventurer and author, and got some great information to help you make an informed decision. Motorcycle GPS: Cesar Palacios, Media Relations Associate from Garmin International. Website: http://www.garmin.com/ Smartphone APPS: Guido van Eijsden, developer of motorcycle navigation app, SCENIC. Website: www.motomappers.com http://www.motomappers.com/blog/iphone-motorcycle-gps-8-things-to-consider/ http://www.motomappers.com/blog/best-motorcycle-apps-gps-navigation-ride-tracking/ https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1089668246 (App store URL) Paper Maps: Sam Manicom - Author of motorcycle adventure books: Into Africa, Under Asian Skies, Distant Suns & Tortillas to Totems - www.sam-manicom.com Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this week’s episode Jim and Warren Milner discuss how information on the internet, may incorrectly encourage or influence your decisions when it comes to motorcycle modifications. Also, on Rider Skills we talk about energy conservation when riding. More motorcycle travel episodes available on Adventure Rider Radio at adventureriderradio.com. Want to help out? Rate and review us on iTunes or on your favourite podcast app, tell your family, friends, riding buddies or club about ARR. Check out our other show ARR RAW, round table talks about motorcycles and travel. Subscribe to both shows to listen to inspiring and interesting guests, learn from professional riding instructors and industry experts about all things motorcycle. Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website. Have a comment? Go to the episode show notes on our website and have your say at the bottom of the page. Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There are many possible causes for why your motorcycle is vibrating, and David Hough, author of Proficient Motorcycling, and Walt Fulton join Jim Martin to offer their knowledge and experience with vibration issues. David L. Hough: David has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years. He's travelled extensively by motorcycles in North & South America, central Europe, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. While employed at The Boeing Company in Seattle for more than 36 years, he mostly commuted to work by motorcycle. Combining his travel and commuting experience, he became a highly skilled rider and continues to share his knowledge through various magazine publications and several books, including Proficient Motorcycling. David is a certified motorcycle safety instructor and has taught motorcycle training courses. He's been an influence in the development of courses by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Sidecar/Trike Education Program. An award winning author, David L. Hough was inducted in to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his lifetime efforts towards motorcycle safety. Walt Fulton: Owner and Head Instructor of Streetmasters Motorcycle Training Workshops in Corona, California. "A former three-time winner at Daytona and team racer for Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki and Suzuki, he was a featured rider in the documentary "On Any Sunday." He is a BMW Legends racer, a professional motorcycle accident reconstruction expert, motorcycle journalist and a private riding instructor. He has worked as an editor for Cycle Guide, Cycle World and Motorcyclist magazines and a contributor and the performance tester for Motorcycle Consumer News. He has logged over a million miles on the road and track." ~~Source: http://www.streetmasters.info/about_us/index.html Dealing with handlebar vibration? Check out our episode with Cole Townsend from Fasst Company: http://www.adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2017/1/19/custom-fitting-your-bike-to-your-size-motorcycle-handlebars-women-adv-riders?rq=cole%20townsend Show Sponsors: Max BMWBestRest ProductsGreen Chile Adventure GearMotobriizPSSORIMS ProductsMotobird Adventures Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When Ginamarie Austin tired of looking at the back of her husband on a bike, she decided to get her own bike. Being of small stature, they settled on a TW200 and both Ginamarie and her husband Russ fell in love with these bikes and soon became part of a community of TW200 riders, going on short adventures. After a couple of years of health related family commitments, Ginamarie and Russ went on a trip on their TW200's, enjoying back road riding and adventure travel at a slower pace than the big bikes, a well deserved holiday. On returning from their trip, both Gina and Russ were ill, Gina recovered but when Russ didn't it was discovered that he had Stage IV lung cancer. Russ asked Ginamarie to fulfill their dreams of an extended motorcycle trip, something they had been planning to do on retirement. In a matter of weeks, Ginamarie lost Russ to cancer. She tells an inspiring story of her commitment to Russ, reminding us of the things that really matter. Her motorcycle adventure, which she planned for herself and to honour her husband's memory, turned out to be something altogether different than what she thought it would be. Ginamarie Austin's Blog: http://www.twowheelstwofeet.com Show Sponsors Max BMWBestRest ProductsGreen Chile Adventure GearPSSORIMS ProductsMotobriiz Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Tips and information on everything you need to know for equipping your motorcycle with brighter lights. Choosing either quality auxiliary lights or DOT approved headlamps for your motorcycle can make an incredible difference when you need extra lighting. What is the difference between a high quality and low quality LED light? Find out this and more on this episode. Clearwater Lights: Glenn Stasky Website: https://www.clearwaterlights.com/ Custom Dynamics: Dave Pribula Website: https://www.customdynamics.com/ Show Sponsors Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ask any one who rides a dual sport, touring bike, street bike, or what have you, and there is nothing that clears the mind, relieves stress, and makes them feel good more than just riding their bike. Combine riding with travel, be it a day, weekend, month or year and we hear stories about how riding has changed the way people think. We’ve heard from riders who have had a love of travel instilled in them and when they discovered motorcycles and combined the two, a whole new world opened up for them. Through travel we are given opportunities to experience different cultures, people, and places. Riding a motorcycle to get to these places makes us more vulnerable, we’re easily seen and we are a curiosity. The motorcycles are avenues for people to talk to us, ask questions, for us to get to know the real people of different places. Mixing travel with motorcycles offers a truly unique experience, not comparable to any other kind of exploration. It can change the way you think about yourself, others and life. In this episode we talked to an Australian in Canada, Glen Baker, whose adventure motorcycles have included a moped, KLR and now a Triumph street bike. And JJ Lewis gives some tips on riding in the Copper Canyon. Glen Baker: West Coast Wanderer Glen Baker is from West Australia and now lives in Revelstoke, British Columbia in Canada. He's been doing adventure trips for the last 10 years, and in 2013 he gave up his job as an electrician, and left on a trip around the world. He fell in love with British Columbia and decided to make Revelstoke his home. Moto travel has become somewhat of an obsession with Glen, but the rewards have been tremendous. He says ask what he was like before he discovered moto travel compared to what he's like now, and you will hear he's a changed person. He's overcome some hardships, and plans to make moto travel his life, once he's cut through some red tape in Canada. Website: http://www.westcoastwanderer.org Copper Canyon: JJ Lewis JJ Lewis from the Good Adventure Company runs tours with the proceeds towards charity in the Copper Canyon. He shares some tips on riding in the Copper Canyon with our listeners. Learn about the Good Adventure Company and what they have to offer at www.good-adv.com. They've got some great trips coming up this summer and autumn which just might be the adventure you are looking for. Website: www.good-adv.com Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz PSSOR IMS ProductsGood Adventure Company Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What Inspires a Motorcycle Adventure Traveler and Author? Graham Field is a household name if you're in to adventure motorcycling, the author of three books, a world traveler and a co-host on ARR RAW. He's been the inspiration for many riders, who have read his books, and have been motivated to set out on their own adventures, wherever and for however long they may be. So, when Graham Field messages Jim and says he knows this couple, who just happen to be in Bulgaria staying down the road from him, that he finds inspiring, we were intrigued. We just had to 'meet' this couple and find out their story. Find out what inspires the inspiring. Facebook: Graham Field Motorcycle Travel Author Website: http://grahamfield.co.uk Icy Cold Honeymoon Adventure: Jan & Silke Neumann Not just any honeymoon would