The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes

Kandi Spangler, a passionate motorcyclist and trainer, shares her journey from a novice rider to a two-time GS Trophy finalist with Mark Barnes, touching on overcoming physical limitations, her recovery from shoulder surgery and the importance of physical fitness in riding. She emphasizes the significance of training, skill development, and community support in the motorcycling world. Kandi also highlights her experiences in adventure riding, the role of coaching, and offers valuable advice for new riders. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FEELINGS ARE NOT FACTS: If you've ever wondered why this motorcycle somehow feels faster than that motorcycle, this is the podcast episode for you. Mark examines the differences between our perceptions of a thing and the reality of that thing and how our perception affects us. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

CHORE NO MORE: Do you consider riding on the weekends all the training you need? Or are you more dedicated to building your riding skills? Mark looks at ways to improve your riding that are fun and beneficial, and why they're important. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ESCAPE! You can run (denial) but you can't hide (reality). We all know this, of course, but Mark is here to remind us of some ways to deal with the frustrations inherent in even feeling the need to escape from anything. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NAVIGATING THE DOLDRUMS: Just like sailors of yore, motorcyclists can get stranded in the doldrums, especially during the winter. Mark gives you some ways to navigate the tough times when you can't ride. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NO SUCH THING: Obscuring responsibility doesn't do us much good, but we do it anyway. The throttle cable or brake pads on our motorcycles don't go bad by magic, bu we don't always notice they need attention until it's too late. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

MOTO MUSIC: whether it's a piano etude or a perfectly banked decreasing radius curve, we can make art in the ways presented to us on an everyday basis. Playing a classic Fender Stratocaster or riding a BMW M 1000 RR, your tools create your music. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.  

ANOTHER KIND OF FEAR: Tying in with the Jan/Feb '25 issue of BMW Owners News and its focus on the MOA Foundation's mission of training and safety, Mark addresses learning, crashing, humility, ignorance, embarrassment and more. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

B.J. Hessler is the founder and lead instructor at DC Dirt Camp, an off-road riding school in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  Here she tells us how motorcycling in general, and setting up this operation in particular, have been central to her personal journey, and how her school has much to offer motorcyclists at all levels – including those who ride exclusively on pavement. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FRISKY BUSINESS: Mark takes on the classic nature vs. nurture conundrum, explaining it by developing an understanding of your cat getting the zoomies and connecting it to what we all experience as motorcycle riders. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org.   The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.  

THE SOUND OF THUNDER: Losing a motorcycle buddy is difficult, but it's something many of us will face sooner or later. Mark explores what he's gone through since his friend Jeff died in a single-rider crash not long ago, and how his experience can help all of us manage risk, expectations and emotions. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

RIDING WITH ADHD: This commonly misunderstood (or misapplied) condition has a variety of effects, but can it actually make you a better rider? Mark dispels some myths and discusses (briefly) what ADHD is and isn't as it's applied to motorcyclists. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.  

PEARLS: Maybe yours are cleverly brief instructions passed along to you in formal coaching, or maybe they represent insights you arrived at on your own. No matter how you get them, they're critical to building your skills as a motorcyclist. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

DAVE SEARLE: Retired Editor-in-Chief of Motorcycle Consumer News Dave Searle reminisces about the odyssey that eventually led to his role as a highly regarded journalist for the motorcycle enthusiast press back in the glory days of print publications. His history as a self-taught mechanic, educator, writer, photographer, relentless researcher—and, of course, passionate motorcyclist—made him uniquely qualified to be MCN's longest-running leader. Send your questions to us via email: podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

OUR STORIED LIVES: Storytelling. Refined sugar. Umbrellas. Motorcycles. Reality. Darwinism. Information. Tying it all together is the really tricky part, but that's exactly what we do on a daily basis! Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

JAMES CARLISLE: Building on Mark's recent "Stealership" essay, this discussion digs into what it's really like for somebody at a motorcycle dealership to work with the public, especially disgruntled people who show up angry at a real or perceived slight, with a broken motorcycle or just itching for a confrontation. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

SHAWN THOMAS & LOUISE POWERS: There is perhaps no two people more fitting the moniker of "dynamic duo" than Shawn and Louise. When they're not traveling around the world as ambassadors and product experts for BMW Motorrad, they're buried in motorcycle training - both for learners and as learners. Mark drills down into what makes them constantly want to learn more and then share that knowledge with othe riders. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

