Should I Try It?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 65
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From: NorCal
Should I Try It? I DID IT!
Well, did the trip and I am back. Smile on my face now but hairy along the way.
For those that suggested 300 or so miles a day - that is good advice. I lost a bit of focus after 7-8 hours on the road. Nothing serious, butI questioned whether I was in the best frame of mind to make good riding decisions. A few breaks helped. Next time I will plan an overnight stop and keepit to 6-7 hours days.
Learned another thing - riding in Decemberis way more unpredictable than during milder weather.Upon leavingNorthern California at 7 am,Iran intotempsin the high 30s/low 40s. A storm from the Gulf of Alaska had just brushed the state and dropped temps 10-20 degrees from normal. It didn't take much of this for my hands to start going numb. I had an electric vest andthickgloves, but the cold eventually got to me. Istopped along I-5 south and bought a thin pair ofcotton gloves. These fit under my leather riding gloves andmadeit tolerable.At least until I got to the Grapevine, as it is called, over the Tehachapi mountains between Bakersfield and LA. Snow was falling. The road was clear but it was damn cold. Lesson learned. Igot home and had heatedgrips installed.
The weather really threw me a curve on the way back from Palm Springs to NorCal. I packed up and left Palm Springs at 4:00 am, hoping to beat the commuter rush around LA. When I left I saw nothing but stars in the sky. I gassed up along I-10 West. At the Arco, two older men who looked like vagabonds from "The Grapes of Wrath" approached me. One told me aboutthe old Indianhe used to ride. The other mentioned an XLCR he eventually sold for $500 when he needed cash. They were bumming money for gas in their old truck. Colorful characters, to say the least.
Not more than 30 minutes later the stars disappeared and the sky went completely black. I was still an hour east of LA,withonly scattered lights in the distance. Thetemps really dropped and then thehail started.Not gradually, buta sudden shear.With thedarkness, the hailand thedouble vision from my face shield andwindscreenI couldn't see at all.This was scary. I knew I had to getoff theroad but traffic was surrounding me from behind. I finally found an exit but itturned out to be an unincorporated area and there wasnowhereto getout of harm's way.Reluctantly I got backonthe interstate but clung to the slow lane behinda semi I used as a beacon to follow through the storm. Just about at my wits end, I spotted a Denny's and pulled off until the sun finally rose behind thethick gray clouds. The rest of the ride home was relatively uneventful. I stopped at a couple ofHarley dealers along the way, and let the hot coffee, friendly staff and smell of the new bikes lift my spirits.
Yep, I will be better prepped next time. Even so, how else but on a bike could so much have happened? I will remember this trip fora long time. The good and the bad. Now I will try to get some pics loaded. The desert mountains are breathtaking.
For those that suggested 300 or so miles a day - that is good advice. I lost a bit of focus after 7-8 hours on the road. Nothing serious, butI questioned whether I was in the best frame of mind to make good riding decisions. A few breaks helped. Next time I will plan an overnight stop and keepit to 6-7 hours days.
Learned another thing - riding in Decemberis way more unpredictable than during milder weather.Upon leavingNorthern California at 7 am,Iran intotempsin the high 30s/low 40s. A storm from the Gulf of Alaska had just brushed the state and dropped temps 10-20 degrees from normal. It didn't take much of this for my hands to start going numb. I had an electric vest andthickgloves, but the cold eventually got to me. Istopped along I-5 south and bought a thin pair ofcotton gloves. These fit under my leather riding gloves andmadeit tolerable.At least until I got to the Grapevine, as it is called, over the Tehachapi mountains between Bakersfield and LA. Snow was falling. The road was clear but it was damn cold. Lesson learned. Igot home and had heatedgrips installed.
The weather really threw me a curve on the way back from Palm Springs to NorCal. I packed up and left Palm Springs at 4:00 am, hoping to beat the commuter rush around LA. When I left I saw nothing but stars in the sky. I gassed up along I-10 West. At the Arco, two older men who looked like vagabonds from "The Grapes of Wrath" approached me. One told me aboutthe old Indianhe used to ride. The other mentioned an XLCR he eventually sold for $500 when he needed cash. They were bumming money for gas in their old truck. Colorful characters, to say the least.
Not more than 30 minutes later the stars disappeared and the sky went completely black. I was still an hour east of LA,withonly scattered lights in the distance. Thetemps really dropped and then thehail started.Not gradually, buta sudden shear.With thedarkness, the hailand thedouble vision from my face shield andwindscreenI couldn't see at all.This was scary. I knew I had to getoff theroad but traffic was surrounding me from behind. I finally found an exit but itturned out to be an unincorporated area and there wasnowhereto getout of harm's way.Reluctantly I got backonthe interstate but clung to the slow lane behinda semi I used as a beacon to follow through the storm. Just about at my wits end, I spotted a Denny's and pulled off until the sun finally rose behind thethick gray clouds. The rest of the ride home was relatively uneventful. I stopped at a couple ofHarley dealers along the way, and let the hot coffee, friendly staff and smell of the new bikes lift my spirits.
Yep, I will be better prepped next time. Even so, how else but on a bike could so much have happened? I will remember this trip fora long time. The good and the bad. Now I will try to get some pics loaded. The desert mountains are breathtaking.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,698
Likes: 11
From: Longview, Washington
RE: Should I Try It? I DID IT!
ORIGINAL: KindredSpirit
Well, did the trip and I am back. Smile on my face now but hairy along the way.
For those that suggested 300 or so miles a day - that is good advice. I lost a bit of focus after 7-8 hours on the road. Nothing serious, butI questioned whether I was in the best frame of mind to make good riding decisions. A few breaks helped. Next time I will plan an overnight stop and keepit to 6-7 hours days.
