Posture - D'Iberville, MS
D'Iberville, MS
I've been on a few long rides in the past few months. I've been all by myself on most of them, but I've been part of a group on others. When they are not riding, riders talk about riding. Where they've ridden, what they've ridden, how they've ridden. Who they've ridden with. And frequently, riders talk about how far they've ridden. On a lunch break during a recent ride, I asked my companions about their long distance riding experience. Everyone had great stories to tell. Some told of long days in the saddle through bad weather. Some told of fantastic roads that they hoped would never end. One rider in particular was a long distance hero. He regularly rides from Montreal, Canada to Miami, Florida - without stopping for the night. Since I had stumbled upon such a brain trust, I pried further. "What are your secrets for long distance riding?" I asked my riding buddies. Without fail, each man denied that they possessed secrets. They were more than willing to share their riding philosophies, however. I've boiled them down to their essences, and now share them with you. Don't ride tired. Get a good night's rest before you ride. Stretch and limber up, and make sure that you are alert and wide-awake before you jump on your bike for the day. Starting the day off on a tired note does not make your ride better or safer. Stop before you're drowsy. There's no worse feeling than fighting sleep, and there's no more dangerous way to ride. If you think you might be getting drowsy, pull off the road as soon as you can safely do so, and get some rest. You're better off late than wrecked. Beware the twilight and the dawn. Most of the long distance riders I spoke with were not averse to riding in the dark, or to riding in the bright sun. To a man, however, they all tried to avoid the twilight hours and the dawn. That in-between state of light is ******* the eyes. It's difficult to see obstacles, and it is most difficult to be seen by other vehicles. Not only that, deer and elk are most active during twilight and dawn, and there's very little positive that can come from a collision between a motorcycle and an elk. Find a place to have breakfast or dinner, and avoid the issue altogether. Ride hungry. Most every rider agreed that a heavy meal before riding was a bad idea. It makes sense - a full stomach demands energy for digestion, and can leave you feeling drowsy. I've taken to eating fruit for breakfast before riding, and avoiding heavy meals on the road whenever possible. Good advice, tough to follow for some of us. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water, even on a cold day. Staying hydrated helps keep you alert. I make it a point to drink at least a bottle of water at each gas stop. In the heat, I sometimes drink more. A few of the riders I spoke with go so far as to carry hydration packs with them - backpacks that hold water, which you can drink while you ride via a hose connection. Not a bad idea if you'll be traversing any serious desert terrain, or extreme heat. Gear up in layers. Traveling long distances may put you in weather extremes. The best way to be ready for anything is by dressing in layers. Start with a good base layer - cotton or another wicking fabric is good in hot weather; silk or another breathable insulating fabric is good for cold. Add thin layers that are not too closely fitted, but won't add too much bulk. A jacket with a removable liner is essential for your outer layer. Now you can mix and match for the conditions. Stay cool. "I'd rather be a little cool than a little hot," one rider told me. "You can always add a layer for comfort, but there's only so much you can take off and still be safe." Being cool - not cold - will also help keep you awake and sharp. Don't rely on caffeine. We all love our coffee. But if you find that you need a cup of coffee to stay alert on your motorcycle, you're pushing past your limits. Don't up your caffeine intake to stay awake on your long ride, and definitely don't fall prey to those "energy in a little bottle" drinks. The quick "up" that they provide can be followed by a quick "down," and you're worse off than when you started. Take care of your butt, and it will take care of you. Every rider I spoke with had experimented with different seat pads, gel seat inserts, inflatable cushions, beaded mats and other ways of extending their comfort for a long ride, and everyone had a different favorite. Make sure that your bike's ergonomics are right for you, and find the seat and/or cushion that makes things just right. Your riding posture can also affect your comfort over a long distance, so be aware of sitting up straight in the saddle and distributing your weight evenly. Take frequent breaks. On some bikes, you can ride for hours before you need to stop for gas. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't stop more frequently to stretch your legs and give your body a break. I try to stop at least once every 90 minutes, no matter how far I've ridden. I hydrate, walk around and stay off the bike for 10 minutes or so, then ride on. That's my rhythm. You'll find yours if you pay attention to your body while you ride. