Motorcycle riding doesn’t take a huge amount of effort. That’s why many riders suffer from a dehydration problem these days. When we are riding a motorcycle on the open road, we are exposed to the direct sun and other elements. Plus, the wind has a drying effect on the body. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are fully ventilated or not, dehydration does not vary with just the outside temperature because there are other factors that can directly lead to dehydration.
If you are dehydrated, it may increase the likelihood of heatstroke, headaches, muscle cramps, nausea, disorientation, and loss of concentration; factors that are more than enough to contribute to the possibility of an accident occurring.
That’s why today, we will discuss a few ways to avoid dehydration while riding.
How to Avoid Dehydration in a Heat Wave?
Avoid Alcohol
If you are planning to ride the next day, then make sure you don’t drink too much alcohol the night before a ride. Alcohol intake has a diuretic effect on the body, which means you will urinate more water than you take in. Once you have dispersed all of your water, you will urgently need more water in your body to stay hydrated. So, even if you drink plenty of water at that time, it won’t counteract the dehydration because most of your water will go out in your urine.
Drink Frequently
On the next day, start drinking water as soon as you wake up. The trick is not to guzzle the water all at once before the ride but drink small amounts frequently until you get on your bike. In this way, you will not suffer from cramps in the stomach. Remember, it takes almost half an hour for the water to reach the muscles. So, make sure you allow plenty of time to drink some water before going on the ride.
Wear the Right Gear
If you are riding in hot summer weather, then try to avoid wearing a leather motorcycle jacket and leather gloves. Leather may provide you abrasion or crash protection but in the hot summer, it won’t be able to pass cool air to your body and as a result, your body will produce more sweat. This excessive sweat will lead to dehydration. But it doesn’t mean that you can wear a light mesh motorcycle jacket or textile gloves to ride in the summer. These mesh jackets may have a lot of ventilation to pass air through but remember, although flow-through Jackets cool you down, they also dry the sweat on the skin, which can also lead to dehydration. So, no matter what you wear, you still need to drink plenty of water.
Beware the Sun
After a prolonged ride, if you stop at some point and are tempted to remove your jacket in the hot weather, please don’t! You know why? Because when you remove your jacket your skin is exposed to the sun. You may feel a little cooler, but it is only because of fast evaporating sweat, which will only make things worse. Once you feel cool and all of the sweat is evaporated, you will be dehydrated and direct contact with the sun will lead to sunburn. This sunburn causes nothing but damage to your skin and you will need plenty of water to repair it. So, basically, you will still end up being dehydrated, again.
Use a Backpack
When you are riding a motorcycle, you need water to drink from time to time. So, instead, of drinking from a cup, try to drink from a CamelBak or other brand of water dispensing unit. These units allow you to sip a small amount of water while riding. Plus, you won’t need to stop or ride unsafely using a hand to drink water from a cup.
See Also: Best Motorcycle Backpacks of 2024
Eat and Drink Healthy
The last thing you must take care of is, “Choosing the right food and drink while riding.” Whenever you stop for a break or for breakfast, make sure you avoid too much coffee, sweet cakes, donuts, and other sugar-added items. Sugar has a negative effect on the body. It can force you to urinate more, which will drain all the fluids from your body. Sugar causes your kidney to produce more urine to eliminate the sugar from the body, which leads to dehydration. So, stick to natural fluids like plain water, juices, or even a little bit of coffee is okay.
If you think of something else for the prevention of dehydration, then don’t forget to mention it in the comment section below. After all, it is about our health, which we can simply improve by following a few points to stay remain hydrated at all times.
Leave a Reply