Big day today - the biggest ride day so far - 580km! not a huge amount of kilometers if you have a car, but its a lot for us.
We generally like to only ride a half day, and spend the rest of the day sight seeing, or resting. Despite appearances, the BMW seats are not exactly comfortable after a few hours, and riding long km legs is something you need to be 'bike fit' for. Bike fit means you get all the muscles you use for riding in shape.
For example, its much easier to bang out a 600km ride if you ride your bike everyday, but doing a big ride if you haven't ridden for a while can be painful and soul-destroying, and even take you to the limit of your endurance.
Now that we've been riding for a few weeks straight, we can handle a 600k day, but it was still a bit tiring. If you're new to bike touring, or if you only ride your bike weekends to a cafe or something- probably not a good idea to pencil in a 1000k day for your first leg of your tour. Weather also makes a massive difference. Both too hot and cold can turn a nice day of riding into a epic battle against the elements. Having done both, I would say that too cold is the worst, although Megan tells me she feels the opposite!
You'll probably make your 1000km day, but can you do it everyday for 2 months straight, and if you could - would it be enjoyable? probably not. Better off to 'be the old bull' and actually enjoy it. Not to mention that when you're tired your are more likely to end up as 'flat meat' underneath a Semi or decapitated by a guard rail. Not cool! there are still loads more roads to ride and sights to see.
Anyways enough rambling! today's ride was not very exciting at all! it was mostly interstate highways , roadworks and sweating! We sat on 130 most of the way and tried to set out early to beat the heat. Didn't work out that way though as it was 28 by 8am and over 30 by 10.
We set out with a mission to just knock out most of the kms as soon as possible, which will probably be our mantra for the rest of the trip from now on.
We stopped for fuel at some sort of Pecan nut shop/service station, and with 50km to go - ran into road works in 38 degree heat just short of McKinney, and for the first time this trip - broke the road rules. There was grid-locked traffic, and we just couldn't sit in the sun anymore, and we rode up the centre turning lane to overtake the standing cars. Not our finest hour, but it was either that or pass out from the heat.
We ended up having to do that three times- not particularly proud of it- and it wasn't a very smart thing to do especially in a state that has 'open carry'** laws!
We eventually rolled into our hotel about 2:30 and we just got off the bikes and went straight into the air conditioning to cool down. The last 50km were a nightmare, and we were both really dehydrated and in need of a cold beer stat!
Another 400+ kms to do tomorrow, hopefully we can leave even earlier and avoid anther finish like we had today, it's just too fucking hot after 12pm this far south.
** Open Carry means that licensed gun owners can 'openly carry' their firearm with them in public.
We generally like to only ride a half day, and spend the rest of the day sight seeing, or resting. Despite appearances, the BMW seats are not exactly comfortable after a few hours, and riding long km legs is something you need to be 'bike fit' for. Bike fit means you get all the muscles you use for riding in shape.
For example, its much easier to bang out a 600km ride if you ride your bike everyday, but doing a big ride if you haven't ridden for a while can be painful and soul-destroying, and even take you to the limit of your endurance.
Now that we've been riding for a few weeks straight, we can handle a 600k day, but it was still a bit tiring. If you're new to bike touring, or if you only ride your bike weekends to a cafe or something- probably not a good idea to pencil in a 1000k day for your first leg of your tour. Weather also makes a massive difference. Both too hot and cold can turn a nice day of riding into a epic battle against the elements. Having done both, I would say that too cold is the worst, although Megan tells me she feels the opposite!
You'll probably make your 1000km day, but can you do it everyday for 2 months straight, and if you could - would it be enjoyable? probably not. Better off to 'be the old bull' and actually enjoy it. Not to mention that when you're tired your are more likely to end up as 'flat meat' underneath a Semi or decapitated by a guard rail. Not cool! there are still loads more roads to ride and sights to see.
Anyways enough rambling! today's ride was not very exciting at all! it was mostly interstate highways , roadworks and sweating! We sat on 130 most of the way and tried to set out early to beat the heat. Didn't work out that way though as it was 28 by 8am and over 30 by 10.
We set out with a mission to just knock out most of the kms as soon as possible, which will probably be our mantra for the rest of the trip from now on.
We stopped for fuel at some sort of Pecan nut shop/service station, and with 50km to go - ran into road works in 38 degree heat just short of McKinney, and for the first time this trip - broke the road rules. There was grid-locked traffic, and we just couldn't sit in the sun anymore, and we rode up the centre turning lane to overtake the standing cars. Not our finest hour, but it was either that or pass out from the heat.
We ended up having to do that three times- not particularly proud of it- and it wasn't a very smart thing to do especially in a state that has 'open carry'** laws!
We eventually rolled into our hotel about 2:30 and we just got off the bikes and went straight into the air conditioning to cool down. The last 50km were a nightmare, and we were both really dehydrated and in need of a cold beer stat!
Another 400+ kms to do tomorrow, hopefully we can leave even earlier and avoid anther finish like we had today, it's just too fucking hot after 12pm this far south.
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| An awesome custom truck I passed on the interstate! |
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| Russian Ural (ooh-ral) motorcycle with sidecar and uni-go trailer |
** Open Carry means that licensed gun owners can 'openly carry' their firearm with them in public.
You need a gun rack on the bike ;) Sucks about the heat and having to cut the trip short, but as you said, gotta do what's best for the family. That truck is frigging awesome! Its like a triple cab monster - what was it, a ford? N.B - Allegedly, BHM has opened a TRD and import shop at Lisarow (in the old Albany international plant)- they'll be bringing in the big trucks to sell (Toyota, Chev, Dodge and Ford)
ReplyDeleteNot sure - will have to review the Helmet cam footage - I think it's a Dodge Ram.
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