Summer Essentials... It's not what you're thinking!

Tara Reynolds

5/29/23

Staying properly hydrated is important for anyone engaging in physical activity, especially during the hot summer months, and motorcycle riding is no exception. Here are several reasons why it's crucial to hydrate with water during motorcycle riding in the summer:

1. Maintaining Physical Stamina: Riding a motorcycle requires physical effort and can be taxing on the body. Staying hydrated helps maintain your stamina, keeps your muscles working properly, and prevents fatigue.

2. Regulating Body Temperature: Your body uses water to help regulate your body temperature. In hot weather, your body sweats to cool itself down, and this sweat is made up primarily of water. If you're not replacing the water you're losing through sweat, you can become overheated, which could lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

3. Ensuring Mental Clarity: Dehydration can affect your cognitive functions, including your attention, memory, and motor coordination. For motorcycle riders, this can be incredibly dangerous. Staying hydrated helps ensure that your mental clarity and reflexes stay sharp, which is critical for safe riding.

4. Preventing Dehydration Symptoms: Dehydration can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. These symptoms can affect your ability to ride and enjoy your trip.

To stay properly hydrated, it's important to drink water before you start riding and to take regular breaks to drink more, especially on long rides. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink, as thirst is a sign that you're already becoming dehydrated. Also, be aware that drinks with caffeine or alcohol can dehydrate you, so it's best to stick with water or other hydrating beverages. Some riders find that wearing a hydration pack, which allows you to drink through a tube without taking your hands off the handlebars, is a convenient way to stay hydrated on the go.