The 700 that could have been 1000

[dingofarmer]

Well I have yet to post a full ride report for my first real long range trip from Eaton, Co to Laguna Secca, Monterrey, CA, and back. In preparation for a first long trip I had though about doing a IBA 1K run to make sure I was up to the task. The ride out was very blah, as we took I80 through to reno. I was surprised that the first day yielded over 600 miles for two first time riders. The return trip was what really made me wish I had thought more seriously about the 1K.

I did tons of research on long distance riding and gear selection. I noticed several things that made the most difference.

-Drinking water every 30 miles from my tank mounted camle pack and a refill with ice every stop.

-130mile stops are for sport bikes and the birds, however 225mile stops for gas and 5 minutes of stretching are perfect.

-Less windscreen=more M.P.G.

-Podcast of the funny variety kept me alive, alert, and in good spirits.

-368miles of twisty hell through Tahoe and on through Yosemite are about the same 700miles of slab. ( My buddy actually thought I80 was sport touring.)

-polytech underoos and leather suit do just fine in 95+ degree temps above 65 m.p.h.

-riding at night through Nevada is very demanding.

-riding during peak heat is not the best option. (My buddies Idea)Never again.

Anyways, on to the point. I left Monterrey at 7am, and went north on I5 to Reno, I80 to Wendover. After arriving I started thinking that had I been able leave earlier and not stop every 130miles, I felt that 1k would have been more than do-able in a 24hr period at my current riding level. The second day was more of the same but I said latter to my buddy and stretched out my stops with a tentative plan to meet in Laramie, Wy for the final 100 miles home. I plan on incorporating a 1k very soon. I want to thank all the guys on this forum for their ride reports and of course the IBA website for some very real advice.

 

[101stpathfinder]

Sounds like a good ride. Thanks for sharing, I'll be through your area (Several times) in 2 weeks.

You need to watch the riding though- it is very addictive........... :yahoo:

 

[Bill]

-polytech underoos and leather suit do just fine in 95+ degree temps above 65 m.p.h.

I'm almost to the end of a 10,000+ mile USA Four Corners Tour and have experienced 6 days of 100+ heat, with the highest being 113.

Rather than polytech, I'll suggest that you consider trying very lightweight Merino wool shirt under your leathers. For me, it works better than Underarmour. I couldn't find Merino wool shorts that had the rear seams in the correct place so I am wearing LDComfort riding shorts under my Aerostich.

For timing, you may want to consider riding for 200 miles at 76 mph. At that speed, you won't get tired and you probably won't attract undue attention from law enforcement officers. It should take you 2 hours, 38 minutes to ride the 200 miles and that gives you 22 minutes to get off the highway, gas up, get a receipt, use the facilities, refill your water bottle and get back on the road at 76 mph. With that schedule, it will take 5 blocks of 3 hours each to complete the 1,000 miles in a total of 15 hours.

Overall, it sounds like you're very well-prepared for a SaddleSore 1000.

Good luck

 

[Pete Bansen]

You're on the right track, absolutely.

Hydration is critical in hot weather. In addition to your Camelbak, you could consider a 1 gallon jug from Wal-Mart adapted to use a Camelbak hose and bite valve. Much more capacity, better insulation, easier to fill with ice.

Highway 50 is my preferred route between Reno/Tahoe and Colorado. Much better scenery, no traffic and better riding are huge advantages. You need to plan your gas stops because it can be a long way between towns in Nevada and Western Utah. This isn't an issue on an FJR, but it would be on a sport bike. The other bonus is that you get to ride I-70 from Salina, Utah to Denver, which is about the most fun and pretty piece of Interstate anywhere

Another big thumbs-up for LDComfort underwear. It can really help out in very hot weather to wear the LDComfort long-sleeved top and wet down the sleeves under your jacket. I find that it gives me about 90 minutes of air-conditioned comfort to have the water in the material slowly evaporate and cool my arms and upper body. This is under a textile jacket (Aerostich Darien) with the vents closed.

Entertainment - podcasts or satellite radio - can be an excellent way of maintaining your alertness and enjoyment during duller stretches.

Riding at night in Nevada can be very demanding, especially without auxiliary lighting and the opportunity to use it. You're better off on a two-lane road where you can light up the auxiliary lights than on the freeway, frankly.

For me, the keys to successful long distance riding are to perfect the ergonomics of the bike as much as possible, plan a decent route and minimize the amount of time stopped. It's hard to do this with another person, unless your riding style and fuel capacity/burn rate are pretty similar. As you found out, you end up stopping to accommodate the range of the least capable bike. This is both tiresome and inefficient and is the reason why many people who ride seriously long miles have auxiliary fuel on their bikes (and mostly ride alone). It's hard to stay in the groove when you're stopping frequently (and every two hours, like you were doing, is frequently compared to riding out the FJR tank)

My advice would be to plan a route and ride it. It sounds to me like you have the skills and understand how to make it work - just have to make it happen!

