tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49844591539054907242024-02-07T22:13:07.034-08:00How to stay fit for long bike ridesThis blog talks about how to stay fit, to stay away from fatigue, to ride, to ride safe, what exercises you should do, how to plan a long ride, ergonomics of sitting, many more items required for a bike rider to knowriderkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938554569359413395noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4984459153905490724.post-83515749525492893572017-03-01T23:39:00.003-08:002020-09-03T05:59:06.057-07:00How to ride safe, avoid aches and pain and enjoy <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Safety First</h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Safety gears are must, they just doesn’t
just help prevent injury in a crash, but will make riding more
comfortable, put you in better control of your bike and help you be seen
by other drivers. Bright colors on your helmet and jacket/suit will
help car drivers see you, potentially avoiding some of the common
accidents.</li>
<li>On the road, “Slow In, Fast Out” is an effective rule of thumb. Enter a
corner wide and slow, to increase your vision and at an easy pace. Once you are able to see the complete road you can increase the speed. <span><span><span>Approaching on the outside also increases
the visual field on the respective turn, allowing the rider to
effectively adjust speed, trajectory and avoid potential dangers. At the
same time, this is one of the fastest ways to get past a turn, given
it's one of the straightest and therefore, shortest distance one can
travel.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span>Don't brake in turns, it does not mean you should do. </span></span></span><br /><span><span><span class="stronger fsz20 sanscond dispblock mgtop_20"><span>It is much safer to enter a turn a little slower than having
to brake hard in the middle, so get used to anticipating how fast you
need to be. Too much speed will cause you to do a wider turn, away from
the ideal trajectory and possibly into the opposite lane or scenery.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span class="stronger fsz20 sanscond dispblock mgtop_20"><span>Make sure the bike is serviced well in advance and you have tested it.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span class="stronger fsz20 sanscond dispblock mgtop_20"><span>Don't over speed, know the vehicle response to stop and maneuvering capabilities.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li>Adjust the handle bars to suite you position. Most handlebars can be adjusted, even slightly. Just rolling a handlebar
forward or back a little can change the angle of your wrists and your
whole riding position. You may also consider handlebar risers.
</li>
<li>Make sure bike has mirrors, insurance, emission certificate, number plates are in English not in local languages as other state people cant understand your local language, and when traveling inter-state or cross country, make sure you carry the originals and have photo copies at home not the other way.</li>
</ul>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Dress appropriately</b></h4>
Heat can cause dehydration which
leads to cramping. Open the vents on your jacket, use iced gel <br />
packs or
wet handkerchiefs around your neck and consider a hydration vest or Ventz
which allow cool air to flow up your sleeves. Meanwhile, cold can cause
joint and back pain. Dress warmly and consider buying
chemically-activated gel heat packs which you can slip up your sleeves,
around your neck or into the back of your trousers to ease wrist, neck
and lower back pain.
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<h3 class="sg2">
</h3>
<h3 class="sg2">
Ergonomics of Bike Posture</h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Leads to a better
distribution of opposing forces. Unpleasant pressure points and related
discomforts are avoided. </li>
<li>Optimum handling of the bike.</li>
<li>Your joint position, range of motion, and overall posture can be optimized. Misalignment's and the associated pains will be prevented.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
How to Sit</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRO-gO36_KYe0aOcQH90sR9qIvOIeeWNNyVTFubC4PzyQMxQGNeY6RxBCYUmjiGJ767_zMe3SMhUChgeqHjGsfJHqL7-qyh3B8F7qkhXGwsKM6sgRRr6UlRV7ZtgKAwBEvXpEgIrMctIb/s1600/Right-Bike-Handlebar-Position.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRO-gO36_KYe0aOcQH90sR9qIvOIeeWNNyVTFubC4PzyQMxQGNeY6RxBCYUmjiGJ767_zMe3SMhUChgeqHjGsfJHqL7-qyh3B8F7qkhXGwsKM6sgRRr6UlRV7ZtgKAwBEvXpEgIrMctIb/s320/Right-Bike-Handlebar-Position.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The posture will vary with the type of bike, but in all cases you should use your 'core muscles' to hold yourself in place rather than using the handlebars as braces. Hold your outside thigh against the tank so that it supports most of your body weight and allows your arms to be relaxed at a natural bend.</li>
<li>Gap between rear seat and butt is reduced. Crouch down a little more to get a better curved spine. Not much but just a little bit.</li>
<li>Decrease in shoulder height implies greater angle between the elbow joints and lesser α angle. A rider can’t hold his/her muscles stiff if they maintain a curved spine. Hence it will enhance the endurance as body is relaxed.</li>
<li>Muscles – Stiffer muscles will lead to poor response time. The body will also be strained as much effort is used to keep the muscles stiff.</li>
<li>Neck – Same as muscles; never stiffen the neck because relaxed neck allows the head to stabilize after going through a speed breaker/pothole. It’s again because of the cushioning effect. </li>
</ul>
Remember it is important for the riders to keep their muscles relaxed while riding.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Stretch</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before you get on the bike and at every stop, just do some basic
stretches. Even Valentino Rossi stretches before a race. I am not
talking roadside yoga or pilates, but some back, leg, neck and wrist
stretches before you ride will prevent cramps. They will also ease a
cramp once started. But don’t be tempted to do too many stretches on the
bike. Get off the bike and walk around, stretch and rest. Don’t wait
until the pain is so bad it takes up most of your concentration as that
is dangerous. Take regular stops and nip the pain in the bud. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
In my previous post I have mentioned how to maintain your fitness. <a href="https://riderki.blogspot.com/2017/02/planning-for-long-ride-stay-fit.html" target="_blank">How to stay fit</a>?<br />
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Food & Drinks</h3>
Have
lite food before and during your ride and have enough water, and some
electrol water would be nice. If you can afford to get one hydration
kit. Have enough water since you will get dehydrated during the ride.
