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Survival Skills
CDROMs
just £12.99
Course Notes
If you want to know about
Advanced Riding Skills
start here.
Tarmac Tactics
The latest from Survival Skills -
Practical Survival Tactics
available now!
Getting Started
explains
Direct Access
and how to
Pass the Bike Test
Both packed full of
practical riding
knowledge, hints and tips, in an easy-to-read format
Available from the
SHOP
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Visit the
Survival Skills
FORUM
on Visordown
chat online to the Doctor and get
free help
and
advice
on your riding
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Survival Skills
WEBSITE
recommended by
"StreetBiker"
featured website
Dec/Jan 2002 edition
"a quick search in Google produced what I can only describe as one of the best UK based websites"
"Inroads"
journal of the
Institute of Road Safety Professionals
featured website
December 2001
"interesting to look at and informative to read"
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Updates normally made bi-weekly on Fridays but occasionally I miss an update due to work - please check back. This site is
designed to be viewed in Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firebird or Netscape Navigator. If you have table display problems in Opera - apologies to all Opera users - it seems to be a browser
problem.
Error reports by email please.
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You can support the upkeep and maintenance of this motorcycle safety resource by purchasing from our
"Amazon"wish list"
Gifts are gratefully received.
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Avoiding dehydration - riding in hot weather
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It always seems to happen. One week I'm riding around wishing I had the heated jacket plugged in, then we get a few days of "scorchio" weather and I'm struggling to stay cool.
Temperatures over the weekend and early in the week hit the high 20s and humidity went through the roof. Monday in particular was very uncomfortable on the bikes. One of the main dangers of the unique
combination of overheating and the cooling breeze we're generating as we ride is a high risk of dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when the body tries to maintain a steady temperature of around 37
degrees by sweating. The result is that body fluid and electrolytes vital to the function of the body's organs are lost. One of the best signs that you are dehydrated is not that you are thirsty but that
you don't need a pee! If you ARE thirsty, and have dry lips and a dry mouth, you are well into the first stages of dehydration.
What are the dangers of running short of body fluid? In the early
stages, you just get fatigued and lose concentration. In the later stages more serious confusion can set in, as well as heat stroke. Most UK riders are oblivious to just how real a problem this is - in
the US where they ride long distances in hot conditions, they are much more aware of the risks.
So what can you do to prevent dehydration? Planning ahead is the answer. Start by drinking before
you go out. For sports like cycling and soccer, it's recommended that you drink around 500-600ml of fluid a couple of hours before you begin. Then around 15 minutes before you set off, drink another half
litre.
Once on the move, you need to keep replenishing fluid, so you need to either stop and buy something, or take a bottle with you. For sportspersons, the recommendation is that you take
around 100-150ml (about 1/5th of a cycle bottle) every 15 minutes or so.
OK, now this may not be entirely straightforward on a motorbike, but particularly on group rides there are usually short
breaks at regular intervals, so use the opportunity to top up, and if you are doing it right, you should be making a loo stop too. You should certainly drink something when you stop for fuel, and if you
have a 250 mile tank, you should definitely make intermediate stops - remember, if you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. And don't forget to top up when you stop too - this will improve your
recovery time from fatigue.
Any cycle shop will sell you a bottle for under a fiver and they are unbreakable and will squash - the plastic bottles with Evian, Volvic etc. are liable to split and
leak. A few quid more will buy you an insulated plastic cycle bottle - bung some ice cubes in it and you have cold drink for a couple of hours.
A neat alternative is a Camelbak or a cheaper copy.
These are plastic bladders that slip in a pocket or are worn in their own backpack which hold a couple of litres. They have a plastic pipe which you can stick in your mouth and suck when thirsty. With
one of these you can stretch your other stops a bit further.
So what to drink?
The one thing you need to steer well clear of is alcohol. It might be tempting to sink "just one cold
pint - I'll be well under the limit". The alcohol will be absorbed faster, and even more disorientating than normal.
I'm not fond of fizzy canned drinks because they are too sweet and sticky.
Remember that coffee in particular and tea to a lesser extent are diuretics (ie they make you pee more) but they are better than nothing at all - at least they can top you up again!
A big fuss is
made about isotonic fluids - these are basically water plus the electrolytes you lose in sweat, so they have the advantage of keeping the chemical balance of the body right. Lucozade Sport is one example
that you'll find in most service stations, or Gatorade if you happen to be Stateside. Isotonic drinks also come in powder form - you can buy tubs of the stuff from any cycle shop and make up a couple of
litres for the ride.
However, they all cost a lot more than plain tap water!
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Note: these pages have been rearranged and you may not arrive at the right page following a keyword search from a search engine - use the index
link above to search for the tip you are interested in.
However, the upside is that they shouldn't move around any more when I add a new article!
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Copyright © 1999-2008 Kevin Williams
Survival Skills
CDROMs
£12.99
Course Notes
and
Tarmac Tactics
If you want to know about advanced riding skills, start here - two
Survival Skills publications on CDROM - both packed full of practical riding knowledge, hints and tips, in an easy-to-read format
Getting Started
Explains Direct Access
and how to pass the test
Guide to CBT
Tells you everything
you need to know about your first day on two wheels
Get them
here!
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Last Page update Thursday, July 17, 2008
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Copyright © 2008 Survival Skills & Kevin Williams
Last Page update Thursday, July 17, 2008
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