Anyone else a Biker Nurse? ;)

Nurses Stress 101

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Been riding for about 18 years. Currently, I own two: a sport bike and a cruiser (both suzukis).

Mostly I stay away from rallies, though I'll do the Bikers for Babies and some other rides, but I'm all about riding with my friends or getting on the road alone to decompress.

I AM!! I ride my 2003 HD Road King to work at the hospital and every chance I get when off work. I don't think that I could handle the stress of being a new(9 mos) nurse without having my bike. Harley's(especially mine) are my favorite but I'm sure a fan of other makes. To the poster with the Ruckus, I know that the Big Ruckus is harder to find, but they cruise at hwy speeds and have that same rugged look as the Ruckus. Ride safe yall!!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

biker organization for medics, RNs, EMTs, MDs, CNAs etc in case anyone was interested.

http://www.knightsoflife.org/

Knights of Life facebook

Also, if you live in Northern Frostburg like me and are wishing for some m/c "No $#!t there I was..." stories, I'd love to hear them. Here's one of mine:

On the toll highway I was doing about 70mph when a barn swallow decided to dive-bomb me from the left. I couldn't avoid the poor thing and it went straight into my front spokes. I was suddenly covered in feathers and chunky spaghetti sauce from nose to toes. I pulled into he rest area that was less than 4 miles away. I was upset and looked for somewhere to clean up. You know what happened? The other travelers took one look at me in all black leather and blood and ran for their cars! In 5 minutes I as the only one at the rest area!

I cleaned up and finished going home, but I was finding more and picking feathers out of my engine for a month.

......

Also, if you live in Northern Frostburg like me and are wishing for some m/c "No $#!t there I was..." stories, I'd love to hear them. Here's one of mine:

On the toll highway I was doing about 70mph when a barn swallow decided to dive-bomb me from the left. I couldn't avoid the poor thing and it went straight into my front spokes. I was suddenly covered in feathers and chunky spaghetti sauce from nose to toes. I pulled into he rest area that was less than 4 miles away. I was upset and looked for somewhere to clean up. You know what happened? The other travelers took one look at me in all black leather and blood and ran for their cars! In 5 minutes I as the only one at the rest area!

I cleaned up and finished going home, but I was finding more and picking feathers out of my engine for a month.

Now this IS a coincidence: I just came across this thread for the first time, via this post - the first one on this thread since April. I, too, am a biker, NOAM, albeit on temporary (and involuntary!) respite while attending nursing school. But love the idea of linking up with other nurses for the day when I am finally able to, once again, mount up and ride off into the proverbial sunset. My personal philosophy is that motorcycling is cheaper than therapy and a helluva a lot more effective!

But the coincidence is that, even though I live almost 200 miles away from you, I drove through Frostburg yesterday. In fact, I stopped and had lunch at the Sandy Creek Steak House (or some name like that). The food was really good, and my husband and I repeatedly commented on how much Frostburg appealed to us: the surrounding mountains (with great biking roads!), variety of old house architecture, quaint downtown area, presence of university....I was so taken with the place that I intend on stopping there every time I travel to Ohio via 68.

I was also struck by your remark about the unfortunate and all-too-common tendency of non-biker travelers to avert their eyes and quickly retreat from black-leather-clad motorcyclists (although, having traveled alone on long rides before, it can be useful for a woman to have the ability to inadvertently incite some fear in others). In fact, it was on Interstate 68 near Hancock that I first noticed this phenomenon. It was kind of amusing, actually.

However, when I used to ride my Kawi Mean Streak outfitted with straight pipes, I would periodically be harrassed by diminutive suburban housewives in gigantic SUVs (Expedition or Escalade-sized) for some strange reason. They would deliberately cut over into my lane - while I was still IN it. Rather disconcerting....and after the 6th or 7th time, I stopped believing it was paranoia on my part. Very strange, indeed. (incidentally, this did not happen with any other m-cycle I rode)

Anyhow, NOAM, good to know you and the other biking nurses on AN.

p.s. I do have a very funny m-cycling story involving your neck of the woods, but it has info I'd rather not share on a large-readership public board. I can't IM you (not enough posts), but I can be reached via email at [email protected]

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.
I would periodically be harassed by diminutive suburban housewives in gigantic SUVs (Expedition or Escalade-sized) for some strange reason.

Ha ha! That is the honest truth! I watch more for those than I do tractor trailers. It's prob why I tend more toward highway driving, there is more space to get away from them. They're usually late to be somewhere and don't pay as much attention.

Worse are the ones who throw things out the window. I have a scar on my cheek from a tossed cigarette butt that got lodged in my helmet.

Specializes in Cardio/Pulmonary.

I'm a brand new biker nurse!! I just bought a suzuki boulevard last year but only had one nice day to ride it. i'm looking forward to spring.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

One piece of advice...

Ride like everyone is TRYING to kill you and you'll be all right. Seriously. Not like "Oh they might not be paying attention" but ride like "They see me and they're going to run me off the road for kicks!"

Other than that, the m/c will be a major stress relief. Honestly, the wind just carries it all away. Be safe, brother.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

The winter is more like spring this year. If it weren't for the sand I could brag that I'm riding in February! (Ok, all you southern m/c nurses! Let's hear it...) ;)

Me too!!! Nurse in Canada, waiting for the nicer weather. I'm a wuss when it comes to riding in the cold. Bought myself a Yamaha 950 vstar for my bday last year. Jonesin' to get on it again : )

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

:) With the milder winter we've had down here we've been able to sneak in a ride or two... gotta watch for all that sand/salt though.

Riding season is coming.......Been riding for about 35 years. Went the speed racer/crotch rocket route in the 70s & 80s, crashed a couple, got old and now ride a big touring rig. Thinking about getting a V-rod. Rode one and they are a ball for shorter distances...Yall ride safe.

I ride a scooter - a Honda Ruckus :smokin:

I love those! They look like the old pre-WWII military bikes, to me.

I'm another scooter rider, I have a 50cc Genuine Buddy. In warmer weather, I try to ride it as my primary vehicle. Cancels out my huge carbon footprint from driving a Yukon. My youngest rides it to school on the days I work, and everyone in the family uses it for errands, short trips, and trips downtown, where parking a scooter is infinitely easier than trying to find parking for a car.

We have a large number of hard core bikers who come through town. I really appreciate the apparent love they show me, a scooter rider, with their nod or lowered fist. Very friendly.

I graduated from nursing school on May 16th of this year and just found out yesterday that I passed my boards. I am SO psyched. I have a 2007 HD Deluxe with 55k original miles on it. Riding is my passion. I take long trips a few times during the summer, by myself. Love it!! I figure if I wait for a boyfriend to go with, life will pass me by!! Unfortunatley, there is a lot of rain in the forecast the next few days...now that I can FINALLY relax and enjoy the ride with nothing hanging over my head. Ride safe, everyone!

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