Have I Lost My Mind?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Knoxville
Have I Lost My Mind?
Folks,
The wife and I have 14 days starting 5/28 and I put together this little odyssey. If we average about 620 a day we have no worries. Am I biting off more than I/we can chew? We have done Tenn. and back in a few days, from driving up the mountains in snow to fighting off the caged hordes in d/t Atlanta at 5PM on Friday. What I am asking, is this too much journey and not enough destination? Should I break it up and save half for next year Lord willing? If not, or if so.... what roads should we absolutely not miss? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance
Last edited by Chaz in TN; May 11, 2011 at 03:52 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,235
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From: Eastern Oklahoma
Yes, I think it's too much. I think by the time the ride is half over, you're going to be so saddle weary from having to make 620 miles a day that the fun is going to fade quick.
On one of my two 2800 mile road trips, I did a 690 miles in one day aboard a Deuce with a Sundowner seat, using my duffel on the passenger pillion for a back rest. It was a chore and and that day ceased to be fun after about 500 miles.
Plus, IF the wife is riding behind you on either that Heritage or Glide... her butt ain't gonna' hold out on those afterthought passenger pillions.
Are you just wanting to get to the Black Hills and back? What is your goal here?
Wife and I have a 2800 mile ride planned for the last week of May first of June. Even on the Ultra, we only have one or two 520 mile "transport days"* planned. The rest are much smaller so we can slow up and take in the sights and stop when we want to.
* Transport day: Riding through ho-hum scenery... so in a hurry to get to the good stuff.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
On one of my two 2800 mile road trips, I did a 690 miles in one day aboard a Deuce with a Sundowner seat, using my duffel on the passenger pillion for a back rest. It was a chore and and that day ceased to be fun after about 500 miles.
Plus, IF the wife is riding behind you on either that Heritage or Glide... her butt ain't gonna' hold out on those afterthought passenger pillions.
Are you just wanting to get to the Black Hills and back? What is your goal here?
Wife and I have a 2800 mile ride planned for the last week of May first of June. Even on the Ultra, we only have one or two 520 mile "transport days"* planned. The rest are much smaller so we can slow up and take in the sights and stop when we want to.
* Transport day: Riding through ho-hum scenery... so in a hurry to get to the good stuff.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
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From: Indiana
Over 600 miles a day...for two weeks??? You know that's about 12 hours of riding time each day, if you average 50 MPH (food stops, bathroom breaks, stretching legs, getting behind an accident, etc....I hope for more, but I always estimate at 50 miles an hour). You'll have to time get off the interstate, get your meals and gas, and get right back on the slab. That's not what I call a vacation...and if I did that to my wife, I'd be standing in front of the judge in divorce court when we got back...and he'd give her everything for subjecting her to that.
If you leave at 7AM and arrive at 7PM each day to a place to sleep, when are you going to find time to actually stop and see anything besides pavement and gas pumps? Not my idea of a vacation...maybe it's yours though, and if so, you've definitely got a great vacation planned!
ETA: Either find a way to split it in two or more segments, or find a way to get more time to do this route. You'll get tons of miles on your speedo of course...but you are going through some awesome areas (Rockies, Sturgis, Gulf route, etc) and you are going to miss tons of good riding in those areas.
If you leave at 7AM and arrive at 7PM each day to a place to sleep, when are you going to find time to actually stop and see anything besides pavement and gas pumps? Not my idea of a vacation...maybe it's yours though, and if so, you've definitely got a great vacation planned!
ETA: Either find a way to split it in two or more segments, or find a way to get more time to do this route. You'll get tons of miles on your speedo of course...but you are going through some awesome areas (Rockies, Sturgis, Gulf route, etc) and you are going to miss tons of good riding in those areas.
Last edited by mastery; May 11, 2011 at 06:03 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 65
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From: Twin Cities
I rode back to back 750 mile super-slab days on my 1800 Goldwing 2 years ago and decided to never do it again. You don't get to see anything because you are flying bye trying to cover miles. I would rather watch the scenery instead of the odometer. Not to mention I hit rain both of those days which made it even harder to stay on track with my predetermined hotel reservations. On another note it is also hard to account for road construction or detours when riding out of state. On that super-slab trip my body actually held up well, it was my neck from supporting my full face helmet that was stiff and sore at the end of each day. The whole idea and purpose of the ride is to enjoy yourself and your surroundings. I take a big road trip most every summer with a group of guys and we try to stay around 400-450 miles a day, except the first day or two we will ride 500-550 miles because we are so excited to be on the road. We all agreed that we all have alot of years left to ride so we don't need to see everything on one trip. What ever you decide I wish you luck and a safe trip!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 115
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YES, you have lost your mind. IMO, at that pace, fatigue will become a safety issue for you and your wife in short order. You will know in your gut when and if you bit off more than you can chew (pardon the cliche). I'd trim the fat off of the miles or add some days to your trip. Safety above all! Have a great trip.
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Road Captain
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From: Knoxville
Yes....I was thinking the same thing. OK, how about this? 4 days out to Farmington NM.
1 day riding Monument Valley
1 day out to the South Rim of Grand Canyon, A day up to Durango Co and Silverton Co. Then 4 days back taking the same route?
We leave the Black Hills for next time.
1 day riding Monument Valley
1 day out to the South Rim of Grand Canyon, A day up to Durango Co and Silverton Co. Then 4 days back taking the same route?
We leave the Black Hills for next time.
Last edited by Chaz in TN; May 11, 2011 at 07:27 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 614
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From: Knoxville
Yes, I think it's too much. I think by the time the ride is half over, you're going to be so saddle weary from having to make 620 miles a day that the fun is going to fade quick.
On one of my two 2800 mile road trips, I did a 690 miles in one day aboard a Deuce with a Sundowner seat, using my duffel on the passenger pillion for a back rest. It was a chore and and that day ceased to be fun after about 500 miles.
Plus, IF the wife is riding behind you on either that Heritage or Glide... her butt ain't gonna' hold out on those afterthought passenger pillions.
Are you just wanting to get to the Black Hills and back? What is your goal here?
Wife and I have a 2800 mile ride planned for the last week of May first of June. Even on the Ultra, we only have one or two 520 mile "transport days"* planned. The rest are much smaller so we can slow up and take in the sights and stop when we want to.
* Transport day: Riding through ho-hum scenery... so in a hurry to get to the good stuff.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
On one of my two 2800 mile road trips, I did a 690 miles in one day aboard a Deuce with a Sundowner seat, using my duffel on the passenger pillion for a back rest. It was a chore and and that day ceased to be fun after about 500 miles.
Plus, IF the wife is riding behind you on either that Heritage or Glide... her butt ain't gonna' hold out on those afterthought passenger pillions.
Are you just wanting to get to the Black Hills and back? What is your goal here?
Wife and I have a 2800 mile ride planned for the last week of May first of June. Even on the Ultra, we only have one or two 520 mile "transport days"* planned. The rest are much smaller so we can slow up and take in the sights and stop when we want to.
* Transport day: Riding through ho-hum scenery... so in a hurry to get to the good stuff.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
Best of luck on your ride this summer as well.