For those who drink and ride

[therapist]

From Motorcycle.com

The MSF estimates that even the least amount of alcohol increases a rider's chance of crashing five times. And a (still potentially legal) BAC over 0.05 percent increases chances to crash 40 fold.

While there have been fewer studies for motorcycle riders than for auto drivers, alcohol use and riding are known to be a lethal, self-deluding combination. With a BAC as low as 0.01 to 0.04 percent, riders’ judgments are reduced, while at the same time, they become less critical of their own actions.

With inhibitions diminishing, and sensory stimuli affected by the alcoholic buzz, anecdotal accounts suggest some might even think riding feels more fun as their qualifications to do so continue to dangerously degrade.

From 0.05 to 0.07 percent, thinking and reasoning powers further diminish, and ability to perform complex skills continues to decrease. By the time the legal limit of 0.08 percent is crossed, reasoning powers are severely hampered, and even common simple tasks are done with errors.

A study performed last year by the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies confirmed a BAC within the legal limit of 0.05 percent affected performance.

Riders on outrigger-equipped bikes that could not fall experienced measurably decreased abilities on a controlled test course after only one or two drinks.

While some riders studied could realize when alcohol was affecting performance, the researchers concluded trying to “self regulate,” or be extra careful was no guaranty of not crashing.

[Jack]

I seldom drink if I'm driving or riding.  I usually drink whiskey straight up at home and stay there.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

You need to ride bitch but friends don't let friends drink and drive with the people I hang with around here.

FYI, this picture was totally staged, Motomama paid ME like $100 to sit on the bike with Willow.

FYI, really this time, I was planning to drink one or two at the evening meal and Willow did in fact volunteer to haul me bitch back the mile to the Hotel at Panama City Beach.

Raymond

[franco6]

  lots of people on bikes hanging arond ice houses around here. we know they ain t drinking diet coke!is this why a lot of bike crashes hapen after midnight? i d ont drink and would never put myself and my wife on the valk if i deed.

[solo1]

I took my friend, Millie, to the CBR last year.  On the way, I told her that VRCCR's party only after the bikes are put away.( For the record, neither one of us would turn down a nice scotch).  Anyway, she was impressed, that is until we had a VRCC'r pull up in the parking lot, just outside our rooms,  drinking, along with his girlfriend.

I  ended up feeling like a fool.  Fortunately, this person was advised to stop by fellow riders.

Many years ago I made a pact.  No riding after drinking. Back then, I had one beer at a neighborhood tavern, rode home one block away, and sideswiped a power pole.  Lucky no damage to me or the Matchless but not even one drink while riding since then.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I drink like a fiend when I'm riding.




















Coffee, unsweetened tea and water.

But not too much, else I'll be frequently searching for a bathroom.

We missed out on a couple days of nice riding weather this week by enjoying a beer (that's right; ONE) on the back porch - but I had things to do around the yard, and I'm not going to take a chance being off my game by even a little bit. The Dragon will bite even a sober rider if he or she isn't careful. You don't need to make it easier to get bit by riding after you've had a few too many...

[Ken Tarver]

not here

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

It's hard for me to believe that a beer or mixed drink along with an 18 oz ribeye, baked potato and all the fixings during an hour long sit-down meal could make much difference for someone who is not a first time drinker. I certainly don't drink and ride but once or twice a year I'll have a beer or drink with my steak on a dinner or lunch ride. I wouldn’t have the big meal or the drink if I was about to hammer some twisties or embark on a 12 hour ride because either one could make you drowsy.

I have to wonder, if these studies had not gotten the results they were looking for, would they have been published? Is it possible there are other studies out there which weren't published for this reason? Do you think they used first time or infrequent drinkers for these studies? If they did publish findings which didn’t support current popular thinking would they have ever again received government money for another study?

Sorry to be the devils advocate but when I see this kind of thing I always have to ask a few more questions.

[Evil One]

When I was a pup, I rode a few blocks after drinking.
Thought about it the next day and wanted to kick myself.
Since then I dont ride a bike or drive a car if I have had even one drink.

I refuse to be "that guy" and injure another person due to my carelessness... I would feel worse about that than any injury I may cause myself.


Jim

[shortleg]

       One of the stupidest thing that has been said to me
 Ok you are the designated driver.NOw one must understand I was with
 four guys on Harleys that had been drinking all afternoon.
    I told them the next day that I would no longer condone this
and was lafted at. Later that day each of them by them selves came
to me and said I was right.
     Please all of you , we have lost too many people in our lives to do this stull.
                  Shortleg[Dave]

[junior]

with a Bac of .02 the federal goverment says i am drunk.......................i just cant aford to drink and drive/ride

[fudgie]

I'm with Frye on this to. In theory it looks good on paper. Alot depends on your body type and the amount of food you eat. There are times I have 3 or 4 whiskeys over the coarse of a evening without food and I feel buzzed. Then there are times I drink a whole bottle through out the night and eat alot. A burger here or there every hour or so. By the time 7a rolls around I feel fine. A rule of thumb is 'a drink a hour'. Which means your body will, digest if you will, a drink every hour. Not stating facts, just a rule of thumb.
I'll admit I'll go to a local bar and eat supper and have a drink. Then there are times I will go to a bike night and eat wings all night and drink water. As far as seeing bikes at a bar and assuming they are drinking is not very rational. I have gone and not drank and so have alot of by biker friends.
If I ride to a party and drink, I will stay. Which happened a weekend or 2 ago at the x wifes/husbands house. Stayed the night. She also has driven me home before. I have ridden home hung over a numberous times which is better then being drunk. I've made mistakes before and I'm sure I will make more.

[Madmike]

Many people forget that alcohol isn't the only source of impaired driving.  They say that if you have not had any sleep for 21 hours your reactions are as impaired as if you had a blood alcohol content of .08.  I have heard the statistic that if you suffer from sleep apnea you have 3 times the chance of falling asleep at the wheel as someone that doesn't have apnea.  Prescription drugs can also contribute to impairment.

I've been dry for 20+ years and have no tolerance for drunks driving - if they feel justified in endangering the public then I have no qualms about ratting them out - they don't give a sh!! what they do to my family why should I care anymore what happens to them.

[Kingbee]

For those of you that drink and ride - stay away from me.  You apparantly have diminished respect for your own safety or that of others.  I've made it 65 years by not drinking and would like to make it another couple 'O dozen more.

Oh yeah, I also wear a helmet any time my bike is not in my driveway.

Them darn cigarettes will probably do me in............

[Bagger John - #3785]

I drank and rode last night.
















Iced tea, as usual.

Had a beer when we got home from dinner. But not more than one - was so stuffed I was lucky to get that much down!