When my girlfriend learned that I had bought a motorcycle/sidecar combo she opined that I was going to break my back. She was right, not a month after buying the rig I cracked my back....while snowskiing. Anyway, I've been on limited duty for a few months but I'm getting close enough to the end of the recovery that I'm planning a trip. I've always been the kind to enjoy today and plan for tomorrow and not think too much about yesterday. Well being laid up for a few months gave me plenty of time to reflect and I realized that there are an awful lot of people who were good to me when I was just starting out on my life and career that I need to go see and thank.
I've got a loop of about 1200 miles through some pretty scarcely populated areas of West Texas and the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. What advice would you experienced riders give as far as the best preperation? I will certaintly carry some extra fuel and will have my bike serviced before I leave.
Thanks for the advice and also for giving me some interesting things to read at this site the last few months...I'm not sure how I feel about steering reversion but I sure as heck am familiar with at least two opinions on the matter...
Mike
Mike,
Sounds like you may be riding close to the USCA National Rally at Beaver, Arkansas. July 13th-15th. It's not that far from Tulsa or Fort Smith.
That'd be a good place to stop off, rest up and swap road tales. There'll be a bunch of other "Lopsided" riders there.
I prefer to take my time and ride only during daylight hours these days. Hit the road by about 6:00, stop to eat in a hour or so, take a rest break whenever, stop often to take pictures or just to look at something unusual, find a place to get fed and hole up for the night by about 6:00PM. You've had twelve hours on the road. It's a lot less stressful and you still have an evening to relax, have a beer or whatever. Works for me.
A lot less chance of hitting a large animal on the road at night too.
Leave all that reversionary stuff to the fast and furious hot shots who want to ride with their hacks in the air. Tickets (and crashes) are too expensive these days.
Lonnie
Lots of water- you'll dehydrate faster than you can possibly imagine. Sunscreen. Some fruit. You can fall asleep fairly easy around there, so take stretch breaks fairly often.
Mike,
Well I suppose th echance of more snow sking at that time of yeart in those areas is kinda slim so you should be safe on that front.
I like to carry spares for many things that can go wrong on the road. Cables, bulbs, plugs, points if you have them or points to convert and aftermarket electronic ignition back to old school if needed (have done this on the side of the road with my /5), tire repair kit and/or spare tubes and pump and whatever else comes to mind. I also like to carry a hydration system...you do not have to go with an expensive one as there are good ones around that will serve you well. Makes ahuge difference on a long day.
Steering reversion? What is that anyhow? No need to answer...lol.
WOW sounds like one of those healing trips. I have just started back to riding not too long ago myself. You say you had the rig only a month so I would say get in as much riding as you can. I just made my 1st really long trip out of town. You can read it at: http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=3248 . I learn a lot on this trip about me and my rig. About me I have found out that I like riding 60 to 65 on back roads and so does my bike gas wise. I can do the 70 to 75 on the Interstates when I need to but it is more fun if I don’t. I learned some things I wanted to change about my rig. These changes may not be important to anyone but me but I am the guy doing the ride. I found on day five I need those stops more than I did on day one and I don’t like to ride at night. I have been in the part of the world you are going to watch those road signs, “next town XXX miles” some time out there it is a long jump between towns. You may want to stop early.
I was into sailing most of my life. I always wanted to sail around the world. I made three tries and was gone for over a year. Every time I came home all the people I knew and myself could say about the trips was I did not make it around the world. I over looked what a great time I had been on for over a year.
What I am saying if you need to come home before the 1200 miles come home with a smile and the joy of the ride you did make.
Oh by the way one day I just when sailing and I have been around the world three times. I no longer sail. You could get killed out there. Lol. I just drive hacks. I am looking forward to hearing about your ride.
Ride Safe
Having just recently completed a 1500+ mile trip, I would definately pipe in on the water/hydration thing. Having the extra little parts & supplies is a good thing, too. Maybe this doesn't need to be said, but go lighter on the clothes packing than you'd think. Heck, worst that can happen is you come home with a new cheesy t-shirt to add to the collection ; >
Have fun- can't wait to hear the ride report when you're back!
Claude, you're right, if I end up on snow skis in Lubbock in August then things have gone terribly wrong.
Its funny how some things seem obvious to me only after I've seen them in print. I have a nice hydration system as a crossover benefit from my two-wheeled with pedals toys and I will remember the sunscreen. Good advice.
My trip is planned as a loop with several towns along the way where I need to stop and see people, so I shouldn't have any need to ride more than about 200-250 miles a day. After reading an online article about deer vs. bike collisions, I decided against riding at night. With drought conditions deer often are near roads looking for vegetation outside the reach of livestock. I bet that with the strong possibility that I will be fighting cross-winds out there that 250 miles will seem plenty.
No interstates on my route, out there traffic will be light but when I do come across traffic it will alternate between truckers doing 90 and retired farmers doing 40. I'm confident the R100 has the guts to let me do what I need to do - actually the rig is limited by the driver rather than the other way around.
Here is a confession I've never seen on a sidecar forum. The thing that really sealed the deal for me on a sidecar rig was the fact that with the Dnepr's rear seat removed my golf clubs lay perfectly in the sidecar. This seriously limits the likelihood of me being mis-identified as a Bandido. Ride till noon, golf till dark - not a bad little vaction in my book. You bet I'll be careful, no way do I want another 6 months of recovery.
Ha! Ride 'till noon, golf 'till dark. I like it! The clubs are regularly in my sidecar, and I get to use the car-pool lane on the way to the course. What could be better?
Mike,
Take a look at th eiron butt association site. Yes, I know you are not planning on setting any coast to coast records or anything but check it out anyhow, they have some good tips on hydration , sun and eating habits when on the road.
Claude IBA# ....UH...UH i FORGOT TH ENUMBER ..BIG DEAL.
Mike,
Remember here in the TX panhandle just because a town is on the map doesn't mean it is there.I have been caught short on gas more then once because of that. I live in Cottle county depending the map it will show up to 6 towns there is only one the same with King.If you're going to be in or near Paducah TX send me a message I'm new to the SC game and would like to visit with another sidecarer.
Henry
Henry, I had hoped to stay overnight at a Holiday Inn in Dumont, should I rethink the plan? I'm a native son of the Panhandle so I know where nearly every Allsup's is. I'm more worried about food than fuel, its been nearly 10 years since I prowled the area and in that time the little hole in the wall joints where you could count on a good chicken-fry tend to come and go. I don't want to get stuck eating where the tourists eat when I get to Dickens.
I don't have the dates set yet, since I really haven't been released by the doc to rejoin life, but when I do go I will in fact come either through or very near Paducah. I plan to go to Guthrie and hope to get some good pictures of some of the big horse remudas and after that I was wavering between going N. to Paducah or W. to Dickens and then N. to Roaring Springs.
