Time on the bike

[Maha]

Before I leave I need to have been awake at least an hour and a half, two hours would be even better. I need that time to fully be in the mind set.

Comfortable Distance for me in a day would be between 450kms to 500 tops.
Had enough by then, last night we sat in the spa bath for 3/4 of an hour listening to GnR just to relax after 440 kms.
Last September we did 580 odd K's in one day..four ciggy stops and one lunch stop. Getting off the bike after 150 ks or so, suits me fine.

Time in the saddle can take its toll, the last 100Ks yesterday, all I was thinking about was getting home and I feel the brain wasn't so much on the riding, what sort of distance/time suits you?

[Hiflyer]

did 437 today, was pleased to lie on my bed, its about all i can handle really, my concentration began to fizz out as well.

[K5 750]

Well when ever i do long distances i usually do a tank of gas and then stop so about every 180 to 250 km. The other factor is how sore i am and if i need a strech or food ect....

[Motu]

A good ride for me would be 300 to 500km,depending on the roads.My 500km ride at Xmas took me 9hrs....so a long day on the bike.I stop every 100km,give or take a bit....I look for a good place to stop.I'm always sipping on my Camelback,so piss stops are important.

[Maha]

did 437 today, was pleased to lie on my bed, its about all i can handle really, my concentration began to fizz out as well.

Another thing I noticed yesterday was low tolerance of others on the road...rage you say...:msn-wink: na not quite, but one fat head chick thought she would amuse herself by slowing and slowing and slowing just before an overtaking lane, dont fuck me around lady!!! not a good time:no:


Well when ever i do long distances i usually do a tank of gas and then stop so about every 180 to 250 km. The other factor is how sore i am and if i need a strech or food ect....

As the K's tick by, the arse lets you know more often.
Doing a Coro loop us for is probably not a happening thing for instance...
Its about 180-200 Ks from here to Kopu, then you got about 200 K's to do a 1/2 loop, thats a 600 km day (not counting stops) or a full Loop of about 250-260? yeah I couldn't do it.

[hospitalfood]

rode the bmw from wellington to paparoa in one day a few weeks back.
that was more than ideal, not sure of the km's. i guess about 800 km in total.
would have killed me on the buell.

i think 400/500 km one-up and about 300 with a pillion.

[Solly]

2km's, I'm shagged & ready for my first coffee.......

.......seriously though, 300 - 380 km's is a comfortable days riding.....450 tops [depending on road & conditions].

[Bonez]

Depends on the bike(wind protection), road type and weather. Around 500kms max. most of the time. 350-400kms is fairly normal for the day on unfaired bike for me.

[hospitalfood]

doing the trip from wellington to paparoa would have been a lot better if I wasn't sitting on 90 demerits, its a long way to go when your not going faster than 110 km/h

[Maha]

A good ride for me would be 300 to 500km,depending on the roads.My 500km ride at Xmas took me 9hrs....so a long day on the bike.I stop every 100km,give or take a bit....I look for a good place to stop.I'm always sipping on my Camelback,so piss stops are important.

About the same as us yesterday, an eight hour day, but we did have just over an hour at Opononi...I wouldn't want a group ride to stop there for lunch, would take about three hours to serve 20 odd. I stopped at Ruawai (90ks) Waipua (180ks) Opononi (210ks) Kiakohe (270ks) Maungasomewhere (340ks) Home....(440) brilliant day out.

[slofox]

About 300km for me. Problem is the seat causing my arse to go numb. And the forward seat makes my knees hurt as well. Have to break about every 150km...depending on the road.

Having said that, I have yet to go on a seriously long ride - long enough to test the mental stamina anyway.

Back in the day I rode a 250cc Benelli from Christchurch to Hamilton in two days - one overnight stop in Wellyingtown.....didn't seem to be too much trouble...course I was 35 years younger then...

[slofox]

Maungasomewhere

Would that be Maungaturoto? Spent a year there once....cool place...

