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 Discussion Topic  |
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Cash Anthony
 Administrator
1470 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Honda
Magna 750
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 Posted - 08/12/2005 : 10:34 PM
   
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Poll Question:
How many riders here have been on a public road on two wheels while under the influence of any of these substances?
Some are legal, some are illegal...and some people have more sensitivity, depending on age, frequency of use, fatigue, hunger, thirst, and what other meds they're on. RHETORICAL Q: If you're a ride captain, how much of this information would you want to know?
Thanks for your response.
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| Results: |
| Prescription Medications |
[32%] |
28 votes |
| Over the Counter Medications |
[17%] |
15 votes |
| Alcohol (any amount) |
[21%] |
18 votes |
| Marijuana |
[11%] |
10 votes |
| Cocaine |
[7%] |
6 votes |
| Crystal Meth |
[3%] |
3 votes |
| Diet Drugs / No-Doze |
[1%] |
1 votes |
| Steroids |
[3%] |
3 votes |
| Never ridden under the influence of any of the above |
[55%] |
48 votes |
| = Guests |
(32
ballots) |
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Poll Status:
Closed »» |
Total Ballots: 87 »» |
Last Vote:
11/10/2005 3:53 PM |
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don_hud
Advanced Member
1077 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Yamaha
1997 Virago XV1100
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Posted - 08/12/2005 : 10:46 PM
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| It's not my poll so I could be off base on you objective, but I would suggest that the poll be the type where you can select all the options that apply instead of just one. I also think that it should include a selection for none of the above to compare riders that never have ridden under the influence of any of the substances listed against those that have used any of the ones listed. |
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James R. Davis
 Administrator
17381 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, TX
USA
Honda
GoldWing 1500
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Posted - 08/12/2005 : 11:10 PM
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Correct. I have made those changes and corrected a coding bug that allowed a vote to be cast but failed to record who voted properly.
Sorry. Cash posted this poll while I was in the process of changing some code. My fault. |
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James R. Davis
Administrator
17381 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, TX
USA
Honda
GoldWing 1500
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 1:41 AM
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My guess is that we're going to learn something about Diet Coke and No-Doze.
Come on Cash, satisfy us, please.  |
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Cash Anthony
Administrator
1470 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Honda
Magna 750
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 6:51 AM
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Well, not Diet Coke (although it does have an effect on me!), but diet drugs generally are a kind of speed. Both are uppers for some folks, but diet drugs are especially likely to keep you wired.
Anything with a lot of caffeine in it, like most soda pops and especially the diet kinds, will make some of us jittery and over-reactive to stresses (even normal stresses) of riding. Others depend on it to keep them awake out there. 
Thanks, Jim, for fixing the survey.
Cash
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James R. Davis
Administrator
17381 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, TX
USA
Honda
GoldWing 1500
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 7:28 AM
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That's what I get for staying up late and doing some programming - bleary eyed and quick to jump to conclusions. 
[I can still tie my own shoes, however.] |
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River
Advanced Member
506 Posts
[Mentor]
Chippewa Falls, WI
USA
Kawasaki
Concours
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 3:08 PM
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Heya Cash-
Good poll, but you left out options: Caffiene in general (coffee, espresso, so-on) instead of just no-doze et. al....
ANd you left out heavier stuff (opiates like herion, for example)
I would have checked coffee.
^o^
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kiddal
Advanced Member
1561 Posts
[Mentor]
SE, Indiana
USA
Kawasaki
KLR650
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 3:21 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by River
...you left out options: Caffiene in general (coffee, espresso, so-on)
Huh? |
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River
Advanced Member
506 Posts
[Mentor]
Chippewa Falls, WI
USA
Kawasaki
Concours
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 3:58 PM
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...I know some folks who get very wired really quickly on coffee. Unsafe, and definately affects judgement.
Worked with one recently, so its fresh in my mind.
^o^ |
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bkikkert
Advanced Member
847 Posts
[Mentor]
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Harley-Davidson
Ultra Classic '08
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 7:11 PM
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quote:
know some folks who get very wired really quickly on coffee. Unsafe, and definately affects judgement.
Give me a break.....maybe riding after too much sex is dangerous too |
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River
Advanced Member
506 Posts
[Mentor]
Chippewa Falls, WI
USA
Kawasaki
Concours
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Posted - 08/13/2005 : 7:13 PM
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OK, so maybe I know some freaks.... 'just calling it as I see it.
