Keep Your Eyes Open - Staying Alert on Your Bike

Naturally any time you are out on the road and operating a vehicle you want to be fully aware of what is going on around you. This is particularly true if you are going on a long road trip where you may spend hours driving. When you are on a motorcycle trip you can face situations just like this, where being on the road for long stretches at a time can lull you into a sense of security where you may not be paying as close attention as you should. It is important that you do what you can to make sure that you keep your eyes open and stay alert on your bike at all times. Here are a few tips that can help you to stay focused and ready:

It sounds like a pretty simple thing to do, yet most people do not get enough sleep in their daily lives. This can be even more of a problem when you are out on a trip. People tend to push themselves to go further and get further along, depriving themselves of sleep when they really should be resting and recharging. If you know you are planning to get an early start, make sure you get a good night of sleep before you leave. When you are out on the road make sure you sleep enough each night and do not drive when you are feeling tired.

Getting dehydrated can happen easily when you are out on a motorcycle trip. You are out in the sun for hours at a time with your helmet and gear on and probably sweating out a lot of water. Dehydration will affect your ability to concentrate well and focus. Make sure you stay hydrated with water or juices along the way to help you stay energized. Even having coffee or a sugary drink like soda once in a while can help you out not so much with hydration but with giving you extra energy to stay alert.

Having a clear view of everything on the road is important. Make sure that your windshield is clean and clear and do the same thing for the visor on your helmet. Bring sunglasses for the road to help you see better during the day and avoid glare that can cause problems for you. When your vision is hindered or unclear you are more likely to strain your eyes, making you feel more tired and leaving you vulnerable.

You can do other things to help you stay alert, such as eating healthy on your trip, getting exercise and stretching so your body is not sore and fatigued or even wearing ear plugs to help cut down on the wind noise that can affect your ability to focus. Make sure to take all the steps you can to stay alert while you are on the road so you can avoid potential problems along the way.