Gary is getting closer...
This is his new ride. SWEET!
Are you ready?
Have you been saving?
Do you have a plan to acquire the gear needed between now and the trip?
Cash?
You know I am a planner. You need to plan.
If you have not done it yet, take some time to search " long motorcycle rides" on the Internet.
Plan to get one item a month so you are not trying to buy it all at once. spread out the expense.
I have done some looking around and I will start to post some of the info that I have found.
This was a good article that I found in Motorcycle Cruiser.
Fighting Fatigue on Long Motorcycle Rides
Motorcycling is more physically demanding that driving a car and exposes you to the environment, which can lead to fatigue. To avoid becoming tired on long motorcycle rides, you need to get adequate rest, plan and prepare, consume the right food and drink,
From the February, 2009 issue of Motorcycle Cruiser
|
Before you head out on the highway looking for adventure, coniser a few steps that you can take and plans you can make to avoid having one of your adventures involve falling asleep on your motorcycle.
Rest:
Adequate sleep can be a bit hard to come by before and during a multi-day ride. I am always thinking of things I want to do or remember to bring as I try to get to sleep on the night before I depart. I also have trouble getting to sleep while traveling. Many people also have trouble getting a full night's sleep as they get older. If I combine that with early departures, I quickly have a sleep deficit. For that reason, I like to plan to allow myself to sleep late every two or three days, setting no departure time.
Don't use alcohol as a sleep aid; it actually tends to reduce both the quantity and quality of sleep. You might think that you can't fall asleep on a motorcycle, but I have known riders who simply fell asleep while riding, waking up as they bounced through a ditch — or in the hospital. Riders who experienced these sorts of adventures often said they didn't even realize they were tired.
Experts say that you'll have "tired times" during every 12-hour cycle, most often between 3:00 and 5:00 (a.m. and p.m., you local time). You may want to plan to arrive by that point or stop for an early dinner. If you can or need to, take a day off just to relax and catch up on your sleep.
Physical Preparation:
Unless you ride your motorcycle almost every day or take rides of three hours or more almost every weekend, you may not be completely adapted to your bike. After a full day or two of riding, you will become acutely aware of muscles that you are using full-time to ride. You may be able to overcome some of this discomfort by properly setting up your bike and fitting components, such as a good aftermarket saddle, that make it more comfortable. However, you also need to give your body a chance to adapt. Taking breaks every hour or two, especially during the first few days of a long ride, will help this adjustment.
Calm:
Extended exposure to wind and sun dehydrates and fatigues you much more than your routine two-hour weekend jaunt. Riding in a tanktop and open-face helmet may seem like the best way to deal with the heat, but will actually wear you out and heat you up much faster than if you wear a vented or mesh jacket and a helmet that protects your face from the wind. Perspiration gets a chance to stay on and cool your skin if the wind flow is reduced but not eliminated. You will sharply reduce sunburn and windburn and their fatiguing effects by covering yourself fully. A windshield also reduces the amount of wind that's tearing at you but leaves enough to cool you.
Quiet:
Wind noise (and exhaust noise if you have loud pipes) will not only permanently damage your hearing, it will fatigue you quickly. Both noise sources are at their worst if you don't wear a helmet, but even a full-face helmet that seals your ears well won't attenuate these noise sources sufficiently on an extended ride, so you should wear earplugs as well. If nothing else, you'll appreciate them when you try to go to sleep at night and the roaring in your ears isn't as loud. A windshield can also reduce wind noise.
Clear:
Vision clarity can be an issue on extended rides too. About 15 years ago we did a comparison test where one bike had significant distortion in the top of its windshield. Several riders said riding it made them feel disoriented or tired or gave them headaches. If your windshield creates this problem, or if you have a faceshield or sunglasses that are optically imperfect, you should find a replacement or eliminate the problem, perhaps by trimming the top of your windshield. If your vision has changed so that your prescription is no longer adequate, update it before you leave.
Caffeine and Alcohol:
A coffee or cola can briefly boost your alertness, but isn't a substitute for adequate rest. Having a beer before or during a ride is a bad idea for many reasons, but especially if you are slightly tired or fatigued. Discouraging your riding companions from having one also does both of you a favor.
