It is said that fatigue causes between a fifth and sixth of car accidents. This may not be true for motorcycle riders, but it definitely plays a role for those taking long riding trips. AMERiders offers these tips to Fight Fatigue, as we know that fatigue can be dangerous when not taken seriously. When riding with other people everyone should discuss and have a road plan for resting, as not everyone will have the same rest requirements as everyone else. Each and every member of the group should be willing and able to accommodate the others rest needs.
Rest:
Before a multi-day ride, it is not always easy to get enough sleep, as you may be thinking of what to pack, or things that need to be done before the trip. Some people also have trouble sleeping while traveling as well which doesn’t help matters much. Early departures can also compound on the sleep problem, so ensuring to sleep a bit later every few days is a good idea. Alcohol as a sleep-aid is not a good idea as it can also reduce your quality and quantity of sleep.
You can fall asleep while riding I have seen riders do it. This is not good as you will wake up bouncing down the road , through a ditch, or in the hospital. You may not even realize you are tired. There are “tired times” during every 12-hour cycle these times are usually between 3 and 5 both a.m. and p.m. local time. Planning to arrive before or by that time to stop before and early dinner is a good, just to relax or take the day off to catch up on sleep.
Physical Preparation:
Unless a rider rides every single day or takes a long ride each weekend, they may not be completely adapted to their bike. During a full day or two of riding, you’ll become aware of all the muscles that you use to ride with. Overcoming this discomfort is easy by setting up your bike properly. Adjusting your motorcycle to fit you is easy by finding a good saddle that is comfortable for long rides. However, taking breaks in intervals of an hour or two will help you to adjust and fight fatigue as well.
Calm:
With extended exposure to the wind and sun dehydration, fatigue will take much more out of you than your usual 2-hour a weekend ride. Riding in as little clothing as possible and an open face helmet may seem like a good idea. When in fact, you will get tired and feel more worn out. If you wear a mesh jacket and a helmet that protects your face from the wind, perspiration will get a chance to help you cool off. Not only that but you will help to reduce sunburn, as well as wind burn and the effects that come with them. Ensuring that your bike has a windshield will also help. As it will reduce the amount of wind tearing into you, but will still leave enough to help cool you off.
Clear:
For a motorcyclist clear vision is a must! On a ride vision-clarity can become an issue. Distortion in the top of the windshield or imperfect glasses can cause you to strain your eyes. This will help increase fatigue. If a windshield, face shield or sunglasses create a problem such as eye-strain, headaches or disorientation then ensure the problem is fixed before your trip.
Caffeine and Alcohol:
Caffeine and Alcohol can briefly boost your alertness but isn’t a substitute for a good nap. Having a drink of alcohol before or during a ride is a bad idea for many reasons. Especially if you are slightly tired or fatigued. Discourage your riding companions from having one also does both of you a favor when trying to fight fatigue.
Good Habits:
Diet and exercise also help to fight fatigue, as they increase your energy level. This makes you stronger and more alert. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water while you ride as well, because keeping hydrated is important when being exposed to the elements.
Fighting Fatigue helps to provide benefits that go way beyond safety. When you are alert and refreshed your ride is more enjoyable. Also, you’ll get more out of the sights and experiences that you expect to see and enjoy.
And as always….
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
and
AMERiders knows how important it is to fight fatigue, please get plenty of rest on long rides.
And as always don’t forget to send us your stories, pictures and events for posting to GALLERY.AMERIDERS @ GMAIL.COM and we will post them for you. The more people that know about your event the better and we are offering free advertising. We would also love to hear about your rides and love to see those bikes so send those stories and pictures.
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We apologize that we posted on Thursday this week, however, there were unforeseen circumstances (net was out) that prevented us from posting on Wed., although we had it ready to post for you.