Long trips on a bike.

[LT99LS1]

I rode the busa from Dalton Ga to Mobile AL this past week. It was 428 miles one way. I was stopping about every 100/125 miles and taking a break.
How many of you folks ride to the gulf/ocean/long distance on your bike? What the heck do you do to break up the ride?

[Patterson]

mp3 player :D just don't put heavy metal on it or you will get caught speeding. or riding wheelies :rofl:

[Cloner]

.... What the heck do you do to break up the ride?

I ride lots of 400 mile days, but I ALWAYS plan the routes so that there aren't long stretches of interstate or other 4-lane slab involved. Basically, if I'm going from point "A" to point "B" just to get there I take a car. If I'm going from point "A" to point "B" to ride I'll either trailer (if there's lots of interstate or other slab) or ride (if there's lots of good twisty 2-lane between "A" and "B").

I always figure there's no way to make the trip cheaper on a bike versus a car. The fuel costs more in the car, but considering I eat a set of tires every 1000 to 1500 miles at $500 per set (Supercorsa Pros are expensive but worth it to me) the per mile cost is MUCH less in the car.

Therefore, the only reason to ride, since it's more expensive, is because I enjoy it. I NEVER enjoy riding on the interstate for more than a couple of miles, so why do it?

As far as breaking up the day, I'll usually press hard for the first half or two-thirds of the day, stopping only when the bike is low on gas or when the group stops. I usually get between 200 and 225 miles on a tank if I take it easy, so I can really eat miles for the first few hours. Then, as the day stretches on I'll stop more often to stretch or get a drink. Sometimes after 400 or 500 miles I'll pull over every 40 miles or so just to keep my knees from hurting (my frikkin' Ducati definitely wan't built for comfort).

I also ALWAYS wear ear plugs when riding. I got into the habit when I road raced years ago, so I guess I came by that habit honestly...but then I discovered that there's more to the practice than meets the eye. I read a study that says fatigue from riding (or even from driving a car) is greatly reduced by wearing earplugs. It has something to do with filtering out high frequency wind noise according to the article. All I can tell you is it definitely helps with long term alertness when riding.

There are a few things I never do, though, and even though they sound basic, I think they really help.

I don't ride when I'm sleepy. I don't listen to music or use any type of device (camera, heated glove, radar detector, etc.) that might distract me. (I know lots of folks do, but this is my personal practice....I'm too stupid to ride and screw with other stuff at the same time)

I don't know if this helps you, but I hope you get something from it...it took me a while to type.
:)

Cheers,

Cloner

[LT99LS1]

The info helps. I had wished for ear plugs or an ipod more than once on the trip.
The whole trip was last minute and spur of the moment to get out of town so I was looking at the direct route as the easiest. Next time I will stay away from the interstate as much as possible.

[FEW]

we went to panama on the bikes....we just switched bikes every 100 miles or so....wheelies....endos.....and turning around backwards helped.

[Cloner]

we went to panama on the bikes....we just switched bikes every 100 miles or so....wheelies....endos.....and turning around backwards helped.

:lol:

[LT99LS1]

we went to panama on the bikes....we just switched bikes every 100 miles or so....wheelies....endos.....and turning around backwards helped.
no wheelies, endos or turning around for me. :cry:

[Nitrod86gt]

i feel ya...the freeway destroys tires..if its a long distance on the freeway its getting trailered...

[Trackerway]

Yeah I've taken several long trips like this. Usually I try to stop every hour and a half to stretch and let the "vibros" wear off a bit. Other than that, I just enjoy the scenery. :)

[racecraze]

I too have break often and have stay away from bike for while to avoid the back stretch of my spinal, then continue after relaxing this is what i do, and in all these moments i'll be listening music. I wont give break for that.

[02GTMaMa]

If you are cruising around just to take in the scenery, a friend of mine told me to try to take a different route on the way back so you can cover twice as much road and see completely different sites.