open road riding

[Ixion]

Don't try to bite off too much at a time. Stop often - even every 100km if you're not used to touring, stretch, relax, have a coffee (take a thermos if you can't afford coffee shops) . If it's sunny soak up some sun for 10 minutes. What others said about keeping warm and hydrated.

Enjoy the TRIP for itself, not just as a destination.

Keep way to your own side of the road in corners, cos Harry Huriup likes those roads too, and he always drives right down the centre line. take it easy in the tricky bits, make up time with a bit of blattery on the safe stretches. Ride fast, ride safe.

[onearmedbandit]

Watch out for crosswinds, and if you are affected by them keep an eye on 'buffer' zones such as hedges etc. You may be shelterted by a hedge but when the hedge stops you'll get knocked around by the wind.

[sunhuntin]

if you possibly can, do some local open road riding first...those wind blockers can be mongrels when they end. i forgot to check where you were from, but the foxton strait is a wonderful place to learn all about it!

yep, dress warm even if its hot, take a clear visor if you dont have one [for night rides] if you get tired, pull over and rest as soon as possible and even sleep [if sleeping by the bike stick your arm through the front wheel spokes] take wet weather gear, sunglasses/tinted visor. ride any time except for sunrise/set, cos if you are facing into it, its very hard to see, and if it hits your mirror, also very hard to see!!

all in all, enjoy the trip and dont forget the camera!

[raster]

Thats quite a nice looking gpx, if it's been sitting for some time(low K's), make sure you change all fluids and lubricate the cables, a dry cable can snap very quickly. Sometimes better to get a bike thats been used than one thats sitting.

Don't take any risks passing and watch for dicks pulling out to pass while your passing.

But if your on your learners you'll probly have more people pass you, don't travel too close to the left, left wheel track fine. Try not to hold people up, they get pissed off and take risks.

Watch for gravel, nearly binned my bike first night I had it pulling off onto a gravel drive way, not used to the touchy brakes.

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Oh yea: don't lean on the handle bars, let the wind hold you up.

[Highlander]

Plenty of advise already offered here, HEAPS more in the unwritten rules thread and survival skill sections on this site.

To burgle one of the other comments, never ride at more than 90% of your ability - you never know when you'll need the other 10%.

Failing that, keep it rubber side down (Shiny side up)

Enjoy the ride.

[tracyprier]

That is a nice tidy looking bike.

Take in all of the above advise matey, it is the distilled essence of MANY years collective experience on two wheels... some of it hard won too.

I'd say make sure you really "switch on". In a cage you can sort of relax your mind sometimes and get away with it... not concentrating and the like but on a bike, doing that can be deadly.

I'm not meaning you have to be hyped up, just alert and in touch with what's going on around you.

Don't forget, this is the silly season and it's called that for a bloody good reason.

Have fun and ride safe (or did you mention that sniper )

[ZorsT]

[if sleeping by the bike stick your arm through the front wheel spokes]

why is this?

[Matt Bleck]

...and this pearl of advise that has been quoted time and time again,

ride like everyone else on the road is trying to kill you!!

take care.

[Eurodave]

Regarding luggage, try not to wear a big back pack,is bloody tiring & uncomfortable over any distance!:slap:
Better to get yourself a pair of throwover soft cordura panniers that you can bungy to the pillion seat, try to load them evenly ,weight wise,each side.
If you need more space, bungy a roll bag behind you for your sleeping bag or any other light but bulky items & you could try a magnetic tankbag as well for your wallet /thermos/tools/camera etc etc. Hope this helps,welcome to the world of two wheels & enjoy!!!!

[Unit:Me]

Those wind zones are the ones that caught me out when I was first learning to ride. Watch for truck coming the other way, they can really buffer you about. Chch to Wanaka is a big trip, you need to get a few Ks under your belt first. Know your bike, ALWAYS ride with your headlight on, be seen. Keep a wary eye out for absolutely everyone else on the road and dont assume they will do what they should. Remember that sadly there are cage drivers out there that really dislike bikes and like to unsettle us. Dont push yourself especially when you are feeling tired. Make sure someone knows when you are leaving and when you expect to arrive at your next destination, especially when your travelling alone. same principal as boating. Tuck in and ride with other bikes at your speed whenever you can, there is safety in numbers. Most of all enjoy yourself, it will be a memorable ride.

[bigbadwolf]

oh and another thing, im not really sure what i should be wearing on long journeys in terms of safety stuff, what are the basic requirements apart from a good helmet?

[scumdog]

oh and another thing, im not really sure what i should be wearing on long journeys in terms of safety stuff, what are the basic requirements apart from a good helmet?

A good pair of 'tough-as' gloves, likewise a pair of good solid boots.
And a good jacket, also if you can afford it a pair of draggin jeans or leather trousers.

Given your probable speeds and inexperience I would say one of those flouro road-worker type vests could be a good thing to help make you visible - remember, most bikes get hit by cars 'cos the driver 'never saw him'.

Keep away from gravel, slow down if the road is wet and allow yourself a HEAP of a gap between you and the vehicle on front - can't beat a shit-load of nice fresh air between you and any object you don't want to hit.

[XP@]

Regarding luggage, try not to wear a big back pack,is bloody tiring & uncomfortable over any distance!:slap:
Better to get yourself a pair of throwover soft cordura panniers that you can bungy to the pillion seat, try to load them evenly ,weight wise,each side.
If you need more space, bungy a roll bag behind you for your sleeping bag or any other light but bulky items & you could try a magnetic tankbag as well for your wallet /thermos/tools/camera etc etc. Hope this helps,welcome to the world of two wheels & enjoy!!!!

Also make sure there are no dangley bits... having your rear trye stop at 100kph ain't fun!

Carrying luggage - Kiwi Biker forums
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=20645

[sunhuntin]

i suggested sleeping with your arm through the spokes so if for any reason your bike moves, youll be able to feel it and wake up. read it on one of the american sites some time back

for riding gear...dress warm and prepare for wet weather. lid, with clear and tinited visors [or sunglasses!] good solid gloves, i wear a leather jacket over a jersey with hood when travelling out of town and also leather pants over jeans. steel cap cowboy boots are my favourites [wearing rebs at the moment] might also pay to take two pairs of gloves....if one gets wet they can dry without leaving your hands exposed.

if you pull over to let a big truck go past, i suggest stopping fully rather than just slowing down. i tried that once with a milk tanker and felt like i was going to sucked under.

with luggage, carry a minimum on your person. i make use of pockets for things like wallet, cell phone etc. small light things that you may need in a hurry. i also have a top box, which is handy for big bulky things or fragiles [cell phone if travelling long distance].
the top box means i can bungy things on to the brackets, so normally the back pack gets strapped on tight and filled with things i may need fast [wet weather gear, food/water etc] look on trademe for a cargo bungy net...they are great for holding things that wont otherwise fit, and also sticking wet things under so they dry while you travel

[skelstar]

Dont put hard sharp objects in your jacket pockets. If you fall off and tumbled down the road, what ever is in your pocket will stab you. Bottles of Red Bull is an excellent example of this .

Mostly: keep in mind these points of advice, but make sure that you relax and enjoy yourself. For some people its a buzz travelling long-distances, and I could think of worse parts of the country to travel through .