do for Jan & Silke, who met through their motorcycle riding adventures. Who wants to lay on the beach in the hot sun when you can ride in -35°C in a snowstorm, on two old Suzuki bikes, to the North Cape in Norway? Jan & Silke call themselves an "adventure-loving, offroad passionate, travel addicted couple". They've both travelled extensively on their motorcycles and eventually got together and continue their adventures together. Their ride to the North Cape, commonly known as the most northerly point in Europe, certainly ranks as one of the most unusual motorcycle honeymoons. Facebook: Jan Neumann, Silke Neumann Website: http://eisreise.wordpress.com/ Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC83OYQQpmo7CRB-pjglxFtw Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear IMS Products Motobriiz MotoBird Adventure Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Brent Carroll: Read a Facebook Post, Bought a Motorcycle, Attended a HUBB Meet & Went on an Adventure Inspired by a Facebook post, Brent Carroll decided to get a motorcycle to do some adventure riding. After going to a Horizons Unlimited meet he was hooked on the idea of a long distance motorcycle trip, having met other riders who were travelling and exploring the world. In April, 2016 he set out from Virginia to Newfoundland, rode across Canada to Alaska and then down to Ushuaia. Being on the road for 13 months was a life changing experience for Brent, who came away with some valuable lessons learned that he has shared through video and on his website, and now with us. Blog: www.lovinglivingadventuring.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-G58StnCxTuu3F4Y2NqCgxDdcUJWStay Facebook: facebook.com/LovingLivingAdventuring/ Instagram: instagram.com/lovinglivingadventuring/ Twitter: twitter.com/LovingLivingADV/ Rider Skills: Instructor Bret Tkacs on Starting on a Hill Some methods right out of the PSSOR school book on getting started on a hill on your motorcycle. Whether it's gravel, mud or asphalt. There's a simple combination that will make this usually difficult task, a breeze. Website: http://brettkacs.com Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Riding in the Heat and Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding Tips Grant Johnson: Tips For Riding When the Heat is On Grant's vast background includes being a motorcycle mechanic and dealer, as well as co-owner of Horizons Unlimited with his wife, Susan Johnson. Grant has given many talks around the world as part of the HUBB presentations. He's also a co-host on ARR RAW: www.adventureriderradio.com/raw Horizons Unlimited: www.horizonsunlimited.com Sjaak Lucassen: Tips For Cold Weather Riding Sjaak Lucassen is a Dutch long distance motorcycle rider, adventurer and author. He's no stranger to winter riding and has some great tips to share. http://www.sjaaklucassen.nl/en/ Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this first part of a two part series, we talk to David Hough about riding in high winds and Grant Johnson about rainy weather riding. Also, Chantal Simons has done long distance trips on both a Ducati Monster and a Chook Chaser? And what she's learned is that asking yourself the right questions when faced with a hurdle is what can make the difference in how your trip turns out. David Hough: Riding in High Winds David is a certified motorcycle safety instructor and has taught motorcycle training courses. He's been an influence in the development of courses by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Sidecar/Trike Education Program. An award winning author, David L. Hough was inducted in to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his lifetime efforts towards motorcycle safety. David is the author of Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well and other books about safety and riding techniques. His books are available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/David-L.-Hough/e/B001JOWE2I. Grant Johnson: Rainy Weather Riding Grant's vast background includes being a motorcycle mechanic and dealer, as well as co-owner of Horizons Unlimited with his wife, Susan Johnson. Grant has given many talks around the world as part of the HUBB presentations. He's also a co-host on ARR RAW: www.adventureriderradio.com/raw Horizons Unlimited: www.horizonsunlimited.com Chantal Simons: Chick on a Chook Chaser Chantal Simons has ridden motorcycles in Asia, Europe and Australia. It was the trip around Australia that inspired her to write a book called She'll be right! Tales and Thoughts of a Women's Motorcycle Adventure Down Under. Chantal says that the reason she wrote the book was: "to show it isn't hard to do a trip like this. Some people think you have to be some super hero to travel long distances on a motorbike. But really you just need the will to go and a decent amount of common sense." Website: http://chickonthechookchaser.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIIRDqmSiS65nEapMCnuOTw Get the ebook at: Kobo Amazon Kindle Show Sponsors Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz TourUSA IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Simpson Desert is Australia's fourth largest desert and the largest sand dune desert in the world, containing the world's longest parallel sand dunes. On the western side of the desert, these dunes are as high as 3 metres, and on the eastern side as much as about 30 metres. The desert has no maintained roads, but there are tracks which were made in the 60's and 70's when surveys were done in the search for oil and gas. The tracks are navigable by four wheel drive, but without any services, extra fuel and water are necessary. It's very hot with summer temperatures reaching up to 50 Celsius. It doesn't rain often and sand storms happen regularly. The desert dunes are a cornucopia of colour, with oranges, pinks, reds and whites on brilliant display. The first non-indigenous person to cross the desert did so on camels in 1936 and there have since been several crossings made on foot. It's inviting and terrifying all at the same time, and is compelling to adventurous motorcyclists, some who have made it across the desert successfully and some who haven't been so lucky and have needed rescue. Stuart Ball is the founder of The Great Australian Ride, raising money for a charity called Red Nose. He recently completed two crossings of the Simpson Desert in one week. Sarah Taylor is a motorcyclist and paramedic, and a team medic for The Great Australian Ride. Sarah also recently rode through the Simpson Desert. The Great Australian Ride: http://www.thegreataustralianride.com/ Red Nose: https://rednose.com.au/ Show Sponsors: Max BMW Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products TourUSA Road Dog Publications Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Fear of travelling to some countries is instilled in us by the media, or people who haven't been but have heard about these places. Are we missing out on discovering different cultures and people because of these fears? Perhaps riding out of our comfort zone and in to these places will make us see things differently and change the way we think. Lois Pryce: Revolutionary Road: On the Road in Search of the Real Iran Intrigued by a note left on her motorcycle, Lois Pryce went on a 3000 mile ride in Iran on a quest to discover what the country and it's people were really like. Lois has been on many motorcycle trips, but she says this one is the one that has affected her most profoundly. In a country where women on motorcycles is not allowed by law, she found the people warm, kind and hospitable, and she fell in love with Iran. Book: Revolutionary Road: On the Road in Search of the Real Iran is available on Amazon. Rosie Gabrielle: Solo Ride in Oman Rosie Gabrielle is a photographer and an adventure traveller, and she is passionate about embracing all life has to offer and living life to the fullest. She hopes to show people that there is a lot of good in the world, that media hype doesn't always portray people from other countries in the true sense of who they really are. She's travelled to some exotic places, including Thailand and South Africa, and has also done two trips to Oman, which she says was life-changing. In the Middle East she found that the fears that are implanted in us are generally unfounded, that the people were helpful and caring. Doors were opened and friends were made and the kindness was overwhelming. Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Camp meals should be more than just hot dogs and granola. This episode we talk to long time motorcycle travellers, Lisa & Simon Thomas, about their new book Dirty Dining and Ara Gureghian, a five star chef who's been living off his motorcycle for over a decade. They give some valuable tips on camp cooking especially when space and supplies are limited. Lisa & Simon Thomas: Dirty Dining Simon and Lisa Thomas have been on the road for 14 years, travelling to many different countries and experiencing all kinds of cuisine. Inspired by world foods, Lisa has been conjuring up her own recipes, at times replicating the exotic flavours they’ve tasted, and also coming up with their own recipes with just the right ingredients. They’re about to launch a cookbook called “Dirty Dining - An Adventurer’s Cookbook. In this book, they’ve come up with a great mix of recipes, photography and tips for overland cooking. Dirty Dining will be available for pre-order soon through Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. Check the 2ridetheworld website or facebook pages for updates. Website: http://2ridetheworld.com/Facebook: @DirtyDining Facebook: @2ridetheworld Ara Gureghian: Chef in the Wilderness Ara Gureghian is a five-star chef, trained in a culinary school in Switzerland. He’s owned various restaurants and a bakery, and has also been a personal chef. He’s spent over the last 11 years travelling the United States on his motorcycle with a side car and his pitbull dog, Spirit. Cooking remains one of Ara’s passions, and with all of his years of experience cooking for others and himself, what better person to turn to for some tips on whole food cooking in the wild. On his website, Ara has a link to “One Pan Meals”, with some of his recipes available for sale by download. Ara’s idea of a One Pan Meal isn’t like throwing it all in to one pan, turning up the heat and hoping for the best. He talks about timing, and creating a full on meal in one pan. He’s also got some great tips on what tools he uses in the kitchen. Website: http://theoasisofmysoul.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Oasis-of-my-Soul-133399976670953/ Excerpt: RAW Episode 8 Grant Johnson - www.horizonsunlimited.comSam Manicom - www.sam-manicom.comGraham Field - www.grahamfield.co.uk To listen to the full RAW Episode 8 go to http://www.adventureriderradio.com/arr-raw-posts/2016/8/12/raw-episode-8-first-aid-for-motorcyclists-off-the-cuff-round-table-discussions. Show Sponsors Max BMW Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz TourUSA IMS Products RoadDog Publications Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Driving A Sidecar Outfit: David L. Hough David Hough is the author of Driving A Sidecar Outfit, a text book published by the Sidecar Safety Program in 1997. He's also the director of the Sidecar Safety Program, which offers a Sidecar driving training program. David talks with Jim about learning how to ride a motorcycle with a sidecar and what's involved. DMC Sidecars: Jay DMC Sidecars is located in Washington in the United States and are the makes of motorcycle sidecars. Jay discusses which motorcycle you would need for a sidecar and other considerations. Website: www.dmcsidecars.com Rider Skills: Riding Gravel Roads Instructor: Bret Tkacs | PSSOR Gravel travel: Most common surface Overlooked as a challenge by many travelers Can change quickly To many accidents on easy to ride surfaces The proper attitude (not a race, other users) Why people crash: Too fast Wrong body position Out of touch with traction Throttle use Braking while leaned over Standing vs sitting… when each is preferred Standing: Greater visibility Better weight control Easier on the suspension More time to recover in a slide Proper state of mind Better control of traction Sitting: Less energy Exercise: Practice leaning the motorcycle underneath you on paved roads to stay over contact patch (both sitting and standing). Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

According to a travel survey, couples who travel together have better relationships than those who don't. In this episode, three couples share their thoughts on what makes their relationship work while on the road. And we also talk to a couple who rode from Alaska to Ushuaia on a quest to find out what was the secret behind couples who remained married or partnered for a long time. They talk about their experiences with the Ural, the people they met and what they learned about relationships. Travel & How it Affects Relationships In 2012, the U.S. Travel Association conducted a survey to find out if and how much pleasure travel made relationships between romantic partners and couples stronger. According to the survey, they found three key points: “1) Travel has long-term benefits for couples 2) Travel helps build and maintain relationships 3) Travel ignites romance and intimacy” Source: https://www.ustravel.org The survey also found that relationships between couples who travel together last longer and that divorce rates were higher for couples who don't travel together. And to find out what keeps couples relationships strong while spending copious amounts of time together while on the road, we asked some experienced motorcycle adventurers for their secrets or tips. Mike and Alanna Clear: Mike and Alanna were married in 2008, and in 2009 they set off on an 8 month adventure on a Ural to search for the secret of lasting love. With research showing that 50% of marriages end in divorce, they wanted to interview couples between Alaska and Argentina, talk to experts and ultimately make a film about their discoveries. They interviewed people in all types of relationships, including long married couples, Jehovah Witnesses, Inuit couples, pornographic actors, swingers and people in polygamous relationships. They had tests done to see if they were scientifically suited to each other, both before and at the end of their trip. Putting it all together took Mike five years, and the outcome was their film "Going the Distance". The film is available on their website or at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/30269 Website: http://www.goingthedistance.org.uk/ Sam Manicom (Birgit): In 1995, Sam met Birgit while on on his eight year trip around the world, she travelled with him for the last four years of the trip, and they have been together since. They still do trips together, and Sam gives us some tips on how they keep their relationship strong. Website: http://www.sam-manicom.com/ Lisa and Simon Thomas: They've been on the road together for 14 years, having completed the world's longest motorcycle journey by a team. They're not only a team, they ride, live and work together every day and remain happily married. On this episode, Simon and Lisa reveal keys to how they do it. Website: http://2ridetheworld.com/ Shirley Hardy-Rix and Brian Rix: Shirley and Brian are retired professionals, he's a bike fanatic and she loves travel and is happy to be a pillion. They've taken a lot of trips, and have covered a lot of miles together. They share their secrets for a successful and great marriage. Website: www.aussiesoverland.com.au U.S. Travel Association Survey: https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/Media%20Root/5.2015_Relationship_ExecSummary.pdf Show Sponsors: Max BMWBestrestGreen Chile Adventure GearMotobriizTour USAIMSRoad Dog Publications Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Luke Gelmi gave up his job in Australia, and sold most of his possessions, in a spontaneous decision to go on a motorcycle adventure. Leaving behind his F800 GS, a bike suitable for the kind of trip he was setting out on, he bought “a wildly inappropriate Royal Enfield” in England. With no set plans, and unprepared, he travelled throughout the UK, some of Europe and Africa. He’s had, well what some might call crazy experiences on his trip… picked up a hitchhiker, got robbed, lost his front teeth, was arrested, and the list goes on. And for all this he’s had an incredible time, and is a changed person, all for the better. You can read more about Luke’s adventures in his first book, an ebook available for free at ObliviousTheBook.com Website: ShotsFromTheBar.com Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you venture off the pavement, there’s always the possibility that one wrong move and your bike is off the side of a trail or stuck in a mudhole. The question is, do you have what you need to extract your bike? People, winch, or block and tackle? We did some testing of three different systems, two of which you can take with you on any ride, and one of which is a good back up if not venturing too far, and it’s also ideal for loading your bike on to a trailer. We spoke to Andy Lilienthal at Warn, Dave Peterson at BestRest, Jon Mason at Superwinch and PSSOR riding instructor, Bret Tkacs, who shares some great pointers on motorcycle recovery. Bret Tkacs: PSSOR Riding Instructor Tips and techniques on using motorcycle recovery systems. Website: pssor.com Dave Peterson: BestRest Products Motorcycle Recovery System z-drag rope and pulley system which has been modified for motorcycle recovery, originally made for mountaineering and rescue teams. 