Looking for 50cc Partners-MAY 08

[BTSOOM]

Before I turn 51 in June I want/need/will do my 50cc from JAX to SDO. I'm targeting early May -- I live by Dulles Airport in VA. I've only done 3 SS1K so this will be my first "good stretch". I'm hoping to find 3-4 like minded nuts to join me.

I like doing 120-150 in between stops -- I try to make my stops 15-20 mins.

Let me know, thnx, BTSOOM

[charlieg]

Jimbo, the 50cc is a fun ride that is just a bit more challenging than dong a SS2000. What were your times on your SS1K's? With stops as soon as 120 mi. and as long as 20 min. you are going to burn up a lot of time (3 hr.+) ea. day. This will leave you very little rest time at the halfway point, assuming you are planning a rest. Try to plan your ride around the Houston rush hours if you can. Also trying to do a two day ride on the clock with 4 other riders will require everyone to be on the same schedule for stops, this will be the most difficult task to achieve. -Chuck-

[BTSOOM]

Thank you! Good insight -- BTSOOM

Jimbo, the 50cc is a fun ride that is just a bit more challenging than dong a SS2000. What were your times on your SS1K's? With stops as soon as 120 mi. and as long as 20 min. you are going to burn up a lot of time (3 hr.+) ea. day. This will leave you very little rest time at the halfway point, assuming you are planning a rest. Try to plan your ride around the Houston rush hours if you can. Also trying to do a two day ride on the clock with 4 other riders will require everyone to be on the same schedule for stops, this will be the most difficult task to achieve. -Chuck-

[meese]

You gotta run the numbers on this. Jacksonville Beach FL to Ocean Beach CA is just under 2,400 miles. If you average 60 mph that means you've used up 40 hours driving time alone. If you stop every 120 miles for 20 minutes (which includes filling gas) there's another 6 1/2 hours gone, leaving you only 3 1/2 hours cushion to deal with traffic, weather, construction delays, etc. That's worst case of course, but that also means no sleep for the entire ride.

If you stretch to 150 miles with a 15 minute break that's 4 hours stopped time, leaving only a 6 hour cushion. Sure it's doable, if everything goes perfectly.

If you assume a 70 mph average then your driving time drops to 34 1/2 hours which makes more sense. This is easy enough to average out west where there's a lot of open space, but you still gotta watch out for cites like New Orleans, Houston, Tucson, and San Diego itself. Timing these to miss rush hour can also be critical.

I know that I can run the 1,000 miles between Portland and Oxnard in 15 hours fairly easily. That includes 3 fuel stops at ~10 minutes each, and one 1/2 hour food break. But there's little time for anything else, and if I hit traffic getting out of Portland or going through Sacramento then it just plain takes longer. Doing a full Border-to-Border run up the length of I-5 added ~400 miles and about 6 hours. My overall average stayed the same, but those last couple of hundred miles were a lot harder.

Having said all that, the 50CC is a ride I'd love to do myself. :)

[BTSOOM]

Thnx -- I just looked back at the numbers from the SS1K we did in May - I had 7 in my stick -- we did 18:52 and that included a 50 min lunch. So with 7 and the accompanying stops we did very good. Thnx again -- BTSOOM

[BTSOOM]

Not "locked in" to those break times - just noting prefernces. The last SS1k in May was with 7 in my stick and we did 18:52 that inluded a 50 min lunch. We had all 124 riders back in less than 19:30 and they averaged sticks of 7-10 and they too took a 50-60 min lunch. Thnx, BTSOOM

Jimbo, the 50cc is a fun ride that is just a bit more challenging than dong a SS2000. What were your times on your SS1K's? With stops as soon as 120 mi. and as long as 20 min. you are going to burn up a lot of time (3 hr.+) ea. day. This will leave you very little rest time at the halfway point, assuming you are planning a rest. Try to plan your ride around the Houston rush hours if you can. Also trying to do a two day ride on the clock with 4 other riders will require everyone to be on the same schedule for stops, this will be the most difficult task to achieve. -Chuck-

[meese]

So ~1,000 miles in 18 hours (not counting lunch) gives you a 55 mph average including fuel stops. Or looking at it another way, maintaining that same average for 2,400 miles is ~43 1/2 hours riding time. Add in breaks for food and sleep and you're getting close again.

Understand that I'm not trying to discourage you at all. But doing an SS1K is a lot different than going coast to coast. The extra miles and time can really drag you down, especially if you're used to getting a full night's sleep every night. You really need to be able to bank some extra time early, so that you have a cushion in case you encounter delays later. Or if you hit a point that you just need to stop moving for few minutes you can do so without being paranoid about cutting it too close.

Now if you could maintain a 60 mph average including food & fuel stops, then you could get a full 8 hours sleep and still make it in the allocated 50 hours. That means maintaining closer to a 70 mph average while driving which shouldn't be too tough on an interstate, and not losing too much time at stops. So it is possible, but you basically need to be aware of every passing minute.

