Mac to Kanab in 24 (15?)

[frankenfeejeer]

I'll be making a run from McMinnville, OR to Kanab, UT at the end of July. Time for father-son bonding time in Model T's cruising the deserts and canyons of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Should be a fun trip.

Knowing how difficult it is to get time off work, my plan (at this point) is to leave McMinnville at 6am and take this route:

Google maps says 1059 miles over 18 hours.

How accurate are the miles here? It looks like I could be looking at a 225 mile section between Burns and Winnemucca. That seems to be about my limit on a tank in the FeeJeer.

Also, the time seems a bit off to me. I'm pretty sure I can average 70+mph (conservative) throught the desert, which cuts my time to 15 hours with plenty of time for gas breaks.

I have also been considering a few "warm up" rides. I seem to be able to clock 300 miles at a shot pretty easily, but I'm sure it gets harder as the hours accumulate...

Here is an example of a "warm up" route I've been looking at:

Although I will probably cut off the jaunt all the way to Pendleton, this is just over 700 miles of some very fun Oregon and Washington roads. I'm planning this for sometime around the middle of June. Company would be appreciated!!

I'm looking forward to your "professional"? (experienced) feedback!!

Thanks!

Brian

 

[MCRIDER007]

You can buy gas at McDermitt which is on the Oregon Nevada border. Highway 205 from Burns to Denio (which has gas) is a bit longer but a much nicer ride.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

You can buy gas at McDermitt which is on the Oregon Nevada border. Highway 205 from Burns to Denio (which has gas) is a bit longer but a much nicer ride.

I like the idea of a nicer ride...

How much longer do you suppose?

And if you were attempting a 1k ride in a day, would you still take that route?

Thanks, BTW- this is exactly what I am looking for!

 

[jwhite518]

You can reliably haul ass in Nevada outside of populated areas, at the expense of fuel economy. Unless you have aux fuel, and depending on your definition of ass hauling, it could be a tradeoff in time - any time gained by speeding is lost by additional fuel stops.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

You can reliably haul ass in Nevada outside of populated areas, at the expense of fuel economy. Unless you have aux fuel, and depending on your definition of ass hauling, it could be a tradeoff in time - any time gained by speeding is lost by additional fuel stops.

I feel I can safely and comfortably cruise is the 80-90 range. I have been considering taking a 1 gallon fuel can in a side bag for any emergency situation that may arise. It seems pretty easy to calculate distances between fuel stops, just not sure...

 

[Ignacio]

You can buy gas at McDermitt which is on the Oregon Nevada border. Highway 205 from Burns to Denio (which has gas) is a bit longer but a much nicer ride.

I like the idea of a nicer ride...

How much longer do you suppose?

And if you were attempting a 1k ride in a day, would you still take that route?

Thanks, BTW- this is exactly what I am looking for!

McDermitt doesn't add any miles to your route....still 1066 according to MS Streets and Trips 2013. More than enough for SS documentation purposes. I can't remember for sure, but I wouldn't bank on McDermitt being 24 hour fuel. I fueled there several years ago and remember it was pay inside...the kind of place that would shut down each evening. I don't remember a pay at the pump option.

Doing Denio instead of McDermitt add about 12 miles to 1078 according to MS&T.

Also, fuel choices in Hines are better instead of Burns proper and saves a few miles.

Overall, this would be a fairly fast Saddle Sore. Nevada and Utah overcome the slower Oregon part. Once off I-80...it would be a hoot to Ely..and then fast again as you get to Baker.

 

[MCRIDER007]

You can buy gas at McDermitt which is on the Oregon Nevada border. Highway 205 from Burns to Denio (which has gas) is a bit longer but a much nicer ride.

I like the idea of a nicer ride...

How much longer do you suppose?

And if you were attempting a 1k ride in a day, would you still take that route?

Thanks, BTW- this is exactly what I am looking for!

McDermitt doesn't add any miles to your route....still 1066 according to MS Streets and Trips 2013. More than enough for SS documentation purposes. I can't remember for sure, but I wouldn't bank on McDermitt being 24 hour fuel. I fueled there several years ago and remember it was pay inside...the kind of place that would shut down each evening. I don't remember a pay at the pump option.

Doing Denio instead of McDermitt add about 12 miles to 1078 according to MS&T.

Matt brings up a good point about gas in McDermitt and it probably applies to Denio as well, I would think that you would be fine as long as you get there by 6 PM but you should be able to find a phone number and call in advance. The Denio route is probably faster than going through McDermitt just because it is so remote, good visibility, and virtually no traffic.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

Leaving around 6am, I don't think getting gas in that area should be a problem. I'm hoping that gas shouldn't be a problem anywhere since I should arrive in Kanab by 9 or 10pm.

At least thats the idea...

 

[Panman]

Did 1150 in 18 hours that averaged 64 miles and hour, there was seven stops for fuel in between the start and finish.

I averaged about 37 miles to the gallon pulling my little trailer. The two couples I was with averaged about 33 miles to the gallon pulling the larger Bushtec's.

I'd say you might be able do it 16 with one less stop if your lucky.

 

[jwhite518]

End of July. What's your hydration situation? Pounding a jug of Gatorade every fillup isn't going to cut it on those roads at that time of year.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

Did 1150 in 18 hours that averaged 64 miles and hour, there was seven stops for fuel in between the start and finish.I averaged about 37 miles to the gallon pulling my little trailer. The two couples I was with averaged about 33 miles to the gallon pulling the larger Bushtec's.

I'd say you might be able do it 16 with one less stop if your lucky.