BREAKING DOWN—OR NOT: Your bike isn't the only thing that might struggle on the ride. Neglecting your body and its needs (and realities) can also cause problems on trips of any duration. “Plan your ride, ride your plan” can—and should—incorporate more than just the motorcycle. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: Old adages aside, ignorance can and often is quite painful—but there are ways to mitigate the damage caused by simply not knowing something you really should know. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

REFLEXES: Remember “bullet time” in The Matrix? There's a similar experience when it comes to motorcycling, and all you need to do to experience it is drop your motorcycle—preferably in front of a live studio audience. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

THE INCREDIBLE DISAPPEARING MOTORCYCLE: It's not about being invisible, it's about your riding experience being as distraction-free as possible. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FAREWELL OLD FRIEND: Selling a bike isn't nearly as exciting as buying one, but it's something we all must face sooner or later. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.  

STEALERSHIPS: All it takes is one bad experience to ruin us on a motorcycle dealership—or all of them—for life. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

FARKLEMANIA: My distaste for the word aside, there's a lot to be learned about ourselves from what we attach to our motorcycles. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN: Your status as a beginning motorcyclist informs your entire riding life, but that doesn't mean you have to necessarily choose between being brave and being skilled. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

POINTS OF INTEREST: Simple training—or retraining—exercises can often yield disproportionate benefits when it comes to our riding skills. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NEW BIKE FEVER: Nobody is immune to this condition, which often rears itself as winter turns into spring. Or in summer... or late fall... or... Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

TAMI BAKKE: Mark talks about the importance of training with Tami, who serves on the board of the MOA Foundation, one of the biggest proponents and supporters of motorcyclist training around. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

SMOOTH OPERATOR: Trail braking doesn't have to be a mystery! Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.  

BEST PRACTICES (PART 2): Divide, conquer, integrate—then keep it real and deal with the unlearning process. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org.  The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

BEST PRACTICES (PART 1): Get out of your mind and into your body—and remember competency is a work in progress. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ARE YOU CRUSTY?: Surviving this long doesn't mean you can't benefit from motorcycle training. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

KEN CONDON PART 2: Mark wraps up his interview with another titan in the motorcycle training world in the second episode of this two-part series. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

KEN CONDON: Mark interviews another titan in the motorcycle training world in the first episode of this two-part series. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ONCE IN A WHILE: How *does* the train always know exactly when you need to cross the railroad tracks? Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

WRAPPING UP 2023: Mark welcomes Wes Fleming back to The Ride Inside, discusses his recent investigation of the importance of motorcycle training and reflects on 2023. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

TIME TRAVEL: A motorcycle transports you directly into the present moment—and it really has to, if you want to survive. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

NICK IENATSCH joins Mark to discuss the Yamaha Champions Riding School (which he founded), its Champ U online program and how motorcycle training affects us all. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY - normally, we put some kind of pithy, perhaps even witty teaser here but honestly, we can't say anything more interesting about this episode than is stated by the title. Enjoy our 50th episode! Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

WHEN IS A DAY NOT A DAY? sees Mark exploring just how many precious weekends we have and how easy they are to accidentally waste. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ED HOUSEWRIGHT joins Mark to discuss his upcoming book about riders who take a long break from the sport, or come to it later in life. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

ALL MY FAULT: Fear is controllable, and that control is necessary to get the most out of your ride. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

CHEAP THRILLS: BMW's smallest bike in current production—the G 310—is a platform not to be overlooked for its fun factor. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.    

ANATOMY OF A PANIC: Quick! Check your pockets! Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

THE WAY IT GOES: Always expect an "easy" repair or modification to be harder than it appears and you'll never be disappointed. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

10,000 CURVES: With repetition comes success, something Mark ruminated on during his recent tour with IMTBike. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

THE JOY OF STREAMLINING: Preparing for a lengthy motorcycle trip requires some hard looks at what we choose to pack along for the ride. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

LOW STRUNG: A laid-back bike isn't a blessing in disguise, it's one key to better riding and possibly even a better motorcycling experience. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

CLEARANCES: Whether it's in the engine or transmission or in your brain, the spaces between the components (or ideas) is absolutely critical. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

OUR OWN WORST ENEMY: Getting rusty during a break from riding can come back to haunt you. Luckily, there are many ways to shake off the rust. Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.

JON DELVECCHIO joins Mark to discuss his "Cornering Confidence" course, an online version of which is free for members of the BMW MOA (and not too expensive if you're not a member). Send your questions to us via email - podcast@bmwmoa.org. The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes is brought to you by the BMW MOA Foundation and is on the web at BMWOwnersNews.com.