Learned another thing - riding in Decemberis way more unpredictable than during milder weather.Upon leavingNorthern California at 7 am,Iran intotempsin the high 30s/low 40s. A storm from the Gulf of Alaska had just brushed the state and dropped temps 10-20 degrees from normal. It didn't take much of this for my hands to start going numb. I had an electric vest andthickgloves, but the cold eventually got to me. Istopped along I-5 south and bought a thin pair ofcotton gloves. These fit under my leather riding gloves andmadeit tolerable.At least until I got to the Grapevine, as it is called, over the Tehachapi mountains between Bakersfield and LA. Snow was falling. The road was clear but it was damn cold. Lesson learned. Igot home and had heatedgrips installed.
The weather really threw me a curve on the way back from Palm Springs to NorCal. I packed up and left Palm Springs at 4:00 am, hoping to beat the commuter rush around LA. When I left I saw nothing but stars in the sky. I gassed up along I-10 West. At the Arco, two older men who looked like vagabonds from "The Grapes of Wrath" approached me. One told me aboutthe old Indianhe used to ride. The other mentioned an XLCR he eventually sold for $500 when he needed cash. They were bumming money for gas in their old truck. Colorful characters, to say the least.
Not more than 30 minutes later the stars disappeared and the sky went completely black. I was still an hour east of LA,withonly scattered lights in the distance. Thetemps really dropped and then thehail started.Not gradually, buta sudden shear.With thedarkness, the hailand thedouble vision from my face shield andwindscreenI couldn't see at all.This was scary. I knew I had to getoff theroad but traffic was surrounding me from behind. I finally found an exit but itturned out to be an unincorporated area and there wasnowhereto getout of harm's way.Reluctantly I got backonthe interstate but clung to the slow lane behinda semi I used as a beacon to follow through the storm. Just about at my wits end, I spotted a Denny's and pulled off until the sun finally rose behind thethick gray clouds. The rest of the ride home was relatively uneventful. I stopped at a couple ofHarley dealers along the way, and let the hot coffee, friendly staff and smell of the new bikes lift my spirits.
Yep, I will be better prepped next time. Even so, how else but on a bike could so much have happened? I will remember this trip fora long time. The good and the bad. Now I will try to get some pics loaded. The desert mountains are breathtaking.
Well, did the trip and I am back. Smile on my face now but hairy along the way.
For those that suggested 300 or so miles a day - that is good advice. I lost a bit of focus after 7-8 hours on the road. Nothing serious, butI questioned whether I was in the best frame of mind to make good riding decisions. A few breaks helped. Next time I will plan an overnight stop and keepit to 6-7 hours days.
Learned another thing - riding in Decemberis way more unpredictable than during milder weather.Upon leavingNorthern California at 7 am,Iran intotempsin the high 30s/low 40s. A storm from the Gulf of Alaska had just brushed the state and dropped temps 10-20 degrees from normal. It didn't take much of this for my hands to start going numb. I had an electric vest andthickgloves, but the cold eventually got to me. Istopped along I-5 south and bought a thin pair ofcotton gloves. These fit under my leather riding gloves andmadeit tolerable.At least until I got to the Grapevine, as it is called, over the Tehachapi mountains between Bakersfield and LA. Snow was falling. The road was clear but it was damn cold. Lesson learned. Igot home and had heatedgrips installed.
The weather really threw me a curve on the way back from Palm Springs to NorCal. I packed up and left Palm Springs at 4:00 am, hoping to beat the commuter rush around LA. When I left I saw nothing but stars in the sky. I gassed up along I-10 West. At the Arco, two older men who looked like vagabonds from "The Grapes of Wrath" approached me. One told me aboutthe old Indianhe used to ride. The other mentioned an XLCR he eventually sold for $500 when he needed cash. They were bumming money for gas in their old truck. Colorful characters, to say the least.
Not more than 30 minutes later the stars disappeared and the sky went completely black. I was still an hour east of LA,withonly scattered lights in the distance. Thetemps really dropped and then thehail started.Not gradually, buta sudden shear.With thedarkness, the hailand thedouble vision from my face shield andwindscreenI couldn't see at all.This was scary. I knew I had to getoff theroad but traffic was surrounding me from behind. I finally found an exit but itturned out to be an unincorporated area and there wasnowhereto getout of harm's way.Reluctantly I got backonthe interstate but clung to the slow lane behinda semi I used as a beacon to follow through the storm. Just about at my wits end, I spotted a Denny's and pulled off until the sun finally rose behind thethick gray clouds. The rest of the ride home was relatively uneventful. I stopped at a couple ofHarley dealers along the way, and let the hot coffee, friendly staff and smell of the new bikes lift my spirits.
Yep, I will be better prepped next time. Even so, how else but on a bike could so much have happened? I will remember this trip fora long time. The good and the bad. Now I will try to get some pics loaded. The desert mountains are breathtaking.
Our trip covered 2700 miles. We learned that riding the freeway is not much fun.
Only close call was
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
RE: Should I Try It?
Here's my belated - Oh Hell Yes!!!
Since I'm from Michigan, those temps seem normal to warm for me. Of course, you figured out one of the keys early and often. Them heated grips are awesome!! Glad you had a good time and were safe, good on ya' [sm=groupwave.gif]
And, of course, the customary:
[sm=ttiwwp.gif]
Since I'm from Michigan, those temps seem normal to warm for me. Of course, you figured out one of the keys early and often. Them heated grips are awesome!! Glad you had a good time and were safe, good on ya' [sm=groupwave.gif]
And, of course, the customary:
[sm=ttiwwp.gif]
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