Pete Bansen

Truckee, California

 

[dingofarmer]

You're on the right track, absolutely.

Hydration is critical in hot weather. In addition to your Camelbak, you could consider a 1 gallon jug from Wal-Mart adapted to use a Camelbak hose and bite valve. Much more capacity, better insulation, easier to fill with ice.

Highway 50 is my preferred route between Reno/Tahoe and Colorado. Much better scenery, no traffic and better riding are huge advantages. You need to plan your gas stops because it can be a long way between towns in Nevada and Western Utah. This isn't an issue on an FJR, but it would be on a sport bike. The other bonus is that you get to ride I-70 from Salina, Utah to Denver, which is about the most fun and pretty piece of Interstate anywhere

Another big thumbs-up for LDComfort underwear. It can really help out in very hot weather to wear the LDComfort long-sleeved top and wet down the sleeves under your jacket. I find that it gives me about 90 minutes of air-conditioned comfort to have the water in the material slowly evaporate and cool my arms and upper body. This is under a textile jacket (Aerostich Darien) with the vents closed.

Entertainment - podcasts or satellite radio - can be an excellent way of maintaining your alertness and enjoyment during duller stretches.

Riding at night in Nevada can be very demanding, especially without auxiliary lighting and the opportunity to use it. You're better off on a two-lane road where you can light up the auxiliary lights than on the freeway, frankly.

For me, the keys to successful long distance riding are to perfect the ergonomics of the bike as much as possible, plan a decent route and minimize the amount of time stopped. It's hard to do this with another person, unless your riding style and fuel capacity/burn rate are pretty similar. As you found out, you end up stopping to accommodate the range of the least capable bike. This is both tiresome and inefficient and is the reason why many people who ride seriously long miles have auxiliary fuel on their bikes (and mostly ride alone). It's hard to stay in the groove when you're stopping frequently (and every two hours, like you were doing, is frequently compared to riding out the FJR tank)

My advice would be to plan a route and ride it. It sounds to me like you have the skills and understand how to make it work - just have to make it happen!

Pete Bansen

Truckee, California

Guys thank you for the great responses.

In regards to the underoos, they are a long pair of pants and long sleeve shirt. They are REI breathable mesh made by polytech, I believe they are the light version. I was originally going to get the LD gear, but took a chance, and they worked out great. The temps were close to 100 on the way back.

I like the 76mph advice as that seemed to be the best speed to MPG,for me. the only thing that killed me was the my buddy and the frequent stops.

I like the water idea and the camel pack was 64oz I believe and was not nearly enough, I found my self digging into the tank bag for a bottle of water. Not sure how my friend did it, as I only saw him drink at stops. I guess that partially explains why he was to dead after each run.

I wish I had known about HWY 50, I80 was absolutely horrible during the day and the mega crosswind towards reno was bad. The nice thing was being able to spend the night in Tahoe at the kaspian camp ground.

I am going to try a 1k but am looking for a reason such as a trip or something like SWFOG or something. I need to get the water thing sorted out, and possibly upgrade to HID or something, you guys were not kidding about night driving in the desert, that 2hrs took more out of me mentally that the entire day.

101pathfinder- if your heading through fort Collins/Eaton area, I'll save a beer for you.

 

[SaharaJp99]

Sounds like you got it figured out!

To bad you didn't post his earlier! I would have told you about this: https://www.cofreewheelers.org/1000-in-24.html

I rode that weekend before last and had a blast! Beautiful ride. 1015 miles in 16 hours 51 minutes. Not too bad considering there were som 20mph sections. 4 fuel stops, longest tank was 274 miles, shortest was 183. No other stops. I had fun riding in an organized event with 90+ riders. Although after 3 hours or so I didn't see anyone else except one other rider as they were all stopping for fuel at 130 or so miles and I was towards the front of the pack, third to get back.

We'll have to meet up some time! I'm pretty close to you, see the Colorado thread.

Josh

 

[Pete Bansen]

In regards to the underoos, they are a long pair of pants and long sleeve shirt. They are REI breathable mesh made by polytech, I believe they are the light version. I was originally going to get the LD gear, but took a chance, and they worked out great. The temps were close to 100 on the way back.

