Longest ride you've ever ridden?

[Gremlin]

1720km in 22 odd hours
1640km in under 18 hours
2300km in 27 hours (overnight stop halfway through tho with a few hours sleep - not counted in 27 hours)
1000-1200km is a reasonably regular trip (done one the last 3 weekends)

Did Auckland to Wellington, left Auckland at 3am, Wellington mid morning. Visited two clients for work, left Wellington at 8pm, back in Auckland shortly before 5am. I did have to stop at Turangi for about an hour though, on the way up, as I was starting to feel a bit shattered
Did Auckland to Wellington, left late on Friday evening (after a full day of work), got to Wellington just before 0630am, in time for the Capital Cruise, did the cruise, back to Wellington, and then had an excellent sleep on a nice bed offered by KoroJ, before going back to Auckland on Sunday afternoon.

It doesn't really matter when I leave, even left at 4pm before... just ride through the night or day...

Will attempt 3200km in 40 hours on this coming TT2000.

So with those sorts of km's and thinking of the TT2000, how do you guys judge your performance drop off over that sort of riding time - say first part of the trip to the second part.

The stats say its the equivalent to riding drunk, concentration wise, by about 20 hours. I think it depends on the person, your fitness, riding ability, how often you do it etc.

Some people "pack" for 200km and call it a day trip. Some head out for a burger and end up in Wellington (from Auckland) - where's GiJoe for this thread.

It also depends on terrain and weather conditions. Too straight, gets boring and fatigue sets in even earlier than if its twisty, but too twisty and you also get tired. Bad weather conditions can destroy your energy. I did 1600km one weekend, felt shattered, did 1600km the next without issue...

edit:
GiJoe was in here... didn't see that
Yes, your sleeping pattern makes a massive difference. The GC is an easy example. Guys used to being in bed at midnight hit the wall around 1am, usually an hour or so after your normal bed time is when it gets hard for a while. My sleep pattern is all over the place, so I hit the wall around 9am - 10am, when I'm supposed to hand emergency overnight jobs over to someone on the day...

[sinned]

The Capital 1K cruise is a good daylight ride. 1000 to 1100 kms is easy to do although I found I was getting a little saddle sore about 800kms. Heaps of lower Nth lslanders have done that cruise. 1000kms in a day is not hard to do on a decent bike.

[ernie953]

Just done Whakatane to Welly to see Nitro Circus. Went down via Taupo,Napier,Waipukurau,Ekatahuna. Back home via Hawera,Stratford,[forgotten highway]Taumarunui,Turangi,Kopuriki,Whk. 1400kms, 16.5hrs riding time, av 84kph.

[phill-k]

cheers very interesting reading thanks for your responses it seems you guys are more or less remaining saddle fit by the regular amount of big miles you do.

[shrub]

cheers very interesting reading thanks for your responses it seems you guys are more or less remaining saddle fit by the regular amount of big miles you do.

I think that's a big part of it. I haven't ridden more than 500 kms in a day for several months, and most of my recreational rides have been 150 - 200 kms, and that's only been once every 2 or 3 weeks, while I ride several times a week, it's mostly round town and short trips, so if I were to do something like the TT2000 now it would be foolish.

However I am physicaly reasonably fit and train 4-5 times a week, so that would stand me in good stead.

[nadroj]

I remember KoroJ doing the GC + extension (2100km) 3 years ago in under 24 hrs. A certain rider from Auckland completed the 2100km ride leaving Turangi at 3pm and returning at 10:20am the next morning on a stormy cold winters night.

[puddy]

(15th) GC 2400kms in 36 hours + 10 normal GCs. Take my hat off to the Rusty Nuts 10K in 10 days group. And xgnr and friends if they pull off their Aussie Adventure.

[Spearfish]

This probably doesn't count but,
West Auck to Mt Wellington -Clevedon -Hopu -Paeroa -to dickeys flat (bit before waikino SH2) DoC camp, stayed night then back again last weekend on a 50cc moped.

[KoroJ]

So with those sorts of km's and thinking of the TT2000, how do you guys judge your performance drop off over that sort of riding time - say first part of the trip to the second part. 100% down to 70% or what? just curious

You know you're fatigued but ornery determination to finish plays a part. Standing on the pegs and shifting to the back seat in towns, dropping one or both legs at regular intervals keeps the aches at bay. Riding curly roads is easier on the butt because of the constant weight shifts. Fast, hard riding brings the fatigue on.

Then there's the bio-rhythms or whatever... I've done GC's and been totally shattered and finished others fresh as a daisy.