Due to dehydration muscle will cramp. Carry some snacks and dry fruits
with you when you stop for break or fuel you can have some so that you
don't feel hungry during ride and you intake of food will also be
reduced.<br />
<br />
To prevent cramps, you’ll need to eat carbohydrates and foods with
plenty of potassium, calcium and magnesium, Banana does a great job, if
you have seen tennis/cricket during drink breaks players eat bananas.<br />
<br />
Avoid alcohol as it dehydrates you and leads to cramps. Don't have alcohol the
day you drive and also in the night if you are riding the next day
morning. If you feel tired of riding and you enjoy alcohol have less
quantity so the next day hangover will not make you feel sick and spoil
the mood of riding. <br />
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<div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
How much distance to cover</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Roads are longer than what you think. </b><br />
<br />
Have breaks at every 80-100km or 1-1.5 hours interval. Don't push hard your self and also the bike even it can't take long duration. Get down and stretch your self so that the muscle's get relaxed and bike cools down.<br />
<br />
Ride during the day try to avoid during dusk and night. Start the day as early as possible it is great if you can start the ride just before the sun rise. Don't try to cover more distance in one single day you will get sick of riding and you will feel you are not covering the distance. Try not to drive more than 5-6hr a day. If you over do the ride you will not be able to enjoy the place nor the ride.</div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Few other points </h4>
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Don't carry heavy luggage on your backpacks. I would recommend to tie the backpack using the bungee ropes (double strands instead of single rope). Since the backpacks keep moving and it will be irritating and you have to adjust the position multiple times if you adjust the strap to tight you feel uncomfortable. </div>
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Carry pain killers and other pills if your prone to some allergies or other things. You get calcium, Magnesium pills.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are riding high altitudes then you should take of high altitude sickness. It is commonly know as <a href="http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/diamox.shtml" target="_blank">AMS </a>if you search you will be able to get the details.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2r0Rvra" target="_blank">Lighting Details</a> </div>
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<b></b> </div>
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riderkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938554569359413395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4984459153905490724.post-59912095468212232532017-02-13T22:20:00.001-08:002020-09-03T06:00:32.286-07:00Planning for Long ride (Leh), how to stay fit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are planning for long ride, plan your route and stops. Regular stops are very important. Always carry bottles of water. But make sure you don't stop for long time. Roads are longer than what we think. <br />
<br />
Don't drive too fast as it will exhaust you, since you need lot of concentration and you will not be able to enjoy the views around you.<br />
<br />
As a rider you need to be physically and mentally fit and stable. Here I will talk on how to be physically fit since physical fatigue leads to mental lapses.<br />
<br />
For high-performance riding, on road or off, you'll need strong legs, core, back, and shoulders. You need to work on those things by doing excises and cross training's.<br />
<br />
Have some gadgets which will track your distance, speed, heart rate
these things will help to motivate. Over period of time you should be
able to do better and while riding feel good.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Exercises</b></h3>
For a rider strength, durability, endurance, flexibility are the vital aspects. Excises will help you to improve in these aspects and train to improve the heart rate. For a motogp rider the average heart rate will be 185bpm which will last for 45 minutes.<br />
<b></b>I will only list the names of the excises and try to share some links which will help on know how to do. <b>If you can join yoga then it is great it will help in all aspects of the body.</b> <br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Warm up & Stretches</li>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuh5Pg8uYU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foam rolling</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLcnYYOJms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">founder stretch</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVlX5HNKamw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pigeon stretch</a> ┃ <a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/video/gym-smarts-stretching-hip-flexor-groin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hip and groin stretches</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Legs</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy28eq2PjcM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">squats</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2n58m2i4jg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lunges</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjRjyvnLTgU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leg extensions</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq5uxXrXq7c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leg press</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwLzBJYoWlI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">calf extensions</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOPkM2pzznc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">back bridge</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>Core</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdng3Nm1x_E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hanging leg raise</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkD8rjkodUI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Russian twist</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJQROeaBiVE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cable crunches</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAWE87eRD6c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">exercise ball sit-ups</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZV_J-wKkug" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">plank</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Back</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kGoGFsLi1Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pull-ups</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZbfZ033f74" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rows</a> ┃ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgUWsPXoCTI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Supermans</a> </li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Swimming</b></h4>
Swimming will help you build all parts of the body. This will also help to improve your breathing. If you don't swimming don't bother join some coaching classes where they will teach you basics and later you can practice and improve on this. I did learn a lot of swimming from youtube. There are videos from livestrong and sport.com. Here I am not promoting any website.<br />
<b> </b><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Cycling</b></h4>
Cycling will help in strengthening the thigh so do regularly if you can cycle to office then try taking 1-2 days to office.<br />
<b> </b><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Running</b></h4>
Do run for at least 45 mins without
stopping. Initially you might not be able to achieve this if you are
tired running walk in between and run again. Don't bother about the
distance. Don't run
everyday do it alternate days. This will help to concentrate and
Strengthen the legs as strength in the legs is important for a rider. Don't over do as this will cause problems to knees.<br />
<br />
In my next post I will talk about how to ride with less pain in long journey. Please read the next post. <a href="https://riderki.blogspot.com/2017/03/how-to-ride-safe-avoid-aches-and-pain.html" target="_blank">Next</a><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2r0Rvra" target="_blank">Lighting Deals</a> <br />
<b> </b></div>
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riderkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938554569359413395noreply@blogger.com3Bengaluru, Karnataka, India12.9715987 77.59456269999998312.4764182 76.949115699999979 13.4667792 78.240009699999987