13th Jan - A little newbie ride

**hedgier1** · 7th January 2007, 15:23

If skidmark comes put him at the front of the pack. And watch out for him. Anyways it will be good to catch up with the Auck crew. Bop crew are different to auckland crew. But all good. really low key down here.

**Big Dog** · 22nd January 2007, 23:16

Out of curiosity how did this go?

**eldog** · 26th June 2015, 21:04

Originally Posted by Big Dog

If your going to book a rookie ride that far I suggest you also orgainise some beds in advance that anyone who finds it too far when it is too late to turn back has some where to stay.

Many has been the ride where I felt fresh at one stop then deathly at the next. There has also been many a day that I pushed on because of expectation then made really dumb decisions.

Those days are fewer as I age because I care less what others think but you kind of have to kill a few KM's before you know the difference between pushing a bit and taking a risk.

A longer ride is a great idea for learning what works, just take care to provide for those not as fit as they think.

Tips for those who have never ridden that far.
- If you don't normally ride with a pack rack get some kms down before you load one.
- Keep as little weight as possible on your back.
- Bungy your back pack to your pillion seat if you can.
- Take a hot drink if you will be out after dark, the heat and sugar help a lot in the sudden drop of temp.
- Start out taking a break every 45 mins and stretch that out by 10 mins at a time until you find your fitness.
- Fill up at your first stop / the start.
- Fill up 10% earlier than you think you need to, out of Auckland many gas stations close at odd hours some as early as 4:30.
- Stretch at the beginning and at every stop.
- Take on water and low GI food at every stop ( a mouth full of food eg 1/4 of an apple, and at least 250ml of water.)
- Adjust all your controls that bug you before you leave, if it is annoying on a short trip it is a pain in the **** at long distance.
- Get a good nights sleep - lay off the alcohol and caffeine.
- Earplugs - best 50c you will spend on a long trip.

Before you leave, have you got / done:
- Enough gas money? More than you think you need?
- Numbers to call if you get laid over for the night?
- More water than you think you can drink or the means to buy more?
- WOF and REG?
- A bike likely to last the distance?
- The tool kit that came with the bike or similar?
- Checked your cold tyre pressure within 24 hours of departure?
- Checked your fluids?
- Battery in good order?
- Bulbs all going?
- Someone who knows where you are going and when you are likely to get back?
- Your drivers license?

Think this is too much, perhaps it is. Most of us can counter for one less than perfect situation for 250kms, but no one wants to.

If the objective is to learn from your ride team up with someone of similar skill and someone of higher skill and debrief after each stage.

going to give the advice from the above a go (except the last one)
still looking for a thread about rider fitness and ways of improving my rider fitness
OK I need to do more ks, but i am sure there is more and alternatives.

like cruise controls, stopping at regular intervals (fuel stops)
its the fuel and pit stops I have to work on to keep them to a minimum and to find out when/where things are available
as most of the riding will be in the middle of the night