Average miles
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,216
Likes: 6,126
From: Black Hills
The Largest House of Mud, Spam Museum and the Third Largest Rubber Band collection are worthy stops. Don't forget the Corn Palace and the Fatima Shrine.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
@Fuzzman71 sometimes a good idea to do 2 diff length days. make day 1 longer (500ish) then day 2 shorter (250ish), then you can putz on day 2 and/or arrive at your destination between noon-4 and still salvage the 2nd half of the day for dinner/drinks/friends/other.
Don't skip the twineball.
Don't skip the twineball.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,252
Likes: 3,679
From: backwoods
@Fuzzman71 sometimes a good idea to do 2 diff length days. make day 1 longer (500ish) then day 2 shorter (250ish), then you can putz on day 2 and/or arrive at your destination between noon-4 and still salvage the 2nd half of the day for dinner/drinks/friends/other.
Don't skip the twineball.
Don't skip the twineball.
When going on big trips, I will often google maps all kinds of towns and write down miles and time, and try to plan it out.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
I've done this two ways. One long day of riding, and get in early to destination. This nice then you have to enjoy destination or find way around. I have also rode for a few hours after work on Friday., which again can help you get in early next day,
When going on big trips, I will often google maps all kinds of towns and write down miles and time, and try to plan it out.
When going on big trips, I will often google maps all kinds of towns and write down miles and time, and try to plan it out.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 24,206
From: WetCoast
Make sure you have something firm supporting your lower back, I have a back rest
Another good idea is to make sure you can move your legs to different positions
My bike is set to have four different positions
On long trips, I like 300 to 400 miles a day But I have no problem putting in a 500 mile a if I need to Any more than that and it beats me up, especially if they are consecutive days
as to gear that you need to take Rain gear, & dont buy the cheap ****, it will blow apart in the wind, mine is Harley Davidson heated vest, and heated grips both of those will make your mornings much more pleasurable
good quality chaps, on a cold day. Jeans arent enough a bandanna or a scarf to wrap around your neck even on hot days, I find wind on the neck to be tiring a well ventilated jacket that you can wear on hot days
when you get into the mountains, you can go from below freezing to 100° plus temperatures on the same day So I strongly suggest that you dress in layers, and the best clothes for this can be bought in high end hiking stores you want material that will wick away moisture I always wear a long sleeved shirt to protect the skin from the sun underneath it & I wear a T-shirt designed to wick away moisture
on hot days the trick just staying cool Is dont just wear a T-shirt Theres nothing hotter than that Get a shirt soaking wet, put it on underneath a jacket that will vent As the moisture in that shirt evaporates, it will pull the heat out of your skin Just like air conditioning
I have a coffee cup holder mounted to my handlebars its nice to have a hot coffee in the morning on a cold day But more importantly, you can also use it for water bottles Take several water bottles and hydrate the hell out of yourself all day long It will help keep your energy up
I also have a small lunch kit that I keep snack foods in that I eat when I stop On a really hot day almost the worst thing you can do is to go into an air-conditioned restaurant and then have to acclimatize back to the heat when you come out of it but on a cold day, dont be afraid to get off the bike and sit in a nice warm coffee shop, once you get cold, its hard to recapture the heat
but the single most important thing you will do on a long ride, is to give yourself enough time to stop and smell the roses
On long trips, I like 300 to 400 miles a day But I have no problem putting in a 500 mile a if I need to Any more than that and it beats me up, especially if they are consecutive days
as to gear that you need to take Rain gear, & dont buy the cheap ****, it will blow apart in the wind, mine is Harley Davidson heated vest, and heated grips both of those will make your mornings much more pleasurable
good quality chaps, on a cold day. Jeans arent enough a bandanna or a scarf to wrap around your neck even on hot days, I find wind on the neck to be tiring a well ventilated jacket that you can wear on hot days
when you get into the mountains, you can go from below freezing to 100° plus temperatures on the same day So I strongly suggest that you dress in layers, and the best clothes for this can be bought in high end hiking stores you want material that will wick away moisture I always wear a long sleeved shirt to protect the skin from the sun underneath it & I wear a T-shirt designed to wick away moisture
on hot days the trick just staying cool Is dont just wear a T-shirt Theres nothing hotter than that Get a shirt soaking wet, put it on underneath a jacket that will vent As the moisture in that shirt evaporates, it will pull the heat out of your skin Just like air conditioning
I have a coffee cup holder mounted to my handlebars its nice to have a hot coffee in the morning on a cold day But more importantly, you can also use it for water bottles Take several water bottles and hydrate the hell out of yourself all day long It will help keep your energy up
I also have a small lunch kit that I keep snack foods in that I eat when I stop On a really hot day almost the worst thing you can do is to go into an air-conditioned restaurant and then have to acclimatize back to the heat when you come out of it but on a cold day, dont be afraid to get off the bike and sit in a nice warm coffee shop, once you get cold, its hard to recapture the heat
