If you can go 300 miles a day in a car, the same may not be as accessible on a motorcycle. The wind will take a toll on your body while the constant “road reading” will fatigue your eyes and mind. That’s when you should stop.
I still remember my first “long ride” as it was yesterday. Went with two other friends outside the city for a total of 95 miles on some winding roads and some unpaved forest tracks. When we got back into the city, we pulled over for a smoke, and after I got back on my legs, I felt like I had just run a marathon.
Needless to say, I went straight home, ate something and slept until the next day. With practice, my road endurance went higher but one thing stayed clear in my mind - whenever I feel like I can’t focus, I at least pull over and have 10-15 minutes of rest.
How to spot the moment you are too tired to continue your ride? The first indicator is your neck and back muscles, which get very tensed and beg you for mercy after a while. Of course, the moment your back and your neck starts to get sore depends on the type of bike you ride.
The next step is when your mind gets busy with other stuff less important than what you are doing on the road. Thoughts like “what am I going to do tomorrow?”, “what if I ask out that girl from work” or “oh, what does that ad say over there?” are dead giveaways your mind is distracted, and you should stop for a break.
Not being able to focus on your speed and leaning will affect your cornering line and you might end up in the scenery, just like this tired rider in the clip here. Or even worse - in the oncoming lane.
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