Doc Wong Tip: Fighting Fatigue On A Hot Day of Riding

Doc Wong Tip: Fighting Fatigue On A Hot Day of Riding

Some riders have been asking how to keep from being tired with a full
day of riding. *This is especially true during those 100+ degree
street riding, dual sport rides or track days. *There you're working
pretty hard for short periods of time, still by the end of the day,
most riders are pretty beat and tired. *Definitely not as fun, but
being worn out or tired while riding can be dangerous! **I'm often
seen at the end of a hot day still riding, so here's what I do:

***(Summary: Get adequate sleep, drink water and supplement with
electrolytes, and keep cool.)***

The most common cause of fatigue, headaches, etc on a hot day of
riding:

1. Lack of sleep a couple of nights before. *Of course an exciting day
may get you through as you're all "worked up." *However sometimes your
body just won't keep up. *This is especially true as you get older.
*So get adequate sleep even better take a nap. *

2. Dehydration. *Full hydration can take quite some time. *Unless you
usually consume 1-2 quarts of water a day, just drinking a lot of
water the day of the event will not be enough. *Hydrate at least a
week before the event. *Small sips of water spread throughout the day
is best. *Just chugging down a quart of water in one drink will
definitely not be as effective.

3. Electrolyte Deficiency or Imbalances:

Basically electrolytes are minerals that your body needs for a variety
of critical body functions. How well your nerves and muscles work for
example, can be compromised by an imbalance of electrolytes. On a hot
day, where you're physically working out and sweating, your body can
excrete a good amount of electrolytes. *

The most common electrolyte excreted on a hot day of riding are Sodium
and Potassium, then Magnesium and Calcium.

I'll do one of two things:

I'll either take salt and potassium tablets that you can find at any
health food store. (Dose: Usually a Salt to Potassium ration of 2:1)
That usually does it for me and I'll experiment by seeing how I fell
thru the day, on how much to take. **

Or the other good alternative is to supplement with Cytomax. *You can
find that at any camping store such as REI.

I try to avoid "Sports Drink" products containing sugar or hi-fructose
corn syrup. *Though they contain electrolytes the sugars in them cause
other problems. *Nasty stuff, but if I was stuck with no other
alternative, I'll drink it to get me thru that time period.

4. Stay cool. *Good tunes and bobbing your head? Yea, but what I
actually mean is to do what you can to lower your body temperature. *

On a hot-hot track day, between sessions I'll literally go under a
shower or use a water hose to soak myself with leathers on (boots
off). *In a few minutes I'm good to go, back on the track. *The
combination of air flow and water evaporating off my leathers is quite
refreshing and within an hour I'm bone dry. *Not a bad way to wash all
the sweated salt out of your leathers too. *I think even Helmut of
Helimot Leathers gave me a nod of approval on that one too! *:-)

During a street tour, I'm usually the one sticking a water hose down
everyone's leathers, getting them soaked. *One year we had to do this
as I got the itch to lead a group of adventurous riders to ride thru
Death Valley of July 4th weekend. *THAT was hot. *I think we must have
it 115 degrees!

We all made it and still had a blast of a ride!

Anyway, ride well, hopes this makes riding funner and safer. *I like
that, "funner." ;-)

Doc Wong