Managing Pain from Motorcycle Riding
Ouch! Agh! If these are the sounds you make after a long day of motorcycle riding, then you’re not alone. Riding your bike is a full-body workout and you’re probably going to be a little sore like you would after a full-body workout. Over time, this pain and soreness can turn into bigger problems. Plus, it’s just downright uncomfortable!
No one should have to worry about the pain that their favorite pastime causes, which is why Barnes Harley-Davidson has provided some tips for dealing with riding pain and soreness. Check them out below and then stop by one of our British Columbia dealerships in Langley, Victoria, and Kamloops for more tips from our friendly staff.
Preventing Pain
Of course, it’s better not to feel any pain or soreness at all, and there are ways to help keep these issues at bay. This can also make it easier to spend more time on the bike.
Before You Ride
Just like with any workout, you should warm up your muscles a little before hitting the road. Get your blood pumping and your muscles ready to work by going through some simple exercises. A quick, five minute, full-body warmup can do your body a lot of good. You can even throw in some stretches once you’re all warmed up to stay limber (stretches are also good for after the ride to avoid cramping).
Some key areas to warm up and stretch include:
- Neck
- Lower back
- Shoulders
- Hip flexors
While You Ride
The longer you ride, the more important it’ll be to make frequent stops. Staying in one position for hours on end can leave you stiff and sore and really isn’t what the human body was designed to do. We recommend choosing your stopping points ahead of time so you can line them up with fun roadside attractions.
You’ll also need to take your physical limits into consideration. If you’re new to riding, you’ll probably want to start with shorter trips around town and build up to that cross-country ride you’ve been dreaming off. This will give you time to improve your endurance and overall strength.
Reducing Pain
Of course, everyone will run into some pain and soreness throughout their riding experiences. Here are a couple of tips to help manage this:
Heat and Ice
Either separately or in combination, heating muscles to relax them and icing them to dull the pain can help some of those knots untangle themselves. Get a reusable heat and ice pack, or simply take a hot or cold shower after your ride.
Creams
There are a number of topical creams that come with anti-inflammatory elements, which you can apply for targeted relief. You might need to test out a few options before finding out which one is right for you, but this can also be an easy way to manage pain on the go, as many creams and gels are compact.
Over-the-Counter Painkillers
Of course, OTC painkillers are also incredibly helpful for quick, overall relief. If you choose this option, you’ll want to follow all ingestion instructions as provided by the manufacturer, and you’ll want to make sure they don’t react negatively with any other medications you might be taking.
Seeking Medical Advice
If you notice the pain and soreness starts to interfere with your daily life, like at work or in your other activities, this isn’t necessarily a sign you should abandon the bike. Contact your general physician about alternative solutions. The solution could be as simple as performing better stretches before and after you ride.
With the right approach, your favorite form of transportation can still give you hours of thrills and easy riding, without all the extra soreness and pain the next morning. If you’d like some tips from our staff, or if you’re still looking for the perfect set of wheels, then stop by Barnes Harley-Davidson and let us know how we can assist you. You’ll find us in Langley, Victoria, and Kamloops, British Columbia.