I recently came across an article about why staying hydrated is so important to motorcycle riding, written by Sarah Simmons. It got me surfing the web for other articles on the topic. We know it gets hot on the bike in the summer. The heat, not only from the sun, but radiating up from the road can be brutal. And humidity makes it more difficult for our bodies to sweat and thus cool off.
Interestingly, I learned that COLD weather increases our risk of dehydration as well. We don’t drink as much fluid because we don’t feel as thirsty in the cold air. We apparently lose a lot of fluid through normal breathing in the cold and the heavier clothing we wear may make us sweat more which evaporates more quickly in cold, dry air.
That is why it is important to say hydrated during long rides. Dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness, confusion, sluggishness, even fainting, among other dangerous symptoms for a motorcycle rider.
I’ve learned that our brain will not send the same signals to alert us to drink water in cold weather so we have to be more aware that it’s very important to drink plenty of water if we spend time outdoors in the cold.