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Motorcycle touring usually involves spending many hours on your bike out in the elements. This is what makes riding exhilarating, but it’s also more tiring than covering the same number of miles driving in a car. To fully enjoy your multi-day motorcycle adventure, you probably want to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Here are our top 10 things to consider: Install Appropriate Wind Protection: Constant wind buffeting on the body is especially tiring for long distance riders. In cold weather, wind chill makes it that much harder for motorcyclists to maintain enough body heat. While a certain amount of air circulation is desirable in hot weather for evaporative cooling, too much can rapidly deplete body fluids. Windshields and other similar “wind management” devices should be a must have for all serious touring riders. Use A Comfortable Seat: To keep the price of new motorcycles low, seats are an area where manufacturers often cut corners. Properly supporting a rider’s derriere is probably one of the most important factors for achieving a comfortable day in the saddle. If your OEM seat leaves you wanting something better, there are many excellent products available in the aftermarket. Because all of our bodies are not built the same, finding the best fit is likely to vary by individual. If possible, find a seat maker that can offer or build a seat to fit your particular … ahem … requirements. Maintain A Relaxed Leg Position: Rear pegs may look cool on café racers and sportbikes, but for most of us long distance riders a cramped leg position can range from uncomfortable to downright painful. I lowered the foot pegs on my sport-touring bike, which made a world of difference in leg comfort. Assume A Proper Riding Posture: I think the best analogy for describing the most comfortable motorcycle riding position is that of an equestrian: sit upright with a slight forward lean, thighs pressed snuggly against the tank, back straight and hands resting lightly on the handlebars. A semi-reclined position, with feet in the air on highway pegs, may look comfortable, but your tailbone will soon inform you otherwise. One of my bikes has a wide tank, which has often irritated my hamstrings and inner thighs during a long day in the saddle. By moving the handlebars up and back, with an aftermarket adapter, my comfort improved dramatically and, as a bonus, I also experienced greater control over the bike. I also used an aftermarket adapter to lower my foot pegs about an inch. Although I sacrificed a little lean angle, it was well worth it. Wear Appropriate Riding Gear: While we all know the importance of wearing proper protective gear in the event of a crash, wearing appropriate riding gear is also important for our riding comfort. In hot weather it’s often advisable to wear mesh gear with armor that both protects and lets air circulate inside it to promote evaporative body cooling. When the weather turns cold, it’s vitally important to keep the body—particularly the upper body—warm to ward off discomfort and potential hypothermia. I’ve ridden when it was too hot and when it was too cold and nothing is worse than being cold on a motorcycle. Well, except for being both wet and cold—always pack rain gear. Keep Hydrated: Letting yourself become dehydrated while riding is both uncomfortable and dangerous. It’s particularly important in hot weather, when bodily fluids are being lost through evaporative cooling (i.e. sweating), to drink lots of water and replace electrolytes by eating fruit and/or consuming sports drinks. Reduce Wind Noise: Even with a full-face helmet, a rider traveling at highway speeds encounters a substantial level of wind noise. In addition to hearing loss, all of that noise is very tiring and distracts your riding focus. So, always wear earplugs! Properly designed windscreens and fairings can also reduce wind noise. Use Effective Eye Protection: Face shields and other eye protection help safeguard a rider’s eyes both from flying debris and from drying out. Sun glare can also be quite tiring and uncomfortable, especially in the colder months when the sun is closer to the horizon. Sunglasses, retractable sunshades inside helmets, and darkened face shields can provide relief. However, if you use a darkened shield in the daytime, be sure to pack a clear one for low light conditions. Be Well-Rested and Stress-Free before Riding: Motorcycle riding is a very physical activity. Starting the day tired or emotionally upset isn’t likely to improve your riding enjoyment as the day unfolds. It’s also obviously important, from a safety standpoint, to be fully alert and on top of your riding game. Take Riding Breaks to Stay Fresh: I personally prefer taking a break every one to two hours to stretch, relax, talk to strangers, re-hydrate, tour roadside attractions, and discuss the day’s highlights with my riding partners. Above all, motorcycle touring is supposed to be fun, and being comfortable is a big part of keeping it fun. Achieving the desired level of comfort from your touring experience is likely to involve some trial and error and fine tuning of your strategy. For most touring motorcycles it’s not terribly difficult to find appropriate OEM and aftermarket accessories to improve any shortcomings of your mount. The important thing to remember is that riding comfort has a very high correlation with your motorcycle touring pleasure. - See more at: http://www.roadrunner.travel/2013/01/09 /touring-tip-be-comfortable/#sthash.rhe Z