[Ixion]

Depends on the bike. Von Klunken, pretty much indefinate, I'd need to stop for sleep before anything else. SV Zimmer frame, 3 or 4 hundred. Depends on the roads too, and the weather. Small bikes are often more tiring than long ones.

I generally don't stop between petrol stops, but I will unwind and have a coffee when I do stop. In bad weather I'll stop at a warm looking pub for a warm up. I find that stopping too often is more fatiguing, after a hundred k or so I fall into a sort of zen effect where the next two or three hundred becomes real easy.Stop too often and you don't get into that zone.

And I'll stop as sson as if I'm getting too hungry. Hunger, thirst, cold all negatively affect riding.

[swbarnett]

I did a trip a little while ago where I just headed south from Auckland for four days with no destination in mind. Averaged 440km per day and only stopped because I found a nice place to put up the tent each night, I could've kept going and going...

[Mom]

I think you have to be ride fit. Personally I am happiest around the 250k mark on a ride out. Just fits me, I am smiling for the right reasons at the end of the day, not because I am really pleased to be off my bike.

I did the 480k odd down to Napier a couple of weeks ago, this from someone that does not do lengthy rides, it took about 8 hours. We made good rest stops, food and drinks at reasonable hours. I was still feeling reasonably sharp mentally but fatigued physically when we arrived, my bum being the biggest complaining part of my body. The last part of the trip was done in torrential rain and really cold to boot which did not help.

Attitude is a big factor when you get fatigued. Do you get pissed off and try to get home faster? or do you plod along, taking your time, stopping when you need too? Personally, the latter is my way.

If you regularly do the long hours on the road you must get fit for it to a degree? Or not?

[Mom]

Would that be Maungaturoto? Spent a year there once....cool place...

No, think it was Mangatapere, but he had just negotiated some of the most appalling road condtions you should ever have to ride on, to be fair Managsomewhereinthemiddleofnowhere was about right at that time...LOL

[oldrider]

Hey Maha/mom, are you guys on a trip or something?

We can travel all day on the Tiger, just need to plan around "toilet" /food stops these days! (did I mention toilets?) :ride: John.

[Mom]

Hey Maha/mom, are you guys on a trip or something?

We can travel all day on the Tiger, just need to plan around "toilet" /food stops these days! (did I mention toilets?) :ride: John.

No, sadly we snuck a day off and spent it pootling around is all. Toilets are a BIG THING with me. I have something of a phobia around public toilets. I actually wont use one if I can possibly avoid it. It has to be a clean place. I have had some bad experiences at petrol station toilets and wont use them unless there is no choice. I much prefer the squat in the grass than the gag making, disgusting places that are offered roadside for females to use.

[Harvd]

did 400 km to kaikoura and i really felt it, it was double the length of my longest previous ride and i think it was just a bit too far... but i think that the fatigue was alot more mental than physical, except for my ass. i used to only be able to handle 50km rides before i was lookin for home, today i did 120 without even thnking about being tired.

i think my ride fitness is getting better. if its a thing...

[MarkH]

My longest ride in a day was Auckland to Christchurch, it was too long. If I go to the same bike rally this year I will see if I can organise accommodation in Blenheim. Of course there is a 3+ hour break for the ferry, so it is not continuous.

I am OK with Auckland to Wellington or vice versa, though my butt does feel a little sore after 400 - 500 kms of riding. Not a biggie, it soon recovers.

[Maha]

Would that be Maungaturoto? Spent a year there once....cool place...

No, went through there, I was meaning Maungatapere, end of twin bridges rd.

[YellowDog]

I just stop when I need to piss. With all the fluids I take in before riding, this is generally no more than about 300km. It could be an age thing.

Riding tired and without full concentration is a accident waiting to happen.

[slofox]

No, went through there, I was meaning Maungatapere, end of twin bridges rd.

