Sturgis or Bust

I am not a biker, but...

In 2014, I took a motorcycle class at our local Harley Davidson dealer so that I could ride with my husband. I did not expect to enjoy it, and I knew I wouldn't pass it. I had only been on a motorcycle twice before, and only once beyond the safety of the empty parking lot. To say I was terrified would be a huge understatement. Still, I went - and it was thrilling. I loved the juxtaposition of feeling like I had total freedom and feeling like I needed intense control. I loved the swift, fluid movements. I loved the camraderie. I didn't pass the class (curse you, clutch), but I gained so much from the experience. I vowed to practice, but then I got sick.

It is now 2024, and my family and I recently returned from our first visit to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It was a blast! All of the elements that made my motorcycle class so much fun were there writ large in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. For the record, we arrived by car, complete with portable gel seat cushions and a handicapped parking placard. Nevertheless, the experience was amazing! I can only imagine the beautiful, peaceful contemplation that comes from riding through such majestic scenery. When you ride, you feel the road and absorb your surroundings for your own personal safety, and in turn you feel like you can become one with the magnificence that surrounds you.

My physical and mental health has changed a great deal since 2014, and it would now be impossible for me to ride for long distances. I am much weaker and brain fog seems to disrupt my best efforts at continuing life at a "normal" pace. As an example, I have been working on this post for several days because of the time needed to recover from a short trip. Still, I hope that 2024 brings a renewed ability to ride, even if only around the neighborhood. Much of my life is spent in bed, but there are moments when I can fly. It is my goal to increase the number of those marvelous moments.

Sometimes the ability to pursue our goals are taken from us. Here are my thoughts on taking them back, from a disabled person's perspective. For those of you yearning to push your limits but not inclined towards motorcycles, feel free to substitute your own challenging activity. DISCLAIMER: These are my own thoughts based on my own body. Everybody is different. While these thoughts are generalized, always talk to your doctor(s) to discuss what works best for you.

1. DON'T GIVE UP. Keep your goal at the front of your mind. Let it spur you to work harder when you want to give up, and let it guide you to orient your activities towards a successful outcome. I had to stop riding while I built my strength up. I will never be able to regain the strength I had before, but I keep trying. Some days I make progress, and then a flare hits, and I lose all the ground I gained. It is a frustrating, never-ending cycle. It is physically and mentally exhausting. Having a goal to focus on helps keep me going.

2. IT'S OK TO MODIFY YOUR GOAL. Having a chronic illness might mean that some things are no longer safe or possible. It's ok to change your goal to align with your current abilities. I would love to ride a great big heavy motorcycle. Instead, I ride either an adventure scooter or a mini-moto. (Shout out to the Honda ADV 150 and the Honda Super Cub!) My hands can't squeeze and hold the clutch so I have an automatic transmission (take that, clutch!). I ride what I can handle at this point in life, and I still got a motorcycle wave while riding it. I know a lot of people will be appalled to read about a scooter and a mini-moto in the context of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Forgive me. Like I said, I'm not a biker.

3. KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Motorcycle riding is dangerous. So is showering. When you're disabled or chronically ill, so many activities can lead to relapse, injury or worse. Know the signals that your body and mind send when they start to reach their limit, and adjust accordingly. In my case, shortness of breath is the first indicator that I'm starting to get too tired. Three or four other symptoms will then appear in a particular order. If I keep pushing myself after the fourth symptom, I risk injuring myself or causing additional damage to my already-damaged organs. And yes, this includes the simple act of taking a shower. When you're chronically ill, simple things can become extremely challenging and even dangerous. I am always ready to modify or cease my activity for my own safety and the safety of those around me.

4. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOUR GOAL. This was what made Sturgis so much fun for me. I had many concerns about going there. I was worried about a rough crowd, crude activities, and crime in general. We stayed at a Hampton Inn so our experience might be skewed, but everyone in our hotel seemed quiet and respectful. The self-serve breakfast area was filled with motorcycle-brand shirts from all across the country, and people were happily talking about where they were from and where their favorite places to ride were while waiting in line for sausage and waffles. We didn't go out at night because I get tired quickly, so my opinion might have changed if we had. During the day, however, the areas we visited had a friendly and festive atmosphere. It was so much fun being surrounded by such positive energy.

5. PAY ATTENTION TO HOW CHANGES IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT AFFECT YOU. I've been to the western part of South Dakota several times before, and I had trouble with my stomach each time. I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and I know there are specific things that cause my stomach to get sick. I spoke with my gastroenterologist about it, and I thought it was because I was stressing my body too much while sightseeing. I intentionally scaled back my activity on this trip, and I made sure that none of my food triggers would cause an IBS flare. Despite that, I was sick each day I was there. The only difference I could think of was the altitude was higher than what I'm used to so I looked it up, and yes, altitude can affect IBS. This is a huge setback for me because I was hoping to travel more now that my health seems more stable. I now worry about traveling anywhere with mountains, and I can't even imagine what it would be like to fly. If your goals include activities that are outside of your normal experience, be aware of how your body reacts to it.

6. HAVE FUN! Regardless of how you need to adapt yourself and your surroundings to the pursuit of your goal, always try to have fun while doing it! Sometimes I ride down my street on a mini motorcycle. Sometimes I ride on a mobility scooter. Sometimes I can't even make it out of my bed. Whatever I'm doing, though, I try to have fun with it. Life is short; make as many memories as you can!

If you had to pause or give up something you love doing, I hope you find a way to recapture some of the enjoyment from it!