Peace Love Moto - Where Motorcycling meets Mindfulness

Ron Francis
  • 4.8 (25)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Explore the art of riding with purpose. Hosted by a professional Colorado Rocky Mountain tour guide, Peace Love Moto is your weekly guide to Mindful Motorcycling and finding your Zen on two wheels. 🏍️ Want to support the show? Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.com

  1. 4d ago

    Motorcycling Kinship in Norway

    Send us Fan Mail Rain taps the gear, nighttime hangs over the fjord, and I’m recording from a ship’s deck in Norway, far from my usual home base in Loveland, Colorado. What started as a delayed 40th wedding anniversary trip quickly turns into something bigger: a reminder that the world can feel enormous on a map, yet strangely close when you meet the right people.  Karen and I come to Norway carrying a lot of gratitude, and we get to live it out through real connections, not just sightseeing. We reunite with Maria, a former exchange student from Oslo who once lived with us, now building her own family. We also look ahead to Sweden next, where Karen’s roots pull us toward cousins and conversations that make travel feel personal.  Then we walk through old cobblestone streets and run into a motorcycle meetup. Different machines show up side by side, Harleys, BMWs, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda Goldwings, and somehow the brands do not matter. What hits me is the instant sense of belonging: riders as brothers and sisters, good people with a shared love for nature, community, and the calm thrill of motorcycling. It is a motorcycle podcast moment that speaks to rider camaraderie worldwide, even when you’re thousands of miles from your own garage.  Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    Motorcycling Kinship in Norway

  2. Sep 24

    How Time Stands Still On A Motorcycle

    Send us Fan Mail Time doesn’t crawl on a motorcycle the way it does behind a desk. One minute you’re carrying the noise of the world in your helmet, and the next you’re 50 miles out with a quiet mind and a clock that makes no sense. That “time stands still” moment is real for many riders, and I wanted to understand why it shows up so reliably on long rides. We unpack the psychology behind it, including the time paradox of memory: when your days are repetitive, your brain stops creating fresh memory anchors, so routine can feel painfully slow while you’re living it, yet strangely empty when you look back. Then we flip the camera to the rider’s view. Motorcycling forces total attention through a nonstop sensory stream: balance, lean angle, wind, scanning, surface changes, and constant micro-decisions. When every part of your brain is focused on staying upright and aware, the internal timekeeper can fade into the background and anxiety loses its grip. Call it flow state, call it mindfulness, call it the zone, it’s one of the healthiest “weird tricks” your brain can pull. I also bring in Neil Peart, legendary Rush drummer, lyricist, and devoted long-distance motorcycle traveler. His song “Time Stand Still” captures that touring rider’s urge to freeze the frame and really see the people and places around you, not to escape life, but to live it more fully. If you’ve ever felt the road moving through you, you’ll recognize yourself here. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more riders can find the show. Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    How Time Stands Still On A Motorcycle

  3. Sep 17

    The Meaning of Wind Therapy

    Send us Fan Mail Wind therapy sounds gentle until you are leaned over in a hard crosswind, peeling your fingers off the grips at the next coffee stop and realizing you just spent 75 miles getting punched sideways by air. That is where this ride begins: Mark rolls up on his Triumph Rocket 3, I’m on my BMW R1250GS Adventure, and a simple plan turns into a 300-mile loop into Wyoming where the wind and rain decide to make the rules.  We talk through what gusty riding really feels like and what it teaches fast: the instinct to fight back, the death grip on the handlebars, the shoulders creeping up to your ears, and the mental spiral that comes from trying to control something that will not be controlled. The core shift is acceptance. The wind always wins, so the skill is learning how to stay smooth, hold your line, and let the bike move without letting your mind panic. If you’ve ever searched for “how to ride a motorcycle in strong crosswinds,” this conversation puts the technique and the mindset in plain language.  Then the story opens up into something bigger than motorcycles. Weather patterns do what they do, and life does the same: a medical scare, an unexpected bill, a tough conversation can hit like a sudden 40 mph gust. But directions change. The same wind that beats you up as a crosswind can become a tailwind on the way home, and the force that felt personal starts to feel like flow.  If this helps you ride smarter or breathe easier, subscribe, share the episode with a riding buddy, and leave a review. What is the worst wind you’ve ever ridden through, and what did it teach you? Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    The Meaning of Wind Therapy