5/16” (8 mm) primary rope, with a load rating of 3000 lb (1360 kg) 1” x 10’ (2.5 cm x 3 m) flat webbing, with a load rating of 4000 lb (1814 kg) pre-tied prusik loops, with a load rating of 1700 lb (771 kg) pulleys (single or double depending on kit), with a load rating of 5000 lb (2268 kg) non locking chrome carabiners, with a load rating of 4500 lb (2041 kg) Website: https://bestrestproducts.com/shop/recovery-gear-mrs-system/motorcycle-recovery-system-mrs/ Andy Lilienthal: Warn Winch XT17 Portable Winch pulls up to 1700 lb (771 kg) 9 lb (4.08 kg) aluminum construction (winch & rope) 40 feet (12 m) of 5/32” (4mm) synthetic rope winch size 10.3" L. x 4.0" D. x 4.2" H. (26cm L. x 10cm D. x 10.7cm H.) sealed motor and contactor runs off motorcycle battery Website: https://www.warn.com/adventuretouring/XT17_winch.jsp Jon Mason: Superwinch W2G 4000 Portable Winch pulls 4000 lb (1814 kg), up to 8000 lb (3629 kg) with double line technique 43 lb (19.5 kg) 3/16” x 50’ (4.8 mm x 15.24 m) cable (synthetic rope available W2G 4000 SR) tackle box kit includes 3 shackles, 2 straps, pulley block (for up to 8000 lb capability), handheld remote, 10’ battery leads and gloves can be permanently mounted, or winch can be securely strapped to something stationary such a tree with included straps we used a portable battery to power the W2G 4000 when we tested it Website: https://www.superwinch.com/collections/superwinch-portable-winches/products/superwinch-winch2go Fun Fact: We came across another way that a winch can be really beneficial and useful to a motorcyclist, especially if parking is limited or safety is a concern. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2705856/I-like-park-I-Russian-man-solves-crime-issue-winching-motorbike-outside-3rd-floor-window.html Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ted Simon has moved to France and started his next motorcycle adventure, but in a different way. What he's doing offers a unique opportunity to learn something from a motorcycle legend and writer. Also in this episode, Aaron Steinmann chose to ride his KTM 500 EXC in New Zealand and then in South America to Oregon, not your usual adventure motorcycle, but then again, isn't every bike an adventure bike? Ted Simon Opens Writer's Retreat in France After living in California for over 35 years, Ted Simon, author of Jupiter's Travels, has purchased a house in France and opened a writer's retreat. His new home has ample room to accommodate aspiring writers, film makers and artists, and maybe even a traveler passing through. He's always had a foot in France, having gone there for the first time after the war, on a bicycle and then later living in France, so the move back to France was something he knew would happen sooner or later. Ted is soon to be 86 years old, and while back in California, he had been thinking of what he wanted to do with his time in his dotage, how he could share what he’s learned over the years with others. He thought that he would like to encourage people to write or document their trips so that others can hear what is going on in the world, and to help writers get their books published. So, he came up with a plan to go back to France and to open a writer’s retreat. He put up most of his own money, and with the help of some generous people who donated the balance of what he needed, he purchased the house. The writer's retreat is in the South of France, not far from the Mediterranean Sea. The village of Aspiran, is located in the Hérault Valley, and has been settled as far back as the Gallo-Roman times. About 10 years ago, a Roman winery dating back to 10 AD was found in Aspiran, believed to be the earliest commercial wine operation in France. In the middle ages, Aspiran became the property of the Aniane Abbey, and within an enclosure, the village of Aspiran grew, with four doors allowing entry in to the French commune. You can still see two of the doors that were used in those times. Between the 1400's and 1600's houses were built, and over the centuries the village spread out of the walls, vineyards grew larger and wine growing became the mainstay of Aspiran. And to this day, it is still known as a wine village producing both red and white wines. Aspiran sounds like the perfect backdrop for a writer's retreat, what better inspiration than a medieval village, with a mixture of the old and the new? And why go to a writer’s retreat, let alone Ted Simon’s? In our modern times, we are inundated from the left and right by technology, which can be a good thing, with information at our finger tips. But, it can also be a huge distraction. We are available to anyone around the clock, with easy access to text messaging, emails and social media. And this can make our life hectic, taking away or disrupting us from focusing on writing or creating. It can be tough to make the time, when others may not understand your need to throw yourself in to your work. At a writer’s retreat you can immerse yourself in your creation and explore the possibilities. And the special thing about Ted Simon’s retreat is the support of a writer who wants to and is willing to share his experience and knowledge to help other writers. Although the idea of the writer’s retreat was specifically intended for Jupiter’s Travellers, Ted is open to any one who is writing or has an idea for a book, a film, or artwork. He encourages those interested to get in touch with him through his website, have some conversation back and forth with him, and see if you’re a good fit. To live with Ted for a time in this special place, with the encouragement of an accomplished writer and traveler would be an exceptional opportunity, perhaps the chance of a lifetime. To find out more about Ted Simon’s writer’s retreat go to his website at http://jupitalia.com/. Ted Simon Foundation: Jupiter’s Travellers: http://jupiterstravellers.org/ KTM 500 EXC Long Distance Ride Aaron Steinmann’s bike of choice for a trip through New Zealand and then from Chile to Oregon, and on to Alaska, is the KTM 500 EXC, a bike that many say is a street legal dirt bike, an enduro which is an unusual choice for a long distance trip. But, despite being designed as a high performance and high maintenance bike, it was the best choice for Aaron, and he’s been pleased with the ride. Riding through South America is a popular choice for many adventure motorcyclists and Aaron shares some stories about border crossings, talks about taking the Stahlratte around the Darien Gap, and how he handled the frequent maintenance that the KTM requires. This is another example that the perfect motorcycle for adventure travel, is whatever you like. http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/new-zealand-to-oregon-on-a-ktm-500exc.1181912/ Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Suppor

Trui Hanoulle is a motorcycle traveler, that looks for adventure out of her comfort zone, and recently that included doing a solo trip on an electric Zero motorcycle from her home in Belgium to Istanbul. And Pat Jacques, retired MX racer and founder of ADVWoman, teaches women off-road riding skills and hosts the annual ADVWoman Rally in Colorado. Elektrogirl: Trui Hanoulle Trui Hanoulle’s home is in Belgium, where she works as a freelance photographer and graphic designer, but she’s also a traveler and a motorcyclist. She’s ridden throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, connecting with people, exploring the backroads and off the beaten path places. She spends her time learning about the cultures and the countries she explores. She doesn’t follow the path of the mainstream tourist, she takes the time to really experience the different ways people live their lives. Trui’s last long distance ride was on a Zero electric motorcycle, and she’s discovered that there were great perks to riding the bike, cost of travel being ultimately low for a motorbike, and some drawbacks as well. She rode from Belgium to Istanbul and back, and the bike required a recharge about every 250 km for 12 hours. Although this meant having to make frequent stops, it also gave opportunities to meet the locals and ask for help with charging. And that, for Trui, is what travel is all about. Elektrogirl Website: https://truihanoulleblog.wordpress.com/ ADVWoman: Pat Jacques Since she was first on a minibike at the age of 8 years old, Pat has been passionate about riding. She got her first “real” motorcycle when she was 11 years old, a 1972 Honda SL100, as a reward for doing well in school. Soon she followed her brother in racing MX, first in girl’s classes, and then in boys classes. And she has since spent most of her biking career racing MX in men’s classes. Now retired from racing, her passion for riding has branched out in to empowering women riders. In 2016, Pat Jacques hosted the first annual motorcycle adventure rally, ADV Woman Rally, run by women, all women instructors, for women and their families. Website: http://advwoman.