First Long Ride - Planning Tips?

[Electrical_Tech]

Yes it is a ways to travel for sure. There are several scenic routes to travel I'm told in NL as well, but it's a bigass province to be trying to tour about on a short trip home. Most of my riding occurs on the 10000km^2 of peninsula that I live on. There's a lot of twisties etc much like Cape Breton (cabot trail) but mostly on barrens rather than mountains. Wind is typically nasty and makes for some unpleasant riding.

It's about 900km (550miles) of highway from where you would get off the ferry in Port Aux Basques, NL to St. John's, which is the city near my home. The remainder of the province is covered in the 110,000 and some km^2 of island. Much of which is lakes/ponds/bogs/general wetlands. If you DO come over, I highly recommend travelling up the northern peninsula to Grosse Morne National Park and some of the other more northern areas, Lanse Au Meadows, St. Anthony for some genuine Viking settlements as well. The western and northern parts of the province are by far the most beautiful.

[kevin_stevens]

Credit card. Cell phone.

KeS

[PhilB]

If you haven't done this before, you may find yourself a bit saddlesore; you might consider a bit of baby powder in the shorts.

Other than that, 500 miles on a modern bike is no big deal. I'm easy for 500-600 in a day, but I've been doing this a long time and my bike and I are well adapted to each other. Most I've done in a day so far was 900 miles, but I'm hoping to take a weekend before the year is over and do a couple of the easiest IBA rides -- 1000 miles in 24 hours, and 1500 miles in 36 hours.

PhilB

[Electrical_Tech]

BP in the shorts sounds messy, but it just might work. Thanks for the tip Phil. 1000miles in a day sounds like an Iron Butt ride for sure

[bumblebee]

I will assume, you have the tool kit under the seat, so do I, but I also carry the most common "adjustment" tools with me. When I have traveled long distances, I have had caliper bolts loosen, fairings, and on my last trip to New Orleans last month, when I arrived, my back brake felt soft. I checked the pedal and one of the screws that holds the heel guard and the master cylinder had backed out. I also carry a small can of chain lube.

[Electrical_Tech]

More goodness. Thanks

[Builtgypsy]

Don't forget the blow up doll for the carpool only lanes.

[Electrical_Tech]

LMAO .. Thanks for that Guy. Carpool lanes don't exist here though. lmao.

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by Electrical_Tech

It is freeway / highway riding 99% 100km/h limits. With slowdown zones it's a 5hr drive, I'm anticipating able to do it without being a lunatic in 4 or slightly less. Norm is around 4.5. The clothing change isn't a bad idea, but it's not gonna be excessively warm, so sweating etc won't be much of an issue and I don't sweat much anyway .

It doesn't get dark at home now till close to 10pm so it shouldn't be HARD to do. May have to ride a short ways in dusky conditions.

Rags/wipes for the visors is definitely a great plan .. conidering the bugs

You're not taking a 500 mile trip, but two 250 mile trips that happen to be on the same day. Each is less than two tanks of gas. The odds of your bike disintegrating in two tanks of gas is pretty small, isn't it? Riding your bike through one fillup stop isn't daunting, is it?

My approach.

KeS

[Electrical_Tech]

I'm just gonna tow a portable canadian tire with me .. just in case