When It's Probably Best Not To Ride

Motorcycles are certainly the greatest form of transportation, but there are a few times when even the most dedicated, year-round rider should choose another travel mode. Here are a few of those:

If you're going to be drinking. Drink or Ride. Riding a motorcycle is a complicated task, requiring quick wits, skill and coordination. Drinking is fine, just don't combine it with motorcycles. Besides safety, vices are best enjoyed individually.

If you're participating in another high-adrenaline activity. I've learned that I really should not ride to the gun range, for example. Getting on a bike when your adrenaline is already pumping leads to riding at 70 miles per hour on a surface street into the back of a stopped truck. A lot of us riders have thrill issues as it is. Too much of a good thing isn't always an awesome thing.

If you're sick. Nothing is worse than not being able to ride because of a rotten cold. All the same, stay off the bike when you have a rotten cold. There are two reasons for this.

One, riding is complicated, and requires quick wits, etc. When you're sick, you're mostly concerned about your stuffy nose, sore throat, aching head and not the java-swilling, cellphone-yapping, lane-weaving moron barreling at you in a Lincoln Navigator.

Two, there are a lot of vile things that always choose the worst time to come shooting out of your head when you're sick. Do you really want to contend with that while wearing a helmet?

When you need to get somewhere fast. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, it's probably best to take the car. Sure, bikes are nimble and can achieve a high velocity, but if you're in a rush, are you really thinking about what's going on around you?

Other than that, get on your darn bike and ride.

Can you think of any other times when it's best not to ride? Post your thoughts in the comments!