Good Habits:
Those boring admonitions about diet and exercise also apply to fighting fatigue. They increase your energy level, which makes you stronger and more alert. Of course, drinking adequate water is important too, especially considering that you are being dehydrated more rapidly because of your exposure to the wind. I don't hold with the theory that you aren't drinking enough if you don't have to urinate every 30 minutes though.
Fighting fatigue provides benefits that go beyond safety. If you are alert and refreshed, the ride itself is more enjoyable, and you'll get more out of the sights and experiences that you came to enjoy.
|
Before You Roll - Motorcycle Touring - Tips
Road Loading
From the February, 2009 issue of Motorcycle Cruiser
Pack Small
For clothes, two shirts, two pants, two pairs of socks and underwear, one pair of shoes (not including riding boots) and two pairs of gloves are all you need. Group smaller items into small, plastic freezer bags. Clothing gets rolled up and put into a mesh bag. Store these separate bags vertically, so they're easier to access.
Dump Your Cotton
Cotton is bad-you get so much more space out of your luggage if you stock up on synthetics instead. A laundromat is usually easy to find, and washable garments made of Coolmax can dry in a few hours.
Multitask
Pack items that have multiple purposes to minimize space. A Leatherman tool can handle three or four chores, while a waterproof dry bag can be used for laundry, storage on the bike or a beer cooler at the campground.
Spread The Load
First Aid kits-only one rider in the group needs to carry one. Same with other large items-one person can stow the pump, the other a set of jumpers and so on. And don't buy cheap stuff! Once you purchase quality gear, you should be done shopping for years. It's worth it in the long run.
Touring Resources
Even modern-day Magellans need some sort of third-party support. The following tools should help you fine-tune your target.
Harley-Davidson Great Roads And Ride Planner
Harley's Web site is a wealth of info. On www.harley-davidson.com, under the "Experience" tab, you'll find great online tools for riders. The "Great Roads" section is chock-full of destinations and roads (currently 52) that are rated for ride and scenic value. Click-and-drag maps allow you to view the lay of the land and access lodging info.
Mad Maps
If you prefer hard copies of a certain region, check out the Mad Maps series. These foldable, weather-resistant charts are a real boon for motorcyclists, listing color-coded routes, attractions, fuel stops and tips on each area. Regional maps are $8.95 each; Get Outta Town series $5.95 each. See the whole series at www.madmaps.com.
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007
This software has helped us plan dozens of forays flawlessly, and the new version's even more intuitive, featuring an interactive GPS locator that you can plug into your computer. It'll even figure fuel mileage for you. Get it for $129 at www.microsoft.com.
Harley-Davidson Ride Atlas Of North America
Here's a rubber-covered reference atlas covering ride maps, along with detailed U.S. state and city maps tailored to riders' needs, with minor highways and secondary roads highlighted in bold color. It's produced by Rand McNally and available at www.randmcnally.com or Harley-Davidson dealerships for $34.95.
AAA TripTik
You can always go back to the classics too; we heard that AAA recently made its famed online TripTik service available to non-members too. This mapping tool is more auto-biased, but it's an interactive resource for things like road conditions, gas stops and construction zones. You can even book a hotel online and check fuel prices. See www.aaa.com.
MedjetAssist
But what if things don't go as planned? There's now a new medical evacuation program designed specifically for riders. MedjetAssist's Motorcycle Protection Plan protects bikers who fall sick or get injured while riding virtually anywhere in the world. If a member is hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, MedjetAssist will fly them to the hospital of their choice aboard a medically equipped aircraft. Pre-paid annual memberships for individuals up to 75 years of age are $225 each. For more info, visit www.medjetassist.com.
On The web
We've also found the following route-specific Web sites to be invaluable for trip planning:
Motorcycle Roads 
www.motorcycleroads.us
America's Byways
www.byways.org
Firestone Legendary Drives
www.firestonelegendarydrives.com
Road Notes
www.roadnotes.com
|
Read more: http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/0708_crup_motorcycle_touring_tips/viewall.html#ixzz2M0gjwnIK
Read more: http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/prevent_motorcycle_fatigue/viewall.html#ixzz2LyBEndy9
No comments:
Post a Comment