Great info for great riding

Learn Your
Long Distance Riding Limitations

Trip preparation

My friend spent many months preparing his motorcycle, his equipment and himself for this great adventure. He...

• Took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s beginners riding course...
• Bought a reliable motorcycle...
• Learned the rudiments of maintaining and repairing it -- including fixing a flat tire...
• Gained experience riding in all sorts of weather...
• Equipped himself with riding gear that would keep him comfortable in inclement weather and protect him in case of an accident...

When his departure date arrived, he rolled his machine out of the garage, cranked it up and headed west.

By late afternoon, after traveling about 450 miles, he was ready to pack it in. He was tired, cold, hungry, anxious and disoriented. Rather than camp out as he'd first planned, he found a motel where he could warm up, get a good night’s sleep and consider his options.

Next morning he'd decided to spend just a few days on the road then ramble home.

He bagged out of his long trip

So what went wrong with his travel plans? Actually, depending upon how you look at it, nothing went wrong.

My friend learned that…

• A good windshield and a warm motorcycle jacket aren't always enough to ward off the cold mile after mile…
• The combination of putting in a long day of riding then camping out might not be as enjoyable or relaxing as he'd thought…
• He had to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration when riding long hours in the wind…
• He needed lots more time to travel comfortably and safely across the distances he’d originally planned…
• He should keep travel plans flexible to make it easy to revise his priorities and turn a disheartening experience into a successful outing…

Iron Butt long distance riding info

The Iron Butt Association -- a loosely knit group of motorcycle riders dedicated to safe, long distance travel -- provides some of the best and most succinct information on endurance riding.

In its Archive of Wisdom, the organization points out that “whether you are capable of riding 300 or 1,000 miles per day, the ability to make miles tends to decrease as the length of your trip increases.”

It says: “If the longest ride you have ever taken is 300 miles in a day, don't plan a trip containing a string of endless five-hundred mile days.

"...After an initial mileage peak on days one and two of a long road trip, a rider’s daily average mileage will steadily drop during trip days three to seven.

"...On day seven, the typical long distance rider will comfortably ride about 65 percent of the average daily mileage he or she could rack up during a two-day trip."

Keep your plans flexible

I've taken the association's advice by including large, easy-to-cut loops in my trip plans. If I get behind schedule or decide to slow down, such loops let me skip parts of my trip without ruining the entire outing.

The take-away message is, when traveling -- particularly by motorcycle -- know your limitations and keep your plans flexible.

A good example is the Leatherman New Wave Multi-tool. It gives you 17 rugged hand tools in one compact unit, and you can expand its capabilities with an optional kit containing 21 double-ended bits.

Click here to read all about it...

For a wealth of information to help you…

• Ride more safely and comfortably…

• Select gear that best suits you, your motorcycle and riding style…

• Get the most enjoyment every time you ride…

Or if you'd like a free subscription to Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine…

Visit my website at...

www.Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com