Any advice for a first timer on an ss1000 ride?

[playinatwork]

I've read about all I can on this site and the Ironbutt site and I am wondering what I am forgetting.  My ride is a 2001 Sprint St with 14k on the clock.  I am 49 and not in the best shape; but as my daddy always said if you're going to be dumb you got to be tough.  I've gotten pretty tough over the years.  I've been riding and racing since I was 8.  I don't have much experience with long distance rides in the last 20 years or so though.    

My planned route is from Atlantic Beach FL. to Cycle NC.( cus it's named cycle) to Sugar Mountain NC.(visit with a friend for lunch) to Burnsville NC and then back to Atlantic Beach via I-26-77-95.  I am a bit worried about losing time on the mountain roads but I want to get some twisty time in. To be honest this trip doesn't seem all that difficult on paper.   I plan to leave at 5am and be back about 1am.  What am I missing?  

[sleazy rider]

The fun? 

How many miles have you done in one day before?  If it's in the 200 range, think about trying some 500 mile days before jumping into the deep end.

Be smart and be aware of your physical condition during the ride.  If you don't feel it, bail out and try again at a later day.  Really, it only takes about a 45 mph average to easily make it in 24 hours.  Practice your gas stops by filling up, hitting the restroom and snacking on an energy bar while pumping gas.  Have fun.  Multi task when off the bike to keep non-moving times to a minimum.  Pack some bananas in your tankbag for their potassium content.  It helps with the leg cramps immensely.  Stay hydrated, especially in this heat.

Have fun.

Good luck and stay aware. 

Have fun.

[Justin]

Just plan it out, see how much time it will take etc. I use Streets and Trips for that. SS1000 will only come out to like 16 or 17 hours tops of riding time, so if it is your first long distance ride, plan your gas/rest stops to be longer, no need to rush. Also, read the tips section on the IBA site, some great info.

http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

[Atitalongtime]

Get a method to store and drink fluids all the time.
Camel Back, or cup holder... whatever. by the time you feel yourself drying out.... it's too late.
The cramps will have you dancin' on the shoulder of the road... entertaining the tourists

[kendenton]

Separate your gas and food stops.  It doesn't really add any time and you get double the breaks.  Instead of a 10 minute gas/food/bathroom break, do a 5 minute gas stop and do a 5 minute food/bathroom break an hour later.

Don't try it if the weather's going to be bad.

[playinatwork]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I have a camelbak but wasn't planning to take it.  I don't have a GPS or tank bag so I mounted my enduro route chart holder and will use that for keeping on track. I mounted a compass but that was a fail, too much interference.  I have a cup holder mounted and a way to listen to and charge my phone while riding.

[Atitalongtime]

You'll make it... it's no worse than a 300 mile enduro... in the rain... in winter... without a pit crew... & a 6 hour ride home in the truck!

Don't forget roadside assistance plan, or take your irons and CO2 bottles

[D-Mac]

It's not a bad ride at all. The big things (as others have mentioned)

(1) Hydration is key.

(2)Get gas whenever you stop (within reason - even if you have 1/2 tank left). It's more efficient that way.

(3) Rest: If you get groggy, stop for a few minutes. Helps fight off fatigue. I always plan a one -hour stop at my turn-around point. You don't need to use it, but allowing yourself the longer break will keep you from rushing too much.

(4) I don't think you need a bunch of 500-mile days to prepare for this, but it would be good to do at least one trial where you run through a couple of consecutive tanks of gas.

(5) Throttle rocker (or something like it). Buy one. Now. I don't find the throttle locks that useful, but this little paddle is a life-saver on IBA rides. Every Harley dealer sells them. Best investment short of real cruise control. At the end of the IBR a guy pulled in with a BADLY bruised hand (it was entirely blue/purple and blistered all over). He had done about 5 consecutive saddlesores mind you, but it was good evidence of the toll that holding the throttle for hours and hours can take on you.

I like the idea of adding some secondary roads to break up the ride. My favorite Saddlesoress have been when I did that (versus droning on the interstate for the entire ride). That said, don't do them too late in the day or they can be tiring. Somewhere between 200 and 600 miles is probably best, and about 200 miles of technical stuff is plenty.

You have LOTS of time. Just be conscious of your stopped time and you'll be fine. Even poking along you can finish in about 20 hours or so. Your plan to start early is a good one, but instead of getting home at 1am it might be better to start a couple of hours earlier so that you aren't riding in the dark for as long at the end. The more nighttime riding you can do at the start the better (unless you work the night shift or something and are used to a later schedule). If the weather is an issue, it's also more likely to be an issue in the evening.

