Thread Approved

Well, lets use this thread if others have some inputs on the same topic.

Dear Mod,
Thanks for your quick approval,

Guys lets share some more points on the above topic so that every long ride from now on is longerrrrrrrrrrr......

Thanks for making a separate thread on this. The most important thing for riding long is finding the correct riding position. This Bike India article will help you find your optimum riding position.

Bike India August 2009

Go directly to Page #34 on the E-Mag. "Hero Honda Ride Safe".

My contribution as per experience-
1) Avoid backpacks as they can be very heavy for your back...the added weight can contribute fatigue and severe backpain....use of saddlebags or tankbags can be done.

2) Pump bottles by energy drinks rather than water. Use of Glucon-D can be done.

3) Avoid wearing tight clothes. be it riding gear also....snug fit riding armour is ok but it shouldnt affect body movements... weight of riding gear is also important and should be checked before making purchase. (I have a DSG Nero which is kinda heavy, but its ok now iam used to it). Denims should not too tight (especially near the crotch area- Bumps are deadly in such scenario)

4) Take ample of breaks....we are not in any type of race...be at ease!!!

5) consumption of light food is essential before any trip...Light food does not mean you stuff your body with meat or even some wada pav. Have something light that is not oily neither heavy to digest!!!! Eg Maggi or even fruits! Lunch and dinner should be consumed at the required time only but ensure its not heavy that it puts you off to sleep when you tachometer and speedometer are working!!!!!
6) Ensure that you visit the loo for pee breaks...(very essential during riding in hot sun). Digested food should be dumped out when required!!!

7) Do stretch out your body after a stretch of 70-80 kms straight!!! kinda helps in good blood flow

8) Avoid hearing loud music all the time. You can pimp up your playlist with headbanging songs but use the volume button to keep it under level. Loud music might put you in position where you might not hear the rear vehicle honking for overtaking.

9) Use of clear visors should be done. be it tinted or clear it shouldnt be scratched where your eyes are straining and dying to see the road ahead.

10) Maintained a firm riding posture... showing off the hump to make bypassers feel that you riding a sbk not good!!! Have seen so many off em on roads just to show off they have a freaking inline 4 with sporty seating posture.

These are some of the tips which i would personally like to contribute...they might be similar but hey thats my personal experience....
PS- My points might be good or bad...i havent done any long ride like munching of 1000 of kms in one go, yes i have done 500 ones multiple times so i always adhere to these tips.....
Ride safe

Tips out of personal experiences are important and practical, thanks for sharing.....

1) keep changing your riding posture slightly every 15-20 mins..

2) try stretching your back in reverse direction or curve i.e. backwards and sideways. stretch your hand and legs one by one, also rotate your head fully to left and right. do this only when you are not in dense traffic and moderate speed. doing this relaxes your body a bit so you can ride longer without stops.

3) when you take a stop, try some simple stretching exercises.

4) wear suffeciently thick cloths, so that body is protected against oncoming wind.

5) avoid backpack / sack in long rides.

Here are my tips:

1) Rest well the night before the ride; 7-8 hours sleep minimum.

2) Use 3M earplugs or equivalent to cut the wind noise, this is a HUGE factor in reducing tiredness. Cotton is not as effective, so avoid that.

3) Use smoked visors while riding in the sun.

4) Be hydrated and nourished - frequent water breaks, and munch on energy bars/fruits/light meals. Do not take "Lunch" breaks and pig out.

5) Ride in winters/cool weather if possible. Else keep yourself ventilated.

6) Use crampbuster to take off the pressure off your wrists.

from where did you buy crampbuster...........and for how much...........???

Picked it up from the US - 10 dollars.

Lumbar Support Belt

Most of the points are covered here. However, my persoanal experience says - the use of lumbar support belt / kidney belt helps a lot absorbing high speed vibrations.

Riding fatigue is caused mainly due to the vibrations absorbed by our lower back. Our lower bones of spinal cord are directly connected to the centre of hips and in turn to the saddle. So naturally, all the seat vibrations are absorbed by spinal cord from the bottom and the cord vibrates as well. This causes a riding fatigue especially if you are riding on straight hiway patch at high speeds for longer duration. Use of lumbar support belt keeps your spinal cord straight and minimizes spinal cord vibrations thus you can roll on and on and on....... try it out.

I feel the most important things to remember would be:
1) Be well rested before the ride - at least 6+ hours of sleep the night before.
2) Eat a light breakfast, in fact ensure that you don't stuff yourself during the ride. Keep a packet of biscuit handy to munch on if needed.
3) Keep yourself well hydrated but avoid cold drink which will make you feel gassy & bloated. Tea, water, fruit juice etc are good options. Also - never ride on a full bladder Not that I'm proud of it but thankfully in India you just have to search for a tree or an empty stretch of road to relieve yourself!!
4) Wear comfortable clothes - nothing tight, on a long ride the rashes will drive you insane.
5) Ride at a comfortable speed, something at which you can cover a fair distance while keeping the bike fully in control, I usually stick to 70-80km/h but everyone will have a different comfort speed.
6) Try to cover as much ground as possible earlier in the day when you are still fresh and the heat is manageable. As the day progresses take more breaks whenever you feel fatigued.
7) Take a few extra minutes during fuel breaks to stretch and relax a bit.
8) If you can tolerate it, wrap a handkerchief/bandana around your mouth - even if you have a full face helmet. On long rides the air does sneak into your helmet and chapped lips can become painful after a point :|

I know I must have repeated a lot of points but hopefully someone will still find them useful.
Happy riding

Very useful thread, I must say.
Since most of the points have already been covered like
1. Sufficient sleep
2. Hydration
3. Protection against wind etc.
I would like to add my 2 cents:
While stopping (advisable every hour), try to stop in the shade of a tree where you can relax and not be exposed to the direct heat.
On many rides I actually got a headache due to exposure to the sun while on breaks!

Thank you Guru's
It was very helpful

Talking "aloud" (pep talk) to oneself, when feeling drowsy/sleepy surprisingly helps.

Having said that there is nothing like parking aside the bike (on a safe spot) and getting a quick power nap when one is drained out.