On long-distance road trips, it’s not how well you ride- it’s how well you prepare.
Story and photos by Tom Wiley
AH, THE ROAD TRIP- THE PINNACLE OF MOTORCYCLING!
The self-satisfaction of planning and executing a road trip cannot be matched. You’d think that after 40-plus years of riding I’d be ready for anything. But that was before my good friend Tim Mallard and I were sitting around a fire pit in Colorado, and he was reminiscing about a recent trip he’d made to New England to visit his daughter, who was attending school there. After a long discussion over some medicinal whiskey, we stumbled to our tents in the wee hours of the morning . . . and our next great adventure was set in stone.
WHAT’S THE PLAN, STAN?
It may not sound like fun, but planning a road trip is one of my favorite things. Pick a nasty rainy day, sit yourself down with a steaming cup of coffee, power up the computer, and start sifting through a stack of maps. Although you may begin by thinking you can go anywhere and do anything, you’ll actually have to set some parameters for your trip, taking into consideration several very real factors.
First off, let’s consider time. Even before we had finalized the journey, it was obvious from our destination that it would take us on a loop of more than 4,000 miles. Interstate highways would allow us to quickly click off much of that, but we also decided to make some detours to take in attractions or ride some slower but more scenic routes. That extended our final route to well over 5,000 miles. I figured on a two-week trip averaging about 500 miles per day, starting from my home in Austin, Texas, to Watertown, Massachusetts; up to Bar Harbor, Maine; over to New Hampshire and up Mount Washington; then looping back to Texas.
Weather is also important. On sites like weather.com, you can get an immediate 10-day forecast for the areas you’ll be riding through. Even considering how out of whack the weather guys might be at predictions, the site will give you some idea of what road conditions to expect, what clothes you’ll need to take with you, and so on. And if you’re planning months in advance, you can still get a rough idea of weather conditions by checking the Farmer’s Almanac and other sources.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
Once you’ve got a rough idea of where you’re going and when, you can start digging down into the weeds. My suggestion is to start with motels—as that not only gives you a place to start your day and a goal of where you’ll end up later on, but the breakfast will get you at least one good meal a day, plus they usually have a banana or apple you can stash in the saddlebags for a midday snack if you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Use the Internet to find motels, and check to see what guests say about them. Even if they’re part of a chain, motels can vary a lot in quality, so comments from people who’ve been there are useful.
Also, by establishing some routes early, you can contact city and state visitor bureaus for travel information and maps.
I usually try to pack light, which means I make sure that we’ll be passing through a town with a place where I can get some clothes cleaned quickly while I’m sightseeing. That way, I only need to pack four days’ worth of clothes. Also, make sure you have the right clothes for the whole trip— apparently, other states don’t enjoy as many hot, sunny days as Texas does.
MOTORCYCLE BOOT CAMP 101
It may seem blindingly obvious, but your bike needs to be in tip-top condition. Before our trip, I fitted my bike with a larger sissy-bar pack. I scheduled a tune-up, put on fresh tires, and bought a new battery. I reviewed the bike’s manual and reacquainted myself with bulb and fuse replacements as well as roadside tire repair procedures. I also left a pile of how-to books and bookmarked a bunch of websites on my computer, and showed my wife where everything was. I wanted it to be easy for her to function as a “back-home resource” for technical information and weather updates if I couldn’t access that information on my smartphone.
My only other advice is to think about yourself and how you’ll be preparing for a long-distance ride. Heed my words when I say that it takes a lot of mental concentration and physical conditioning to stay in the saddle for 10 to 14 hours day after day. Don’t wait until the last minute to start getting used to riding. You need hard calluses, firm lower back and abdominal muscles, and resistance to fatigue. That all takes time to build up, so let the truck gather dust in the garage and start getting used to the bike again, increasing your hours every day until you’re ready for the trip.
INTO THE FINAL STRETCH
We had our route down and, although our packing list seemed to change every day, we were pretty sure we had everything we’d need. We even did a couple of “practice packs” so we knew where it was all going to fit. The last thing I wanted was to be searching for something during a driving rainstorm along a roadside.
In the end, it took us 12 riding days to cover more than 5,500 miles, and I would not recommend trying to cover that distance in any less time. The planning and preparation that we did before our trip paid off. We proved that you don’t need a bazillion-cubic-inch bike to go touring.
IN CONCLUSION
There isn’t a better way to see half of the United States than on a motorcycle!
TOM’S TIPS
3 WORDS: PLAN, PLAN, AND PLAN
You can never begin planning too early or plan too much. Load everything on a digital device. Cover all of your bases and include alternative routes and plans.
DON’T CHEAP OUT
Emergencies happen, but you can put the odds in your favor by starting with fresh tires, brake pads, battery, and a tune-
up. Don’t forget to purchase a roadside assistance plan.
ROAD-TEST SERVICE AND GEAR
If you’ve had recent service on your bike, be sure the problem was fixed and didn’t result in more problems. New gear should be tested well in advance to make sure a new helmet fits comfortably or a new rain suit is actually waterproof.
CREATE SPACE IN YOUR PACKING
The most important item you can pack is free space. Extra space makes it easier
to quickly find what you need or to have enough room to carry back a new battery to a friend’s ailing motorcycle.
EAT RIGHT
Diet studies say that five small meals a day are best. Include healthy snacks and plenty of water. Don’t skip meals or try to subsist on caffeine and sugar-packed drinks. If a town can support fast-food restaurants, it can probably also support a healthy mom- and-pop alternative. Ask the locals.
BE PATIENT
Making a wrong turn and getting lost is inevitable. Good on-board backup maps and information can help. If you have a GPS device, know how it works before you leave home. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions.
REMEMBER THE GOAL
Every motorcycle ride is an adventure. Extended miles equal extended smiles. Take time to meet people, pet dogs, and liberally distribute spontaneous laughter.
