Tips for long distance sport or sport touring riding

**WorldLeader** · 08-30-2010, 12:40 AM

All,

I'm planning a 10+ hour ride for myself on the VFR and I would like to know some of the things you suggest doing to prepare for such a trip. Part of this trip will include time at deal's gap, but I'll be slabbing it most of the time. Some of my concerns include:

General body fatique
Hydration
Numbness in hands/feet
Not getting board

I just upgraded my seat to a Sargent seat, but otherwise my bike is stock. I expect to get 200 to 250 miles per tank and plan to stretch and hydrate during those stops.

Any tips are much appreciated,

-WL (Jonathan)

**jwlex** · 08-30-2010, 12:53 AM

Eat a good high carb meal the night before. Pasta, bread, you get the picture.

Don't eat a huge breakfast. Low grease, high carbs is the way to go. Beef Jerky and Power Bars are always in my tank bag on a long trip.

Stop EVERY hour and take a break for 5-10 minutes. Even if you feel fine. By the end of the ride, you will be glad you did. Fatigue sets in fast and it is tougher to realize it when you are actually on the bike.

Drink some water when you stop (about every 50 minutes) even if you are not thirsty (but you will be). That should take care of the hydration.

Get some quality headphones and load up your music player with a good assortment of tunes. If you use an iPod, I reccomend this little gadget. iJet Remote. With it, you can start, stop, pause, and toggle through different music as well as controlling the volume. Very nice if you have to get on the interstate and fight boredom. MOST IMPORTANTLY: if you notice your mind is wandering due to boredom and you are looking off at something other than the road, stop and rest for a few. Riding with mind fatigue is worse than riding with muscle fatigue in my opinion.

One thing that makes me feel a bit better after being on the road is to change my socks when I get done for the day. For some reason, fresh socks seem to make my whole body feel better.

**Ride Red** · 08-30-2010, 01:18 AM

get a camel back or a back pack with one or some other type of hydration pack so u can drink while u ride

**WorldLeader** · 08-30-2010, 06:50 AM

Great information, thanks!

I've got some OK earphones, but I would like to get some noise canceling phones (I was planning to wear ear plugs anyway). Any have set they recommend?

**HondaJim** · 08-30-2010, 08:13 AM

I've been on a few 800+ mile days, sometimes back to back to back. Besides what is already mentioned you might want to consider:
-Make sure you know where you're going. I don't know if you're mapping it, GPS, or flying by memory, but finding yourself way out of line at the end of a long day is no fun. Less mental fatigue also.
-Do not wear anything with seams in it for underwear/undergarments. Get some seamless bicycle shorts or something of the like. Trust me on this one. Any seams won't feel like a big deal until the 4-5 hunderd mile mark, then they start to get annoying.
-Lotion and/or powder your ass and the back of your thigh area. Sounds gay, but so does telling someone your ass hurts.
-Avoid the big/huge meals. Better to eat six small ones than stop and pig out then find yourself wanting to snooze.
-A few sour mints in your tank bag are great eye openers when you're at the end of a long day and feeling a little tired.
-Later in the day count something. Dogs, mailboxes, green cars, whatever. Keeps you alert.
-Take an Ibuprofin in the morning, and one in the mid-afternoon. Keeps the little aches and pains away.
-Get a Crampbuster, or some other type of throttle device. Holding a throttle all day long will tire you out quick.
-Even with a tinted shield your face can get sunburned.

It's not that bad once your dialed in and rolling. I don't struggle with the mental fatigue. The physical can be tough if your ass starts hurting.

**cozye** · 08-30-2010, 08:19 AM

I wouldn't slab it. Find a back road route. Riding on the interstate is mucho boring, and I get tired and sore twice as fast riding on the interstate. Riding back roads is much more interesting, you won't get bored, and you will be a lot less fatigued. You can get down to the gap in about 7.5 hours riding back roads including stops. I would stop every 100-150 miles to rest, refuel, and snack. You don't really need much else.

**Doc** · 08-30-2010, 09:24 AM

don't end up in Chattanooga, unless of course that is your destination.

I prefer ear plugs now for longer rides instead of music. Pretty much what everybody else has already said.

**WorldLeader** · 08-30-2010, 10:50 AM

I think I'm going to put a 12V weatherproof socket on my bike too so that I can keep my cellphone charged. Has anyone seen anything like that at S & S or would I need to hit the BMW or HD stores for that?

**cowasockee** · 08-30-2010, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by WorldLeader

I think I'm going to put a 12V weatherproof socket on my bike too so that I can keep my cellphone charged. Has anyone seen anything like that at S & S or would I need to hit the BMW or HD stores for that?

www.powerlet.com is a great resource.