Annual "Big Ride"
Annual "Big Ride"
Every year for the past ten years I take off the day after Labor Day for a 4K to 5K mile trip. Don't usually have have anyplace I need to be on any certain date but this year I've booked a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon out of Las Vegas so I need to be there on September 9th. I mapped out a tentative route (see link below) that takes me through 12 National Parks and 3 National Monuments. Any feedback on good side trips along my route would be appreciated. I've only planned about 400 miles a day so I will have time to stop and take pictures or take any interesting side trips.
Edit: http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo
Edit: http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo
Last edited by FXDXTSport; Aug 30, 2014 at 04:46 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Can't get the link to work, but I am assuming that you are going to be doing some mountain riding and a lot of 2 lane stuff. If that is the case, you might be getting a little ambitious with 400 miles a day. When riding mountains in Colorado/Utah/NM/Az. 400 miles is going to be a 10-12 hour proposition if you stop to smell the roses, take pics, etc.
Bill
Bill
I recreated the route in MapQuest so this link should work
http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo
You're right, it is a 10 to 12 hours day to average 400 miles a day with sightseeing and picture taking. I start each day at 7 AM and end each day by 7 PM. Get checked in, have dinner and get to bed by 10 PM. Up by 6 AM and on the road at 7. Some days are only 300 miles and others are 500. The 500 miles days got long when I was doing these trips on my Dyna but their a piece of cake on the Street Glide, guess that's why they call them "touring" bikes. I love cruise control and a fairing for the long days.
Still looking for advice on any recommended side trips. Thanks.
http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo
You're right, it is a 10 to 12 hours day to average 400 miles a day with sightseeing and picture taking. I start each day at 7 AM and end each day by 7 PM. Get checked in, have dinner and get to bed by 10 PM. Up by 6 AM and on the road at 7. Some days are only 300 miles and others are 500. The 500 miles days got long when I was doing these trips on my Dyna but their a piece of cake on the Street Glide, guess that's why they call them "touring" bikes. I love cruise control and a fairing for the long days.
Still looking for advice on any recommended side trips. Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 200
From: usa
I wish I could plan like that...my plans fall apart while enroute.
I ride too far and its not good...get too tired and enjoyment level goes down.
I know your route thru Colorado and Utah very well and have ridden some of those roads.
From Rangely Colorado to Fruitia near I70 you wont see a red light or stop sign! I love that route...
And like billnourse indicated speed and two lanes will make an impact, that little road from I-70 to Moab is incredible...but for some sections its down to 30mph. I know those side trips near Moab will take up time. They just do.
enjoy
I ride too far and its not good...get too tired and enjoyment level goes down.
I know your route thru Colorado and Utah very well and have ridden some of those roads.
From Rangely Colorado to Fruitia near I70 you wont see a red light or stop sign! I love that route...
And like billnourse indicated speed and two lanes will make an impact, that little road from I-70 to Moab is incredible...but for some sections its down to 30mph. I know those side trips near Moab will take up time. They just do.
enjoy
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
I don't think I'd go that close to Monument Valley without going there, especially if I hadn't been there before.
I liked Ennis, MT.
I was in Monument Valley on my trip two years ago. What's in Ennis, MT I could route through there and enter Yellowstone from the west. If I did that I would miss North Yellowstone.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
Just mentioned in passing that I liked it, probably not much different from some other neat mountain towns, and probably different from when I was there in 1989.
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