There are no excuses......Only a Registration form!

 

Here is a link to an overview map of the route. Looks like it is going right through Maine. I couldn't imagine it not going through one of the most beautiful states in the country.

http://www.hokaheychallenge.com/route.html

Got a question for you. You said you live near Bangor. Is the (pardon the spelling) McGlaughlin Sea Food Co. still there?

 

Yes still there, great lobster roll, etc.
Mclaughlin Seafood, 728 Main St. Bangor ME 04401
207-942-7811.

 

I was on tour with Carrot top back in 04 and we had time to stop for a couple days in Bangor on our way to Halifax. The bus driver and myself had a great Lobster dinner in town and then I went to McGlaughlins and got the info and when I got home we had a Lobster feed with Lobsters that we ordered from McGlaughlins. They were Fanphukintastic! Weren't cheap but sure were good.

 

Plenty of stones, now if i could just figure a way to get the time without being fired I would be golden to join ya! Jealous!

 

IronAss,
Kudos to you for your fantastic blog of last year's Hoka Hey! I wanted to do the ride last year but concluded I wasn't man enough for the ride.....regretted it everyday since. Giving serious consideration for this year's Challenge. I wonder if you could somehow break down your cost of the trip. You stated in earlier post you spent out of pocket something on the order of $18K. This is hard for me to comprehend spending $18K. I am trying to arrive at a projected cost for myself to do the Challenge this year. Without some sort of sponsorship this is cost prohibitive for me. Could you throw out some general numbers? Many thanks!

 

They're still filming OCC and I'd bet filming your run would be a lot more interesting and entertaining. Just sayin

 

Thanks for the kind words.

Here is a top of my head breakdown of what I spent. I'm sure I've forgotten some things. Also keep in mind that I estimated my cost by including my lost wages which came to a significant portion of my total to do the Challenge.

My OL wanting to be a part of it accounted for a large portion of it. She flew form Phoenix to Key West and stayed for a couple days after I left for Homer. I would have gotten a room for a couple days if just me but with her I ended up with a room for a week. Plane fare for her and the room were close to $2,000.00. That's not including what we spent while she was there on touristy stuff.

She then flew up to Homer for the finish and arrived a few days before I got there and we spent a few days there after it was over. That airfare and room were in the $3,000.00 range. Again not including dinners etc.

I bought quite a bit of gear that I normally don't use when I'm riding but I have it now so I don't need to spend money on it. Things such as
Tank Bag
Sissy Bar Bag
Sheep skin seat cover
bungee cords and net.
A legal Helmet.
Spare parts I thought I might need (didn't need any of them) along with some tools. Even though I didn't use them I don't have them. I lost one of my saddlebags on the way home and it was full of tools and spare parts.
The above accounted for probably close to $1,000.00.

I also bought in prep for the Challenge.
A used pair of alloy wheels.
Tire changing items such as plug kit, air compressor etc.
Those were probably $500.00 total.

During the Challenge and trip home.
Two rear and one front tire.
Two 10,000 mile services. There's another $2,000.00

A couple nights motel rooms on the way home just because I felt I deserved it!

The entry fee was $1,000.00

I'm estimating I spent around $1500.00 on gas.

No more than a couple hundred on food during the Challenge.

Bought new high quality rain gear, a hydration jacket, gloves, boots, tent and bedroll......Porbably 12 to $1500.00 for these items.

I took way more time off of work then I needed to (two months).

I believe I way over prepared and could have done it for much less. My OL thinks so too and hasn't stopped reminding me yet!

I'm thinking this year my main expenses will be....

Entry Fee. $1,000.00

Gas (based on around 20,000 miles by the time I get back home) between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00.

A Cam Chain Tensioner Upgrade. Haven't priced that yet. Tough for me to do on my own as I'm not home much.

Probably two sets of tires. I use the OEM so whatever they go for now.

A couple of services on the bike.

Food and some $$$ in reserve for any emergency's.

Since the start is near my home I won't need to take off work until a couple days before it starts. and should be able to get back home in less then a week with not problem.

Like I said I'm sure I have forgotten some things

I think that I should be able to do this year for around $7,000.00 to $9,000.00 total.

Hope that helps some.

 

IA, thanks for the breakdown in expenses. I now see where you dropped some coin that I would not. Entry fee of $1K; another $2K for gas; estimating $1K for set of tires; $1K for food and misc; another $1K in gear I may need but dont have......so maybe $6K proposition? Starting in Phoenix will "save" me some coin as the route from beginning to end to back home is more of a loop for me. I think I and a lot of others here would appreciate and benefit from any "pointers" or "tips" you might provide in preparing for the Challenge, be that with regard to getting the bike ready, getting the body ready; and maybe more importantly, getting the mind ready. This doesnt appear to be just another HOG ride!

 

No worries man, that story was inspiring. Luckily I came across it when it was almost complete. Spent two work shifts reading the whole damn thing.

I came back to the States to start working on college and decided to grab a bike as transportation. Gearing up for my first 1000 mile trip to visit my grandmothers grave site. She passed away 4 days ago and I can't make the funeral so I am riding up during spring break. I'm trying to collect small items through dealerships along the way so I can place it on her headstone. Also am taking some of her personal items so she can share the trip with me.

I'm looking at taking a Go PRO HD camera to try to document most of the ride. If it turns out interesting, I'll try writing a trip report.