The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes

MY LAST HAIRCUT: When do you stop chasing the next upgrade? In this episode, Mark reflects on reaching the “last haircut” moment—settling into the perfect set of bikes, dialing back the tech obsession and choosing depth over breadth. It’s about aging, priorities and staying put in the saddle.  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 BMWMOA.org.

LOSING CONTROL: Is more control always better? Mark examines the paradox of control and how letting go can sometimes yield the best results in motorcycling and in life. From race track lessons to psychological insights, Mark explores why relaxing your grip may be the key to confidence, performance and even joy. 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 BMWMOA.org.

AN OFF DAY: Even the most perfect riding day can fall flat when you're not at your best. Mark unpacks the anatomy of an “off day” on two wheels—where confidence wavers, rhythm vanishes and expectations clash with reality. Join the exploration of how to reset, recover and ride smarter when things just won’t click. 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 BMWMOA.org.

FILLING IN THE BLANK: What do you say to someone who just doesn’t get motorcycles? Mark explores the blank stares, the curious questions and the challenge of translating a personal passion into relatable terms. Learn why riding is more than transportation and how sharing the spark might just light someone else’s fire. 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 BMWMOA.org.

BREAKING THE ICE:  What happens when a long winter off the bike dulls your passion instead of sharpening it? Mark explores the psychology of re-entry, emotional inertia and why sometimes the thrill of riding returns only after we act on faith, not feeling. Get moving first! Joy often follows in its wake. 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 BMWMOA.org.

THESE ARE THE DAYS:  What if you could feel nostalgic for today—while it’s happening? Mark explores how reframing the present can bring joy, clarity and calm amidst uncertainty. From gas station epiphanies to motorcycling metaphors, it’s a ride through time, perception and the power of noticing what’s good right now.  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 BMWMOA.org.

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: From trail-side heroics to the quiet joy of finding the perfect wrench, Mark explores the power, pride and occasional absurdity of tools in the life of a motorcyclist. Hear how a clutch cover fix in the wilderness became a triumph of ingenuity and what it means to be truly prepared. 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 BMWMOA.org.  

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.