Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes

Vicki "Spitfire" Sanfelipo is a registered nurse, longtime motorcyclist and founder of Accident Scene Management, now the world's largest motorcycle trauma training organization. She joins The Ride Inside to explain how riders can prepare to respond effectively when a crash happens, from securing the scene and assessing injuries to controlling bleeding, managing airways and knowing when long-standing "rules" about helmet removal or moving an injured rider may not apply.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

As women become an increasingly visible part of motorcycling, clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes examines what their growing participation can teach the riding community about gender, perception and the many different ways people experience motorcycles. Drawing on observations from dealerships, riding culture and his own assumptions, Barnes argues that stereotypes often obscure a more interesting truth: motorcyclists of every gender bring different priorities, perspectives and sources of enjoyment to the same shared passion.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

This episode contains a graphic account of a serious motorcycle crash, emergency medical response and rider fatality.

After unexpectedly encountering a devastating motorcycle crash, clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes reflects on accident scene management, rider training, protective gear, airbag vests and the importance of riding within your limits. His firsthand experience offers a sobering motorcycle safety lesson about preparedness, risk reduction and knowing what to do when a ride suddenly becomes an emergency.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

Motorcycling offers far more than transportation—it can be a powerful source of discovery, creativity and personal vitality. Clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes explores how riding, learning new skills, understanding and maintaining motorcycles, planning trips, customizing bikes and connecting with other riders can keep motorcyclists curious, engaged and fully alive.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

Veteran riders develop a sixth sense for danger by learning to recognize the subtle "tells" of distracted drivers, unpredictable vehicles and changing road conditions. Clinical psychologist and motojournalist Mark Barnes explores how situational awareness, defensive riding and prudent risk management can help motorcyclists anticipate hazards, create space and make smarter decisions before a potential threat becomes an accident.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation. 

If you're having a midlife crisis but you're not buying a motorcycle, are you really having a midlife crisis?

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Doing hard things won't kill you—but not doing them just might.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

FORGET EVERYTHING YOU KNOW: Mark quotes that old movie "Willow" by reminding us that to move forward, sometimes we must un-learn certain things. By approaching things as a beginner would, we can gain the benefit of learning from a new perspective.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

NOTHING TO DO:  When does the freedom to do nothing at all take over? Mark looks at how, for a motorcyclist, having no agenda can actually be a huge boon to your schedule, happiness and life.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

POINTERS:  Rider education is a necessity throughout the lifespan of any motorcyclist. That's not hyperbole, and it's also the first thing you'll hear Mark say in this episode. He believes it deeply, and by the time you're done here, you will too.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

A REAL PAIN:  There's pain, and then there's *pain*! Whether it's from injury or experience, Mark talks about how we experience pain and how we can grow from it, whether or not it happens from motorcycling.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

LONE WOLVES:  Cosplay or not, the stereotype of the "lone wolf" biker persists in modern culture. Mark digs into why an introvert just might make the perfect motorcyclist in this day and age.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

RETAIL THERAPY:  Anal, oral, discretionary, emotion, spending, guilt … all loaded words that bring up scads of stuff for each of us, all in different and yet surprisingly similar ways.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

NOT THE MAN I USED TO BE: As we get older, we find ourselves occasionally struggling to do things we did quite easily in our younger days. Mark explains the challenges inherent in those things, as well as why it might not be such a bad thing to have to work harder at things that used to come easily.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? A lot, as it turns out, and it's tied into identity and how we choose to see ourselves as well as how we present ourselves to others. Mark gets into how and why it matters to motorcyclists in some interesting ways.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Mark and Dallas Shannon discusses the evolution of the Traction eRAG, the importance of structured training, and the cultural differences in riding education. Dallas emphasizes the need for a gentle entry into off-road riding to help new riders overcome fear and develop essential skills. He also highlights the role of mentorship and the impact of age on riding, advocating for a more supportive and educational approach to off-road riding. (Part 2 of 2)

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at bmwmoa.org.

Mark and Dallas Shannon discusses the evolution of the Traction eRAG, the importance of structured training, and the cultural differences in riding education. Dallas emphasizes the need for a gentle entry into off-road riding to help new riders overcome fear and develop essential skills. He also highlights the role of mentorship and the impact of age on riding, advocating for a more supportive and educational approach to off-road riding. (Part 1 of 2)

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at bmwmoa.org.

