Am I nuts?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 24,287
Likes: 4,027
From: Western MN
Do your homework and plan a safe trip if your back can take it, like others said work your way up to 300+ mile days to get a sense for the trip. Your gut instinct will tell you alot too.
I'm 53 and another workin' fool. We don't get that many opportunities for major rides in my experience.
Default plan if needed is you park the bike and rent a car to finish the trip, picking it up the way home.
Hope it works for you.
I'm 53 and another workin' fool. We don't get that many opportunities for major rides in my experience.
Default plan if needed is you park the bike and rent a car to finish the trip, picking it up the way home.
Hope it works for you.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
Be a real man
I think Northern Glide's advice is right on. My wife and I have made numerous cross country rides of up to 2500 miles one way, sometimes 2 up and sometimes solo with 2 bikes. I can tell you that our worst days were when we allowed ourselves to be forced into riding after we were no longer comfortable, and the best days were sometimes when we stopped short somewhere on a whim. Since you have a limited time and a required destination the best thing to do is to stop riding if you get uncomfortable, and rent a car or take a flight. When you are uncomfortable, you lose some of your ability to concentrate. If it looks like you will not make your scheduled distance on time, and stay comfortable in the process, DO NOT "cowboy up" and push through. Your girl friend and her family will probably be more impressed if you make the mature choice, rather than if you push through and have to spend a few days flat on your back.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Wabash
I had c4 c5 discectomy and fusion in April 2011. That was on a Tuesday. A week later I rode 23 miles one way and back to visit my mom. I wasn't supposed to but I had to know if I could do it. The only pain I had was surgical pain. The surgery itself took away the disc pain upon waking up. I was riding regular back and forth to work daily in a month and long trips before August.
Your physical limitations or lack thereof will likely vary. But the following season I was riding very long trips on my electraglide with no adverse effects and we are close in age. I strongly urge caution though. Lo g trips do require planning. Knowing when your done for the day is very important, havin the sense to call it a day is critical.
I'd say you need to follow through with your plan to start off slow and work in a couple of long rides before making a decision. Leaving Wisconsin and getting to Oklahoma or something and being too sore to go forward or back would suck on a monumental level.
No one knows you like you do. Be honest with yourself and the answer will be evident.
Good luck with your trip I ope you can make it but safely please.
Your physical limitations or lack thereof will likely vary. But the following season I was riding very long trips on my electraglide with no adverse effects and we are close in age. I strongly urge caution though. Lo g trips do require planning. Knowing when your done for the day is very important, havin the sense to call it a day is critical.
I'd say you need to follow through with your plan to start off slow and work in a couple of long rides before making a decision. Leaving Wisconsin and getting to Oklahoma or something and being too sore to go forward or back would suck on a monumental level.
No one knows you like you do. Be honest with yourself and the answer will be evident.
Good luck with your trip I ope you can make it but safely please.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
So not nuts
Thanks everyone. I do agree that I need to train for such a long ride. I have already began looking at maps for routes and stops. I know I have a long way to go before I even can make an informative decision on the ride, but hearing you guys gives me a postive feeling of it all. I am also going to be doing some yoga (do not laugh) for the back to help it. I will post more as time passes.
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