Yep - know that pretty well also - used to play squash there.....and go through it on that central route.

[Maha]

Hey Maha/mom, are you guys on a trip or something?

We can travel all day on the Tiger, just need to plan around "toilet" /food stops these days! (did I mention toilets?) :ride: John.

Yeah we can be out all day John, that I dont mind, even coming home at this hour is fine, beautiful riding conditions. But, if its been over 500 ks for the day, then I get cranky, gear shifts start to get jerky etc. Even had to race a Swift up the Brynderwyns yesterday, fuck those things can go, he was being a wank in my mind, its those sorts of things that makes wanna.....well you know, wheres my Valium!!!!!

[cowboyz]

I dont mind doing 800-1000k in a day. Get a sore arse about 800k mark but you soon get over it. Depends on the roads too. If the roads are interesting then it is not difficult to knock off a couple of hundred ks in no time at all. If they are striaght and you are always aware of police then I get tired quite quickly. I have been up to my parents in Hamilton a few times on my own and I will stop for a quick gas stop and carry on with no trouble. Up and back in a night is ok if I am on a flyer (~730k)

Of course, if it is an ashhurst ride there is a compulsory smoke stop every 40k

[Motu]

Bike set up is important,and I don't set my bikes up for long distance rides.I have set up the BMW to give me the same riding position as a dirt bike,this puts more weight on my bum,and being more in the wind limits my speed.But the BMW seat is still 100km better than any dirt bike seat.On dual sports I would get sore elbows and hands - by the end of the day I'd be flicking up and down the gears clutchless as I couldn't pull the lever anymore.Next day my shoulders would be sore.I have none of this with the BMW,even though the bars are nearly in the same position.Dunno why,but I'm happy with the result.

[piston broke]

Time in the saddle can take its toll, the last 100Ks yesterday, all I was thinking about was getting home and I feel the brain wasn't so much on the riding, what sort of distance/time suits you?

around here that last hundy k's is normally on hiway1.boring and straight.
it gets boring when you've done it a lot.
so i guess the stimulation is not there.
i find i can spend more time onboard if it's new roads.
gutted i couldn't make your cruise yesterday.

[sparky.scott]

Ive done Invercargill to Greymouth up the west coast in 2 days and the return trip in 1, around 1000kms each way

[Maha]

I dont mind doing 800-1000k in a day. Get a sore arse about 800k mark but you soon get over it. Depends on the roads too. If the roads are interesting then it is not difficult to knock off a couple of hundred ks in no time at all. If they are striaght and you are always aware of police then I get tired quite quickly. I have been up to my parents in Hamilton a few times on my own and I will stop for a quick gas stop and carry on with no trouble. Up and back in a night is ok if I am on a flyer (~730k)

Of course, if it is an ashhurst ride there is a compulsory smoke stop every 40k

Every 40k for a smoke and every 60k for a coffee? unless you get the Masterton then finding a coffee can seem endless...:msn-wink:

around here that last hundy k's is normally on hiway1.boring and straight.
it gets boring when you've done it a lot.
so i guess the stimulation is not there.
i find i can spend more time onboard if it's new roads.
gutted i couldn't make your cruise yesterday.

Yeah that last bit on SH1 is a big snore, had thought of cutting through Waipu/Mangawhai but wasn't in the 'zone'. Maybe if I had stopped at Waipu for 10-15 mins? that would have worked.

[McJim]

I used to commute on the bike every day rain or shine so as far as getting up it was "Oh shit I'm late" scull a coffee and jump on the bike time from Zzzzzs to on the road about 11 minutes.

I don't often get the chance to do long trips because we have children so it's not fair to take more than 2 hours away from home otherwise the missus does all the childcare which isn't fair.

I used to cycle for 9 hours at a time on cycle touring holidays around Scotland and when I was training I would do a 90 mile run once per week.

