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ARE YOU ROAD<br />
TRIP READY?<br />
Over the winter months, many riders dream about where they would<br />
like to go, once the roads are clear and the weather warmer. We have all<br />
said, "I just want to take a road trip."<br />
Ask yourself - are you road trip ready?<br />
Start planning now by asking yourself,<br />
where do I want to go? Is this a weekend<br />
getaway or a marathon cross country<br />
trip? Is it wide open Interstate<br />
Highway, or winding high mountain<br />
passes? Will you be staying in a hotel or<br />
camping? Will you be riding solo, two<br />
up, or with a group? There is safety and<br />
security in numbers. With your riding<br />
ability are you capable of reaching your<br />
destination in your allotted amount of<br />
By “Bubba”<br />
time.<br />
Now ask yourself, are you prepared to take that road trip? Have you<br />
ever ridden that far? Most importantly will your health and physical fitness<br />
let you make a ride of this type?<br />
Logistics<br />
You have decided where you want to go. Now you must decide how<br />
long you will take to get there. Are you going to ride 200 or 600 miles<br />
in a day? Pace your travels realistically. Don't try to ride so many hours<br />
in a day that it might affect your reflexes or decision making ability.<br />
After all, most of the fun is in the journey, not simply in reaching a destination.<br />
While riding, be sure to stop whenever necessary-- whether for a<br />
snack, stretch, or nap. The simple act of taking a breather will make the<br />
ride all the more enjoyable.<br />
Fuel stops? Are there areas where you must stop for gas because the<br />
next stop is over 100 miles away? It is always best to err on the side of<br />
caution, when in doubt stop and fill up.<br />
After you've planned your route, you'll want to check the weather<br />
forecast and get an idea of what to expect in terms the elements.<br />
Always have your cold and wet weather gear with you.<br />
www.weather.com & www.weather.gov are two good resources for<br />
travel planning.<br />
Packing<br />
If you watch the ounces, the pounds will take care of themselves.<br />
When possible, lighter is better. Packing for a long distance motorcycle<br />
ride is a delicate balance between bringing enough items to ensure comfort,<br />
and not overloading yourself with unnecessary weight and bulk.<br />
When loading up your bike, always put heavier, more solid items on<br />
the bottom and sides closer to the bike (to centralize weight). Lighter<br />
items should go on top.<br />
If you don't have saddlebags or tank bags, you should consider using<br />
bungee nets to secure loose items. If you must travel with items secured<br />
by a bungee net, ensure that they are snug and will not get loosened by<br />
the winds. Take extra bungee straps, they don't take up much room and<br />
can be useful if something needs to be secured better.<br />
Do a dry run before the trip. The added weight will change the dynamics<br />
and handling of your bike. Better to find this out on a quick trip<br />
around the block than to be repacking on the side of the highway.<br />
Clothing<br />
When choosing your clothes, consider packing several thin layers of<br />
clothing, rather than a few thick ones. Flexibility is the key to staying<br />
comfortable. It's far better to have the option to stop and shed or add<br />
layers as necessary, than to shiver or sweat your way through what<br />
would otherwise be an enjoyable, scenic route.<br />
Snacks<br />
Be sure to bring energy bars or trail mix and water. If hunger or thirst<br />
strikes while you're far from convenience stores or gas stations,<br />
Continued on page 7<br />
MOTORCYCLERIDERNEWS.COM<br />
MOTORCYCLE RIDER NEWS—ENTERTAINMENT MAY <strong>2011</strong><br />
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