Last Southern Cross, Steve and I managed Cape reinga to Welly in 12hours and Bluff to Picton (& Welly). Both of those were great days as well as the two 1100+ Kms on the TT.

[FJRider]

I've successfully completed five Chatto Creek 1000 milers ... four on a FJ1200 and one on a XJ750. 1635 km's in each ... (within 24 hours)

500 km rides are regarded (by me) as an "afternoon" ride ...

[Badgerclarke]

Did just over 800 miles in a day a few years ago on a Triumph Sprint RS. Left Inverness, headed up to the north Scots coast and then home to Norfolk. Knew about it for a few days too!

[Jantar]

My longest single trip was an attempt at Kaitaia to Bluff in under 24 hrs. I missed it by 20 minutes. But in those days you could fly across the straight in a Bristol Freighter for not much more than what the ferries charged and save around 4 hours at the same time. Check in time with bike at Wellington airport was 15 minutes prior to departure compared to 90 minutes for the ferry. 25 minutes flying time and 5 minutes to unload the bike and already in Blenheim instead of Picton. 45 minutes instead of 5 hrs. Please bring back those Bristols.

Now I regularly ride 800 km for a full day ride or 500 km for a half day (like I did today), and 1000 km+ rides are not uncommon.

[Mystic13]

The Accidental Long Ride

My wife and I went for a short ride from Auckland. Then further. And further and ended up in Kaitaia at 3pm and thought what the heck lets do the Cape. We weren't dressed for a colder night or rain. At Whangarei just after midnight stopped to stuff our clothes with whatever we could find. Newspaper is really useful when it's cold. I said to her I hope it doesn't rain. Then it started. That would have to be the coldest I've arrived home but certainly one of the more memorable rides. I am deeply grateful that my wife is an avid, all weather, all condition pillion.

The Just because It's There Ride - Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge

The Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge is 1600km in 24 hours starting mid afternoon and going through some very winding roads. And that's 1600km's if you make all the right turns. I came through the desert road and it was sleeting witha snocone building up on the screen. They're doing the 25th Rusty this year if any of you feel mad enough. I did my first one with over 21 hours of non-stop riding. Ride, gas, snack, drink, ride and repeat till you've finished the course. And then rode back to Auckland without a sleep, a further 320km. Like some have posted. Sometimes you feel fresh and sometimes you don't. I also play with the time. As the evening progresses At 10pm I'd tell myself it's 9pm, then eventually 9.10 etc until by the time I'm telling myself it's midnight and this is just another late night it's actually 5 to 5.30am. About this time through to 7 I'll be looking for a good breakfast.

The In Love Ride

The "in love" ride was when I was living in Wellington and my girlfriend lived in Auckland. At the start of the weekend, Friday night I rode to Auckland, picked her up and rode back to Wellington Saturday early. Then Returned her late Monday arvo and returned to Wellington (long weekend). Ahhh... the power of love. Back when gas and speeding tickets were cheap. (and when she lived with her folks and I had my own rental accommodation).

Other than that we're always up for a long ride.

[Conquiztador]

Lately: Hawke's Bay - Auckland fastest way in the morning, then back through Tauranga and Gisborne in afternoon/evening. Somewhere around 1,250 Km's on the K1. And also on K100.

In youth Stockholm (Sweden) - Genova (Italy) little over 2,000Km's. Only stop for fuel, feed and toilet. And there was a ferry between Sweden and Denmark too, but only approx 40 minutes. The German Autobahn helped with cutting down the travel time. Done it inside 24 hours on a 750 Bonny and also on a 48 Panhead with rigid frame and 22 inch extended springer forks.

[Gremlin]

cheers very interesting reading thanks for your responses it seems you guys are more or less remaining saddle fit by the regular amount of big miles you do.

That's pretty much it. I find if I get stuck in work for a few months, barely get out on the bike for decent rides, you do 600km and feel tired. It's almost training like an athlete to maintain that edge that's needed.

You know you're fatigued but ornery determination to finish plays a part.

ah... the head games. When you're feeling shattered, you're not even halfway through, and still heading away from home, it plays with your mind a lot more. When almost home, the pain is forgotten, the desire to stop gone, and its only a few more km.

Its vital to eat right, coffee and pies does not good nutrition make. Keeping warm is also crucial. It's ok for a few hours to be cold, your body burns energy to keep itself warm. After 15+ hours, the body doesn't have energy to burn to keep itself warm. By keeping yourself warm from the beginning it saves energy and stands you in better stead when you're a few hours in.