Monday 23 May 2016

PMS

As every rider knows that acronym has nothing to do with female biology but rather represents the emotional impact of not being able to ride for an extended period of time for any reason. Up in this neck of the woods Parked Motorcycle Syndrome usually occurs during the winter months when snow, ice, and freezing temperatures force all but the hardiest and most foolish among us to park the 2 wheelers for a few months. That comes with the territory, as they say, and we are mostly accepting of its annual inevitability and use the time to catch up on wrenching and various upgrades over which riding took precedence during the summer. We deal with it.

It’s the other causes of PMS that are really troublesome.

empty-garageWhile not strictly Parked Motorcycle Syndrome, I had an extended period a while back when I had no motorcycle at all. During those years of No Motorcycle Syndrome the first few weeks of summer were the worst. As the dandelions multiplied, opening their bright yellow faces to the world, so did the number of motorcycles on the road. And I missed being on one of them. Badly. Until 2008 when I got my current ride and the universe once again began to unfold as it should and the empty garage was no more.

Storm for web (9)But it was not to be all smooth sailing riding from that point onward. Four years ago a major wind storm and several broken ribs kept me out of commission for most of that summer, from mid-July to mid-September. 

Then two years ago I had another brief bout of PMS when our roads were under repair and it was both difficult and dangerous to get through on two wheels for a period of about 3 weeks. Watching day after day of our already short riding season tick by was not how I wanted to spend the better part of  June.

And now here we are, May 2016, perfect riding weather, and again she sits parked as I curse the vagaries of life, health, and the pursuit of happiness while trying to nurse an inflamed hip back to normal function. While not life-threatening it is extremely painful and sitting in the saddle doesn’t help (nor does swinging a golf club as it turns out). So now again I wait until my body is as ready as my head and heart are, counting the missed days.

All of which begs the question, why doesn’t this crap happen during the winter months when I can’t do anything anyway?

10 comments:

  1. Good question, David... speedy recovery. Take it easy and you'll be back on the road soon.

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  2. Murphy's Law....injuries never coincide with bad weather when you ride on two wheels.

    Hope your hip feels better soon.

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    1. Trobairitz - Thanks. Through the miracle of modern pharmaceuticals I am now (supposedly) on my way to recovery. Fingers crossed.

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  3. It never happens in the winter down-time. I know all to well of inflamed hip and sacroiliac joint, courtesy of a close encounter of the pavement kind in 2011. My hip and SI joint constantly aches, grinds and hurts, sometimes sitting the bike is a killer and it will flare it up and then its back to anti-inflammatories, ice, heat, and rest, or a cortisone shot - which I try to avoid. I was teaching a basic motorcycling course all weekend and on my feet for 3 days straight for 9 to 10 hours each day and today the hip and associated joints are screaming like a banshee every time I get up and down. So back to the anti-inflammatories and I have a heating pad hooked up in my work chair. I just 'LOVE' being 51 *snort* Hope it settles fast and you get back out there!

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    1. Dar - OUCH! I remember those long days teaching riding courses and couldn't imagine doing one the way I feel right now - even with some good painkillers. And 51? Why, you're just a youngster.

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  4. Oh no ... Hope your recovery is quick.

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  5. What you are dealing with is an off-shoot of PMS known as PRS- Parked Rider Syndrome. Wishing you the best for speedy recovery!!

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    1. Janet - You're right of course. It's me that's parked at the moment. :)

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