  4. Sep 11

    Route 66: The Road, The Diner, and Peace of Mind

    Send us Fan Mail Route 66 turns 100, and that milestone pulls me back to the ride that quietly rewired my outlook on people. I’m Ron Francis in Loveland, Colorado, and I’m retracing a moment from a solo motorcycle trip that started as a simple plan: follow the towns from “Get Your Kicks On Route 66” and enjoy the open road. What I didn’t plan for was a morning in Gallup, New Mexico that hit harder than any mile marker or desert vista. Traveling alone on a motorcycle makes you approachable in a way a big group often isn’t. You pull off your helmet, you look like just another human passing through, and conversations find you. Outside a local cafe, I met an older man who looked worn down, and my first reaction was pure ego: I assumed I was the helper and he was the one who needed saving. I offered breakfast, ready to feel generous, and I almost offered the kind of “charity advice” that is really just judgment in nicer packaging. Then he spoke, and everything shifted. With quiet dignity he shared his Navajo heritage, his past as a recovering alcoholic, time in jail, and the chaplain’s words that helped him rebuild his life. He talked about honest work, gratitude for each day, and the rare treasure most of us chase without finding: peace of mind. By the time the meal ended, I realized the lesson wasn’t about what I could give him. It was about what I needed to learn from him. If you care about solo motorcycle riding, Route 66 history, and the real meaning of kindness, this story is for you. Subscribe, share it with a riding buddy, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts so more riders can find the show. What’s a moment when a stranger taught you something you didn’t expect? Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    Route 66: The Road, The Diner, and Peace of Mind

  5. Sep 3

    Sacred Trails: Chris Woodard and Sivlik ADV

    Send us Fan Mail A big adventure bike can take you somewhere wild, but it can also take you somewhere quieter: back into your body, your attention, and the part of your mind that finally stops racing. That is where Chris Woodard lives as an adventure motorcycle instructor, and it is why his approach to ADV riding feels like more than drills and cone patterns. He calls it wind therapy, and he makes a strong case that the real payoff of motorcycle training is presence, confidence, and emotional steadiness that follows you long after the ride ends. Chris shares the unlikely route that brought him here, from learning the hard way as a young soldier to building professional skill as a motor officer, then stepping into the world of rider coaching and MSF certification. We talk about the moment a heavy BMW GS Adventure met a sandy washout and nearly broke his will, and how one stranger’s calm advice changed everything. From there, Chris explains how he trains riders across three levels, why he takes students off the range to build real muscle memory, and how riders can book sessions through his website, including options for travelers flying into Phoenix and potential fly-and-ride logistics. What makes this conversation unique is where the riding happens and what it includes. Through Civlik ADV Training and Tours, Chris teaches and guides on the Gila River Indian Community, weaving Indigenous culture, sovereign land access, petroglyphs, and living history into the trail itself. We also dig into the idea of “adventure vs purpose,” the kindness of the motorcycling community during solo BDR stretches, and why Chris believes the best bike is simply the one you are riding, whether it is a GS or even a scooter. Learning More:   https://sivlikadv.com/ Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    Sacred Trails: Chris Woodard and Sivlik ADV

  6. Aug 28

    The Future of Motorcycling: Time well spent

    Send us Fan Mail My thanks to the good folks at Go Fast Don’t Die for inspiring this episode.  Someday you might be sitting still, watching life through a window, and the only “ride” you get is the distant sound of motorcycles passing by. That’s where we start today, with a vivid porch-side daydream that turns into a simple, urgent question: when the next chance to ride shows up, do you take it? We talk about why riding a motorcycle feels like time well spent, even when the world insists you should be doing something else. The helmet goes on and the noise in your head finally fades. Deadlines, breaking news, texts, and the endless scroll lose their grip because the road demands your full attention. That focus is more than fun, it’s real stress relief and a form of mindfulness that brings you back to wind, sun, and the physical world. Whether you ride through town or carve mountain passes, motorcycling has a way of turning “too much” into “just this moment.” Then we get honest about the trap of waiting. Next weekend becomes next month. The bike goes on the charger. Screens fill the time. And all the while, the truth stays the same: the opportunity to ride is not guaranteed. Health can change, finances can shift, and family responsibilities can arrive fast. There will be a last ride for every rider, and none of us knows the date. So if you’ve got the health and the machine, take the ride and make the memory. If this hits home, subscribe to Peace Love Moto, share it with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more riders can find a calmer headspace on two wheels. What ride are you doing next? Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    The Future of Motorcycling: Time well spent

