A motorcycle may be used for much more than just traveling. The numerous motorcycle communities found all over the world serve as evidence that riding is for many people a way of life and a really ...strong socialization tool. With some informal conversations with different motorcyclists it was discovered that during their long trips, most motorcycle riders are faced with a monopoly of problems. Most of the time they are in faraway places, sometimes even in different countries, which encourages them to seek out other bikers traveling the same routes so they can share company and swap stories and search for help. In addition, studies show that people of the same group are more likely to show helpful behavior toward each other than toward people whom they don’t resemble. RoadBuddy app aims to solve those points above by creating a network of help and socialization between motorcyclist drivers. The app has an interactive map where the user can see the localization of nearby motorcyclists and their contacts. This paper describes the RoadBuddy interface and methodology for the next steps of its development.
Manoeuvring a motorcycle at high-speed in official competition has been shown to expose riders to substantial and complex physiological and psychological demands, however few studies have analysed ...the physical load experienced by professional racers. This study aimed to quantify the physical stress experienced by riders and explore relationships between performance related variables (i.e. crashes). Performance and braking data were collected from official race reports from 2013 to 2015 of the top class of the FIM Road Racing Grand Prix World Championship. Top-level riders are exposed to a considerable volume (175 ± 42 brakes and 372 ± 48 leans to corner per race) of high intensity actions (>40% of brakes initiated at speeds higher than 260 km.h
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, and 13.2% over 300 km.h
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), where 1 out of every 4 braking actions generated inertial stresses greater than 10 m.s
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. Furthermore, the mean speed across competitions increased over the years (from 161.7 ± 6 km.h
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to 164.5 ± 6 km.h
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), however no clear relationships between the amount of crashes and competition-related factors were found. Given the findings it would seem that riders could benefit from strength training specifically designed to prepare the body to counteract the repetitive inertial stresses of racing.
The motorcycle leisure sector has evolved from a rebellious culture of the 1950s to a large mainstream market sector today. Motorcycle touring has grown significantly in recent years, with a shift to ...larger capacity motorcycles and an increase in the average age of motorcyclists. The demographics of this group has meant that, increasingly, motorcycles are used for leisure purposes rather than commuting. Peripheral locations, with a high proportion of the mountain and scenic roads favoured by motorcyclists, have seen a dramatic influx of these recreationists. Despite this significance there has been little academic work on the subject, or concerted efforts to embrace this market sector by destination marketing organisations. This paper discusses the findings of an investigation into the motorcycling leisure and tourism sector in Wales, UK, examining travel patterns of motorcycle tourists, motivations and preferences of this group and the potential economic impact.
This study found that:•Motorcycling tourists are >45 years of age, male but growing number of female riders.•Motorcycles were used for leisure and tourism purposes 75% of the time, often travel in groups and carry a pillion.•3/4 of motorcycling recreationalists take > ten daytrips a year, average 4.7 overnight trips per year.•For trip planning use other group members, own knowledge and biker specific websites.•Destinations need good condition winding roads, scenic stopping points, parking and places to meet other bikers.•Accommodation needs secure parking, proximity to restaurants, be easy to find and helpful hosts.•Expenditure is £975.30 per motorcyclist per year, and worth over £70 million to Wales.
Through a series of vignettes, this article offers an insight into the intense embodied and sensorial experiences of motorcycling via “sudden moments.” I reflect on the phenomenological ...interconnectedness of environment and the fragility of the motorcycling body–self via the exploration of “thrownness” and “sudden moments.” These intense embodied moments of “thrownness” can disrupt the feelings of pleasure and enjoyment from being “in the zone.” Surviving the threat, the body may experience a renewed positive heightened corporeal sense of “aliveness,” elation, and relief working at an intense level, with positive effects on one’s mental health.
This article provides an insight into the embodied and sensorial experiences of motorcycling through a series of vignettes. Through a phenomenologically inspired approach, I attempt “to bring the ...body back in” and explore how tests of experience can cultivate a sensuous self by sharpening awareness of all the senses and extending the mind–body-self to interconnect with a motorcycle. Motorcycling requires a sharpening of senses, meticulous preparation, and swift recovery following setbacks. There may be risks attached to pursue tests of experiences, but new adventures and unique experiences can cultivate joy, fulfillment, enhance confidence and resilience, and provide an opportunity to grow and expand one’s sense of self.
Although the skilful body has been ever-present in research accounts of consumption experiences, no sustained attention has been given to the acquisition of skills necessary for successful engagement ...with those experiences. In the present study, we report an empirical investigation of the acquisition and diffusion of embodied competencies among high-speed motorcyclists. In doing so, we mobilize the concept of reflexive body techniques in order to unpack the social, physical and mindful aspects of skilled embodiment. We demonstrate that skill acquisition is a necessary precursor to successful immersion into certain kinds of consumption experiences offered by the marketplace. Further, we underline the role of skill acquisition in subject formation.
Motorcycling is not a new experience; however, research about this phenomenon in the tourism context is relatively incipient and limited to specific places and groups. In the tourism literature, the ...characteristics of this activity and its practitioners also require closer inspection. Unlike other forms of tourism, motivation for motorcycling, in the context of adventure and ecotourism, is not yet well defined and delimited. The main objective of this work is to fill the knowledge gap regarding motorcyclists' motivations to tour and to evaluate the activity from the perspective of adventure and ecotourism. Motivations for adventure and ecotourism serve as the theoretical and methodological support for this research. The results of this study revealed that the experience during a motorcycle trip is as exciting as the destination itself, transforming a journey into a destination on the move. The main interests of motorcycle tourists include the natural environment and the local culture. Finally, structural modelling confirms that these two constructs emerge as the main concepts associated with motorcycle tourism.
Motorcycle riders have a high risk of serious injury if they crash. To assist with identification of countermeasures, the present study examined records from the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) in ...South Australia for 763 motorcyclists (including scooter riders) admitted between January 2008 and November 2010 and between April 2014 and December 2016. Records were linked with police-reported crash data and results of forensic blood tests for alcohol and drugs. When compared with 1617 car drivers admitted to the RAH over the same periods, motorcyclists were younger, were more commonly male, more likely to hold a learner permit, less likely to hold a provisional licence, less likely to be over the legal alcohol limit and less likely to be at-fault in multiple vehicle crashes. Their crashes were more likely to be single vehicle crashes (specifically roll over, left road - out of control and hit object/animal/pedestrian on road crashes) and were more common on weekends, during the afternoon, on sloping roads, on curved roads, on roads with speed limits of 50 and 80 km/h, during daylight hours, in dry weather and on dry roads. They had a higher severity of injury than car drivers, spent longer in hospital, and were more likely to sustain injuries to multiple body regions. Linear regression showed that older age, higher blood alcohol concentration and higher speed limit increased injury severity for motorcyclists. Based on present findings, motorcycling safety can be improved through countermeasures related to Graduated Licensing Systems, infrastructure, motorcycle technology and protective clothing.
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