Picton to Bluff and back

[superjackal]

Hi

Deciding whether or not to take my ER-5 on a long trip this summer. Would depart

Picton on Sunday, ride to Christchurch, stay a night (337kms).
Christchurch to Queenstown, stay a night (483kms).
Queenstown to Bluff via Te Anau, stay a night (385kms)
then Invercargill to Christchurch (566kms)
Christchurch to Picton (337kms)

Roughly 2100kms... 5 days.

I absolutely love long distance travelling but never done it on a bike. I like to travel light but wonder how sore my backside is going to get and whether it's too much...?

GNJ

[unstuck]

Only one way to find out.

[Gremlin]

Depends if you travel those distances frequently or not. If not... well, you're going to be in for a surprise.

Also depends if you just want to cover distance, or sightsee along the way, stop when you like, take it cruisy as such. If so, I'd recommend 3-400km a day, if it's all new to you. Sure, it can be punched out in 4-5 hours, but you probably won't ride like that (and it also means it's not too daunting if you're behind time), and stops can consume a surprising amount of time. If you're not experienced, the unfamiliar roads could present their own challenges.

Roads like Picton-Christchurch are easy and main highway, and travel time is 3.5-4 hours. Roads like the Catlins would take longer.

[superjackal]

Depends if you travel those distances frequently or not. If not... well, you're going to be in for a surprise.

Also depends if you just want to cover distance, or sightsee along the way, stop when you like, take it cruisy as such. If so, I'd recommend 3-400km a day, if it's all new to you. Sure, it can be punched out in 4-5 hours, but you probably won't ride like that (and it also means it's not too daunting if you're behind time), and stops can consume a surprising amount of time. If you're not experienced, the unfamiliar roads could present their own challenges.

Roads like Picton-Christchurch are easy and main highway, and travel time is 3.5-4 hours. Roads like the Catlins would take longer.

I do a 20km commute each way each day, 200kms a week. But that's nicely broken up. I did 6 hours on a GN250 once and that was quite sore even though it had a really soft seat. That's what makes me wonder about really long distance. I would sight-see but not too much. I imagine I'd take about 8 hrs per leg with stops....

[unstuck]

Roads like the Catlins would take longer.

Only because it is so much fun, you have to turn around and do it again .

[Maha]

I do a 20km commute each way each day, 200kms a week. But that's nicely broken up. I did 6 hours on a GN250 once and that was quite sore even though it had a really soft seat. That's what makes me wonder about really long distance. I would sight-see but not too much. I imagine I'd take about 8 hrs per leg with stops....

Piece of piss, all you need to do is get off the bike for 5-10 minutes every 100-120kms or so. Give the legs/arse area a stretch. On a trip such as that, where you are not that bike fit, your worst enemy is fatigue.
Eat and drink also. Start out with a good breakfast then a chocolate bar here and there, bottle of V? ...sorted. You're in the South island!! take time to see the country.

[Drew]

I imagine I'd take about 8 hrs per leg with stops....

Dude, there's sight seeing schedual times, and then there's pushing the bike.

Eight hours per 400 odd K leg, that's some serious fucking around.

[Gremlin]

I do a 20km commute each way each day, 200kms a week. But that's nicely broken up. I did 6 hours on a GN250 once and that was quite sore even though it had a really soft seat.

20km commute is nothing, and certainly not going to assist you in doing 500km in a day. You'll be sitting on the seat longer, being buffeted by wind for longer periods etc. Soft seats aren't necessarily a good thing, usually not supporting you enough (and you can possibly feel the frame underneath). It sounds odd, but you actually want a firmer seat (not hard, but not soft either) to properly support your weight for longer periods.

Piece of piss, all you need to do is get off the bike for 5-10 minutes every 100-120kms or so. Give the legs/arse area a stretch. On a trip such as that, where you are not that bike fit, your worst enemy is fatigue.
Eat and drink also. Start out with a good breakfast then a chocolate bar here and there, bottle of V? ...sorted. You're in the South island!! take time to see the country.

As Maha said, fatigue will be an issue. I disagree with the recommendation of V, or other energy drinks, actually any drinks containing caffeine. It's a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate you, and also the sugar hit in energy drinks picks you up, but only temporarily, and when the high ends, it will drop you lower than you were before.

[Maha]

As Maha said, fatigue will be an issue. I disagree with the recommendation of V, or other energy drinks, actually any drinks containing caffeine. It's a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate you, and also the sugar hit in energy drinks picks you up, but only temporarily, and when the high ends, it will drop you lower than you were before.

Yeah sorry, I meant to say Elks piss, but did not know if there were any Elk in the South island.

[paturoa]

4-500 ks per day is not a long ride. I'd call that medium to well done.

[Maha]

4-500 ks per day is not a long ride. I'd call that medium to well done.

To be fair though, the distances in the first post for someone who has done no real distance riding previously, and to be doing 4-500kms over 5 consecutive days, is a top effort.

[Gremlin]

4-500 ks per day is not a long ride. I'd call that medium to well done.

Yep, as Maha says, you need to bear in mind his experience. Some are knackered after 200km in a day. Don't want to be riding tired, and it's not enjoyable either, plus you miss all the nice stuff.

[duckonin]

Don't do your self in. Ride in one day what you are comfortable with. U get sore stop and rest. Call it a day when riding is no longer enjoyable.

[DrunkenMistake]

I done Dunedin to Blenheim on a CBR250 a few years back, we stopped in Christchurch after the first day then the second went the rest of the way,
Was a much nicer ride, I dont Blenheim to Dunedin back in one day and I dont think I would ever try again, I didn't find myself enjoying the ride in the 4th quarter of the trip, was more of a rush to get home and nap.

[Erelyes]

Nigga you crazy.

Missing out SH94 (Milford Sound) and the West Coast completely? Come on....

Make it a round trip and give it another couple days. Also, stay in a couple lil' towns as well, that you don't know the name of offhand (such as Glenorchy) - stuff staying in ChCh twice, imho.

/2c