Riding your motorbike at a higher altitude can be exciting, but it can also cause several problems. It’s not unusual for people to experience altitude sickness when they are that high above the ground. On top of that, riding at a higher altitude can negatively impact your motorbike’s performance.
Thankfully, if you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be able to enjoy the views and have a great time on your motorbike. Here’s how you can keep yourself safe when riding at a higher altitude.
Make Sure You Stay Hydrated
Being at a higher altitude can cause you to sweat more frequently, increasing your risk for dehydration. When you’re at these altitudes, you should try to limit yourself to drinking water. Take breaks to rehydrate frequently so that you don’t experience any dehydration symptoms.
Dehydration can set in quickly, and its symptoms can make it difficult for you to ride your motorbike safely. Even if you’re normally able to go for a ride without taking water breaks, you’ll want to take hydration more seriously when riding at these high altitudes.
Watch Out for Warning Signs
If you show signs of altitude sickness, you’ll want to lower your altitude before the symptoms worsen. Ideally, you should try to lower your altitude by approximately 1,000 feet after experiencing any of these symptoms:
* Stomachaches
* Dizziness
* Nausea
* Nosebleeds
* Headaches
* Shortness of breath
* Hyperventilation
* Fatigue
If you start to notice these symptoms, respond quickly by lowering your altitude. You should try to address these symptoms before they start to worsen. If you start to experience severe symptoms, you may need to seek medical attention. Altitude sickness can easily turn into a medical emergency if it is ignored.
Practice at Lower Altitudes
If you’ve never ridden your motorbike at a higher altitude before, you won’t want to push yourself past your limits on your first ride. Instead, you’ll want to try training at slightly higher altitudes than normal. With practice, your body will begin to acclimate to these altitudes, which will allow you to tackle higher altitudes in the future. A lot of people work with bike rentals to get the knack of riding motorbikes at higher altitudes before they go ahead and buy a motorbike to ride on higher altitude.
Riding at high altitudes is a major challenge, which is why you should avoid rushing into anything. Instead, try taking your motorbike out at slightly higher altitudes than normal. You can ride and higher and higher altitudes as time goes on, and eventually, you should be able to enjoy riding at high altitudes with very few issues.
Try Over-The-Counter Medication
While you should immediately lower your altitude if you’re experiencing serious altitude sickness symptoms, some minor symptoms can be treated through over-the-counter medication. For example, you can counteract headaches by taking an anti-inflammatory. You may also be able to prevent stomachaches with an anti-nausea medication.
You won’t want to become overly reliant on these kinds of medications, but they can be a big help if the symptoms you are experiencing are fairly mild. Keep in mind that it’s important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you and that more serious symptoms sign that something is wrong.
Give Yourself Breaks
Make sure you take more frequent breaks when you’re riding at a higher altitude than normal. One of the most common symptoms experienced while riding at a high altitude is shortness of breath. Periodic breaks will give your body a chance to recover from this symptom.
While regular stops can be a hassle, they can also be very enjoyable. These stops are a great time to pause and appreciate the views around you. This is an opportunity for you to enjoy one of the biggest perks of riding at a high altitude. Stopping for a break is also an excellent opportunity for you to adjust the amount of air in your fuel.
See Also: How to Transport a Motorcycle
Avoid Altitudes Above 10,000 Feet
While it’s possible to safely ride at high altitudes, you should show extreme caution when you are at altitudes of 8,000 feet or higher. At altitudes like this, your body is going to be deprived of oxygen. You’ll likely experience several adverse health symptoms, even if you are in excellent shape.
Altitudes of 10,000 feet or higher should be avoided unless you have a lot of experience riding a motorbike at these kinds of altitudes. The higher you are, the more dangers you’ll be facing. Make sure that you are fully aware of the risks and react accordingly.
If you’re interested in riding at altitudes, you’ll want to proceed with caution. You may want to discuss your plans with your doctor and see if they are willing to prescribe medication that will help you to manage your symptoms. You should enjoy riding at these great heights, but you should also make sure that you and your motorbike are as safe as you ride.