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADVWoman/ This Week’s Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Aerostich TourUSA IMS Products Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Space means safety on the road, and in this episode we talk about 5 simple and effective keys that have been used in commercial trucking for decades. Shawn Kitchen, a Driver Trainer from Smith System explains how these keys can be used when riding your motorcycle. And Phil Freeman from Motoquest in Alaska shares tips on riding the Dalton Highway, one of the most remote roads in the world. How the Smith System Can be Applied to Motorcycle Riding Since 1952, the Smith System Driver Improvement Institute has been providing collision avoidance driver training. Shawn Kitchen is a Driver Trainer, having completed a course with Smith System, and he's also a motorcyclist. The 5Keys used in their driving training program is applied to small and large vehicles as well as utility trucks. Shawn joins us on this episode to explain how these driving techniques can also be applied to riding a motorcycle. Riding Tips for the Dalton Highway in Alaska If you're thinking of riding the Dalton Highway in Alaska, Phil Freeman from Motoquest has some tips to help you make the trip as safe as possible. Motoquest is a motorcycle rental and tour company based out of Alaska. Phil started doing trips in 1998 in Alaska, and has since branched out in to other parts of the world, running trips in over 20 countries. We contacted Phil when we were looking for tips on riding the Dalton Highway. On his website, he has the 10 Do's and Don'ts of the Dalton, and in an excerpt from it Phil says, “414 miles of frost-heaves, broken chip seal and grated dirt surfaces, the Dalton Highway has its challenges. On a good day, you can ride it wide open. On a bad day, you can go home in a helicopter. Every year motorcyclists are killed on the Dalton Highway. This road offers the rider the adventure gamut. Almost half of the highway is paved or chip sealed. The other half can be smooth or baseballs. There are relatively no places to stop along the way: no gas, no convenient stores, no McDonalds. There are stretches of up to 245 miles without gas. You are literally riding through pristine wilderness. There are no tire shops or police stations. A wrecker to the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks is a $1,600 bill. Dalton Highway, mile marker 300: Welcome to the food chain.” Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com See more of our best motorcycle podcasts at www.AdventureRiderRadio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sharing stories about connections and kindness through their motorcycle travel experiences, Sam Manicom, Todd Blubaugh and Leon Logothetis tell some inspiring, feel good anecdotes that make us realize how important it is to reach out to people wherever you go. Both for what you receive and for what you give. Travel Changes Us, and We Come Away Different People We've often heard from those who travel on a motorcycle about how it's the people they met who made all the difference in their experience. That people are basically the same all over the country or the world. And how being on a motorcycle makes it so much easier to connect with others. When we are so 'out there', open and perhaps vulnerable, we often form connections, which lead to friendships, emotional healing, acts of kindness, conquering fears, building trust, growing confidence, and so much, much more. Travel changes us, and we often come away different people. Sam Manicom: The Importance of Connections Sam Manicom, is a renowned motorcycle adventurer, speaker and the author of four books. He's been to many places around the world, has experienced different cultures and met a lot of people while on his travels. He has a wealth of information that he shares with our listeners as a frequent guest on Adventure Rider Radio and as a regular co-host on ARR RAW. And Sam knows the value of connecting with people, how simple gestures or conversations can lead to life changing experiences or open your eyes to different perspectives. And he knows that connections can make the story. Website: www.sam-manicom.com Leon Logothetis: The Kindness Diaries You may know Leon Logothetis, world adventurer and philanthropist, from The Kindness Diaries, book and TV show. Or perhaps you've met or seen him on his travels as he rode his yellow vintage motorcycle with a sidecar around the world. In his documented pursuit of kindness, Leon shares how human connections make anything possible, and how sharing with others tells a good story. The Kindness Diaries book is available through Amazon.com, and other major outlets, go to his website at http://www.leonlogothetis.com/books/ for more information. The Kindness Diaries TV Show is now available on Netflix. Facebook: http://www.leonlogothetis.com/ Website: http://www.leonlogothetis.com/ Todd Blubaugh: Too Far Gone After Todd Blubaugh, motorcycle builder and photographer, experienced a major upset in his life, he set out on a trip from Seattle to New York City. He spent six months on the road, connecting with riders in the motorcycle culture, making personal discoveries and recording his journey through word and photography. When Todd came back from his adventure, he wrote a book full of telling and inspirational photos, with a unique concept of personalization that pulls you in to his story. Todd's book, Too Far Gone, is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Too-Far-Gone-Todd-Blubaugh/dp/1584236213 and through Ginko Press http://gingkopress.com/shop/too-far-gone/. Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com See more of our best motorcycle podcasts at www.adventureriderradio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Every now and again, we hear about motorcycle adventure stories, that have, well let's say a twist to them. So, how exactly do you tie in fruit or dice on a motorbike trip? This week Max MacGillivray and Isaac Simonelli share their unusual stories with us, and maybe you'll get some great ideas of how you can make your adventure a little different from the norm. Max MacGillivray: The Great Fruit Adventure Max MacGillivray has a strong background in the farming and fresh produce industry, and a passion for healthy foods. He's also a motorcyclist. And three years ago, he made a plan to ride from London to Cape Town in Africa, to promote the benefits of fruits and vegetables to parents and their children. He and dairy specialist, Gareth Jones set out to create awareness, visiting food producers and schools along the way. And after a three month trip, they plan to carry on their mission in the UK, inspiring and educating children on healthy eating. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegreatfruitadventure Website: www.thegreatfruitadventure.com Isaac Simonelli - A Roll of the Dice, Which Road to Take? What happens when you let the roll of the dice determine your next move on a motorcycle trip around the world? Isaac Simonelli left his job at a newspaper in Thailand for a year long adventure, and so far he's been through Southeast Asia and in to Africa. He lets the roll of the dice determine what he eats, where he sleeps and where he rides to next. Jim talked to him when he was in Kenya, will he still be there when this show airs or have the dice allowed him to move on and to where? Website: http://www.dicetravels.com/ See all the show notes at https://adventureriderradio.com Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Backcountry Discovery Routes and the Trans Canada Adventure Trail are planned and organized motorcycle adventure routes in the United States and Canada. Great scenery, culture and riding is what you get on one of these free off highway routes. Jim talks to Paul Guillien and Ted Johnson about the BDR and the TCAT. BDR: Back Country Discovery Routes | Paul Guillien Backcountry Discovery Routes is a non-profit organization establishing and preserving off-highway routes for adventure motorcycle travel in the United States. For each route, they produce a documentary DVD, a Butler map, and free GPS tracks. Website: http://ridebdr.com/ TCAT: Trans Canada Adventure Trail | Ted Johnson The TCAT is approximately a 15,000 km GPS trail, coast to coast in Canada. Starting in Newfoundland and ending in British Columbia. GPS files are downloadable for free by emailing [email protected]. Website: http://www.graveltravel.ca/ Bret Tkacs in Africa If you're wondering what's been going on with our Rider Skills instructor, Bret Tkacs, well Jim caught up to him in Africa to see how his trip is going. Website: www.pssor.com This Week’s Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Aerostich TourUSA IMS Products Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com More of our best motorcycle Podcasts at www.adventureriderradio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dave & Becky Prigel: KLR 650 Rider A motorcycle off or accident is something that no one really wants to talk about, but if you're a motorcycle rider, a pillion, or someone emotionally attached to a rider, we think about it now and again. And in this episode we address dealing with accidents, recovery and getting back on the bike. Last year, Dave Prigel, an ARR listener, contacted us when he decided to get back in to riding after many years of being off a motorcycle, and he purchased a KLR 650. Just months later, he was in an accident which resulted in broken bones. He's nicely recovering now, and wants to get back on and ride, but his wife, Becky, isn't so sure about it. Becky is a nurse and has experience with treating motorcycle accident related injuries in her job, so she has concerns about Dave riding again. We talk to both Dave and Becky and get their views on what can be a touchy subject when a loved one gets in an accident. Andrea Brosnan - Mongolia Motorcycle Crash & Overcoming Language Barriers Andrea Brosnan has always been passionate about travel, but she is fairly new to adventure motorcycle riding. Last year, her husband went on a motorcycle trip from London to Magidan. The plan was for Andrea to meet him and ride with him for 10 days, but near the end of her trip they had a motorcycle collision, where Andrea ran in to David. The