am i ready? ... long distance ride

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halouis · #1 Unread post by **halouis** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:41 am

been riding since beginning of March. so about 4 1/2 months. i've put on about 3,000 miles on my Spirit. i've ridden on essentially every type of road: back-country roads. scenic bi-ways. city streets. 4 lane highways. interstates (not a tremendous amount however). I've ridden in the rain. ridden at night.

i feel very comfortable on my bike even in this short time. my longest ride in a day has been maybe 200 miles.

i have a trip planned for early august where i am planning on visiting a bunch of people over 5 days. rides range from a few 250 mile runs. a short 70 miler. and one 400 miler. 1 day will be a no ride day. i DONT plan to ride any of it at night.

1 thing i will have before the ride is a new mustang seat to replace my stock one.

whaddaya think?

Nibblet99 · #2 Unread post by **Nibblet99** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:54 am

Without seeing how you ride, I can't really tell you if you're ready or not.... Myself I've always had a "just get on and do it" attitude, never really stopped to think if I'm ready or not, I always found starting the journies themselves sorting out whatever wasn't ready, rather quickly

At the end of the day, think back to your MSF, and how they guided you and judge yourself on how well you think you've achieved on building on what was set there, and your abilities to maintain concentration for longer periods of time, as to whats happening around you

halouis · #3 Unread post by **halouis** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:24 am

thanks Nibblet. I feel pretty good about it. The entire trip is a route i've taken many times in a car, so I know the roads, and won;t be distracted by reading a map or anything. so that's good.

jstark47 · #4 Unread post by **jstark47** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:34 am

Your experience sounds good, and in line with what you're planning. You may be a little tired after that 400 miler........ but you'll never know until you try it!

halouis · #5 Unread post by **halouis** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:50 am

thanks. the 400 miler will be the last one - coming home. so that's GOOD in that i can get a good rest afterwards. GOOD in that i'll have some shorter build up rides under my belt. but BAD maybe as i may be a bit over done up till that point. I think if for any reason I'm just not hacking the 400 miler, i could always just stop midway for an extra night and split it up.

Gadjet · #6 Unread post by **Gadjet** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:50 pm

halouis wrote: I think if for any reason I'm just not hacking the 400 miler, i could always just stop midway for an extra night and split it up.

Exactly the right attitude to have about it. Stop if you feel tired, and don't try to push yourself past your limits just to try to get home in one day. There's no shame in admitting to yourself that it's too far for you to go on that one day if that's what it boils down to.

strohS · #7 Unread post by **strohS** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:24 am

You sound like your pretty comfortable on it, id say go for it.

KingRobb · #8 Unread post by **KingRobb** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:48 pm

sounds like a good first trip....to test yourself and condition for a long trip its not a bad idea to go ride 400 miles a day around home for a few days in a row and see how you hold up.

good luck with it and dont be afraid to take breaks.

Scott58 · #9 Unread post by **Scott58** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:43 pm

Have a good trip.

JC Viper · #10 Unread post by **JC Viper** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:28 pm

This is how I first started doing long distance riding: I just went out for a ride one day and just kept riding down the highway. Then instead of getting off the highway and turning around I just kept on going for no reason.

I ended up in Ohio after about 13 hours of rolling about and went back home, no hotel/ motel, just straight back. Quite peaceful when riding Route 80 past midnight (the only road I remember taking, everywhere else I just looked for "East" "West" "North" "South"). I always have my saddlebags attached just in case I just take off and keep going.

Make sure you keep track of gas station distances and your fuel level. When you start getting some sore body parts such as neck pull off before it becomes a nuisance on the road or an injury that lasts for days.

When you stop off somewhere, make sure you cover your bike and try to put it some place out of view from the public.