You Deserve a Break
And taking a nice, long road trip by bike is one of the best ways to treat yourself.
However, if you find that you'll be spending quite a few hours racking up miles behind bars (say to Milwaukee for the 115th Anniversary Celebration like me!!), you'll want a plan to stay fresh and alert while on your journey.
At FX Caprara Harley-Davidson we've got these 7 tips to help you avoid the dangers of becoming road weary.
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| Photo by Floris Jan-roelof on Unsplash |
1. Get some good shut-eye
In other words, be well rested. Plan to pack your bike a day or two before you leave so you won't be up till 2am doing last minute stuff. Or go to sleep early and pack in the morning. Either way get a full night's sleep before starting off.
Also, you can always stop and take a 'power nap' if you feel drowsiness setting in. It's much better to recharge your system for the rest of the day's ride than to push yourself too hard/far so that you're putting your life and others at risk.
2. You are what you eat (and drink)
No doubt that you spend more energy while riding than you do when driving. So much so that you might feel famished when you stop for your lunch and/or dinner... a word of caution:
When you eat a large, heavy meal (like spaghetti dinner or double cheese burger with fries) your body will then need to digest all that food -which also takes energy.... See where I'm going with this?
Instead we find it better to eat smaller meals more often -like every other time you stop for gas. Foods high in protein are best. And keep yourself well hydrated -with both water and something with electrolytes if it's hot out.
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| Photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash |
3. You gotta stop sometime
You've got promises to keep and 400 miles to go before you can sleep... But here's a tip: this is not a race, endurance or otherwise. Take your time, pace yourself and stop when you need to.
My personal preference is to stop every 100 miles or so. If you're riding in a group you'll want to plan with the others when to stop, because different riders will have varying distances for their preferences.
4. Remember to Move It, Move It
When you do stop take a moment to make some movement. Walk, stretch, sit in the shade of a tree, start a conversation, grab that light snack and hydrate. This will help to keep both your body and mind fresh.
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| Photo by Cristobal Baeza on Unsplash |
5. Ride like the Wind (just don't fight it)
The main reason Bikers burn more calories riding than other people do driving is because they're out in the wind. That wind is number one in creating fatigue, both in noise and aerodynamically (it pushes against our middle).
To cut wind noise use earplugs and/or a helmet that covers your ears (3/4 or full face). And for looooong trips you might want to put a windshield or fairing on your bike to help split the wind around you.
6. Take the Scenic Route
When possible take the back roads versus taking the interstate. That's because you'll be going through different speed zones, shifting through the bike's gears, and leaning through the curves equals more engagement with your mind and body.
Of course there are times when you need to buzz out there as fast as you can, you'll have to be on the highways and the interstate. Here, to avoid getting lulled into a zoned out trance, pass for position and don't use your cruise control. Reasonably moving around traffic and varying your speed by 5 mph will help you keep you alert.
7. Talk it Out
Try using a communication system so you can talk to the other riders with you, listen to your favorite talk show/podcast, or sing along to your music.
Even doing the "Biker Wave" will help you feel more alert and engaged. Added bonus: you'll be an ambassador for motorcyclists with everyone on the road.
