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7 June 2006
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One of the things about planning a trip that will give you ulcers is having to balance everyone's schedule to make it happen. I can't go this weekend, but you can't go on this one, so we will go on that one but then they won't be able to go and so on and so on it goes. So as it happens to me many times I will go alone and only worry about my own schedule. It would've been nice to have company to share the trip with, but as it looks now I will be my only company.

Maybe it's better this way, after all I now have only me to think about, one gas tank, one bladder and the route can now be even more flexible without the worry of anyone knowing I got lost or turned around. Still it would be nice to have a second person in the event of an unplanned mishap or breakdown.

Traveling by motorcycle today is pretty safe if you keep your head; modern motorcycles are by far a lot more reliable than they used to be. So the fear of a breakdown you can't handle without help is really not much of a concern. Metric bikes all come with neat handy tool kits so packing your toolbox really isn't necessary. With the advent of the computerized everything if something did happen to your modern marvel chances are you won't be able to fix it roadside anyway.

By the way it's never a good idea to have major work done to the bike just before you take off on a long trek to somewhere far and distant. Without fail you will find your mechanics imperfections while you're in the middle of somewhere and nowhere. Get some miles on the repairs to insure everything is ready for your trek out of the area. It's also not a good time to try out new gear, small things like new socks or boots can really be annoying when you toes are cramped up in your boots for miles at a time. You want to be as comfortable in your clothing as well as on your bike for long distance riding.

So the only real problem is you and the other drivers out there. As long as you keep your focus on what you're doing and they do the same you pretty much can bet on making it to your destination.

One of the things we have to keep in mind when planning a long trip on a motorcycle is time, it will take longer by motorcycle because we will be stopping more. There are very few motorcycles with gas tanks that will go over 120 miles. And we take more time to get back on the road every time we stop. And we stop more than we do when we travel by car. Our comfort is a priority, not only do we get cramped riding long distances we need to stop for fuel and relax the mind so we can keep that all important focus on our riding.

I try to make fewer stops in the beginning of a long ride; 100 miles between stops to get as much distance under my belt while I'm fresh. As the day wears on I will stop more often maybe every 70 miles or so, at night I usually try to be off the road and asleep, but when traveling at night I like to stop every 60 miles or so.

What do you do when you stop? Re-fuel remember you never have enough gas unless you're on fire; use the rest room, and get water and go. If you have time to sit and eat a meal make it a small one, eating a large meal will make you tired and it will be harder to keep your focus on your riding. Snack foods to munch while riding is cool too. Just remember what ever you do; getting started again is always harder and the bigger the group the longer it takes to get back on the road.

What to take with you on the road is another question that's asked a lot. Every one of us will have a different list of things you just have to take. Take what ever you think you need and can carry safely. Me I never travel with much stuff, if I need to carry a lot of gear I will take the car. But on the motorcycle I tend to travel as light as possible. What ever you intend to wear, how long your going to be on the road or at your destination. Here's a tip, mail or UPS your clothes to your destination ahead of time; that way you only have to carry what you really need on the bike with you. Just what you really need is really up to you. Cell phone, sun blocker, emergency water, and credit cards whatever you think you will need that's small enough to fit in tank bag or glove box. I carry my tooth brush, change of socks and underwear. If I am on vacation I will leave shaving for when I get back or drop into a local 7/11 and get a throwaway razor.

There are two things I take on long trips, my walkman and my ear plugs. When I am not listening to a tape I have my earplugs in. A lot of you may be thinking with ear plugs you won't be able to hear the traffic around you; but you will and best of all you will protect your hearing. The wind rush past your ears and listening to those loud pipes for many miles at a time, will cause hearing loss and will eventually give you a headache.

Maps? Ok you can take them with you only if you will use them. If map reading isn't one of your skills fear not; traveling the interstates is really easy and the signs are all in English. But if you are like me and prefer back roads; map-reading skill is an imperative unless you're gifted and know every road in the states you intend to travel. Me I have a good map program in my computer which will print maps for the areas I need. They fit rather neatly in the map case of my tank bag. If you're equipped with GPS, you're cheating; after all getting lost is more fun than never making a wrong turn. You never know what lies down the wrong road…