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Long Distance Touring

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 12:55 pm
by CountryCruzr
It is highly probable I'll be making my first 3000+ mile ride this Summer out west. Though I would love to camp, this trip will be tight on time so will be staying in motels. I tend to be a minimalist & would only require the basics and not a lot of fluff. What do you seasoned riders suggest in nav equipment & what essential to pack. I'll have two saddle bags and a truck bag. Plus any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Re: Long Distance Touring

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:40 pm
by NevadaWolf
Are you planning on a fast blast to your destination or a slow meander on back country roads until you eventually get there?

I go overboard as I ride in Nevada where there are areas hours from help.

For navigation, I've done both planned and spontaneous. Planned rides I pre-study the route until I know it by heart, have little flash cards of the main stops/junctions, Google Maps on my phone for spot checking, and a little handheld GPS for tracking as I go. Wandering rides I end up knowing where I need to be in how ever many days and wing it day by day, using Google Maps to give me a rough route and my little GPS to spot check myself. Verizon has enough coverage in areas I would stop in that I never worried too much about not being able to get data signal. However, always carry a paper map, even if the generic state highway map.

For packing, my bike is basically a tank, so I only carried stuff I know would break/run out. Tire sticky string and air compressor, chain goop and pack jack thingy to adjust the chain, motor oil, spare headlight bulbs, bunch of batteries, beefed up tool kit for most minor repairs, SPOT Gen3, and about a half gallon of gas. I also carry a warm layer (warm gloves, heated jacket with maybe a fleece jacket, little fleece hat) if I get stuck at nights (especially summer when I go from 100+ heat to 70+ nights), gets cold - especially if you run out of gas at night. For unexpected hotel stays, I keep a TSA sized toiletry kit with a slim power strip and enough wires for my gizmos.

Clothes, I wore my LDComforts only under my gear during the day and washed them in the hotel shower/sink at night. Always hung my gear up to let it air out while I wore really light sleepwear. That left me down to only a change or two of real clothes needed for the few days I hung out with other people.

Here's my gear for a two week meander ard the West Coast. Tank bag held daily snacks and quick grab items like camera and phone when the summer heat baked it. Front side bags held camping meals and cookware. Tailbag holds the stuff listed above. Saddlebags held tie down straps and other recovery items, with spare clothes in the other. And you can see the sleepstuff strapped where it fit.

Like I said, overboard. :)

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Re: Long Distance Touring

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:28 pm
by CountryCruzr
Thanks Nevadawolf! This is the kind of info I'm looking for! The trip will be more of a blast rather than a meander I've been studying routes. Like the idea of flash cards, reminiscent of the AAA trip tik. I'll have paper and GPS. It is not uncommon around here to NOT have cell service so I haven't used phone nav much outside of when I'm going to a city and need to get somewhere unfamiliar. During this off season, I'll be packing, and loading up the bike and tying down, etc. The LDComforts will be an addition to my wardrobe! Any insight on outer wear is appreciated. I anticipate hot temps since it will be in July.

Re: Long Distance Touring

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:44 pm
by NevadaWolf
I wear textile, Tourmaster Flex pants and Lookwell 3/4 jacket.

And since you are coming out this summer (have you been out west during the summer before?) I'll get on my little stepstool and do my one little preachy thing...

NO MESH!!!

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/Iron ... 66_Hot.pdf

In mild weather, mesh works as intended since cool air can help your skin cool off when you are sweating. But, once the air temp exceeds mid 90's, the air moving through the mesh only heats you up. It seems counterintuitive, but in the exteme heat, covering up completely is actually better since you protect your body from the intense heat.

This is the beauty of the LDComforts and other evaporative wear. For the Comfort Sleeves if you wet them and keep your outer gear sealed up except for your cuffs and your collar, the hot air will blow up your jacket sleeve, cool off as it passes over the sleeves, and carry the cold air into in your jacket. If you only have one small opening at your neck, the cool air gets trapped and you stay comfortable.

*disclaimer, Mario Winkleman (who made LDComforts) is a friend but I went through the "oh this is BS" to "Holy wow, this works!" phases of trying and owning the gear. So mix of helping a friend promote gear and genuinely believing it in.

Re: Long Distance Touring

Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:13 am
by CountryCruzr
Big thanks for sharing the link to the article! Very useful & informative, NevadaWolf. After reading this article I have a healthier awareness & respect for riding in the heat! Really value your input, :!: