Free Wheelin'

In his 1936 paper, The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action, Robert K. Merton wrote about things that can happen that were not intended or foreseen; although this can, many times, be a bad thing or series of events.

They can arise from a variety of sources, including ignorance, errors in analysis, prioritizing short-term interests over long-term ones, and even the self-defeating nature of some prophecies.

Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can, or you think you can't, you are probably right."

So, stay positive as,sometimes, Unintended Consequences can be a good thing.

Murphy, and his law, be damned. 

Indeed, many things that started in one direction, led to another with positive results. 

While not a direct social action, the accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming revolutionized medicine and had a profound positive impact on global health. The sinking of ships during wartime or deliberately for reef creation has resulted in the formation of artificial coral reefs, benefiting marine ecosystems and recreational diving.

Another key and positive unintended consequence is an unanticipated benefit that emerges from an action. Adam Smith's notion of the “invisible hand” is one example of a positive unintended consequence. Smith famously argued that each individual pursuing his own ends generates widespread benefits beyond that individual.

Anthony Robbins speaks of the Mastermind Principle – when a group of people come together for a specific task - a task made far easier and far more successful with the help of additional people set on the same goal.

Okay, where is all this leading, you ask?

While riding we sometimes have thoughts drift in and out of that gray matter that should be thinking only of riding. We're human – so it happens, and this is where my thoughts wandered.

When we first began our Backroads Rallies decades back, we really were just looking to see if we could have a small gathering of readers/riders who would like to spend a few days on the road. And, that was what happened… but then those Unintended Consequences began to pop up. 

More and more riders began to show up for these rallies.

Then, over the years many became really good friends. Friends they never would have met if we never did any of these rallies.

Unintended Consequence.

Folks have met and gotten married because of Backroads Rallies.

Some riders who might have lost interest in, and maybe would have simply stopped riding, are still on the road.

Unintended Consequence. 

Seeing other riders, riding different machines and in different ways has positively influenced some riders. Those who had never thought of working on their riding skills, or taking a riding or track class, have because of the Backroads Rallies.

Maybe others have learned different things and skills, not having to do with motorcycles from Backroads Rallies – like guitar chord transitions, and such.

Unintended Consequence.

Then there is the economic value of these gatherings. 

Most of our rallies occur off the beaten track – sometimes sadly so. But during these events, there are many miles put on the backroads and that means fuel, and food in tiny towns that are nowhere near an interstate exit. Hotels, and let's not forget the titanic bar bill you kids ring up each night, also come into play. We are talking averages of three-plus rallies each year for a quarter of a century, with an average of between 50 and 100 attendees riding to and around our Backroads rallies.

We suck at math, so we hired N. Happy & Pepe CMA to do the numbers.

Clearly rounded in our favor (this is our magazine), they came up with a staggering number of 4.5 million dollars.

Unintended Consequence.

This does not include the motorcycles, service, gear, tires, and tuning, as well as a hundred other things that were purchased to pursue this sport.

We as a group spend a lot of money; and it helps so many communities, families, organizations, and the world as a whole.

Unintended Consequences…. We’ll take it.