Motorcycle as Implement of Dentistry

I'm not sure this little biker is a qualified dentist. On the other hand, she did get the right tooth. That's gotta be worth something.

Self-Restraint Is A Real Drag

What kind of adult sticks his arm out the window that far on the freeway? I was riding home from work and had serious concerns about the passenger in the car in front of me. Did he somehow manage to miss all of those educational films where the kid hanging out the bus window gets his head lopped off by an angry streetlight or passing freight train? And why isn't his buddy, the one driving the car, giving him a hard time about it? Were I driving a cage and my passenger started crawling out the window, I'd offer to just pull over.

Apparently, the drag induced by this moron's arm was significant enough to reduce the car's forward velocity as well. Slowbies in the HOV lane annoy me - the whole reason for the lane is to go fast.

But I'm nothing if not patient, and when there was an opening I did a little glide to the right and applied a bit of throttle to pass. The stupid passenger's arm was nearly in my lane. I had a wicked thought. A delightful vision. Here was an opportunity to make someone's day just a little more interesting.

I applied just the tiniest bit of throttle, so I was going just a little faster than the slow car. I got myself situated in the left side of the lane. I was about five feet behind the space-invading arm when I let go of the left grip and got ready to slap the back of this joker's hand. This was gonna be good.

At the last moment, just before it would be too late, I had a vision of this idiot screaming like a little girl, heaving himself back in to the car and hugging the driver for dear life, freaking the driver right the Hell out, who would then swerve violently and either crash in to me or the concrete wall to the left.

I decided perhaps I'd save the pranks for another day and put my hand back on the grip. I applied a bit more throttle and finished my pass without engaging the idiot. I don't think he even noticed me there, plotting a surprise.

I felt mildly disappointed for the rest of the evening. The prudent decision isn't always the fun one.

Know How Your Body Reacts To Heat

One of the great things about motorcycling is learning exactly how your body responds to different environmental conditions. Even in all of our gear, we're extremely exposed to temperature, humidity, etc. We're probably even more exposed than someone just standing there outside, because we have to contend with intense wind on top of everything else.

Here in the desert wastes of urban Phoenix, we're reaching the hottest part of the year. As if the temperature and unrelenting sun isn't bad enough, we get to contend with rising humidity as well. Those of you acclimated to cooler, wet places might not think the humidity level here is that high, but I can assure you that adding any humidity to desert temperatures makes it absolutely disgusting outside.

Luckily for me, I seem to be well-suited to the heat. Some people, for varying reasons, just wither in high temperatures. I don't look down on those poor souls, by the way. If you can't cope with the heat, then stay the heck out of the heat. Heat exhaustion is no fun, and heat stroke is a miserable way to die - and a common one.

It's therefore a good thing for you to know how your body responds to the heat, and when you should start being concerned.

Sweating, obviously, is a good thing. Your heart rate might also increase a bit as your body tries to cool itself by passing as much blood as possible close to the cooler surface of your skin. Things are still OK if you're a bit flushed and sweaty, though you need to stay attentive to what your body is telling you.

If you start feeling nauseous, fatigued, weak, dizzy, or start getting cramps, a headache or vomiting, you need to take immediate action to cool off. Get out of the heat and into someplace cool. Rehydrate. Get wet and stand in front of a fan. If you're really feeling sick, seek medical attention.

If you stop sweating, have trouble breathing, or have a rapid, weak pulse, you need immediate medical attention for heat stroke. Other common symptoms of heat stroke are strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, agitation, seizure and coma. Of course, if you have any of those last symptoms, you're probably going to have to hope that someone else notices you're not acting quite right and takes immediate action.

Exposure kills people. Even tough people. Don't be a chump - if you start feeling crappy in the heat, take immediate action to cool off. Get off the bike and in to a cool place until you feel right again. Everyone you know will prefer you arrive alive rather than croak trying to show up on time.