Drinking and Riding

What is your personal policy on drinking and riding. Are you more careful about dinking when you are on your bike than when you are in a car? Is it something you don't think about? I have noticed that every bike get together I go to, there is at least beer vendors if not liquor also, heck most are held at bars. I personally watch my alcohol intake a lot closer when I'm on the bike. Yesterday I went to an event, I was there at least four hours, only had two drinks and waited at least an hour after the last drink to ride. I would not have been that conservative if I was in my truck. Will you ride with someone who has had more to drink than you, if they are on another bike? I was speaking to a frined about this and his policy is, once someone starts drinking he won't ride any further with him. My thoughts are if we go some where and you have had a few drinks and we need to head back home, and you insist on riding; I'll ride with you, if for no other reason than to call the ambulance in case you have that accident.

Steve; Hubby and I don't drink at all if we're riding. We don't hesitate when we've got that steel cage of a car or truck around us to have a margarita with dinner and then drive home. But we know that our reflexes need to be much sharper when there's only leather and denim between us and the road. We usually only ride with each other - we're not big on the clubs. I can't have a drink at this point post-op, but if he were to have a beer while we were out at an event, we'd just wait around for an extra few hours before going anywhere. I would still ride with him because it would drive me crazy to wait at home and not know if he were ok. Blessings, Jennifer 253 / 196 / ???

Hi Steve: I take the same position as your friend in regards to riding in groups. It would only take one to start a chain reaction which could injure/kill several others. As one who has went down (sober - someone made a left turn in front of me), I know the odds are already against us. Why make the odds even worse? I come right out and ask if the ride is dry. Don't get me wrong, I used to like a drink or two (but never while riding). Riding with someone who has been drinking isn't worth the risk to me and possibly my passenger who has entrusted their life to my care. I guess I'm getting more conservative . . . I've seen the after effects too often.

Our policy is not to drink and drive at all.....prior to my surgery, I was on so many meds that alcohol clashed with them and I did not feel good if I had a drink....especially being diabetic. Since surgery I am off all meds and under excellent control. Generally we limit our drinking to water,ice tea & crystal light. I used to ride with a bunch of guys who rode from bar to bar having beers a very unsafe practice. I could never understand how 3 or 4 beers can quench your thirst in the hot Florida sun. I did attempt to have one of theose Smirnoff twisters ( like 5% alcohol) and I got any immediate buzz....I guess I'm a cheap date now. Ken

Big difference on a bike isn't it? When we're at bike week the group of us try to nurse a beer as long as possible then wait a while befor jumping on the bikes. We wait until we get back to the condo then we cut loose. I see alot of people at these events that get falling down drunk and can't imagine how they get back to their hotels.

I don't drink and ride. I have a hard enough time balancing without having contend with the alcohol too! And yep, after surgery I'm a cheap drunk. After all, you don't have all that food to buffer the booze like you used to. And if someone is crazy enough to want to ride after having a few drinks, I'd first try to hide his keys.

Since my surgery May 2004, I get bombed on one drink. It hits me in about 5 minutes. I feel ok to drive a car after about 45 minutes with one drink, if I have eaten. I would not even consider riding if I have had a drink. Riding requires far too much concentration to jack it up by being intoxicated. Of course the great thing is, at a convention or if some one else is the driver, Im sure a cheap date! Ride safe Brothers and Sisters. Mike Haxton 89 Honda Pacific Coast The best all round bike ever made.

I absolutely would not drink and drive! I value my hide more than a drink. Just my personal policy. But you pose some very interesting questions! Angel J

Funny how all the bike weeks revolve around bars. We look forward to Broken Spoke in Laconia. Usually we get there early have a few and then wait it out. My DH isn't a big drinker/driver and we both manage to have one then have a water or tonic. That way we always seem to be drinking. Drinking and biking just don't mix. Most of the guys we ride with don't drink and ride either. Of course when we land that is a different story..... d

When we ride, no drinking. It is hard enough to have to watch those not on bikes when you are sober, much less when you have been drinking. When on 4 wheels. someone is the DD. Since my WLS, it is usually me. I dont care to drink much and when I do, It is usually just one drink and I am looped. For us, it is not worth the risk of getting a DWI. I am a nurse and could loose my lisense. DH trains bartenders and teaches the responsibility of selling alcohol. So he would look pretty bad getting a D-wobbly..... I just recently got on the back of the bike we have due to an experience in nursing school years ago. A young guy came in to the ER with massive head injuries brains actually hanging out from a accident. His BAC was double what it should be. I lived with that memory for years, and finally was courageous enough to get on and ride. Just everyone be safe, there are pros and cons on helmets. Just use good common sense, and watch out for everyone. peace and safe riding.