THINKERS AND DOERS make the world go 'round, but in different ways. Mark explores how they might be closer to each other than we might think and gets into why we need to have – and be – them both.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

GUILTY PLEASURES are things we might try to hide from our friends. "Not that there's anything wrong with that," they might say, but we don't want to hear it. But when it comes to actual guilt over sharing the things (like motorcycling) which bring us joy, Mark says it's smart to leave yourself some wiggle room.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

GETTING WHAT WE ASK FOR maybe isn't always the best solution for our motorcycling lives - but then again, maybe sometimes it is.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

TIMING: Both work and play deplete our energy reserves, so determining which is more important at any given time (and how to approach balancing one with the other) are critical to how we wend our way through our daily lives, both on and off the motorcycle.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Many of us put on our helmets every day to go ride, but we never really think about how effective they're going to be at preventing traumatic brain injuries. That appears to be all John Lloyd thinks about; after testing hundreds of helmets, he's arrived at some fairly startling conclusions. He relates his study in this discussion with Mark and Wes Fleming, host of the podcast Chasing the Horizon. (Note: This is a lightly edited version of the discussion, which can be heard in full on Chasing the Horizon Episode 162.)

DYLAN CODE: Born into one of the most well-known rider families in the USA, Dylan has sought and found ways to balance his father Keith's legacy with his own quest for knowledge and perfection atop a motorcycle. From his beginnings as a boy to keeping CSS running smoothly, Dylan brings a lot of insight to the concept of motorcycle schools and how they can benefit all riders. Wes Fleming, host of Chasing the Horizon, joins Mark for this discussion with Dylan.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

WON'T VS. CAN'T: It's an age-old conundrum, and discussions of it often overlook the nuances and complexities of a given situation or set of circumstances. Whether you're parenting or riding a motorcycle, the distinction between won't and can't can (and often does) have important repercussions.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

SAME OLD SAME OLD? An enthusiast has an entirely different perspective on whatever it is they're particularly excited about. It can often be difficult to share or express your enthusiasms with other people, but a little understanding can go a long way.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

A MOMENTARY LAPSE: Everything can change in a split second when your attention wanders. In a car, it might not be a big deal, but on a motorcycle, a momentary lapse of attention or skill could have devastating effects.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

X-RAY VISION: What do X-ray glasses, rocky hill climbs and invisible dangers have in common? Perception! Mark explores how experience shapes what we see—and what we miss—on the bike and beyond. Discover why learning doesn't just change how we think, but what we notice in the first place. 

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

MY LAST HAIRCUT: When do you stop chasing the next upgrade? In this episode, Mark reflects on reaching the "last haircut" moment—settling into the perfect set of bikes, dialing back the tech obsession and choosing depth over breadth. It's about aging, priorities and staying put in the saddle. 

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

LOSING CONTROL: Is more control always better? Mark examines the paradox of control and how letting go can sometimes yield the best results in motorcycling and in life. From race track lessons to psychological insights, Mark explores why relaxing your grip may be the key to confidence, performance and even joy.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

AN OFF DAY: Even the most perfect riding day can fall flat when you're not at your best. Mark unpacks the anatomy of an "off day" on two wheels—where confidence wavers, rhythm vanishes and expectations clash with reality. Join the exploration of how to reset, recover and ride smarter when things just won't click.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

FILLING IN THE BLANK: What do you say to someone who just doesn't get motorcycles? Mark explores the blank stares, the curious questions and the challenge of translating a personal passion into relatable terms. Learn why riding is more than transportation and how sharing the spark might just light someone else's fire.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

BREAKING THE ICE:  What happens when a long winter off the bike dulls your passion instead of sharpening it? Mark explores the psychology of re-entry, emotional inertia and why sometimes the thrill of riding returns only after we act on faith, not feeling. Get moving first! Joy often follows in its wake.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

THESE ARE THE DAYS:  What if you could feel nostalgic for today—while it's happening? Mark explores how reframing the present can bring joy, clarity and calm amidst uncertainty. From gas station epiphanies to motorcycling metaphors, it's a ride through time, perception and the power of noticing what's good right now. 

