Motorcycling: A "Risk Exericse"
MOTORCYCLING: A "RISK EXERICSE"
Would You Like To Participate In A Fascinating Research Project? Fill Out The Questionnaire And Mail To The Address Indicated.
IN THE BEGINNING, man’s very existence depended on physical activity. Foolhardy adventure meant almost certain death. But, through calculated risks, early man was able to secure food and shelter.
Today, neither strenuous physical activity nor calculated risk is necessary for survival. Nevertheless, both exercise and calculated risk, according to Dr. Sol Roy Rosenthal, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, are necessary to maintain the physical and mental balance necessary for well being.
Dr. Rosenthal has been involved in sports all his life. He plays tennis, a physical sport that does not involve risk. After a game, he feels tired and wants to rest.
Dr. Rosenthal, however, is also an avid horseman and goes fox hunting frequently. Fox hunting involves risk, as does off-road motorcycling or fast touring, because of the uncertainty of terrain. Following a typical hunt, both he and his fellow horsemen feel elated.
On the basis of his own experiences, and by studying other sports involving calculated risks, Dr. Rosenthal has come to the conclusion that calculated risks, on a physical and mental basis, are necessary for our daily well being.
Furthermore, Dr. Rosenthal believes that a substance (or substances) produced in the blood stream is (arc) responsible for risk exercises response. If such a substance exists, he believes it may be beneficial in certain depressed states.
It should be noted, however, that the feeling of elation is not unanimous. In this case, the motorcyclist must be well trained in his particular branch of cycle sport so that his risk is a well calculated one.
Novice riders may be “petrified” with fear, which often leads to exhaustion, not elation, following a ride.
The following questionaire has been designed to gather as many case histories as possible to further the risk exercise thesis. We hope to publish the results of your response to this study in a few months.
PLEASE RETURN TO: Sol Roy Rosenthal, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Preventive Medicine University of Illinois College of Medicine Post Office Box 6998 Chicago, IMinois 60680