accident left Andrea with multiple injuries, and numerous difficulties with language communication with hospital staff and doctors. Andrea is back in Australia, still recovering from her injuries. She shares her story on having an accident in a foreign country and the problems they had to overcome to get her the help she needed and to get her back home. Liz Jansen - Motorcycle Crash Recovery Liz Jansen is a well known motorcycle enthusiast and is the author of Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment and Life Lessons from Motorcycles. She’s also a Senior Instructor in the Motorcycle Program at Humber College in Toronto, as well as a motorcycle adventurer. She’s been riding since she was a teenager, and has done a lot of solo touring around Canada and the United States. In 2014, after 45 years of riding, she had a motorcycle crash. And through this experience, even with hundreds of thousands of miles spent on the road and being an instructor, she faced for the first time her own challenges about riding a motorcycle after an accident. She shares her story and some great tips for dealing with crashes and recovery. Liz Jansen has a wealth of information on her website, check out her post on How to Start Riding After a Motorcycle Accident at http://lizjansen.com/riding-after-a-motorcycle-accident/. Website: www.lizjansen.com Motorcycle Law Group - Motorcycle Accidents - Important Tips on How to Handle A Collision - For more information on how to handle a motorcycle accident from a legal point of view listen to the episode aired January 2016, where Matt Danielson from the Motorcycle Law Group explains everything you need to know. This Week’s Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com Listen to more of our best motorcycle podcast at www.AdventureRiderRadio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Annette Birkmann dreamt about riding a motorcycle since she was a little girl, but it wasn’t until she was 30 years old that she got her motorcycle license. In 2006, she realized that she had reached the goals she had set for herself, but still felt unfulfilled, so she quit her job as an associate in a law firm in Denmark to go an an adventure. As she rode through the Americas, she realized that while she left with the assumption that the trip would be her great achievement, she actually came away with much more, “a discovery of my inner strength and a new way of responding to challenges, adversity and conflicts”. Annette Birkmann is the author of “Rejsen til Mig”, the English title will be ”The Road to Getting Yourself Out of the Way”, available this year, 2017. Website: http://annettebirkmann.com/ This Week’s Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Aerostich TourUSA IMS Products Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Voni & Paul Glaves - Million Miles on Her Motorcycle & the Mechanic Behind the Scenes Voni Glaves is one of two women who have ridden over a million miles on a BMW motorcycle. Back in the 1970's, Voni had no idea that women could ride motorcycles, but with encouragement from her husband Paul, she learned to ride just so they could take their kids on motorcycle camping trips. And since then there has been no stopping her. She's ridden through the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa and New Zealand. To date, she has put on almost 1.1 million miles and is riding towards her goal of 2 million miles. And someone important to Voni is her husband and mechanic Paul, who did all the repairs needed while Voni put 1,000,000 miles on her bikes. Website: http://web.bigbend.net/~glaves/ Custom Fitting Your Bike to Your Body: Part 3 The final segment on custom fitting your bike to your body size with Grant Johnson from Horizons Unlimited. Grant draws on his experience from being a motorcycle mechanic and dealer, as well as co-owner of Horizons Unlimited. In this series, he teaches our listeners about the three areas of your bike that can and need to change to fit your body. In Part 3, Grant discusses the health concerns of stock motorcycle seats and how you can improve your seating to prevent problems down the road. Grant Johnson - Horizons Unlimited - www.horizonsunlimited.com Note: Adventure Rider Radio and our guests are not medical professionals and we suggest you speak with your doctor to find out more about the possible effects of motorcycle riding or seats on your health. This Week's Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear IMS Products Some music on this episode by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Custom Fitting Your Bike to Your Body: Part 2 This week on ARR we're in to Part 2 on custom fitting your bike to your body size with Grant Johnson from Horizons Unlimited. Grant's draws on his experience from being a motorcycle mechanic and dealer, as well as co-owner of Horizons Unlimited. In this series, he teaches our listeners about the three areas of your bike that can and need to change to fit your body. In Part 2, Grant discusses setting up the foot area of the bike, including the brake, shifter and foot pegs. Next week: Modifying your seat. Grant Johnson - Horizons Unlimited - www.horizonsunlimited.com Aftermarket Foot Pegs Scott Wright, off-road racer and co-owner of IMS Products, talks to Jim about aftermarket foot pegs, how they design the foot pegs, what goes in to the manufacturing of high quality foot pegs and they make for a better ride. Website: www.imsproducts.com Wind Powered Chain Oiler A chain oiler that has no moving parts and needs no electrical power or connection to your motorcyle. It's an automatically chain oiler that is powered solely by wind. Jim talks to Mike Steele, inventor of the Motobriiz Chain Oiler about how it works and the benefits of it. Website: www.motobriiz.com Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Aerostich TourUSA IMS Products Obsessive Cycle Disorder Some music on this episode can be found at at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Custom Fitting Your Bike to Your Body: Part 1 This week ARR starts a three part series on custom fitting your bike to your body with Grant Johnson from Horizons Unlimited. Grant's vast background includes being a motorcycle mechanic and dealer, as well as co-owner of Horizons Unlimited with his wife, Susan Johnson. Grant has given many talks around the world as part of the HUBB presentations. In this series, he teaches our listeners about the three areas of your bike that can and need to change to fit your body. Grant discusses setting up the cockpit area of the bike, including the handlebars, windscreen area and levers. Next week: Foot Controls Grant Johnson - Horizons Unlimited - www.horizonsunlimited.com Flexx Handlebars: Cole Townsend | Fasst Company Website: www.fasstco.com The Flexx Handlebar absorbs shock and vibration that is transferred to your body, allowing you to ride longer, at a faster pace with more control. http://www.fasstco.com/collections/motorcycle-flexx-handlebars/products/flexx-handlebar?variant=1859587459 New Online Magazine for Women A digital magazine for women riders now available online. Founded by a former backpacker turned motorcycle rider. Check it out here. Good Adventure Company Website: www.good-adv.com Good-ADV was founded by J.J. Lewis who is an accomplished adventure motorcyclist with more than 30 years of riding experience. Good-ADV’s mission is to provide a personal adventure experience for all our riders and, in doing so, use those funds for significant, financial support for sustainable life-changing projects benefitting kids and families throughout the US and the world. We are currently supporting the children in the schools within The Copper Canyon and when you come on our trips, you’ll see the projects and meet the children firsthand. https://good-adv.com/about-us/ Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear IMS Products Obsessive Cycle Disorder Some music on this episode can be found at at www.audionautix.com More motorcycle podcasts at www.AdventureRiderRadio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Veterans Back 40 Adventure Morgan Northrup & Chet Mainwaring Morgan Northrup was in the army and has served two tours, one as active duty and one as a civilian contractor in the Middle East. He’s also spent several years as a police officer in Tennessee. When he was suffering from depression and anxiety, as a result of his army and police careers, his dad stepped in and bought him a plane ticket to Colorado. There he attended a dual sport motorcycle retreat for veterans dealing with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). The experience left him feeling that he now had a new purpose in life, to help other veterans going through the same sort of trauma. Morgan’s trip with the retreat changed his life and he is launching a non profit outdoor adventure organization called Veterans Back 40 Adventure. Starting this year, Morgan’s organization will be taking veterans out on adventure bikes throughout the Northwest back country. Chet Mainwaring is a PSSOR riding instructor, who’s involved in helping get Morgan’s venture off the ground. Website: www.veteransback40adventure.