First SS1K - Interstates or state highways?

[Bounce]

I wouldn't get too formal with your receipts while riding. Just write the odometer reading on the bottom and stick it in your wallet. The receipt will have a location (usually), time, and date on it. You can do the paperwork when you're done.

Keep the receipts. Make sure each has:

Sequence # so it's easier to reconstruct later (1, 2, etc.)
Date
Time
Mileage
PRINTED on the receipt the location (if not, get the attendant to initial your hand-written entry)


Also, the recommendation not to hang around NOT riding. I can't tell you the number of times I've read an "exciting" ride report that ended up being "exciting" only because someone stopped for 20 or 30 minutes at every gas stop and wasted their buffer time when something unexpected held them up later. One published article in a moto mag cost the author his cert because he detailed how he stopped in Vegas to gamble then had to whack the rest of the trip (wheelies and all). His triple-digit speeds and admitted stunts were what cost him the cert.

If you keep rolling, a SS1K only needs about 42 mph on average.

[Sport-Touring]

[jay547]

This thread almost makes me want to try this.

Almost.

[kyzrex]

Did my “official” SS1000 just because.  It was something to do, once.  Other long rides have been because of need...like I needed to get back home to go to work the next day.  Now that I don’t have the time constraints I once did, I have no desire to do another one. I’m much more about quality than quantity now.  I don’t have any problem with others feeling different and actually would encourage everyone to do it at least one.  You really can’t tell if you will enjoy it without at least trying it once.  I did enjoy my SS1000, and most of my long rides done in the past.  Just not enough to go out an purposefully schedule another one.  

A comment on time.....I did my last SS on a Labor Day weekend, Sunday.  Sunday’s of lomg weekends are actually low travel days for most people, especially people traveling outside of cities.  I left at 4 in the morning and it was light by around 6.  I got back home at 10 at night and it wasn’t dark until after 8-8:30.  So all but about 4 hours was in daylight.  18 hours total, with about 2 hours in total stop time.  

[Blue is Best]

Something more for me to add- I would want to get it over with. Heck, I've worked sixteen hour days. To try and push for twenty-four hours doesn't make sense to me. Be safe, keep up speed, take a power nap, if need be, and get it over with.




I may be different, but in a good way, because I can focus, get into a project and not even eat all day and have no repercussions of that. Same as on the bike. I can ride and get into the scenery/music and not have to stop for hours.

[Bounce]

^This

I'm more apt to ride and not sniff flowers because sniffing flowers gets boring quickly for me. When I road with GWRRA, I was the one pacing at gas stops when everyone was done filling up but were still standing around chatting yet, when anyone tried to chat over the CB while moving, were scolded by the ride lead to keep the chatter down.

[RBEmerson]

I'm still waiting to do my SS1000 - basically Philadelphia to West Palm Beach, because a good friend lives in the WPB area. It's too late to do it now; FL temps are "hot enough to fry an egg on your head" with humidity that would drown a young child. Come this fall, the weather window should open in between two major 4-wheel trips. Anyway...

I've done enough up and down I-95 (including a day in p***ing down rain and a fogging S1 visor) to know that the first real excitement south after DC is Pedro's. Well, that and billboards (Pedro's included). If it weren't for the massive collection of tunes on my Samsung S7, I'd probably go insane from seeing the same trees over and over. What sorts of gimmicks work for avoiding getting into the freeway stare (eyes open, nobody home)?

[micah2074]

What sorts of gimmicks work for avoiding getting into the freeway stare (eyes open, nobody home)?

I sing to myself. The helmet and sounds of the road make an otherwise horrible singer sound pretty good.

[Bounce]

isometrics and standing stretches while riding (every 20 minutes) help keep you alert. If you're zoning out (micro-sleeps), then it's time for a 20 minute power nap. Never push past that or you can end up dead from running off the road.

[Hueyf4i]

I may try this next year. .or maybe in the Fall. 680 miles is my longest run without stopping(except for gas).  Perfect weather except for the thunderstorm we hit about 30 miles from home. Lol, we were soaked to the bone, but it was in the 80s and so close to home it didn't bother us.

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[rajflyboy]

I'm still waiting to do my SS1000 - basically Philadelphia to West Palm Beach, because a good friend lives in the WPB area. It's too late to do it now; FL temps are "hot enough to fry an egg on your head" with humidity that would drown a young child. Come this fall, the weather window should open in between two major 4-wheel trips. Anyway...

I've done enough up and down I-95 (including a day in p***ing down rain and a fogging S1 visor) to know that the first real excitement south after DC is Pedro's. Well, that and billboards (Pedro's included). If it weren't for the massive collection of tunes on my Samsung S7, I'd probably go insane from seeing the same trees over and over. What sorts of gimmicks work for avoiding getting into the freeway stare (eyes open, nobody home)?

