How to take the fun out of riding

Two years ago, 104 in a 100 zone. $128. In Gippsland. Didn't even know till
I got the ticket in the mail a month later.

Theo

 

How does all this relate to the topic? Which bit wasn't fun?
My longest day on a Blackbird was 1200km in 14 hrs from Singleton to
Melbourne, via the Putty Road, Bells Line of Road, a few laps of Mt
Panorama circuit, and 550km of the Hume Hwy, including 100km of belting
down rain north of Albury, and about 50km of peasoup fog around
Broadford. And all that on the last day of a 10-day 5000km ride.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Yeah mine is a 1997 Carby model.

Thanks for the advice. Off to Eagle I go.

Fraser

 

Nullabor cops must really be bored shitless. I'm not surprised.

Fraser

 

The rain wasn't fun. Neither was the sore arse. Everything else was
brilliant. : ) To tell the truth after a couple of days I forgotten the
unpleasant bits and I'm looking forward to doing it again. The worst bit of
the ride was 200ks out of Kal it was getting dark and like a dickhead I forgot
my clear visor. So I had the choice of limiting my visibility with the visor
down or riding with it up and letting my glasses block the wind. Which is ok
up to about 80km/h. I ended up finding a truck to tail behind and hit the roos
while I followed his tail lights about 30 metres back. But the air was really
broken up and I copped a major buffeting. That really sucked. I stopped in
Coolgardie and found a Landcruiser trayback to follow for the last 40ks to Kal.
That was ok. I'll never forget my visor again, that's for sure.

Fraser

 

[checks calendar] Oh... right you are!

 

I think nothing short of a full-on mobile-loungeroom Gold Wing would make
the Hay Plains trip enjoyable!

 

It wasn't on the Nullarbor but I saw a kangaroo fly once.
It was out near Cobar on my way to Adelaide via Broken Hill and the
headlights picked up a roo about 3' high in the middle of the road.
As I got closer it sprouted wings and flew off.
I think the eagles have been breeding with emus or something!

 

Nah, it's a cerebral thing...... if you play enough mindgames with yourself
it's amazing just how, um, enjoyable (ok, tolerable!) it can be

betty

 

My Pantah was only a 500 and with me on it "fast" wasn't really an option!
(Although it was pretty quick down Mt Glorious!)
I never rode it further than about 300km in a stint though; wrists and arse
(and back if I didn't have the solo-seat on) couldn't cope.

 

OK Clem, picking up on that bit about knowing how to tour....tips? (Apart
from the dead sheep thing... Heard that one and will do it soonish) You know
I like longish rides - I find I'm getting to that "are we there yet?" stage
at about 4-500kms, and the longest I've managed in a day is about 650kms. Is
there anything (apart from arse-hardening experience) to increase that daily
comfort-zone distance? The tips I have so far are:

*get a dead sheep under your bum
* stop and stretch PROPERLY every couple of hundred kms
*get a Goldwing <snigger>

betty, appreciative of any other
tips from experienced tourers

 

Jeeze you must've done a lot of Bathurst laps to bring that up to1200!!

 

Hmm... I'll concede that I'd already travelled 1200km before the trip west
and I'd listened to a night of Goaty and Mark G serenading before the trip
east so maybe I just didn't have the right mind-set.....

 

Well that could possibly explain it <grin>. ...not that I've ever heard
Goaty or Mark G serenading- they might be the Next Big Thing for all I
know... but will take your word for it, Clem...! If they shocked you and
your Hawaiian shirt, LOOK OUT WORLD!

betty

 

Number 1 is BE COMFORTABLE.
Have comfy shoes, comfy gloves, comfy pants, comfy undies etc etc. ****
"protection"; if it's even slightly uncomfortable when you set off it's
gonna' be murder 500km down the road (and you've got waay more risk of
hurting yourself if you're thinking about your uncomfortable boots instead
of concentrating on the road).

Number 2 is to load everything on the bike tightly and securely. You can't
relax if you're worrying about your luggage or fighting something that's
wobbling around. Don't trust zips and clasps; put a security-strap around
everything.
Also don't carry anything heavy or awkward on your body (see number 1).

Number 3 is don't try to fight tiredness. If you're feeling drowsy just
pull over and lay down for as long as your body thinks is necessary. Bike
gear is quite comfortable to nap in and 10 minutes can make the world of
difference!

But what the hell am I telling you anything for; you've travelled twice as
many kilometres as I have this year!!

 

They also stole my thongs!

 

http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

All you need to know.

Boxer

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:09:48 +1000

IT gets better with practice.

Use a throttle lock so you can rest your right arm.

Don't stop for a long period at the first petrol stop. Stop, fill up,
get going again.

do stop and have lunch and a rest half way. Spend at least half an
hour to 40 mins. Don't have a big lunch or a fatty one, that way lies
sleep.

If you feel tired stop and lie down. 20 mins sleep makes a really big
difference.

learn the words of your favourite songs. Or buy an ipod, the earplug
style MD-REX earphones from Sony, and fill it with songs you can sing
along to. (I have tried spoken word and music, songs to sing with
work best for me.)

Try to do as much of the trip as you can in daylight.

Make sure you a wearing the right amount of gear so you aren't cold or
overheated.

Zebee

 

Yep; very good info there.

 

Ride at least 100 kilometres before breakfast, 200 is better.

Boxer