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/veteransback40adventure Rox Pivoting Handlebar Risers Chris Olin - CEO at Rox Speed FX, Inc Website: www.roxspeedfx.com Some music on this episode can be found at at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Anyone who rides a motorcycle probably knows what it’s like to find any excuse or reason to ride. Some commute to work, some run all their errands using their bike… out of milk? No problem. Even though it’s easier to jump in your car, you’ll put on all your gear just to ride your bike around the corner. Whether it’s a day trip, a weekend jaunt, or perhaps an even longer adventure, it’s always in the back of a motorcyclists mind just what reason or excuse can they find to ride. Last week we talked about making a resolution to do an adventure this year, and this week we are giving you some good reasons and excuses to justify it. 1. Stuck, Bored & Sick of Work Lois Pryce: http://www.loisontheloose.com/ Tired of the cubicle job at BBC, in 2003 at 29 years old, Lois quit her job and set out on a solo adventure, riding from Alaska to Ushuaia. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: How I Found What I Wanted to Do in Life 2. Escape & Life Change Scotty Kerekes: Scooter Tramp Scotty Some go for a few months, some for a few years. Scotty Kerekes has been living on the road for twenty-one years. What started out as a soul searching experience turned in to a lifestyle for him. After being on the road for a year, Scotty realized that there was no turning back. He ended up selling everything he owned except for what fit on his bike, and hit the road… for good. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: Living on the Road - Tipping the Scale Between Freedom and Stuff 3. Setting a Record Carl Reese - www.carlreese.net Carl Reese set out to break the motorcycle record previously set by George Egloff in 1983, who completed the cross country run in 42 hours. Carl broke the record completing the run in 38 hours and 49 minutes. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: Endurance Rider Cannonball Run Record 4. Reunite & Reconnect with Friends Steve Mason, Raymond Danton & Wilson Hutchison: www.thelongwayup.weebly.com The three were friends and biking buddies in Southwest Scotland in their teens. They eventually drifted apart to different lives, as many of us do, living in different countries. After over 30 years, a chance encounter brings these friends back together and they once again begin doing bike trips. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: Pan-American Highway, Motorbikes & Friends - Good Things Come in Threes 5. Moving Will Wilkins & Kate Macdonell: http://www.wollongongtowoolwich.co.uk/ After living in Australia for 12 years, Will & Kate were feeling homesick for the UK and decided it was time to go home. They could have just booked a flight and within the day been back home. But, instead they decided to turn a moving chore in to an opportunity to travel. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: Getting There is Half the Fun 6. Snow Doris Wiedemann: www.doriswiedemann.deMotorcycles are generally associated with good riding weather. And for most riders that probably means sunshine and warm days. But, there are some die-hards who actually really like cold weather and winter riding. Adventure Rider Radio Episode: It’s Snowing - Perfect Riding Weather? 7. Win a Contest Pete Johnson: All Roads Lead to Manchester In this episode, Jim talks to Pete about his theme trip that was realized when he won a ‘Biker Dream’ contest in 2011. Winning meant he had the excuse to do the motorcycle trip he had been planning since 2008, riding from Manchester in the UK to visit 33 towns called Manchester in the United States and Canada. Pete is also the moderator of the Chunky Tread Motorcycle Adventure Club on Facebook and Twitter. Website: http://unitedstatesofamanchester.blogspot.ca/ Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich Green Chile Adventure Gear Camel ADV Products IMS ProductsObsessive Cycle Disorder Some music on this episode can be found at at www.audionautix.com More of our best motorcycle podcasts at www.adventureriderradio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This is the time of year many of us are looking to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s a tradition in many countries, to set goals for self improvement or personal gain. But, usually these resolutions come with a price - pain. Like having to cut out food you love to lose weight, or the effort of working out to become fitter or maybe cutting out your favourite coffee shop to save more money. All good goals, all with some pain attached to them. Is it any wonder that we forget our new years resolutions as we fall back into everyday life in January?Instead of setting goals that you see as sacrifice or painful, how about setting a win/win goal? A goal that is achievable, yet fun too. How about a resolution to do at least one trip, one adventure, one outing that stretches your personal comfort zone, yet rewards you with experience. The melding of personal growth with motorcycle adventure. But, how to go about it to ensure success? We decided to find out more about setting New Year’s resolutions. We found that in a study at the University of Bristol, Professor Richard Wiseman showed that only 12% of people achieve their goals. Of course, most goals include weight loss, cutting back on alcohol consumption or quitting smoking. The usual. Daunting tasks that are hard to follow through. His study showed that men were more likely to succeed if they set definitive goals, instead of general goals such as lose a pound a week instead of just lose weight, or if they focused on the rewards, such as having the opposite sex find them more attractive. Women found it easier to achieve their goals when they shared their resolutions with friends and family. Encouragement not to give up just because they had given in and had some taboo chocolate, goes a long way to being seen as a setback rather than as having failed.The New Years resolution study resulted in some tips for being successful with your resolutions: avoid previous resolutions, think and plan what your resolution could be, be specific about it and then make only one resolution.So, this year why not make a fun New Year’s resolution? Make a goal to take that trip you’ve always wanted to do. And do whatever it takes to make sure that you realize that goal. Make a plan, share with friends, focus on the rewards… and get going.Source: http://www.richardwiseman.com/quirkology/new/USA/Experiment_resolution.shtml To Mongolia and Back: Derek Mansfield We’ve heard some inspiring stories this past year… riders who have just decided to travel, for whatever reason, and in any way they could find to do it. They just did it. And not one person came back and said they didn’t get anything out of it.And in this episode, we have a story to share with you that isn’t exactly a New Year’s resolution, but it’s a goal that Derek Mansfield set for himself, to travel to Mongolia because, well… that’s what adventure riders do. Some of the music on ARR can be found at: www.audionautix.com More of our best motorcycle podcast episodes available at www.AdventureRiderRadio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

However you may celebrate the holiday season, we want to wish you all the very best from our home to yours. In this special seasonal episode, we bring you greetings from all of us at Adventure Rider Radio... Cast:Jim Martin - Host Elizabeth Martin - Producer Sam Manicom - RAW Co-Host Grant Johnson - RAW Co-Host Susan Johnson - Guest on RAW Shirley Hardy-Rix - RAW Co-Host Brian Rix - RAW Co-Host Graham Field - RAW C-Host Pat Field - Graham Field's Book Distributor & Mum Adventure Rider's Radio version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Written by: Elizabeth Martin Read by: Jim Martin Music: Feels Good To Be - audionautix.com, Wish Background - incomptech.com More motorcycle podcast episodes at Adventure Rider Radio ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In a time when social media and youtube is so prevalent, Ken and Carol Duval are not the norm when it comes to travelling around the world and reporting on their trip. They haven't written a book, they don't submit magazine articles, and they don't have a website. They have a blog on Horizons Unlimited which Ken says they haven't been able to update for a while and they do post on their Facebook page. And although they are happy to share their stories with those they meet or know, and, lucky for us, with Adventure Rider Radio, they ride for themselves, for the experiences, not feeling an obligation to let everyone know what they are up to every day. Ken and Carol are on their second round the world trip, with the first one being four years and now they have been out for nine years. Jim spoke to them while they are on a break from their trip in Australia. Good Adventure Company - Wiel Pender Mexico’s Copper Canyon Epic Adventure (March 4-11 2017) "Good-ADV’s mission is to provide a personal adventure experience for all our riders and, in doing so, use those funds for significant, financial support for sustainable life-changing projects benefitting kids and families throughout the US and the world. We are currently supporting the children in the schools within The Copper Canyon and when you come on our trips, you’ll see the projects and meet the children firsthand." https://good-adv.