Motorcycles and the Winter Blues: Solutions for Seasonal Depression

What happens when the cold winds of Colorado winter threaten the freedom and joy that come with motorcycling? Join me on a heartfelt journey dedicated to my friend Sandra, as we confront the unique challenges of riding during the chilly months. We'll explore the impact of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) on motorcycle enthusiasts and share actionable insights on how to combat it. From my eye doctor's sage advice on the mental benefits of walking outdoors, to meaningful conversations with Sandra about staying connected with our riding community, this episode is a beacon of warmth and hope for riders battling the winter blues.

Together, we'll navigate ways to keep the spirit of riding alive, even when the roads are too icy for our beloved motorcycles. We'll discuss the importance of staying active, spending time with fellow riders, and finding gratitude in every season. Also, a heartfelt nod to the wisdom of the Beatles, reminding us of brighter days ahead. So, if the winter has you feeling down, listen in for encouragement, camaraderie, and a reminder that spring—and a new riding season—are just around the corner. Let Sandra's inspiration guide us through these cold months until we can hit the open road once again.

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Episode Transcript

Ron Francis (00:00):
Today's episode is dedicated to my friend, Sandra.
I'll tell you why later.
Isn't riding a motorcycleamazing?
We love it.
On this podcast, we talk a lotabout the joy we feel when we go
out for a ride, getting out onthe road, either riding with

(00:22):
your friends or riding alone,either riding the back roads or
down the highway.
It's awesome, it's freedom, itmakes us happy.
And then comes winter.
Oh, no, not again.
Here in Colorado, winter meanssnow.

(00:46):
Yes, it's beautiful, but thereare days I will not be able to
ride.
No freedom from the road, noescape seems like that's not
good and for some it's very bad.
Seasonal depression is real and,as I learned from a friend, it
impacts motorcycle riders morethan others.
I didn't really realize that.

(01:07):
Maybe we should talk throughthis because there is hope.
You know, mother Nature has apretty good track record of
following the blaws of winterwith the joys of spring.
Let's talk about that, staytuned.
Recorded in beautiful Loveland,colorado.

(01:37):
Welcome to Peace.
Love Moto.
Let's talk about that, staytuned.
Have you ever felt the winterblues, the weight of the shorter

(01:59):
days, the colder weather, thegeneral sluggishness that can
come from these winter months?
Well, you're not alone.
Seasonal depression, also knownas seasonal affective disorder,
which ironically abbreviates toSAD.
Well, it's real and it's aserious condition that affects
many people.
So today let's just talk aboutwhat it is and how it impacts us

(02:23):
as motorcycle riders.
It's more than just thewintertime blues.
It's a type of depression,actually, that follows a
seasonal pattern.
It can be triggered by the lackof sunlight or changes in
routine.
The symptoms can includeanything from fatigue, changes
in sleep patterns, difficultyconcentrating, even a loss of

(02:46):
interest in activities thatyou'd normally love.
If that sounds familiar, well,you're not alone and there's
ways to manage it.
So what can we do about it ifwe can't get out on the road and
get to our happy place on ourmotorcycle?
Well, it's certainly easy tosay you can go out on Instagram

(03:07):
or YouTube or anything else andscroll around for thousands of
really good motorcycle videos.
There are good ones out there.
I find myself transfixedsometimes, but there's other
alternatives.
For one thing, we can still gooutside, whether you're in the

(03:27):
city or in the country.
Just go outside.
It's cold, but that's what acoat is for.
Right here in Colorado, welearned to dress for the cold
and you know, frankly, you puton a good coat, warm hat, some
gloves and life's pretty goodout there.
Be in nature, even if the treesare bare and the air is just

(03:51):
crisp.
Being outside, even in thecolder temperatures, can really
be helpful for the wintertimeblues.
Fresh air and the changingscenery and the simple act of
moving your body around, youknow it just affects your mood.
It really really does.
I got really good advice from myeye doctor some years ago.
She's wonderful.

(04:12):
Not only does she take care ofmy eyes, but she takes care of
me as a person in some ways too.
Knowing that I had a tough workschedule and dealing with a lot
of stress, she asked me if Iwalked enough and I said, yeah,
I go to the gym and I spend alot of time on the treadmill
whenever I can, and she saidwell, that's good for your heart
, but it's not so good for yourmind.

(04:33):
She went on to explain thatwalking outside is so much
better overall.
She said we not only need thefresh air from outside, but it's
helpful to watch the world passby as you walk.
In other words, moving throughspace is so much better than
walking in place, especiallywalking indoors.

(04:55):
Walking outside on those cold,icy months may be very, very
helpful to fight thosewintertime blues when we can't
be on the motorcycle.
And also, winter is a great timeto reconnect with your buddies.
Oftentimes I just enjoy goingfor rides alone.
I just do.
That's just kind of my natureand I ride with my friends from

(05:16):
time to time.
But now's a good time to go andmeet at the coffee shop.
You know, a motorcycle is notjust about a ride, it's about
people.
It's about strangers that wemeet and connecting with people
who become lifelong friends.
And it's wonderful Connectingin real conversations with a
group of fellow riders.
You've obviously got somethingreally in common to talk about.

