My brain runs about 100 miles an hour all day, every day. I think many of us women live that way. We’re constantly planning, remembering, anticipating, solving problems, and keeping track of everyone else’s needs. Even when we’re sitting still, our minds rarely are. We spend so much of our lives mentally juggling a dozen things at once that we rarely give ourselves permission to focus on just one. That’s one reason I love riding a motorcycle. Ironically, the thing that finally slows my mind down is this activity that demands my complete attention.
It sounds backward because riding requires complete concentration. But that’s exactly why it clears my head. When I’m on a motorcycle, I can’t think about the grocery list or whether I returned a phone call. I have to be present. I have to notice the curve ahead, the car waiting to pull out, the changing road surface. But I also notice the way the morning sun hits the canyon walls, the scent of pine trees in the mountains, and the wildflowers growing along the roadside. Riding doesn’t give my brain permission to wander. It gives it permission to rest from everything except what’s happening right now. Some people find peace through meditation or yoga. I find it on two wheels.
WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS
I’ve always known how riding clears—and occupies—my mind. Turns out, research agrees with me. In a 2021 study published in the journal Brain Research, scientists equipped experienced riders with EEG monitors to measure brain activity while riding motorcycles, driving cars, and sitting at rest. They also measured heart rate and stress hormones. The results showed that riding increased selective attention and sensory processing, improved focus, and reduced the cortisol-to-DHEA-S ratio, a physiological marker associated with stress. Researchers concluded that riding requires the brain to filter out distractions while heightening awareness of the surrounding environment. In other words, the mental clarity many riders describe isn’t just anecdotal—it’s backed by neuroscience. There’s also a psychological phenomenon called a “flow state.” The concept, backed by decades of research, holds that flow occurs when a task is challenging enough to require complete concentration but not so difficult that it becomes overwhelming. People experiencing flow are less self-conscious and more intensely focused, and they report improved well-being and enjoyment.
MOTHERHOOD ALREADY TRAINED YOU FOR THIS
The funny thing is that motherhood prepares you for motorcycling in ways you may not realize. Good riders aren’t reckless—they’re observant and patient. They anticipate what other drivers might do before it happens. If you’ve spent years driving your kids around, managing traffic while listening to a toddler in the back seat, all while mentally planning the next stop, you’ve already developed situational awareness. Riding simply asks you to apply those instincts in a different way. And remember, there’s confidence that comes from mastering something new. There’s quiet pride in developing a skill few people ever attempt. And there’s the freedom of having a pursuit that’s entirely your own, one you don’t have to share with your partner or children.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Of course, motorcycle riding isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you’ve ever caught yourself watching a motorcycle go by and wondered what it might feel like, don’t assume you have to buy a bike and figure it out on your own. Start with a beginner rider course. California has training sites throughout the state that provide motorcycles, teach the fundamentals in a controlled environment, and let you decide whether riding is really for you. You don’t have to show up knowing anything—all you need is a willingness to learn. Search online for “California motorcycle rider education courses” or “CMSP motorcycle training,” and you’ll find classes close to home designed specifically for people starting from scratch.
THE ONES WHO KEEP RIDING
I’ve been riding since I was a little girl, so I don’t remember learning as an adult. But I do remember watching, and helping, new riders over the years. The ones who became lifelong riders weren’t necessarily the most naturally talented or experienced. They were the ones who gave themselves permission to learn slowly. They took one step at a time. And then, one day, they realized they weren’t thinking about riding anymore. They were simply enjoying the ride.
FOLLOW ALONG TO STURGIS
As this issue reaches readers, I’ll be somewhere between California and South Dakota, riding solo to Sturgis. I’ve made the trip before, but this will be my first time taking it on entirely by myself, a challenge that’s equal parts exciting and intimidating.
Along the way, I’ll post a daily ride diary on YouTube (@So_Cal_Biker_Grandma), where I’ll talk about the routes I choose and why, the interesting people and places I discover, and show footage from some of the most beautiful highways in the country.
If you’d like to follow along, I’d love to have you. Because every rider, whether they’re crossing the country or riding around the block for the very first time, started in exactly the same place: with one ride that felt just a little intimidating.
Motorcycle Courses
Pacific Motorcycle Training
WeatherTech Raceway, 1021 Monterey Salinas Highway, Salinas
pacificmotorcycletraining.com/locations/salinas
This CMSP-certified school offers a beginner course for riders with zero experience. Students complete a six-hour “eRider” online module at their own pace, then spend two days (10 hours) practicing on provided motorcycles and helmets at the Laguna Seca range. Graduates earn a certificate that can waive the DMV’s riding skills test.
Cabrillo College Extension — Motorcyclist Safety Program
Cabrillo College Campus, Aptos
extension.cabrillo.edu/classes/motorcycle
This course pairs two evening Zoom lectures with two in-person range days. Motorcycles are provided, with a limited number of helmets available. It’s required for under-21 riders seeking a DMV permit, and can waive the skills test — and possibly lower insurance rates — for adults too.
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