How To Prevent Bloated Stomach & Nausea on Long Motorcycle Rides?

Riders often suffer from stomach problems when traveling on long roads. Two of the most common are a bloated stomach and nausea.

When you ride for long hours, you must eat a lot of food to ensure you have energy. However, overeating can have adverse effects on your digestive system, such as bloating and pain. This can also cause you to feel nauseated which can make your ride uncomfortable.

• Table of Contents
• 1. Why Does a Bloated Stomach Occur on Long Motorcycle Rides?
• 2. Why Does Nausea Occur on Long Motorcycle Rides?
• 3. How to Prevent Bloated Stomach on Long Motorcycle Rides
• 3.1 Avoid Overeating
• 3.2 Stay Hydrated
• 3.3 Stay Cool
• 3.4 Swallow Less Air
• 3.5 Keep Everything Consistent
• 3.6 Foods to Prevent Bloating on Long Motorcycle Rides
• 4. How to Prevent Nausea on Long Motorcycle Rides?
• 5. Last Words

There are a few precautions you can take to reduce the risk of stomach problems while on the road.

1. Why Does a Bloated Stomach Occur on Long Motorcycle Rides?

During long rides, many motorcyclists suffer from bloating, diarrhea, and nausea.

Feeling as if you have a swollen belly is called bloating. Bloating is caused by excess gas trapped in the intestines. Any food and drinks we consume become broken down inside the body, releasing gasses and liquids from the meal.

Gasses commonly produce intestinal bloating, which feels heavy and unpleasant in the lower abdomen. Bloating is sometimes confused for water retention, which occurs when fluids migrate into the tissues of our body. Sometimes it builds up because our lymphatic system can't remove it all at once.

2. Why Does Nausea Occur on Long Motorcycle Rides?

Nausea is the unpleasant, sickly sensation that can make you feel like you're about to vomit. Nausea might affect your performance and make it difficult to focus on handling your vehicle.

Anxiety, dehydration, food, heat, and low blood sugar can all contribute to nausea during long motorcycle rides. Food often has the most significant effect when causing nausea.

Additionally, according to a 2001 Japanese research study, intense exercise right after eating makes nausea worse. It's also not advised for motorcyclists to exercise on an empty stomach since the low blood sugar could make it difficult to focus or increase the likelihood of fainting.

Dehydration can also make nausea worse since it causes an imbalance in the electrolyte in your blood, particularly sodium. Blood is redirected from the stomach to muscles and skin during strenuous exertion or when overheating, which can disrupt normal gastric functions.

While it is important to stay hydrated, drinking too much water can also cause nausea. If too much liquid sloshes around in your stomach, this can irritate the mucous membrane.

Energy substrates in your body’s cells can become exhausted after an intense long ride and start producing acids. As the pH level becomes lower, this can lead to nausea, headaches, and physical weakness.

3. How to Prevent Bloated Stomach on Long Motorcycle Rides

3.1 Avoid Overeating

If you eat too much before getting on the road, your stomach will be unable to digest food properly because you are sitting stationary on the seat and not moving around a lot. Too much food cannot be digested quickly. This is why people often burp when riding and feel bloated and gassy. Make sure your caloric intake is between 500-700 calories per hour of riding.

Try to eat low-fiber foods during long motorcycle rides. Though vegetables and fruits are good for your health, they can give riders gas and upset stomachs.

Avoid eating large quantities of foods since it would be harder to digest properly and can lead to stomach pain and bloating.

3.2 Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can also contribute to why you feel bloated on long motorcycle rides. It is important to drink enough water while you eat since it helps break down food during digestion and dilutes the carbohydrates you consume.

You are encouraged to replenish yourself with carbohydrates during long rides. However, you also need to drink a lot of water to ensure proper digestion. Dehydration can cause causes delayed gastric emptying. A decent rule of thumb is to drink half of a regular water bottle after every high-carb meal.

3.3 Stay Cool

Digestion in your small intestine slows down during lengthy rides and when your overall body temperature is high. You should try to stay active to avoid nausea and bloating. Additionally, two strategies for reducing stomach discomfort during lengthy rides are slowing down and cooling off.

3.4 Swallow Less Air

Air you swallow can become trapped in your digestive system. While most of the air you ingest escapes when you burp, some of it does enter the small intestine. When eating and drinking during long rides, riders tend to swallow more air since they're breathing while downing food and drink at the same time.

3.5 Keep Everything Consistent

It's not a good idea to eat too much if you frequently suffer from motion sickness. Try to follow a consistent diet and schedule when traveling long distances.

3.6 Foods to Prevent Bloating on Long Motorcycle Rides

Banana

Bananas are packed with healthy minerals and vitamins. They are rich in potassium which reduces constipation and helps with digestion. Potassium also prevents bloating by regulating the sodium levels in your blood. Other fruits like kiwis, avocados, and oranges have similar properties.

Cucumber

Like the human body, cucumbers are mostly made of water. Quercetin is an antioxidant in cucumbers that helps reduce swelling, reduce puffiness in your digestive system, and speeds up digestion. 

Asparagus

Asparagus contains probiotic enzymes and fibers that promote bacterial growth in the stomach. Asparagus helps reduce bloating by helping the body pass gas, prevent the buildup of fluids, and improves digestion..

Ginger

Ginger can help with digestion and is a reliable remedy for bacterial illness. It helps relax the muscles along the digestive system, reduces pressure due to bloating, and has natural anti-inflammatory properties.

It is possible to flavor your meals with ginger or add a bit of ginger to drinks like tea.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds can help relax the gastrointestinal tract. You can consume fennel seeds by consuming foods and drinks that have fennel seeds in them, such as sausages, bread, and tea.

Yogurt

Yogurt is full of probiotic enzymes that improve your digestive system by keeping your digestive tract healthy and promoting helpful bacterial growth.

4. How to Prevent Nausea on Long Motorcycle Rides?

• Consume a reasonable amount of food before going on a ride. Don’t eat more than 700 calories or less than 500 calories. Eat a full meal the day before you go for a ride.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine; consume more carbohydrate-rich food.
• Don’t eat foods that are rich in fat since these meals take longer to digest.
• Don’t drink too much water before a ride, But make sure to stay hydrated.
• Avoid eating citrus fruits as they have high acidity and can lower your body’s pH level which can make you feel queasy.
• If you are riding in hot weather, wear appropriate clothing, heat protection, and sunglasses.
• When practicing, train your stomach to get used to digesting food while riding. Try eating different foods during training to determine which ones you can stomach and eliminate those that cause nausea.

5. Last Words

If you are suffering from a bloated stomach, stomach pain, and feelings of queasiness while riding a motorcycle, you are not alone; it is a common issue for most riders. Motorcyclists have been suffering from stomach problems for years. You can get rid of them by making changes to your diet routine. Additionally, staying hydrated, maintaining body temperature, and consuming foods that improve digestion can ensure better comfort during longer rides. If you wish to improve your motorcycle’s appearance, you can add new Saddlebags, seats, crash bars, fairings, handlebars, and sissy bars.