  7. Aug 20

    Riding is Life: Ahmed Wagih, Harley Davidson and a Global Community

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to remember the world is full of good people might be as simple as taking a ride and talking to whoever pulls up next to you. I’m Ron Francis, and on Peace Love Moto I sit down with Ahmed Wagih, a Harley-Davidson Super Fan raised in Egypt and now living in Vietnam whose videos radiate the kind of joy you can’t fake. From the first minutes, we’re on the same wavelength: motorcycles calm the mind, widen the heart, and turn strangers into friends in seconds.  Wagih takes us back to Austin, Texas, where he first learns to ride on a 1996 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and discovers what it feels like to see the freeway “outside the cage.” We get into why Harley culture travels so well, why Route 66 still lives in riders’ imaginations worldwide, and how motorcycle travel can be the most honest kind of therapy. He also shares why he taught himself filmmaking and editing, and how he tries to use social media for something rare: authentic community instead of empty noise.  Then we head to California for one of my favorite stories: Wagih meets the Early Riders Club at Neptune’s Net and asks four older riders a single question, “Why do you ride?” Their answers “Riding is life,” “Freedom,” “Fun” hit with the force of lived experience. We connect that wisdom to everyday life, to mental health, to staying present, and even to Wagih's latest project: building a custom chopper in Ho Chi Minh City and riding it through a sea of scooters just to feel fully alive.   Ha ha, this is a fun conversation. Wagih on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giha_the_king/ Wagih on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBbxbpMteW1oFnRVSjohodB3H-JojeYfN Thank you Episode Sponsor - Viking Bags:   https://www.vikingbags.com/ Viking Bags BMW R1250 GS Adventure Touring Hard Side Cases: https://www.vikingbags.com/collections/bmw-r-1250-gs-adventure-touring-hard-side-cases If this hits home, subscribe to Peace Love Moto, share it with a friend who’s on rough roads right now, and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so more riders can find the show. Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    Riding is Life: Ahmed Wagih, Harley Davidson and a Global Community

  8. Aug 14

    Overcoming Fear - Bad Flights and Good Motorcycle Rides

    Send us Fan Mail Turbulence can make you feel helpless, nauseated, and sure you’re about to die, yet that same wild, bouncy motion can feel like freedom when you’re standing on the pegs of a motorcycle. That’s the tension we unpack as we explore what I call the turbulence paradox: why fear spikes when we lose agency, and why calm shows up when we become an active participant in the chaos. I tell the true story of a brutal approach into Denver, multiple failed landing attempts, and the moment I realized I was trying to manufacture control with routines and rituals. Then we bring it back to the dirt, a high-altitude dual sport ride in Colorado where the trail bucks, traction flickers, and the bike dances beneath you. We dig into practical riding skills for rough roads, loose grip, eyes far ahead, balanced posture, and why a smooth throttle can create stability when fighting the bars makes everything worse. From there, the conversation widens into anxiety management and mindfulness. We talk about “false evidence appearing real,” target fixation in corners, and the control paradox: the tighter you try to control the outside world, the less control you have over your internal state. The goal isn’t to stop the wind or flatten the trail, it’s to master your breath, focus, and reactions so you can find peace in uncertainty. Thank you Episode Sponsor - Viking Bags:   https://www.vikingbags.com/ Viking Bags BMW R1250 GS Adventure Touring Hard Side Cases: https://www.vikingbags.com/collections/bmw-r-1250-gs-adventure-touring-hard-side-cases If this hits home, subscribe to Peace Love Moto, share it with a friend who’s on rough roads right now, and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so more riders can find the show. Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.comBMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati, mindfulness, motorcycle meditation, peak awareness, zen rider, twist twist breath, slow down move fast, wind therapy, throttle focus, mental clarity, two-wheel meditation, riding presence, open road peace, conscious riding, moto zen, inner peace, road therapy

    Overcoming Fear - Bad Flights and Good Motorcycle Rides
See All (173)

4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Explore the art of riding with purpose. Hosted by a professional Colorado Rocky Mountain tour guide, Peace Love Moto is your weekly guide to Mindful Motorcycling and finding your Zen on two wheels. 🏍️ Want to support the show? Become a Member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126578/supporters/new Buy Ron a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/peacelovemoto Gear Up at the Shop: https://peacelovemotostore.com 📬 Get in Touch Contact: Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.com

Information

You Might Also Like