I have never actually felt fatigue riding a bike yet. Closest I got was cramp on the VTR 250 coz the frame is too small for someone my size.

[oldrider]

No, sadly we snuck a day off and spent it pootling around is all. Toilets are a BIG THING with me. I have something of a phobia around public toilets. I actually wont use one if I can possibly avoid it. It has to be a clean place. I have had some bad experiences at petrol station toilets and wont use them unless there is no choice. I much prefer the squat in the grass than the gag making, disgusting places that are offered roadside for females to use.

Actually I have a very vivid imagination and right now it's on overtime, hey what's that wee mark on your buttock? :Oops: :shutup: John.

[Mom]

Actually I have a very vivid imagination and right now it's on overtime, hey what's that wee mark on your buttock? :Oops: :shutup: John.

Looks a bit like a top hat really :blip:

[oldrider]

Yeah we can be out all day John, that I dont mind, even coming home at this hour is fine, beautiful riding conditions. But, if its been over 500 ks for the day, then I get cranky, gear shifts start to get jerky etc. Even had to race a Swift up the Brynderwyns yesterday, fuck those things can go, he was being a wank in my mind, its those sorts of things that makes wanna.....well you know, wheres my Valium!!!!!

Yeah, I am finding that I have to be very concious of my age now and be sure not to overtax my strength and durability because there are changes sneaking up that one is possibly unaware of!

I owe that to myself/herself and everyone else on the road with me, especially as each new winter cold starts to take effect! :cold:

My reaction time slows dramatically as it gets colder and I get tired.

I thought you guys might have been on a tour, maybe even down our way when I first read your thread post. One day! :ride::yeah: Cheers, John.

[oldrider]

Looks a bit like a top hat really :blip:

Your secret is safe with me! :whistle: John.

[TOTO]

just like you Maha I need to be awake for at least 2 hours in order to ride properly or at least 30 minutes if I had more than 10 hours sleep.

Good comfourtable distance on both small and big hornet is about 700ks in a day with plenty of brakes, in saying that I did 1300km in 17hours about a month back and that was the my upper limit. I was properly ridden out by then. Roughly 8 hours riding is all sweet with brakes every 120 - 150ks I'd say on a comfourtable bike such as either my small of big hornet. :yes:

[cowboyz]

Every 40k for a smoke and every 60k for a coffee? unless you get the Masterton then finding a coffee can seem endless...:msn-wink:


well unlike ashhurst, masterton has more than 1 road which complicates things.

[mark247]

A 450km trip has me pretty stuffed. Not mentally, but the fact im 6 foot 2 and on a bike made for people a foot shorter makes for a bit of pain after 3 hours or so. I'd love to go for a long ride on a bigger bike and see how much nicer it is.. one day when I have money I guess!

[EJK]

Sleep is very important. Yes.

I once went on a ride down to Tauranga (Yea not far from Auckland). The ride began at 4am. I couldn't be bothered waking up at 4am so I just decided to spend the night playing games.

So soon after I met friends at BP Autobahn and off we went. I had no coffee nor any sort of energy drink that day. Well I was fucked when I reached Tauranga. But that wasn't the problem. I had to get back home.

God knows why me and Bomma went through the Whangamata (SH25a) way back home. While riding through the gorge(?) I was absolutely tired to the point where I could not think. I was like a computer playing screen saver. The body(computer) was riding the bike(running programs inside the comp) while there was nothing on the screen (not thinking).

When I reached Bombay hill, I was literally nodding my head. Often closing my eyes. I can't remember what else happened that day.

I could have pulled over and took a power nap.


Well back to the comfortable distance. 500kms on the FXR was enough. Sun/ wind/ rain/ gust/ etc are some major variables tho...

[mark247]

I could have pulled over and took a power nap.

Stuff that. The Taupo council has come up with better ideas so you don't fall asleep now.

[McDuck]

I need to be awake for a few hours to feal good riding, once that is up i am good for 1000kms +