Why Is It Important to Take Breaks In Between Long Rides?

The goal of many new long-distance riders is to reach their destination as fast as they can and that is why it is very common for them to push their machine, body & mind for unnaturally long durations without any breaks in between. This can lead to a burnout and you can find yourself severely de-energized in the middle of your trip forcing you to return back home instead of completing the trip triumphantly. So, what you need to do instead is take smartly planned breaks so that you as well as your machine gets enough time to recuperate and be ready for the next leg of the journey.  

Remember, the purpose of a road trip is to enjoy your time on the road rather than rushing to your destinations. If you are still not convinced, here are a few crucial reasons why you need to take breaks in between long motorcycle rides.

Stretch Your Limbs, and Let the Bike Cool Down

Despite the comfortable position that most modern adventure motorcycles and commuter motorcycles have these days, your body is not built to be in the riding posture for very long periods of time. That is why it is important that you take regular breaks to allow your body to get back into its natural shape. This is more important if you are above the age of 40 when the body has reached its maximum growth potential, which makes it very important for you to take good care of your joints and muscles to prevent any sprains or aches in the long run. Just like your body needs to rest, the motorcycle engine also needs time to cool down once in a while. Allowing it to cool down a little bit especially if you are riding in hot and humid conditions such as in india. Allowing the engine to regain its normal temperature will maintain optimum riding parameters, which will return good mileage as well as keep the engine in its peak performing condition for many years to come.

Give Your Eyes and Brain a Break

When you are on a two-wheeler your brain and eyes have to coordinate continuously to take in all the signals coming from the road and process them in order to help you make the right decisions. After riding for about a couple of hours (or 200kms) your brain and eyes start to feel the fatigue which can lead to burn out if you do not take breaks in between. When you stop for a break, make sure that you splash cold water on your eyes, take a few deep breaths and sit down in a calm place for a few minutes before eating or drinking anything. To protect the eyes against bright glare on a bright sunny day, invest in a dual visor motorcycle helmet that has an inbuilt sun shade, or alternatively you can use a pair of motorcycle riding goggles with your helmet to keep your eyes cool and fresh even after a long day of riding.  

Catch Up with Friends and Family

Riding breaks are also great to catch-up with your friends & family back at home. Take this time to get updates on everything that's happening back at your home or at your workplace. While the purpose of being on a road trip is to get away from the busy hustle and bustle of daily life, you can’t disconnect yourself completely from the world that you will have to return to eventually!  Many travelers and riders take this time to write down their journals and diaries to keep a record of their memories for posterity.  If you have a YouTube channel, or any other social media channel where you regularly upload your updates this is a good time to post special updates. Having said that, the end of the day after your day’s ride is the best time to clear all your creative backlogs at one go.  

Replenish Lost Energy (And Fuel)

Keeping yourself properly nourished is very important and you cannot do that unless you take breaks to have your meals.  Riding a motorcycle, or any two-wheeler for that matter, is a physically intensive activity which increases appetite and if you miss out on your crucial meals of the day you might end up having gastric troubles later in life and in the short-term you will feel a severe depletion of energy, which is the last thing you want when you are alone on the highway!

Eating 3 meals a day is a myth! You can have two balanced meals every day and get all the necessary energy and nutrients to keep yourself sustained without any side-effects. In most cases, it is advisable to keep your meals as little as possible to prevent the feeling of bloating and discomfort because you will have to be in a seated position for long hours. That is why, many people prefer to consume liquid meals and fruit juices when they are on the road and take one solid meal, usually as dinner or breakfast. When you break for lunch do not fill yourself to the brim because that will only create problems for you on the road.