Are You Fit to Ride This Summer?

Why your motorbike might not be the only thing that needs a bit of work before you head out on the roads this summer…

With spring in full swing and summer fast approaching, motorcyclists are going to be covering twice as many miles between June and August as they do between December to February according to the UK Department for Transport’s Compendium of Motorcycle Statistics. The rate of new bike licensing for use on the road increases by 10% in the summer months. Combined with the fact that new motorcycle registrations as a whole are up by 13% compared to last year, BIKE has been investigating how you can improve your riding skills to not only make sure you get the best out of your bike this summer…but also your body in preparation for the open road!

As with any sport, a priority for safe and enjoyable riding is taking care of your own physical fitness. Motorcycle riding can be extremely tiring; meaning that reaction times can lengthen during a trip. The ability to manoeuvre the bike can be impeded, as is the ability to make sound judgments.

“If your fit you use energy more effectively so it can last longer. If you’re unfit you lose energy much faster. There is greater risk of your brain not functioning properly and the potential to start making mistakes. With footballers this is clearly a bad thing…but for motorcyclists it could be catastrophic” says Dr. Chris Bussell, Head of the Sports Science Department at Nottingham Trent University.

It is essential that the muscles you use the most when riding a motorcycle are toned up to help avoid fatigue, aches and pains. As Dr. Martin Lindley from Loughborough University’s Department of Human Sciences, explains: “I’ve got a ZX-6, and a lot of people [who ride a ZX-6] complain of wrist ache, which I never get because I do a lot of martial arts”. It’s not just the bike that needs a large supply of fuel on board for a long journey; dehydration can also seriously contribute to fatigue, so riders should ensure they have a good supply of liquids when heading out on their bikes this summer.

Recent research by BIKE magazine has found that even a gentle ride can expend the same energy as a brisk walk – with three hours ordinary road riding burning off the same amount of calories as a Big Mac, a chicken tikka and two pints of lager - so you’d do well to get your body in tip top shape before taking off! BIKE recommends working on the following areas of the body to ensure the premium rider fitness:

* Stomach – Used for position and posture on the bike

* Upper arms - Used to control the bike, plus for position and posture

* Forearms – Used for position, control, posture and movement of and around the bike

* Inner thigh adductors – Used for gripping the bike, and movement around the bike

It’s not just about getting physical - mental agility when riding is just as important. With the increase in people buying bikes, there is often such enthusiasm to get going that people don’t always take into consideration the training and mental preparation necessary to stay safe. Gary Baldwin from the Thames Valley Police accidents investigations department explains: “The popular idea that riders [who are involved in road accidents] are approaching corners too fast isn’t anywhere near the truth. They are actually going in too fast for their own skill levels”.

So what can you do to prepare yourself mentally for the challenges on the road this summer? BIKE magazine, the best place to find top tips on riding offer the following pointers:

* Training – A CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) doesn’t mean you’re ready to ride. It’s tempting with the nice weather to jump straight on the bike and ride off into the sunshine, but it’s just not safe. The more physical and mental preparation training you put your body through the better – and this may mean looking at extra/alternative training to increase your agility.

* New riders – A common misconception is that riding a bike is just like driving a car…and that you will come across the same hazards – you won’t. The phrase ‘Practice makes perfect’ does not apply here– You can never stop learning. Keen is good, cocky isn’t.

Whether you’re new to biking, coming back to it after a break or been riding for years, a realistic check on mental and physical ability should play a major part in making sure you’re safe on the road.