Joined
·
406 Posts
I see quite a few of you are making it out on some really nice trips (I'm SO jealous!). I think with things warming up (even here, we've got a nice chinook that rolled in) I bet lots of us that hang out here are already planing a nice road trip (I know I am).
I thought I would just share what I've learned from my trips with regards to FATIGUE.
In my opinion, for the solo traveller especially, fatigue can be extremely dangerous. I think a lot of people may not realize how serious fatigue can be, especially how QUICKLY it can set in. If you're far away from rest stops, or on a twisty section of mountainous road, then it could impractical or even dangerous to stop.
So, here are my tips, and I'm sure there is a lot to add so please post comments.
First of all, PREVENTION is key. So, here are ways I prevent the onset of fatigue:
- Drink lots of water. This is especially crucial in the hot climates in July/August. I have a camel back that can fit a large bottle of water (I think it's either 750mL or 1L - I don't remember). I find this is extremely effective in keeping me alert and comfortable.
- Remember to blink. I will address this more below, but eye dryness is really bad. This can happen not only in dry, dusty climates, but also by the simple fact that you're focused on the road. If you ride for extended periods of time and concentrate on what's ahead, you will forget to blink. For us gamers, think about what happens when you play that FPS for 5 hours straight.
- Dress properly. I think this is important for travelling through the mountains, especially up here in Northern Canada (I have experienced a rain forest, a desert and a snow storm all in the same trip in the first week of July). Dressing properly ensures that your body doesn't get fatigued (ie, cramps). The best would be a heated liner with an adjustable remote. However, not all of us can afford this kind of luxury, so the next best thing is LAYERS. Wearing numerous layers (in my humble opinion) help insulating you by having a small air barrier between each layer. As the day warms up (or cools down), or as the elevation changes, you can easilly pull off and shed a quick layer. Now, if it's really cold, your rain gear will really help cut down on the wind penetration and trap another layer of air. This will help keep you warm, but be cautious of sweating and then getting chills.
Most importantly, you must listen to your body. Pushing yourself beyond your limits can be deadly. Nobody wants to do the 100 yard blink on two wheels. I've had this happen to me, and trust me, it's scary!
So, what do you do if you're feeling tired?
- First, PULL OVER at the first safe opportunity. This can be a rest stop, a gas station, a driveway to a farm or even the shoulder if there is lots of visibility.
- Power naps: here's a tidbit of information from my military buddies....The brain's sleep function works in several cycles that are initiated by various chemical releases in the brain. Most people know about "REM" sleep: the phase where we dream. If I recall correctly, there are four phases to the sleep cycle, REM being the third (no time to look this up). However, there is a lot of chemical activity in the adult brain in the first 40 minutes after sleep is initiated. 15 to 20 minutes after falling asleep, the brain releases the chemicals that will initiate a deep sleep. Now, if someone is awoken after those chemicals are released, they wake up groggy, and it takes the brain several minutes to fully function properly. HOWEVER, if you were to wake up BEFORE those chemicals release, your brain will be "fooled" into thinking you just had a nice long sleep. Once your brain has adjusted to this, a 15 minute power nap can refresh you for up to four hours. Now, this is just what I've found from personal experience.
The bottom line though, if you're tired, you need a rest.
- Eye drops: I have found that a lot of the fatigue I have felt was caused by super dry eyes (as mentioned above). Eye drops can do wonders to revitalize the eyes. In my previous ride reports, I mentioned using Visine. Now, I don't want to recommend a specific product, but I can tell you this: Visine is very bad for you. Visine has a lot of preservatives and other chemicals that artificially whitten your eyes. It's actually possible to build up a tolerance to visine and then it doesn't work. (This was discussed in detail with my optometrist). The key for eye drops is that it say on the label "no preservatives."
- Menthol mints: A strong menthol mint (available at any major grocery store) can also do wonders for "shocking" the sinuses and "waking" yourself up.
- I avoid caffeine entirely. I feel that if you need coffee or another energy drink to stay awake and alert, you are asking for trouble, especially for prolonged periods of time.
The bottom line is, listen to your body. If you feel tired, you must pull over. All of the above was learned through my own personal touring experience.