I'm figuring to average 40mpg. I have stops penciled out as follows:

Mac to Bend 158 miles 2:30 hours with stop for fuel

Bend to Burns 130 miles 2:00 with fuel

Burns to Winnemucca 221 miles 3:00 w/ fuel

Winnemucca to Eureka 192 miles 2:45 w/ fuel

Eureka to Modena 227 miles 3:00 w/ fuel

Modena to Kanab 133 miles 2:00

That looks like about 17 hours with 15 minute stops for fuel averaging between 70 and 80 mph.

End of July. What's your hydration situation? Pounding a jug of Gatorade every fillup isn't going to cut it on those roads at that time of year.

Hadn't even considered that...

I suppose my CamelBack full of ice water/iced tea/gatorade/Johnny Walker Black??

Good thinking!! Thanks!!

 

[tcfjr]

End of July. What's your hydration situation? Pounding a jug of Gatorade every fillup isn't going to cut it on those roads at that time of year.

Hadn't even considered that...

I suppose my CamelBack full of ice water/iced tea/gatorade/Johnny Walker Black??

Good thinking!! Thanks!!

Or, consider a Garauld Hydration System - easy to mount, easy to fill, and enough volume to get you through a full stint of desert riding in July...

 

[frankenfeejeer]

End of July. What's your hydration situation? Pounding a jug of Gatorade every fillup isn't going to cut it on those roads at that time of year.

Hadn't even considered that...

I suppose my CamelBack full of ice water/iced tea/gatorade/Johnny Walker Black??

Good thinking!! Thanks!!

Or, consider a Garauld Hydration System - easy to mount, easy to fill, and enough volume to get you through a full stint of desert riding in July...

I have been looking into that. I've been super happy with everything I've ordered from him so far...

 

[jwhite518]

I like the plastic cooler myself. Much easier to fill than a Camelback. Load it with ice, then load it with water. On a hot day the ice melts at just the right pace so you always have cold water. Also wearing a backpack sucks. If you want to go the Camelback route, toss the backpack part and put the reservoir in your tank bag.

Personally I think the footpeg mounts are suboptimal for two reasons: 1) the cooler is too small, 2) High cost. For less money you can get some soft saddlebags that rest on your footpegs, and put a 1 gallon cooler in one side, other stuff in the other side. With a gallon of ice water on board you'll never run out. Doesn't look as nice, though. What's more important, looking awesome or carrying enough ice water? Just MNSHO.

Lastly: Keep your vents closed. Wear LDComfort long sleeve shirt (yes, in hot weather.) Douse your sleeves from wrist to elbow in water. Open up the wrist flaps on your riding jacket to allow fresh air into your jacket via the arms. The intake air passes over the wet sleeves and produces very cold air, that fills up your jacket and cools your entire torso. It's like sitting in air conditioning. Every hour or two the sleeves need to be re-wet, but it's the coolest you'll ever be on a hot day.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

I like the plastic cooler myself. Much easier to fill than a Camelback. Load it with ice, then load it with water. On a hot day the ice melts at just the right pace so you always have cold water. Also wearing a backpack sucks. If you want to go the Camelback route, toss the backpack part and put the reservoir in your tank bag.
Personally I think the footpeg mounts are suboptimal for two reasons: 1) the cooler is too small, 2) High cost. For less money you can get some soft saddlebags that rest on your footpegs, and put a 1 gallon cooler in one side, other stuff in the other side. With a gallon of ice water on board you'll never run out. Doesn't look as nice, though. What's more important, looking awesome or carrying enough ice water? Just MNSHO.

Lastly: Keep your vents closed. Wear LDComfort long sleeve shirt (yes, in hot weather.) Douse your sleeves from wrist to elbow in water. Open up the wrist flaps on your riding jacket to allow fresh air into your jacket via the arms. The intake air passes over the wet sleeves and produces very cold air, that fills up your jacket and cools your entire torso. It's like sitting in air conditioning. Every hour or two the sleeves need to be re-wet, but it's the coolest you'll ever be on a hot day.

Vents on my jacket? Cause my bikee has no nifty vents (unlike you newer, fancier folks)

Also, cooler? Like a water jug? LIke the one that Garaulds set up uses? But without using the setup?

I think the idea of the CamelBak in the tank bag is a good one, as long as there isn't anything in there that will get soaking wet from the condensation...

Keep em coming folks!!

 

[frankenfeejeer]

BTW- Whats the word on the accuracy on the miles Google maps reports and what the FeeJeers actually log? Big discrepancies there could lead to disaster!!

 

[frankenfeejeer]

Would there be any advantage of taking this route instead? Perhaps the availability of fuel?

 

[TripperMike]

JMO but I've never been a big fan of carrying extra fuel in a side bag or on the rack. If you were thinking of maybe a jug or a plastic 2 liter soda bottle, the heat at that time of year, I would think, would make it expand more than I'd be comfortable with. The frequent stops you plan to make, I think spare fuel wouldn't be necessary. Before I got around to making my aux fuel cell, I was tempted a time or two to carry extra fuel in "other" ways, but I just couldn't get comfortable with the idea.

I think the best suggestion yet is extra water. I am looking forward to the "wet sleeves" trick though this year. Just got a stich this winter and I notice it has far fewer vents than the road tested jacket it replaces.

Have a great ride Franken'

 

[MCRIDER007]

Would there be any advantage of taking this route instead? Perhaps the availability of fuel?

That would be the fastest, safest route since most of it is freeway or very straight, wide 2-lane. You are worrying too much about fuel, you should not have any problems at all on the other routes.