Finally, make sure your start/end point gas station is open 24 hours and that the receipt is good (time, date, city, state are clearly marked). One with an ATM is also good since the information you need can usually be retrieved that way as well. The start/end receipts are the most important ones. Reset the trackin on your GPS and download the track log when you return. You should also keep all of your other receipts from food you get, etc. (hint: Subway generates good receipts, Wendy's does not). Similarly, some chains of gas stations (e.g., Flying-J) do not generate good receipts.

Have fun!

[Justin]

(5) Throttle rocker (or something like it). Buy one. Now. I don't find the throttle locks that useful, but this little paddle is a life-saver on IBA rides. Every Harley dealer sells them. Best investment short of real cruise control. At the end of the IBR a guy pulled in with a BADLY bruised hand (it was entirely blue/purple and blistered all over). He had done about 5 consecutive saddlesores mind you, but it was good evidence of the toll that holding the throttle for hours and hours can take on you.

Everything in D-Mac's post is spot on - but #5 would be closer to #1 for me. I could not imagine a 1000 mile + day without it. Heck, I don't even like 500 mile days without it. A throttle lock is nice as well for occasional hand shake outs.

[playinatwork]

I've never heard of the throttle rocker. I got a Go throttle lock and it seems to work well. My biggest worry is the lighting after reading more.  I have the stock lights and they are not the best to begin with. All of my nightime riding will be on flat straight interstate that I know well. I wouldn't try this with the stock lighting if it were rutting season or on difficult roads.  My longest ride to date is about 400 miles on the road.  I really appreciate all of this advice; thanks everyone.
Tim.

[kyzrex]

Find a comfortable way to listen to music while riding, especially on the expressway.  Don't forget to pack some cold weather gear for nighttime riding.  After riding in hot temps during the day, night time temps, even in the mid 60's can feel cold.  Best to be prepared.  Also, pack a rain suit if you have one.  

[Dan]

I've only done 1x BB1500, so I am by no means an expert!  But the one thing I found useful was to break the ride down in to several chunks - one per fuel stop.  Each one was a separate route in my GPS.  That way, I was only ever focusing on the next leg of the trip.  I found it helped knowing that I was completing each leg and mking progress, and it is less daunting when you only think about the next 150 miles or so, rather than hundreds of miles.

[Cablebandit]

Don't have "overall avg speed" on the front page of your GPS.  It will haunt you when you have a nice 65mph overall average going and then you stop to fuel up and take a quick pee and lose 5mph.  It's much worse when you see how long it takes to get that average back up to your pre-stop levels.  

[sleazy rider]

   Just so you feel encouraged, I'm going to do a Lake Michigan SS1000 this weekend on a bone stock Ninja 500 for the hell of it.  Packing just a tankbag with snacks and a credit card, I'll be going counter clockwise around Lake Michigan.  Starting after work on Friday from the Detroit area, I'll be stopping in the Upper Peninsula for a 4 hour nap (avoiding the majority of the deer too) and continuing from there.  I will have a GPS for routing info and gas stops.

Good luck with yours.

[playinatwork]

Thanks Sleazy.  I don't have a GPS or a tank bag.  Just a route sheet holder and a compass; old school.  
I plan to leave Saturday morning about 0500.

[lionlady]

Pick up some electrolyte chews. Should help keep cramps at bay with the heat and easier to supplement than consuming Gatorade. Clif makes some as does Jelly Belly. When teaching on the Range, I've started keeping them on hand for extreme heat.

P

[Krellian]

   Just so you feel encouraged, I'm going to do a Lake Michigan SS1000 this weekend on a bone stock Ninja 500 for the hell of it.  Packing just a tankbag with snacks and a credit card, I'll be going counter clockwise around Lake Michigan.  Starting after work on Friday from the Detroit area, I'll be stopping in the Upper Peninsula for a 4 hour nap (avoiding the majority of the deer too) and continuing from there.  I will have a GPS for routing info and gas stops.

Good luck with yours.

that should warm the oil  

[sleazy rider]

I skipped the Ninja because the parts came in for the Daytona on Thursday and fixed the problem.  Packed the tank bag and left after work on Friday at 10 AM.  Decided to visit the Region 4 party for the Hippy Biker in Eagle River, WI.  Arrived at destination just shy of 6 PM, testing my endurance for a BBG.  I managed to keep a spirited pace up I-75 and across Route 2 that would accomplish said tasking.  Figure out my average speed for 7.5 hours and 600 miles with two gas stops and a short pause for a burger and coke.      Stayed in Eagle River overnight and most of the next day, then caught the Badger across Lake Michigan at 1AM Sunday morning, arriving at home by 10AM.

So, Tim, did you get 'er dun?