but the single most important thing you will do on a long ride, is to give yourself enough time to stop and smell the roses
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,462
Likes: 57,017
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Make sure you have something firm supporting your lower back, I have a back rest
Another good idea is to make sure you can move your legs to different positions
My bike is set to have four different positions
On long trips, I like 300 to 400 miles a day But I have no problem putting in a 500 mile a if I need to Any more than that and it beats me up, especially if they are consecutive days
as to gear that you need to take Rain gear, & dont buy the cheap ****, it will blow apart in the wind, mine is Harley Davidson heated vest, and heated grips both of those will make your mornings much more pleasurable
good quality chaps, on a cold day. Jeans arent enough a bandanna or a scarf to wrap around your neck even on hot days, I find wind on the neck to be tiring a well ventilated jacket that you can wear on hot days
when you get into the mountains, you can go from below freezing to 100° plus temperatures on the same day So I strongly suggest that you dress in layers, and the best clothes for this can be bought in high end hiking stores you want material that will wick away moisture I always wear a long sleeved shirt to protect the skin from the sun underneath it & I wear a T-shirt designed to wick away moisture
on hot days the trick just staying cool Is dont just wear a T-shirt Theres nothing hotter than that Get a shirt soaking wet, put it on underneath a jacket that will vent As the moisture in that shirt evaporates, it will pull the heat out of your skin Just like air conditioning
I have a coffee cup holder mounted to my handlebars its nice to have a hot coffee in the morning on a cold day But more importantly, you can also use it for water bottles Take several water bottles and hydrate the hell out of yourself all day long It will help keep your energy up
I also have a small lunch kit that I keep snack foods in that I eat when I stop On a really hot day almost the worst thing you can do is to go into an air-conditioned restaurant and then have to acclimatize back to the heat when you come out of it but on a cold day, dont be afraid to get off the bike and sit in a nice warm coffee shop, once you get cold, its hard to recapture the heat
but the single most important thing you will do on a long ride, is to give yourself enough time to stop and smell the roses
On long trips, I like 300 to 400 miles a day But I have no problem putting in a 500 mile a if I need to Any more than that and it beats me up, especially if they are consecutive days
as to gear that you need to take Rain gear, & dont buy the cheap ****, it will blow apart in the wind, mine is Harley Davidson heated vest, and heated grips both of those will make your mornings much more pleasurable
good quality chaps, on a cold day. Jeans arent enough a bandanna or a scarf to wrap around your neck even on hot days, I find wind on the neck to be tiring a well ventilated jacket that you can wear on hot days
when you get into the mountains, you can go from below freezing to 100° plus temperatures on the same day So I strongly suggest that you dress in layers, and the best clothes for this can be bought in high end hiking stores you want material that will wick away moisture I always wear a long sleeved shirt to protect the skin from the sun underneath it & I wear a T-shirt designed to wick away moisture
on hot days the trick just staying cool Is dont just wear a T-shirt Theres nothing hotter than that Get a shirt soaking wet, put it on underneath a jacket that will vent As the moisture in that shirt evaporates, it will pull the heat out of your skin Just like air conditioning
I have a coffee cup holder mounted to my handlebars its nice to have a hot coffee in the morning on a cold day But more importantly, you can also use it for water bottles Take several water bottles and hydrate the hell out of yourself all day long It will help keep your energy up
I also have a small lunch kit that I keep snack foods in that I eat when I stop On a really hot day almost the worst thing you can do is to go into an air-conditioned restaurant and then have to acclimatize back to the heat when you come out of it but on a cold day, dont be afraid to get off the bike and sit in a nice warm coffee shop, once you get cold, its hard to recapture the heat
but the single most important thing you will do on a long ride, is to give yourself enough time to stop and smell the roses
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,252
Likes: 3,679
From: backwoods
Plus if you have a passenger they are awful for her. Granted most guys hate women, and put them on tiny seats, while they sit on a couch cushion.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 24,206
From: WetCoast
Larry
I always pack like Im going to get a text message after Ive been gone for a couple of weeks that says
Glad Im not there, and dont come back
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,252
Likes: 3,679
From: backwoods
I pack like a chick, I like to have everything I may need. I carry lots of tools, lots of warm clothes ect. My truck has full size floor jack, ect. Both my trucks have bibs, and warm clothes, in case I forget to grab stuff. My second home is fully furnished with everything, down to tools, crock pots, and chainsaws.
I have clear glasses on all bikes too. Only have two sets of chaps at the moment,
I have clear glasses on all bikes too. Only have two sets of chaps at the moment,
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,114
Likes: 51,397
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
What I tell newer riders and packing for a trip is lay out everything on the bed the you think you need then lose half of it. You'll find when get home you still took way too much stuff.