The 2nd week of April, 1991 I rode my motorcycle from Chicago, IL to Sacramento, CA.I'm blending a bucket-list Cross Country ride from West Chester PA to Laguna Beach CA, with a work meeting in California which is pretty important. My route is through Denver in late April (hopefully the weather is OK). Question: I'm allowing 7 days to make the trip which will be pretty much be 7+ hours per day of riding (not much sight seeing other than through my helmet shield). IS THIS REALISTIC???
Thanks for any insight anyone can share.
John
2022 R1250RT
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Nights in your lean-to tents run a bit less than that. 😏Prices vary... gas was expensive for me.
Hotels/motels $100-$150 a night.
Food and water and gas cost me about $100 a day.
Your costs may vary.
I'm blaming you for the possibility that I might buy this tent.
That's two different products. There are a lot of similar products out there. I may also be buying something like that. However, to be honest, I don't see any real advantage of using my bike as a tent peg, and anchoring it to a tent, since lightweight tents including their own supports are a dime a dozen. I'm not near ready to go, but this thread has gotten me to thinking, that along with all the daily "break in trips" (i.e. both my 2018 RT and my body), it's about time to planning out the kit required to competently make the trip.I'm blaming you for the possibility that I might buy this tent.
I plan each day's ride around where I will spend the night(s). I get hotel reservations weeks, if not months, in advance and stay in nicer places where I feel that I will be safe, the bike secure, and restaurants (that I like) in walking distance if possible. (And always have Uber Eats available when not possible.)When folks do trips like this, do you plan each day beforehand and get hotel reservations? Is it a good idea to just sort of wing it and find a hotel when you're ready to stop? Any long trips I've do, I always book in advance but it commits you to a certain route and timing. Would love to feel free and wing it but also would not like having nowhere to lay me head.
Appreciate your comments. I've already negotiated another day with my wife, and anymore will put me at risk of loosing half me earnings. ;-) Seriously, this suggestion to add more days is completely understandable considering the unknown risks, however I'll be on the road for 21 days (first a CA meeting, then to El Paso for a trade show) and I'm really pushing the limits with my better half.I do a lot of long distance road trips all over the country. That distance in 7 days is about 400
Miles a day. That’s ok. The big wild card is gonna be the weather. And there is always the possibility of having some kind of bike issue. If the meeting is important I’d add a couple extra days in for such contingencies. Good luck.
I do a lot of long distance road trips all over the country. That distance in 7 days is about 400
Miles a day. That’s ok. The big wild card is gonna be the weather. And there is always the possibility of having some kind of bike issue. If the meeting is important I’d add a couple extra days in for such contingencies. Good luck.
Hello Phaskat,My longest ride so far was buying my used ‘99 in Phoenix a few years ago and riding it back to Chicago in May. Even in May the southern route was not great. Despite initially clear weather predictions, I hit a band of storms that went from New Mexico to Missouri. Rain in New Mexico, riding at seemingly a 45 degree angle for hours on end through Texas to fight cross winds (not fun; especially not fun when passing 18 wheelers), rain in Oklahoma, rain in Missouri. I’ve never been so relieved to see old, boring I55 north at the Illinois border. To be fair, I loved riding through Arizona and I would do the whole trip again. But, I learned a few things: i) I will never ride my bikes long distance again when I have somewhere to be (I had to rush to get back home); ii) my projected daily distance was nowhere near what I planned (4 days planned turned into a very long 5); iii) I will never plan to ride more than 5 hours a day when calculating future trips. One final fun detail about the trip: one town had lost all electricity, so none of the 3 gas stations I went to could take credit cards or pump gas. For some reason, the 4th gas station on the other side of the highway was still up and running. Anyway, my post isn’t intended to hijack your thread, but instead to give you a few things to think about before jumping into your trip head first.
Hello Bojangle,The 2nd week of April, 1991 I rode my motorcycle from Chicago, IL to Sacramento, CA.
I left Sacramento heading back the beginning of the 3rd week of April.
I had to stop in Laramie, WY for 2 days because I-80 was shut down because of a spring snow storm.
I would highly, highly, recommend a southern route that time of year!!!
Hi Dan,Hey John,
I'll just chime in quickly. As said above, the weather in CO at altitude can be iffy in April. I'm originally from Chicago and retired to north central NM about 6 years ago. I have been surprised by snowy weather in CO both in late spring and early fall.
400 mile days on an RT are easily doable even for a geezer like me but as you probably know fatigue can be cumulative so you may need to take more breaks as the days go by adding to overall travel time. Taking a southern route back to go through El Paso should at least reward you with nice weather.
Good luck and be safe.
Dan
Thanks Pkako2,It would be too short for me. Fatigue sets in, weather becomes impossible, or [rarely] bike issues. I too have been riding since my teens (now 67), and despite being in good shape overall, I find 500 mile days not enjoyable; never really did. And 400 mile ones are only marginally better. This is partly because my favorite thing is to take unmarked roads off the beaten path, just to see where they lead. Then I find myself cramming at the end of the day to make my destination for the evening...not a safe habit. Also, the point further up about weather in the Rockies, is not a minor one. I have seen the most extreme range of temps in a single day there (103 to 34 on the same day!). Enjoy your ride and be safe!
Hi Gil,Hi John,
I'm in roughly the same spot you are. I'll be 57 this year and finally have some time and finances to do some more riding. Our wives would get along well as a couple hours is also her max ride limit too. I live in El Paso so if you have some extra time while you're here, give me a shout. Maybe we can grab dinner & a beer.
Regards,
Gil.