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: From trail-side heroics to the quiet joy of finding the perfect wrench, Mark explores the power, pride and occasional absurdity of tools in the life of a motorcyclist. Hear how a clutch cover fix in the wilderness became a triumph of ingenuity and what it means to be truly prepared.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWMOA.org.

Kandi Spangler, a passionate motorcyclist and trainer, shares her journey from a novice rider to a two-time GS Trophy finalist with Mark Barnes, touching on overcoming physical limitations, her recovery from shoulder surgery and the importance of physical fitness in riding. She emphasizes the significance of training, skill development, and community support in the motorcycling world. Kandi also highlights her experiences in adventure riding, the role of coaching, and offers valuable advice for new riders.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FEELINGS ARE NOT FACTS: If you've ever wondered why this motorcycle somehow feels faster than that motorcycle, this is the podcast episode for you. Mark examines the differences between our perceptions of a thing and the reality of that thing and how our perception affects us.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

CHORE NO MORE: Do you consider riding on the weekends all the training you need? Or are you more dedicated to building your riding skills? Mark looks at ways to improve your riding that are fun and beneficial, and why they're important.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ESCAPE! You can run (denial) but you can't hide (reality). We all know this, of course, but Mark is here to remind us of some ways to deal with the frustrations inherent in even feeling the need to escape from anything.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NAVIGATING THE DOLDRUMS: Just like sailors of yore, motorcyclists can get stranded in the doldrums, especially during the winter. Mark gives you some ways to navigate the tough times when you can't ride.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. 

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NO SUCH THING: Obscuring responsibility doesn't do us much good, but we do it anyway. The throttle cable or brake pads on our motorcycles don't go bad by magic, bu we don't always notice they need attention until it's too late.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

MOTO MUSIC: whether it's a piano etude or a perfectly banked decreasing radius curve, we can make art in the ways presented to us on an everyday basis. Playing a classic Fender Stratocaster or riding a BMW M 1000 RR, your tools create your music.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ANOTHER KIND OF FEAR: Tying in with the Jan/Feb '25 issue of BMW Owners News and its focus on the MOA Foundation's mission of training and safety, Mark addresses learning, crashing, humility, ignorance, embarrassment and more.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

B.J. Hessler is the founder and lead instructor at DC Dirt Camp, an off-road riding school in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  Here she tells us how motorcycling in general, and setting up this operation in particular, have been central to her personal journey, and how her school has much to offer motorcyclists at all levels – including those who ride exclusively on pavement.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FRISKY BUSINESS: Mark takes on the classic nature vs. nurture conundrum, explaining it by developing an understanding of your cat getting the zoomies and connecting it to what we all experience as motorcycle riders.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

THE SOUND OF THUNDER: Losing a motorcycle buddy is difficult, but it's something many of us will face sooner or later. Mark explores what he's gone through since his friend Jeff died in a single-rider crash not long ago, and how his experience can help all of us manage risk, expectations and emotions.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

RIDING WITH ADHD: This commonly misunderstood (or misapplied) condition has a variety of effects, but can it actually make you a better rider? Mark dispels some myths and discusses (briefly) what ADHD is and isn't as it's applied to motorcyclists.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

PEARLS: Maybe yours are cleverly brief instructions passed along to you in formal coaching, or maybe they represent insights you arrived at on your own. No matter how you get them, they're critical to building your skills as a motorcyclist.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

DAVE SEARLE: Retired Editor-in-Chief of Motorcycle Consumer News Dave Searle reminisces about the odyssey that eventually led to his role as a highly regarded journalist for the motorcycle enthusiast press back in the glory days of print publications. His history as a self-taught mechanic, educator, writer, photographer, relentless researcher—and, of course, passionate motorcyclist—made him uniquely qualified to be MCN's longest-running leader.

Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

OUR STORIED LIVES: Storytelling. Refined sugar. Umbrellas. Motorcycles. Reality. Darwinism. Information. Tying it all together is the really tricky part, but that's exactly what we do on a daily basis!

Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

JAMES CARLISLE: Building on Mark's recent "Stealership" essay, this discussion digs into what it's really like for somebody at a motorcycle dealership to work with the public, especially disgruntled people who show up angry at a real or perceived slight, with a broken motorcycle or just itching for a confrontation.

Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.

The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.