I thought with another riding season around the corner, it would be good to share what I've learned.
What do you think? What works for you?
I thought I would just share what I've learned from my trips with regards to FATIGUE.
In my opinion, for the solo traveller especially, fatigue can be extremely dangerous. I think a lot of people may not realize how serious fatigue can be, especially how QUICKLY it can set in. If you're far away from rest stops, or on a twisty section of mountainous road, then it could impractical or even dangerous to stop.
So, here are my tips, and I'm sure there is a lot to add so please post comments.
First of all, PREVENTION is key. So, here are ways I prevent the onset of fatigue:
- Drink lots of water. This is especially crucial in the hot climates in July/August. I have a camel back that can fit a large bottle of water (I think it's either 750mL or 1L - I don't remember). I find this is extremely effective in keeping me alert and comfortable.
- Remember to blink. I will address this more below, but eye dryness is really bad. This can happen not only in dry, dusty climates, but also by the simple fact that you're focused on the road. If you ride for extended periods of time and concentrate on what's ahead, you will forget to blink. For us gamers, think about what happens when you play that FPS for 5 hours straight.
- Dress properly. I think this is important for travelling through the mountains, especially up here in Northern Canada (I have experienced a rain forest, a desert and a snow storm all in the same trip in the first week of July). Dressing properly ensures that your body doesn't get fatigued (ie, cramps). The best would be a heated liner with an adjustable remote. However, not all of us can afford this kind of luxury, so the next best thing is LAYERS. Wearing numerous layers (in my humble opinion) help insulating you by having a small air barrier between each layer. As the day warms up (or cools down), or as the elevation changes, you can easilly pull off and shed a quick layer. Now, if it's really cold, your rain gear will really help cut down on the wind penetration and trap another layer of air. This will help keep you warm, but be cautious of sweating and then getting chills.
Most importantly, you must listen to your body. Pushing yourself beyond your limits can be deadly. Nobody wants to do the 100 yard blink on two wheels. I've had this happen to me, and trust me, it's scary!
So, what do you do if you're feeling tired?
- First, PULL OVER at the first safe opportunity. This can be a rest stop, a gas station, a driveway to a farm or even the shoulder if there is lots of visibility.
- Power naps: here's a tidbit of information from my military buddies....The brain's sleep function works in several cycles that are initiated by various chemical releases in the brain. Most people know about "REM" sleep: the phase where we dream. If I recall correctly, there are four phases to the sleep cycle, REM being the third (no time to look this up). However, there is a lot of chemical activity in the adult brain in the first 40 minutes after sleep is initiated. 15 to 20 minutes after falling asleep, the brain releases the chemicals that will initiate a deep sleep. Now, if someone is awoken after those chemicals are released, they wake up groggy, and it takes the brain several minutes to fully function properly. HOWEVER, if you were to wake up BEFORE those chemicals release, your brain will be "fooled" into thinking you just had a nice long sleep. Once your brain has adjusted to this, a 15 minute power nap can refresh you for up to four hours. Now, this is just what I've found from personal experience.
The bottom line though, if you're tired, you need a rest.
- Eye drops: I have found that a lot of the fatigue I have felt was caused by super dry eyes (as mentioned above). Eye drops can do wonders to revitalize the eyes. In my previous ride reports, I mentioned using Visine. Now, I don't want to recommend a specific product, but I can tell you this: Visine is very bad for you. Visine has a lot of preservatives and other chemicals that artificially whitten your eyes. It's actually possible to build up a tolerance to visine and then it doesn't work. (This was discussed in detail with my optometrist). The key for eye drops is that it say on the label "no preservatives."
- Menthol mints: A strong menthol mint (available at any major grocery store) can also do wonders for "shocking" the sinuses and "waking" yourself up.
- I avoid caffeine entirely. I feel that if you need coffee or another energy drink to stay awake and alert, you are asking for trouble, especially for prolonged periods of time.
The bottom line is, listen to your body. If you feel tired, you must pull over. All of the above was learned through my own personal touring experience.
I thought with another riding season around the corner, it would be good to share what I've learned.
What do you think? What works for you?