(05:39):
Right, even if it's just onlineor, you know, just meeting at
the coffee shop, you can providesupport and motivation for
somebody else for thesewintertime blues and they in
turn will help you too.
I've experienced that here.
In winter.
It's a good time to be grateful, to be reminded of just how

(06:01):
fortunate we are to have themoney to own a bike and the
mental and physical capabilitiesto ride it.
That's a gift.
I've mentioned it on otherepisodes, that I feel so
grateful for my motorcycle thatin the wintertime especially,
I'll walk out into the garage,I'll just stand beside it or sit
on it and I'll literally sayout loud thank you and I'll give

(06:25):
the bike a pat on the tank.
Is that crazy?
Yes, it's crazy, but it's amachine that's made me so happy.
It's carried me to places andthrough experiences that have
changed my life, so I don't mindsaying thank you, and patting
it on the tank Makes me feelgood, and feeling good

(06:49):
especially in winter.
Well, that's just what we need.
I probably should havementioned this in the beginning,

(07:12):
but I want to stress that,while motorcycling is a powerful
tool for getting through roughtimes, it's not a substitute for
professional help at all.
In a previous episode where Iinterviewed the mindful
motorcycle of Ben Rubin, Ben, inour conversation, said
something really profound.
It really stuck with me when Itold Ben that riding makes me
happy and I go out and itchanges my mood and I need to

(07:35):
change.
Sometimes he reminded me that Iwon't always be able to ride.
It's not something that lastsforever.
Always be able to ride, it'snot something that lasts forever
.
Someday, he reminded me, aphysical or mental condition may
keep me from riding and I can'tlet that fact drive me into a
hole that I can't climb out of.
He was right and that's alesson for all of us.

(08:00):
And that's a lesson for all ofus as much as we love riding, it
won't last forever.
So let's remember that we'llalways have our memories of
great rides and the people we'vemet along the road and the
things we saw.
No one can take that from us.
In another interview some monthsago with Rob Hamilton from Moto

(08:23):
Fields he's the one who doesthe moto camping videos, which
are fabulous Rob's out ofAustralia Rob stressed to me
that there's a saying that hedoesn't agree with.
The saying goes you won't see amotorcycle in front of a
therapist office.
And Rob said that's not trueand it's even destructive to

(08:45):
think that way.
Yes, I love motorcycling dearly, but it is not a solution for
everybody's concerns.
So if you're struggling, don'thesitate to reach out to your
doctor, a therapist or mentalhealth professional.
There is no shame in seekinghelp.
Take care of your mental healthas you take care of your

(09:06):
physical health, because youwant to keep riding right and
it's worth the investment andprofessional help to straighten
everything out.
Then we'll get back on ourbikes with a really, really big
smile.
So if you find yourselfstruggling today, just know

(09:29):
you're not alone.
Seasonal depression is tough,especially for us motorcycle
riders, but there are ways tocope.
I think it's safe to say that,given the fact that you're
listening to a podcast calledPeace, love Moto, which is kind
of a narrow audience, maybe I'mjust really happy to say that
the that audience is growingaround the world from what I've

(09:50):
seen.
So just know you're.
You have a community around youthat thinks a lot like you do
and that's here to support youas well.
If writing helps, get out anddo that when you can, but if you
need to reach out and talk, dothat too.
One of the many things I'veloved about hosting this podcast
last couple of years isconnecting with many listeners.

(10:12):
I love that.
Not only have I've gotten lotsof emails and collaborated back
and forth through that it's ronat peacelovemotocom but we've
even connected a few times overZoom and even in person.
I love that.
I just love that.
It really makes me feel good.
So finally this I mentioned atthe very beginning of the

(10:36):
episode that this is dedicatedto my friend, sandra.
Sandra works at Urban TraditionsBarbershop here in Loveland,
colorado.
She cuts my hair and, frankly,I get the world's best haircut.
I'll just say that A littlepromo there for Sandra.
Anyway, being a motorcyclerider herself, while cutting my

(10:57):
hair recently, she asked me whatmy next podcast episode was
going to be about and I told herI was really having difficulty
because in the wintertime I'mnot able to ride.
Usually I'll go out for amotorcycle ride and then I'll
have these aha moments aboutwhat I want to talk about next
on the podcast.
Well, I haven't been able toride lately because of business
travel and then snow and ice onthe ground.

(11:19):
Lately I've been stuck insideand, honestly, I've had rider's
block lately.
So I told Sandra about that.
And that's when she saidseasonal depression hits
motorcycle riders especiallyhard.
Did you know that?
And I said no, I really didn't.
She said, well, maybe youshould talk about that.
So I did.

(11:39):
Thank you, sandra.
I really appreciate that.
You're awesome and you give theworld's best haircut.
So hang in there, my friends.
Spring is coming.

(11:59):
Mother Nature won't let us down.
She never has Get ready for afantastic riding season ahead.
So thank you so much for tuningin to the Peace, love, moto
podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode orothers and maybe found it
helpful, thanks for sharing itwith your fellow writers, who
might need to hear anencouraging word Stay safe, stay

(12:20):
warm.
And hey, the Beatles were rightall along.
Hey, darling, I feel that iceis slowly melting all along.