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Copper-Canyon-Flyer-2017-Fconv.pdf www.good-adv.com Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich Green Chile Adventure Gear Camel ADV Products IMS Products Some of the music on ARR can be found at: www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Shorai Lithium Batteries Phuc Lam from Shorai Inc, and also an avid motorcyclist, explains lithium batteries in this episode. Website: www.shoraipower.com Garmin Zumo 395LM Jim talks with Cesar Palacios, Media Relations Associate from Garmin International Website: http://www.garmin.com/ ** Garmin® Thrills with New zūmo® Motorcycle Navigators ** Source: Garmin Press Release Feb 16, 2016 Riding With Foreign Bikers If you're a regular listener, you probably know Shirley Hardy-Rix and Brian Rix, Aussies Overland, they're regular co-hosts on ARR RAW. We've also had them on the ARR show before, talking about their motorcycle travel adventures and their books. We asked them to come on the show and share a story from their last adventure, which they documented in their book called The Long Way to Vladivostok. Shirley and Brian have written two other books about their trips and you can purchase these books online on their website at www.aussiesoverland.com.au. Some music on this episode by: www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Heather Ellis: Solo Adventure in Africa From 1993 to 1997, Heather Ellis went on an adventure on her Yamaha TT600 through Africa, and from the United Kingdom to Vietnam. She recently published her book Ubuntu: One Woman's Motorcycle Odyssey Across Africa, which chronicles her journey in Africa. In her memoir, she shares life-changing stories, both inspiring and entertaining. For more information on where Heather Ellis' book is available go to her website at http://www.heather-ellis.com/index.html GCAG Uprising Luggage System Source: Green Chile Adventure Gear: https://greenchileadv.com/products/gcag-uprising-luggage-system This kit will set you up with the full Green Chile Adventure Gear treatment. You will be able to haul up to four bags of your choice. One system that can be rigged for day trips and easily scaled up for an expedition or extended trip. No expensive bags required. Any bag becomes motorcycle luggage. The GCAG Uprising Soft Rack is the flagship Green Chile innovation. This unique product is compatible with just about any motorcycle and soft luggage combination that you'd care to throw at it. Adventure bikes, dirt bikes, and cruisers, the Uprising Soft Rack does it all. Don't have a rack on your bike? No problem! The flexible soft rack system attaches easily to fenders, footpegs, sissy bars, or your existing rack. Just tighten up the sturdy cam buckles and you're ready to get rigging! Use the versatile combination of runner loops, tensioner straps, and velcro loops to affix any bag you please to any one of over 60 daisy-chain style contact points. The Green Chile Uprising Soft Rack will simplify your adventures and have you spending less time battling bungee cords and more time having fun. Sturdy climbing quality tubular nylon webbing, steel buckles, loops, and hand-crafted, made in USA construction won't let you down. Be sure to check our Gallery and Video sections to see the Soft Rack in action. Custom colors and modifications available – just ask us! Bring Green Chile along to spice up your next adventure. Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich Green Chile Adventure Gear Camel ADV Products IMS Products Music: www.audionautix.com More of our best motorcycle podcasts at www.adventureriderradio.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Motorcycle Manufacturers Offer Smaller ADV Bikes Recently, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW and Suzuki have unveiled their new small adventure bikes. In a bid to entice women, younger and smaller riders, the manufacturers are offering motorcycles that are lighter and with a smaller price tag. Carl Parker, publisher of ADVMoto magazine talks about the new adventure bikes that were recently shown at motorcycles shows. Austin Vince, an advocate for small cc bikes for adventure travel, shares his thoughts on these smaller adventure motorcycles. The smaller 2017 ADV bike line-up includes: Honda CRF250 Rally Kawasaki Versys-X 300 BMW G310 GS Suzuki V-Strom 250 Carl Parker - Publisher of ADVMoto Website: www.adventuremotorcycle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADVMotoMag Austin Vince Website: http://www.austinvince.com/ Adventure Travel Film Festival: http://www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com/ Into Iraq- Graham Field Taken from his book called Ureka, Graham Field tells the story of his efforts to get in to Mosul, Iraq. Graham Field is a motorcycle adventure author from the UK, now living in Bulgaria. The author of three books In Search of Greener Grass, Ureka and Different Natures. Books are available for individual purchase or as a replica pannier box set. Website: http://grahamfield.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Graham-Field-Motorcycle-Travel-Author-196758197110476/ More of our best motorcycle podcast episode here. Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich Green Chile Adventure Gear Camel ADV Products IMS Products Sound Restoration: http://themixroom.tv/ Music: www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Catherine Germillac has been riding the same motorcycle for going on 30 years, a small 2-stroke Yamaha DTMX 125. As a young woman, setting out on a solo motorcycle wasn't a common thing to do in the late 1980's. But being inspired by Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels, she fell in love with the idea of motorcycling, travel and adventure, purchased her beloved motorcycle, that she calls Desiree, took some lessons and then started riding. She spent 6 years travelling on her bike, taking some time out in Colombia and Ecuador, before continuing her journey to Australia. In this episode, the memories and experiences that Catherine shares about that extended trip really make you understand the essence of her character, feisty, strong, fun and determined. Good Adventure Company - JJ Lewis Mexico’s Copper Canyon Epic Adventure (March 4-11 2017) "Good-ADV’s mission is to provide a personal adventure experience for all our riders and, in doing so, use those funds for significant, financial support for sustainable life-changing projects benefitting kids and families throughout the US and the world. We are currently supporting the children in the schools within The Copper Canyon and when you come on our trips, you’ll see the projects and meet the children firsthand." www.good-adv.com Music: www.audionautix.com Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich Green Chile Adventure Gear Camel ADV Products IMS Products ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When an Afternoon Ride Turns in to a Rescue Mission This is the story of a rescue made possible by a satellite communicator, an inReach device. We've used the inReach for some time now, but only have experience with it as a convenient method of staying in contact with family and for checking weather in remote locations. When we were putting together this episode, part of the plan was to talk to someone who had to use their inReach for the purpose of rescue. And while searching for someone with a story, we experienced a rescue mission of our own. Jim Martin, show host, and his friend Brent Henry, went for an afternoon adventure ride, on the logging roads and trails on our island. That ride turned out to involve a serious injury and the subsequent rescue mission. About inReach: We talked at length about both the inReach and Spot on a previous episode, Calling From Help from Above. inReach Canada: www.inreachcanada.comDelorme inReach: http://www.inreachdelorme.com/ Spencer James Conway - Circumnavigating South America Spencer was the first solo rider to circumnavigate Africa, totally unsupported. He documented his trip using a video camera and at the time had no idea that it would be made in to a six part series called African Motorcycle Diaries where it first aired on the UK Travel Channel. And now, Spencer is riding around South America, documenting his trip on video, which will once again be made in to a series on the Travel Channel. Jim caught up with him on his trip to see how things were playing out. African Motorcycle Diaries DVD: https://www.dukevideo.com/prd1950/African-Motorcycle-Diaries-DVD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencer.j.conway Website: http://www.spencer-conway.com/ Music: www.audionautix.com Show Sponsors: Support the show sponsors that help bring ADVENTURE RIDER RADIO to you. More information about contacting our sponsors can be found here. Max BMW Motorcycles Bestrest Products Aerostich TourUSA Motorcycle Rentals Green Chile Adventure Gear IMS Products Listen to more of our best motorcycle podcasts! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★