| By :
Sarah Simmons
Most people don't think hydration is important when riding their motorcycles because it's just like riding in a car, right? Wrong! Direct exposure to the sun, higher temperatures and high humidity can all contribute to dehydration while riding your motorcycle. Read on to learn how to keep hydrated and keep riding at peak efficiency. Proper hydration is essential when riding your motorcycle because dehydration can make you feel fatigued, dizzy or confused, and you could easily crash. Other symptoms of dehydration include mental fogginess, slow reaction time, not making good decisions, shallow breathing, and low blood pressure. If it is hot and you are not sweating, this could be another sign that you are dehydrated and you could be nearing heat stroke. Dehydration has a cumulative effect - your body doesn't just miraculously hydrate itself without you drinking the proper amounts of water. So for example, if you are 5 percent dehydrated on Friday and don't drink enough water to become fully hydrated again, and then on Saturday you again don't drink enough water, you will be at least 5 percent dehydrated from Friday, plus whatever you lose on Saturday. To remain hydrated while you're out on long motorcycle rides there are a few rules to follow. First things first, start drinking water before you even go out to ride. We've all heard the old rule: 8 glasses of water a day, but you actually may need to drink more or less water depending on your body size. A better rule to remember is to take your weight in pounds and divide it by 2 for the number of ounces of water you should be drinking every day. So for instance, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking 80 ounces of water every day. Caffeinated drinks like coffee, soda or energy drinks will actually dehydrate you even more because the caffeine acts as a diuretic to push the water out of your system. If you absolutely can't function without some caffeine in your system, make sure to drink an extra ounce of water for every ounce of caffeinated drink you consume. A great way to make sure you are consistently drinking throughout the day while you are riding your motorcycle is with a hydration pack or hydration system. These strap on your back like a streamlined backpack, and contain a water reservoir with a straw leading out of it so you can easily drink from it, even while riding. Most hydration packs will hold at least 70 ounces of water (some hold up to 100 ounces), and many have extra pockets and compartments to hold small items like your wallet, cell phones, maps, etc. Another option is to carry bottled water with you in your gear bags or saddlebags, but with this method you have to pull over and stop every time you want to take a drink. Regardless of whether you choose a hydration pack or bottled water, be sure to schedule regular stops in extreme heat to cool off inside gas stations, restaurants or rest stops. You may be tempted to wear as little clothing as possible when it's hot, but bare skin absorbs more heat from the sun, so always wear a lightweight motorcycle jacket and pants. They will prevent the sun from drying out your skin, not to mention protect your skin from road rash in case of a fall. Wearing a motorcycle helmet not only protects your head, but studies show that motorcycle helmets diminish the effects of hot wind and lessen the likelihood of dehydration. Motorcycling is supposed to be fun, so don't fall victim to dehydration while you're out riding. Follow these motorcycle hydration tips and keep riding at peak efficiency.
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