Marshpop
May 28th, 2006, 9:00 pm
Going to keep this short and simple. A week off and it was between the east coast and visit one family member or go west and visit three different friends and get lots of time on the bike. Well, I went west. Starting from my home in Mundelein, IL (Northwest of Chicago) my first stop was to be Denver, CO.
Never have done an IBA ride I thought what the heck. Might as well accomplish something while riding, so I left at 0400 with temps in the low 40's all mesh gear, heated vest on high, seat and grip heats on high. Only brought mesh gear so I didn't have to strap any thing to the passenger seat or top rack. Packed lite knowing I was going to location with lots of Hot weather. Once it warmed up everything was good. Stopped only for fuel but at fuel stop I did the bladder relief and snack consumption quickly and then back on my way. The weather was perfect and the roads were good and I made it to Denver in 15.5 hours with only one invitation from the Colorado State police. He made some adjustment to the party invite just to keep me from becoming cash strapped. Miles covered about 1045.
Stayed in Denver for one full day and then on to Albuquerque, NM which was about 490 miles through the mountains out of Denver. Nice scenery but too many rain gear changes due to the numerous storm fronts. Met some heavy rains and winds for short runs then had to take gear off due to heat. Just south of Santa fe and about 30 miles outside of Albuquerque I met up with the Worlds Largest sand blaster. I'm surprised they have any soil left in that state. New Trax boot covers were tested in rain and what a great addition.
Stayed a full day in Albuquerque and then on to Rowlett, TX on the Eastside of Dallas. Now this was about 675 miles of the hottest weather I have been in. Started out about 77 degrees ( till about 11 am) and grew to 103 degree the rest of the ride. In full gear, even though it is mesh, the heat was testing my ability to keep my head in the game. The best thing I had going was the camelbak with lots of ice at each stop. The evaporative vest worked OK under the mesh but quickly dried out due to the excessive heat. With the fairing the cooling effect is limited.
Stayed a full day in the Dallas area. While driving to Dallas I get a call on the cell and it's the wife stating that work called and wanted to know if I wanted 12 hours of overtime in a couple days. Well, this means I have to drive straight through from Dallas to Chicago instead of taking two days like I planned. I get on the phone and tell them of course. Remember, I have the party gift of $50.00 that I have to pay for and all the fuel I used on this trip. I get up around 0600 and leave Rowlett at 0730 a.m.. I make it home by 2200 hrs. No construction traffic what so ever till I get to I-80 south of Chicago. I lost a whole hour with in maybe 5 miles on a Friday night.
I recommend just staying away from the Southside of Chicago interstates just for your own sanity.
One note on the return trip from Dallas was when I stopped for fuel on I-57 just inside southern Illinois. All pumps were filled with Harleys fueling up. Supposedly a local group was riding for the day. Once they were finished they met under a nice shade tree. Talked to one of the guys while in the store. When I went to leave they all grouped together (something like a family photo) and just looked at me like I was some kind of alien with the helmet, mesh gear in 95 degree weather. I was wondering the same thing if I was some kind of nut with all this gear, but I remember my accident when in my 20's with the broken nose and all the motorcycle accidents that I respond to at work (fire dept.) and I say " I think I'll keep it". That would be my skin. So what if I sweat a bit. No dehydration here.
Oh, and when I passed that Harley on I-57 with the guy and the girl with both cheeks flapping in the wind (Facial), squinting and hanging on for dear life at 80+. I just turned with helmet on, tunes cranked, feet stretched out on j-pegs, with cruise control and one big smile thinking that I have the best touring bike out there and no way could they be at all comfortable. 100 hundred miles of that on a Harley and I would think you would be spent for the day. The Dallas to Chicago trip was a second 1000 miler for me in a week and I felt just fine getting off and probably could do more.
This bike is by far the best touring ride out there. Was most comfortable the whole ride (even with stock seat).
So much for a short note about my trip.
Never have done an IBA ride I thought what the heck. Might as well accomplish something while riding, so I left at 0400 with temps in the low 40's all mesh gear, heated vest on high, seat and grip heats on high. Only brought mesh gear so I didn't have to strap any thing to the passenger seat or top rack. Packed lite knowing I was going to location with lots of Hot weather. Once it warmed up everything was good. Stopped only for fuel but at fuel stop I did the bladder relief and snack consumption quickly and then back on my way. The weather was perfect and the roads were good and I made it to Denver in 15.5 hours with only one invitation from the Colorado State police. He made some adjustment to the party invite just to keep me from becoming cash strapped. Miles covered about 1045.
Stayed in Denver for one full day and then on to Albuquerque, NM which was about 490 miles through the mountains out of Denver. Nice scenery but too many rain gear changes due to the numerous storm fronts. Met some heavy rains and winds for short runs then had to take gear off due to heat. Just south of Santa fe and about 30 miles outside of Albuquerque I met up with the Worlds Largest sand blaster. I'm surprised they have any soil left in that state. New Trax boot covers were tested in rain and what a great addition.
Stayed a full day in Albuquerque and then on to Rowlett, TX on the Eastside of Dallas. Now this was about 675 miles of the hottest weather I have been in. Started out about 77 degrees ( till about 11 am) and grew to 103 degree the rest of the ride. In full gear, even though it is mesh, the heat was testing my ability to keep my head in the game. The best thing I had going was the camelbak with lots of ice at each stop. The evaporative vest worked OK under the mesh but quickly dried out due to the excessive heat. With the fairing the cooling effect is limited.
Stayed a full day in the Dallas area. While driving to Dallas I get a call on the cell and it's the wife stating that work called and wanted to know if I wanted 12 hours of overtime in a couple days. Well, this means I have to drive straight through from Dallas to Chicago instead of taking two days like I planned. I get on the phone and tell them of course. Remember, I have the party gift of $50.00 that I have to pay for and all the fuel I used on this trip. I get up around 0600 and leave Rowlett at 0730 a.m.. I make it home by 2200 hrs. No construction traffic what so ever till I get to I-80 south of Chicago. I lost a whole hour with in maybe 5 miles on a Friday night.
I recommend just staying away from the Southside of Chicago interstates just for your own sanity.
One note on the return trip from Dallas was when I stopped for fuel on I-57 just inside southern Illinois. All pumps were filled with Harleys fueling up. Supposedly a local group was riding for the day. Once they were finished they met under a nice shade tree. Talked to one of the guys while in the store. When I went to leave they all grouped together (something like a family photo) and just looked at me like I was some kind of alien with the helmet, mesh gear in 95 degree weather. I was wondering the same thing if I was some kind of nut with all this gear, but I remember my accident when in my 20's with the broken nose and all the motorcycle accidents that I respond to at work (fire dept.) and I say " I think I'll keep it". That would be my skin. So what if I sweat a bit. No dehydration here.
Oh, and when I passed that Harley on I-57 with the guy and the girl with both cheeks flapping in the wind (Facial), squinting and hanging on for dear life at 80+. I just turned with helmet on, tunes cranked, feet stretched out on j-pegs, with cruise control and one big smile thinking that I have the best touring bike out there and no way could they be at all comfortable. 100 hundred miles of that on a Harley and I would think you would be spent for the day. The Dallas to Chicago trip was a second 1000 miler for me in a week and I felt just fine getting off and probably could do more.
This bike is by far the best touring ride out there. Was most comfortable the whole ride (even with stock seat).
So much for a short note about my trip.