There are plenty of underwear 'systems' that seem equivalent to the LDComfort products, but the experience and considered opinion of a lot of people who ride long distances in all kinds of horrible conditions is that the LDComfort stuff stands alone in terms of comfort and performance. It's expensive, no doubt about it, but the benefit provided more than justifies the cost. The other 'performance' underwear is designed for team sports, skiing, mountaineering, etc - the LDComfort products are purpose-designed for long distance motorcycling. Give it a try, really - it will make your riding much more comfortable and enjoyable. Soaking down the sleeves makes such a huge difference in hot weather - it's like having air conditioning in a car. BTW, I have no relationship with Mario Winkelman (who manufactures and sells LDComfort) other than being a satisfied customer and acquaintance, but his products are excellent and very durable.

I like the water idea and the camel pack was 64oz I believe and was not nearly enough, I found my self digging into the tank bag for a bottle of water. Not sure how my friend did it, as I only saw him drink at stops. I guess that partially explains why he was to dead after each run.

Yup, I'd say your observation is right on the money. You just can't allow yourself to get dehydrated - you need to drink a lot more than you would think to compensate for your output in hot weather. Staying well hydrated will allow you to ride more comfortably, feel fresher and maintain your focus. It is one of the absolute keys to putting in long, comfortable miles in hot weather. Your friend was dehydrated and feeling wasted and miserable as a result. Being able to drink water as you're riding makes a huge difference that enhances both your comfort and safety. Ice water in an insulated cooler with a Camelbak bite valve is an outstanding addition to your bike.

I wish I had known about HWY 50, I80 was absolutely horrible during the day and the mega crosswind towards reno was bad. The nice thing was being able to spend the night in Tahoe at the kaspian camp ground.

I am going to try a 1k but am looking for a reason such as a trip or something like SWFOG or something. I need to get the water thing sorted out, and possibly upgrade to HID or something, you guys were not kidding about night driving in the desert, that 2hrs took more out of me mentally that the entire day.

The night driving issue is interesting. As I said earlier, with auxiliary lighting, you're really better off on a two lane road than on the freeway, because you have more opportunity to take advantage of the added illumination. On the freeway, with more traffic moving both directions, the percentage of the time that you can keep the aux lighting turned on is pretty limited, in my experience (assuming that your aux lighting is throwing big wattage way down the road). On a rural, two lane in the west - Nevada, for example - the only time the aux lighting goes off is when overtaking traffic ahead or when someone is coming the other direction, and then there's a kind of brinkmanship over who dims their lights first. I try to wire my aux lighting so that I can "ramp" it down - first turn off the aux lighting, then switch from high beam to low. If the aux lights are wired to come on and go off with the high beam, there can be a momentary 'who turned off the lights' moment while your eyes adjust to the greatly (and suddenly) diminished amount of light. On a bike with separate bulbs for the high and low beams, an HID low beam can greatly diminish this sensation, because the lighting in the area covered by the low beam is still excellent, but that's not the case with the FJR. At some point, I may be tempted to try an HID, low beam only on one side and a conventional bulb in the other, coupled with driving lights. Some FJR riders have gone with HID low beams on both sides and use driving lights as their high beams, but because of the gradual warm-up of HID driving lights, I'm somewhat skeptical of that approach unless there is an 'instant on' halogen option, which can then be switched over to an HID pair for longer duration cruising. It's do-able, but complicated.

During hotter months in Nevada you have kind of a quandary, because during the day you look forward to getting out of the basins onto the mountain passes for a little cooler air. At night, the mountain passes are where the large critters tend to be more active, so you have to be extremely alert while in the higher ground and can relax a little more while in the basins, because the wildlife there tends to be smaller and less dangerous.

Hey, put together a quick SS1K on I-70 and Highway 50 - I'd be pleased to witness your finish in Reno. You could be out and back in a weekend, easy.

Pete Bansen

Truckee, California

 

[Bustanut joker]

I took the advice of Tony and a few others and started hydrating excessively? three days before my run. Plenty of water, fruit juice (not sugary drinks) and the like. We picked one of the hottest days of the year 100 plus in North Bay Ont.

I for one didn't have much of a problem keeping hydrated with my camelback. I refilled at every fuel stop and downed a bottle of water laced with about half the amount of gatoraide recommended for the jug.

My mp3 was use was sporadic as there were two of us, lead changes from time to time were enough to keep me focused.

As it was only 1k My choice of undergarments were the same as always. A pair of seemless spandex style knee shorts and a shirt of the same stuff.. Most of the sporting good joints carry this as footballers and others like to wear it under their jerseys.. Can't think of the name of the confounded stuff right now. :dribble:

As you said plenty of info to be gained here and IBA Website.

Good luck on your upcoming adventure