This is one I know all too well, my longest single day ride being 1,663 miles. When you start to feel yourself getting tired on the bike this is the time to take action. If there is no rest area take the next exit and try to at least get something to drink. Stay away from caffeinated drinks if you are already feeling tired; a better choice would be an actual nap. It is surprising how much an hour and a half on top of a picnic table at a rest area will help. Now I am one to drink a lot of coffee or even them energy drinks when I ride but I never use that to get me back going once I am tired. I have never been hassled while laying on a picnic table at a rest area. The lawn geysers that come on automatically though have sprinkled me. I once was pocked with a stick by an elderly lady while resting at mid day in Texas but she was concerned with my well-being, Actually thought I had lost control of the bike and ridden it up to the picnic table then collided with it and landed on top of the picnic table I guess.
If you find yourself getting tired and as soon as you realize you are getting tired take the next exit, get off the bike, get something to drink if possible, do not press on and do not count on there being a more suitable exit coming up ahead. Once you have stretched your legs you will feel a bit more awake on the bike so ride on to the next rest area or motel or campground and get some real sleep.
The highway is way too dangerous a place to be riding tired. Once in Kansas I felt myself getting tired and decided I would take the next exit and get some sleep. Well the next exit did not look desirable to me so I pressed on. Soon after the exit came a sign. “Road construction next 16 miles” I found myself going 35MPH sandwiched between two 18 wheelers on a long stretch of boring Kansas roadway. I was falling asleep and falling asleep fast. Now I was in a situation where there was absolutely no place to pull off the road and before I knew it I had passed out. When I awoke I was still on the bike and still maintaining the proper distance behind the truck in front of me but, the truck behind me had backed off at least a quarter mile. I know I had done something silly while I slept to force him that far back. I took the next exit and found a sonic, got a sandwich and went on to find a rest area. The very next exit was a state park with a lake and a very nice place to nap. Had I taken that first exit after I had gotten tired
it would have been a lot safer a journey.
Please pull off as soon as you start to feel weary, you never know what lies ahead.
Group ride leaders please keep in mind that not everyone in your group will have the same stamina as you and maybe discuss how long the next leg should be at the end of the previous leg.