<shrugs>
^o^ |
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kiddal
Advanced Member
1561 Posts
[Mentor]
SE, Indiana
USA
Kawasaki
KLR650
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 8:35 AM
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I'm guilty of riding while loaded up on coffee, Mountain Dew and Faygo Red Pop.  Never knew how much of a rebel I was. |
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River
Advanced Member
506 Posts
[Mentor]
Chippewa Falls, WI
USA
Kawasaki
Concours
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 11:06 AM
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ok, okok... I give in! Uncle! Uncle!
^o^ |
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Cash Anthony
Administrator
1470 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Honda
Magna 750
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 1:05 PM
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River, stand your ground!
Or maybe that's an oxymoron?  "Rivers flow..."
I'm one of those people who just cannot handle sudden, unplanned-for doses of caffeine. I've stayed on the Very Low Dosage side of that particular stimulant for probably 10 years or more, upon advice of my doctor, who said it was likely the source of my chronic cystitis. (Ladies will know what that is, and why you don't want it.)
Caffeine is a far stronger drug than most people realize, but for young people, it's not unmanageable. And if you're male and you drink coffee all the time, you only really need to worry about large doses, like No-Doze and so forth. Or about the contrary, which is suddenly being caffeine-deprived, which can make you sick. It's different for girls.
(Well, these are just my opinions, but I think they hold true for most lady riders "of a certain age" who are exposed to caffeine at all, and especially in their accustomed quantities. I had a 10-cup-a-day habit of the 'real thing' twenty years ago.)
I decided not to avoid ALL caffeine, because then when I got some inadvertantly (like in Twinkies!!! No, not really, I don't eat 'em, but my husband does, and I read all kinds of labels, and tons of things have caffeine in them where you wouldn't expect it), the result of an unexpected 'exposure' would be even worse, and I wouldn't know why I was trembling.
Jim can attest to the effects of this on me. I remember one Sunday on our way back from a spring ride, when we stopped at a red light quickly up on the frontage road for Highway 290 (not a panic, just a fast light). He looked over at me and saw that I was shaking, trying to hold up the bike. I mean, actually having trouble holding it up at a normal red light on a normal frontage road intersection.
And, BTW, frontage road intersections on our highways are the location of the most fatality red-light running accidents in Houston. But no worries...
He radio'd me on the C.B. that he didn't understand why I was so rattled by a mere fast stop, and while I know he was concerned, I certainly caught the flavor of criticism there! Well, caffeine can make you testy. In fact, it was an oddity to him for me to be so upset, and I expect he was surprised at what was seemingly a beginner's (over)reaction.
So of course I got royally pissed off, because it had nothing to do with my fast stop capabilities (really), and because he had no idea how badly affected I had been by some waitress's serving me the wrong kind of coffee at our last stop. *Nor did I.* It was only in retrospect that I figured it out.
At any rate, I did manage to get the bike home (and without harsh words probably, but no guarantees ). However, we're still buddies. 
But on those occasions when I get an overdose of caffeine, it means I can get into trouble out there very quickly, especially if it's been a while since we ate anything solid that could help soak it up. (Hence "live to ride, ride to eat"?)
I will, however, admit that on the ride from Houston to Wilmington, North Carolina, we had a very hot day in Georgia as we were going to a June wedding. We stopped for gas at a place that sold ice cream cones... and soft drinks.
It was that lazy time of the afternoon when you just want to find a tree and take a nap against the trunk... but after I glommed down a cold, double-dipped SUGARY ice cream cone (YUM!!!! - and again a major stimulant if you don't eat carbs very much), and then decided to DRINK A REGULAR COCA COLA before we took off, we were flying along on the freeway, passing every 18-wheeler in sight before that buzz wore off. Made really GOOD time that day.
Fortunately we also encountered nothing weird on that leg of the ride.
But it's an unusual circumstance when I load up on carbs and caffeine and then try to ride my Magna. Your mileage may vary, as to both.
Cash |
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River
Advanced Member
506 Posts
[Mentor]
Chippewa Falls, WI
USA
Kawasaki
Concours
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 1:28 PM
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Thanks for the support Cash!
We'll have to get together for a cup o' joe sometime... decaf, perhaps
^o^ |
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timbo
Advanced Member
594 Posts
Uxbridge
United Kingdom
BMW
R1100S
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 3:58 PM
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Just curious.