I 95

Don’t do it

Pick another route on another day

[Bounce]

I 95

Don’t do it

Pick another route on another day

I concur. Also, distances are best entered into in phases (no one starts with a BBG). Use the shorter distances to learn how to listen to what your body is telling you. In the example of "highway hypnosis", the way to address this is to know yourself and understand that taking a break is the way to fix it instead of trying to fight it. Finishing a cert ride is inconsequential when compared to safely returning home to try again later.

Avoid caffeine and no-doze. Lean into 20 minute power naps, stretching, and isometrics of arms and legs while underway.

[Oilhed]

I sing to myself. The helmet and sounds of the road make an otherwise horrible singer sound pretty good.

+1    Also, I do math in my head, average MPH, time to next stop, miles left in the tank, etc.

[Hueyf4i]

This thread almost makes me want to try this.

Almost.

I'm gonna do one in September now. . . My sister's house in Lexington, KY is 500 miles away. . .good turnaround or nap point.....I've already done this round trip on my mc, but there was a week between coming and going.

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[Oilhed]

I'm gonna do one in September now. . . My sister's house in Lexington, KY is 500 miles away. . .good turnaround or nap point.....I've already done this round trip on my mc, but there was a week between coming and going.

Where are you starting from?  Here in CT I can do a loop thru New England but it involves going thru New Haven, Providence & Boston!  Or I can go to Ohio then turn around.

[Hueyf4i]

Where are you starting from?  Here in CT I can do a loop thru New England but it involves going thru New Haven, Providence & Boston!  Or I can go to Ohio then turn around.

Woodbridge, Virginia. . . .

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[Hueyf4i]

I've done the round trip before, but there was a week between coming and going. . . I got back in just over 7 hours.  Zero traffic or construction on my way back. . Just caught some light rain when I started my return trip. .

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[RBEmerson]

I'm still waiting to do my SS1000 - basically Philadelphia to West Palm Beach, because a good friend lives in the WPB area. It's too late to do it now; FL temps are "hot enough to fry an egg on your head" with humidity that would drown a young child. Come this fall, the weather window should open in between two major 4-wheel trips. Anyway...

I've done enough up and down I-95 (including a day in p***ing down rain and a fogging S1 visor) to know that the first real excitement south after DC is Pedro's. Well, that and billboards (Pedro's included). If it weren't for the massive collection of tunes on my Samsung S7, I'd probably go insane from seeing the same trees over and over. What sorts of gimmicks work for avoiding getting into the freeway stare (eyes open, nobody home)?

FWIW...
Sigh... no SS1000 this fall. Riding with a broken thumb is so not fun for only moving my FJR in the garage. Kinda hard to pull the clutch without a thumb to anchor the pull. I may get lucky in late November. Or not. A crash and burn on a bicycle has convinced me that bicycles are seriously dangerous. I'll stick to my safe FJR, thanks.  

[RBEmerson]

A bit more about I95 vs not I95, which applies to fast v. local roads.

I95 is paralleled by (and probably replaces) US17 and later there's a choice between US17 and FL's A1A. Having run long stretches of both, I95 is for making miles in a hurry. US17 is great for being caught behind logging trucks with no (legal) way around, lights varying from flashing yellow to long lights favoring the cross road, very small towns with signs calling for 25 mph and meaning it, mall traffic, and traffic jams (rush hour or otherwise), and, after variable business hours, gas stops only near Interstate crossings. After sunset, scenery along US17 is limited. A1A adds beach towns and, near Jacksonville, a ferry across St. Johns River (short ride, long wait) or I95 near JAX (the ferry doesn't run all night).

My first challenge is get from PHL is to avoid traffic jams from the PA Tpk entrance 5 miles from here to below Richmond on I95.

Potential slow-ups include Charleston (maybe - it's east of I95), Savannah (too darn close), traffic near JAX is miserable and the roadway is a mess, and Daytona. Somewhere near Vero Beach/Ft. Pierce all the way to leaving FL's Turnpike (change from I95 near Ft. Pierce - better roadway, toll road) near Wellington, FL (end point) the rush traffic builds up.

Local roads are no help almost anywhere along this route. Should something go sour with the bike or with you, there's a better chance of getting help. Even if the good folks of Harvey's Hump are willing to help you. If they're up and about.

My return route will take local roads because the clock won't be ticking in my ear.

Point made, I hope.

[Oilhed]

I hate riding anywhere near NYC or PHL or DC
That's why it's I-84 to I-81 for me usually

[Blue is Best]

WOW. Having lived only in the Southwest part of the country my whole life I am reminded of how lucky quite a few of us are!!! No humidity either!!!