You may have an engine powering you along but that doesn’t mean you won’t get tired. Discomfort and fatigue can be caused by insufficient breaks, long riding hours, monotonous roads, heat stress, cold, noise or vibration, posture stress or night-time riding.
And riding a motorcycle is always more tiring than driving a car because of the higher level of concentration required.
The longer your journey, the more you need to adequately rest, plan and prepare, and consume the right food and drink.
Make sure your bike’s set up so the controls are right at your fingertips and toes. Otherwise you’ll put pressure on your wrists, shoulders and back.
Work out distances and your estimated speed, then double the time required to fit in rest breaks and take the pressure off. Enjoy the ride.
On long trips away, you might not sleep so well or be waking up early each day. The result will be a sleep deficit. Sleep in every day or two, or stop and take a power nap.
Sitting in the same position with limited movement for extended periods is unnatural. It can lead to muscle stiffness, which turns to fatigue and a loss of concentration. Break up your ride with regular stops to walk around and stretch at least every hour and a half.
Digestion takes energy, which is why you can feel sleepy after a big feed.
These only provide a short-term lift. Dehydration is a serious problem for riders because they are so exposed to the sun and wind. Drink plenty of water instead.
Wind and exhaust noise are tiring, not to mention the damage they can do to your hearing. Wear properly-fitting earplugs. They’re cheap and cut noise by up to 30 decibels.
Whether it’s team sports, jogging or the gym, the fitter you are the easier it will be - physically and mentally.