The point is, any time your wheels aren't turning then you're losing time. And lost time is very hard to make up later. Stops should be kept short, with 5-10 minutes for fuel and a quick snack. Granola bars, beef jerky, some hard candies, and a Camelbak for hydration can keep the munchies away for a long time. And don't plan on three sit down meals along the way. Maybe one good meal a day and the rest comes out of your tank bag.

Also some guys feel more refreshed getting a hotel and sleeping in a real bed, and maybe grabbing a quick shower before heading out again. But finding a motel, checking in, getting your stuff from the bike, falling asleep, showering, packing, and getting on the road again all takes valuable time away from riding, or worse sleeping. You may be OK with a good 4-6 hours sleep, but you won't know that until you try it.

And as Chuck said, if you add another couple of riders than you can basically triple the amount of wasted time. If you want to have a fun overnight ride with buddies, that's cool. But if you want to push your limits, then you really all have to be on the same page, or be willing to split and go your own ways part way through the ride (barring an emergency, of course).

You can glean some good info by reading ride reports from other 50CC riders. Check the Iron Butt (http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm) website, specifically here (http://www.ironbutt.com/about/ArchivedStories.cfm?GetDesiredRide=4).

And most of all, don't forget to enjoy yourself, both while planning and while actually doing the ride. :)

[ironbuttwannabe]

I'm hoping to find 3-4 like minded nuts to join me, BTSOOM

Nuts? I would do it, but I've got a wedding to ride to in Texas in June so I doubt I can do this also. I love riding long distances, just don't get enough time to do so.

It is a lot easier to ride long distance if you do have someone that rides your riding style.

[BTSOOM]

Yup -- know the hints well -- no plans for hotel sleep stop -- fully understand difference from SS1k- delays minimized with weekend route - no plans restaurant meals/sit downs -- thnx, BTSOOM

So ~1,000 miles in 18 hours (not counting lunch) gives you a 55 mph average including fuel stops. Or looking at it another way, maintaining that same average for 2,400 miles is ~43 1/2 hours riding time. Add in breaks for food and sleep and you're getting close again.

Understand that I'm not trying to discourage you at all. But doing an SS1K is a lot different than going coast to coast. The extra miles and time can really drag you down, especially if you're used to getting a full night's sleep every night. You really need to be able to bank some extra time early, so that you have a cushion in case you encounter delays later. Or if you hit a point that you just need to stop moving for few minutes you can do so without being paranoid about cutting it too close.

Now if you could maintain a 60 mph average including food & fuel stops, then you could get a full 8 hours sleep and still make it in the allocated 50 hours. That means maintaining closer to a 70 mph average while driving which shouldn't be too tough on an interstate, and not losing too much time at stops. So it is possible, but you basically need to be aware of every passing minute.

The point is, any time your wheels aren't turning then you're losing time. And lost time is very hard to make up later. Stops should be kept short, with 5-10 minutes for fuel and a quick snack. Granola bars, beef jerky, some hard candies, and a Camelbak for hydration can keep the munchies away for a long time. And don't plan on three sit down meals along the way. Maybe one good meal a day and the rest comes out of your tank bag.

Also some guys feel more refreshed getting a hotel and sleeping in a real bed, and maybe grabbing a quick shower before heading out again. But finding a motel, checking in, getting your stuff from the bike, falling asleep, showering, packing, and getting on the road again all takes valuable time away from riding, or worse sleeping. You may be OK with a good 4-6 hours sleep, but you won't know that until you try it.

And as Chuck said, if you add another couple of riders than you can basically triple the amount of wasted time. If you want to have a fun overnight ride with buddies, that's cool. But if you want to push your limits, then you really all have to be on the same page, or be willing to split and go your own ways part way through the ride (barring an emergency, of course).

You can glean some good info by reading ride reports from other 50CC riders. Check the Iron Butt (http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm) website, specifically here (http://www.ironbutt.com/about/ArchivedStories.cfm?GetDesiredRide=4).

And most of all, don't forget to enjoy yourself, both while planning and while actually doing the ride. :)

[kola1]

It is a big bite to ride the 50cc. It is a big bite to ride coast to coast at all. I only wish you the best of luck and hope to read your post of the trip. kola

[WillisJS]

Jimbo,

I live in NoVA as well - off of I66 and US15.

What dates are you considering? I prefer longer distances between stops - at the 230-240 mile range (tank limit of a 2007 K1200GT). What would be the maximum distance you would consider?

What about the return trip?

Steve


Before I turn 51 in June I want/need/will do my 50cc from JAX to SDO. I'm targeting early May -- I live by Dulles Airport in VA. I've only done 3 SS1K so this will be my first "good stretch". I'm hoping to find 3-4 like minded nuts to join me.

I like doing 120-150 in between stops -- I try to make my stops 15-20 mins.

Let me know, thnx, BTSOOM

[BTSOOM]

Thnx - I'm sending you a PM -

Jimbo,

I live in NoVA as well - off of I66 and US15.

What dates are you considering? I prefer longer distances between stops - at the 230-240 mile range (tank limit of a 2007 K1200GT). What would be the maximum distance you would consider?

What about the return trip?

Steve