Planning Rides
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Allow extra time to check out whatever you find along the way. Don't be afraid of getting lost. In general roads around mountains, rivers, forests or other features are more interesting than flat land roads. On maps the roads are often labeled as "scenic".
Fortunately cities and interstates are usually sited on flat areas.
BTW: I like the DeLorme atlas, they have all the back roads.
Fortunately cities and interstates are usually sited on flat areas.
BTW: I like the DeLorme atlas, they have all the back roads.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
I've found motorcycleroads.com to be very useful. You tried "a couple of the routes", and claim to know all about it? I've found many great suggestions on it.
Last edited by Ozoneman; Feb 24, 2011 at 10:10 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
Time restraints can affect trip planning more than anything. The only planning I ever do is determining the ultimate destination. The routes I take are mostly by chance. Some not so great but I've found some great riding and watering holes on the way.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 71
From: Tennessee
I also vote for throwing out the GPS. I've thought about buying one many times before but I've decided that it would just cheapen the experience of getting somewhere. Even when we have a destination to reach I don't like to rush getting there. I've got a pretty good memory and just study the maps before I leave and have a paper copy with me just in case.
As I said earlier, I think Google Maps has to be the easiest way to plan a route somewhere if you don't want to hit any interstates. We rode to Pensacola using the "avoid highways" function on Google Maps last year, and that's how I'm planning my route from Tennessee to Daytona this year. Sometimes Google doesn't make the most efficient route choices but it's easy to go in there, study the suggested route, and change it to follow the roads that you want to be on.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 71
From: Tennessee
Maybe it's a good resource for city boys looking to get out in the country.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
I will go to google maps and pick out a route, zoom in to about 3 miles and see if the curves and twisties stand out. That being said, some of the best roads I've found have been purely by accident, just picking a direction and taking any road that looks interesting.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Never said I knew "all about it"...just that I've found a lot of crappy rides on there. In my area guys will post really basic routes on there, small town to small town for example...or they will get on there and post about a 3 mile section of curvy road and call it the "mini dragon" or something ridiculous. My point is that it's not regulated in any way so you should not expect too much out of the posted rides.
Maybe it's a good resource for city boys looking to get out in the country.
Maybe it's a good resource for city boys looking to get out in the country.
Last edited by Ozoneman; Feb 24, 2011 at 12:00 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Get the state map and tourist guide where you want to go and then look for scenic hwy's. The HOG Atlas doesn't show all the scienic roads. Wally world sell US Atlas cheap.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 9
From: Colorado Springs CO
Paper map, look for the scenic road, point the front tire and go. Stop at a local watering hole, or place of business and ask if there are any less know roads and you'll be surprised at what you will hear....
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 247
Likes: 1
From: Merritt Island Florida
It's about the journey not the destination - just get on your bike and ride. Wherever you end up is where you are at - when you jump on the bike to head out and worry about what's the destination you miss the point of why you jumped on the bike. There have been many times I have had a place in mind, jumped on the bike, headed out and never got to where I thought I was headed but enjoyed the ride all the same.
Hey - I am just saying.
Both of these seem to work pretty good:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/
Hey - I am just saying.
Both of these seem to work pretty good:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/
Last edited by JHeiser; Feb 24, 2011 at 02:14 PM.