Here in the UK the legal limit for driving & Alcohol is 80mg/100ml, which equates to about 2 Imperial Pints (20fl oz) of normal strength beer (4%) for an average size bloke (me 85kg)
I checked the Alcohol (any amount) box because I have frequently ridden having had a Pint, but never having ridden when "over the limit" so I have always been totally legal.
What is the legal status in the US, and how is it tested, and whats the penalties?
Over here we have the dreaded "breathaliser" where if the police suspect that you are over the limit they can pull you in and test you. If you fail it's a 1 year total ban.
The limits in the rest of Europe tend to be lower, but the peanlties are also lower - in France you have to be pretty well incapable of walking, let alone driving before the punishment becomes serious.
I'd be really interest to find the score over there. e.g. Does it vary state to state, what are the chances of getting pulled etc. etc.
Tim |
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kiddal
Advanced Member
1561 Posts
[Mentor]
SE, Indiana
USA
Kawasaki
KLR650
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 5:23 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Cash Anthony
Your mileage may vary, as to both.
I can drink a cup of coffee and then go to sleep. I've wished a cup of coffee could wake me up. If I get sleepy the only cure is sleep. |
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DoubleDip
Senior Member
262 Posts
Erlanger, Kentucky
USA
Yamaha
650 V-Star Silverado
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Posted - 08/14/2005 : 5:30 PM
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Hey Tim,
In Kentucky if you are under 21 (legal age to drink) the limit is .02 reading on a Intoxilyzer. If you are of legal age it is .08. The units that attach to these numbers are either grams of alcohol per 100 milliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Generally speaking if you are stopped and the officer suspects you to be under the influence he can develope probable cause for the arrest by administering a variety of physical tests that measure you devided attention ability, balance, and cordination and make a decision based upon what he observes. He will also observe for physical attributes that intoxicated persons display, i.e. bloodshot eyes, odor of metabolized alcohol, poor balance. In Kentucky the penalties are progressively severe for first, second, third, etc. offenses. Other states have slight differences in their specific laws but in broad general terms they aren't too different to my knowledge.
Hope this helps.
Bruce |
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Empressa
Junior Member
47 Posts
Markham, Ontario
Canada
Kawasaki
250 Ninja
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Posted - 08/15/2005 : 12:07 PM
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This was interesting to me. I checked off perscription, OTC and Steroids but technically the steroid was a perscription....
I have a minor case of asthma so when I have a cough or cold I use the steroid inhaler to help prevent asthma attacks. Also during really hot/humid days I need a puff or two. And being the summer I take OTC allergy pills. The last thing I need is a big sneeze in my full face helmet and I ride visor down 99% of the time! And in general, I've had to take regular perscriptions cuz I'm just a sickly thing :)
But if my allergies are minor or my asthma isn't very bad, to have either my anti-histimane or my puffer for a single dose, it can definitely stimulate and increase my heart rate. But I also sit down and take a rest off to the side when I feel that happen...
Aside from those, which I personally don't count, I would say that I've never been on a ride under the influence.
BTW smoking/nicotine is also a stimulant... But that would fall under the "other" category I guess/
Cheers,
Julia |
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jollyroger
Advanced Member
2157 Posts
[Mentor]
St. Charles, MO
USA
Harley-Davidson
Springer Classic
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Posted - 08/15/2005 : 12:26 PM
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Wow, I guess my normal combination of black tar heroin, thai stick, methamphetamine and coffee with a double shot of espresso wouldn't make me fit to ride?
I never made the connection...(firmly planted in cheek!)
By the way, some of us boys know what chronic cystitis is, too... |
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travismhood
Junior Member
64 Posts
american canyon, ca
USA
Yamaha
xs750 sf
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Posted - 09/07/2005 : 11:50 PM
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| Is there no one pretending to be safer than they really are? Not proud of it, but I've ridden under the influence of (Fill in the blank) and at times; could have sworn, too screwed up to walk straight, that I'd unleashed skills that had been dormant before. and still do believe that I am capable of some things now that I would have never tried sober for the first time. Here in lies the proof that you should just say no. You get cocky, paranoid, sucky, and learn to do things that you should not be doing in the first place. learning from mistakes that I've not made yet, I'll take a six hour walk if I encounter "accedental impairment." |
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Discussion Topic |
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Riding Impaired