Wisdom from long-distance commuters

[Kaiser]

I could soon find myself in a situation where I will have a one-way 90-mile commute on a super-slab to/from work each day.

My biggest concern is riding in the rain.  I'm gonna get some Frog Toggs to help keep me dry and some new shoes for the Fat Lady.  I'm thinking (and I promise I'm not trying to start anything here) a CT on the back (probably a GTT) and a reverse-Kenda on the front should give me as much traction as I'm gonna get in wet weather.  ***WITHOUT STARTING YET ANOTHER POINTLESS CT DEBATE THREAD*** - do you feel from your own personal experience that this is the best wet weather combination?

What are some things that you have learned concerning long-distance commuting?  What would you do differently and what would you do the same?  What did you eventually figure out and think "why did it take me that long to think of that?"

Any lessons learned that you can pass along to keep me out of the School of Hard Knocks is appreciated.

[roboto65]

You will find that the IS provides alot of protection I would still carry a change of clothes for work..
As far as riding the new rubber will help and I have a General Altimax and love it has been great in the rain  .   

 A pair of good riding boots that are waterproof does wonders too I hate when my feet get wet when riding of course I do not worry about it now I have Alpinestar tourboots that are waterproof and they work great and last me about 3 years of riding last pair I wore the soles out and they still did not water in LOL

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Your in Florida, so in cold weather (January) textile gear works best, Joe Rocket type jacket and pants. In the other months of the year again, textile gear, Joe rocket mesh jacket and pants. Go to Walmart and buy the best Stearns rain gear they have in the fishing dept. Wear it under the mesh gear when it rains. Under the mesh keeps it from flapping much. Buy a can of "Camp Dry" unscented and spry the rain gear every 4 months or so.

Frog Togs are not long term rain from what I've learned.

Raymond (daily year round commuter who stays dry)

[Oss]

+1 on the advise given

I wear the joe rocket liner under my jacket and I stay dry with that  Having an interstate you dont get so wet except maybe the knees

I am on my 2nd pair of these waterproof boots and they are worth their weight in gold to me

My Toyo Proxes T1R was a GREAT tire in the rain and saved my bacon once or twice I am sure

The Altimax looks like a great tire also  I am running an Avon rear now and the next one will be a Battleaxe 200 series

Cant speak about the front  tire you will just have to experiment.

When I commute I usually wear chaps and always an armored hit-air jacket and good gloves

I dress for the slide not the ride and hope it never happens.  

Getting to old to be enjoying the bouncing on the highway with all the trucks and such

Hope you have safe rides always.

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey Kaiser..........I had a shorter commute once for a job I had for a year or so.  It was 50mi one way.........The miles it racks up on your bike is incredible......its tempting to ride to save gas, but in the long run I dont think it saves much or anything when you adjust gas savings with Tires for the bike and overal miles on the odometer..........Id say ride when the weather is great........cage it in the rain and youll save in the long run, and be safer and happier

[Walküre]

Hey Kaiser..........I had a shorter commute once for a job I had for a year or so.  It was 50mi one way.........The miles it racks up on your bike is incredible......its tempting to ride to save gas, but in the long run I dont think it saves much or anything when you adjust gas savings with Tires for the bike and overal miles on the odometer..........Id say ride when the weather is great........cage it in the rain and youll save in the long run, and be safer and happier

I agree wholeheartedly with Chris. Having an hour+ commutes in both California and Indiana, sometimes with JUST a bike, a good 10-yeear old Saturn (or similar) will be more economical. I have bought several - drive them into the ground, then find another. They last a LONG time, if they are highway-driven. They get around 35 mpg, up to 40 with a stick. Cheap tires, can replace them all for a couple bike changes, and I managed to get 75,000 miles out of the last set. Just keep the oil changed, and minor maintenance. 200,000 miles on this one, it has paid for itself a dozen times over.

I have ridden my Valk almost everyday since I got it first of June. Only ride 25 miles each way, now. But the miles are STILL adding up rather quickly. 1500 miles on it, since I got it. But, I'll be going back to swapping back and forth, soon. The excitement will NEVER wear off, but will subside a little bit. 30% chance of precip - ride! 60% chance, ride! 80+%, I'm checking the hourly forecast, but still riding! I DO keep a spare set of clothes in my locker at work, complete - skivvies, socks, and shoes included! You never know...

Oh yeah, another thing - when I WAS riding exclusively, because I HAD to (only vehicle), I found I started to hate riding, when I was off work. Kind of like taking your work home with you. It becomes a job, instead of an adventure. Something to think about.

I don't try to keep dry, as I sweat worse in any gear I've ever owned, than I have gotten wet! And I hate Monkey Butt, or any OTHER Monkey anything! But that's totally personal choice. Of course, I have windshield, and helmet with screen.

To those with the Alpine Tourboots - how well do they "breathe"? I had a pair of waterproof boots once, but they were air-tight as well, and on an 800 mile trip, my toes and heels were hamburger, from not being able to breathe.

Just my $.02 worth - your actual mileage may vary.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I ride in the weather all the time  and a good full face or flip front will work well in the rain.  Also I like my windshield just short enough to see over in the rain. Also bake air wings will help keep your legs dry along with lowers on your front forks.

[Walküre]

Also I like my windshield just short enough to see over in the rain.

A little hijack, but my first windshield was that height, and I found that it would cause the wind to buffet my helmet, shaking my head, resulting in VERY sore neck, and headaches. Traded to a taller one, and it went away. Unfortunately, it was well-used, and I find that the scratches are a little annoying in the night lights. Fortunately, 75% of my ride is on a nice four-lane, in the country, and I usually only see one or two oncoming cars (at midnight), and no street  lights.

R

[..]

Oxtar Matrix boots. http://www.oxtar-boots.com/matrix.html

Waterproof.

Cool when needed.

Warm when needed.

Rode 990 miles across CO, KS  and MO in 105F summer heat in a day. My feet were the coolest part of me.

[Willow]

Listen to Raymond.  Raymond knows.

Ride because you want to ride.  If you're riding only to save commuting costs, get a cheap cage or a V-twin commuter bike.

Rain gear is not as important as you might think for commuting.  If you get wet on the way home you'll just change when you get home.  I would cover up on the way in.

I ride sixty miles each way to work.  It's likely the main reason I still work where I do.

A 180 mile commute will put over thirty thousand miles per year on your bike.  In just ten years that bike will be all used up.  I don't think that's an issue.

I've put on a little over ten thousand in the past couple of months, but then I took a couple of vacations in there.

Enjoy your commute.  On a non-motorcycle related issue.  Consider how much a 180 mile commute takes away from your family time.  Plan well to deal with that.

Even for free some people's advise is over priced.      

Say hello to Miss Gorgeous.

[Chrisj CMA]

Even for free some people's advise is over priced.      

I suppose as long as the "dig" is eloquent, spelled properly and clever its ok to insult

[Duckwheat]

What are some things that you have learned concerning long-distance commuting?  What would you do differently and what would you do the same?  What did you eventually figure out and think "why did it take me that long to think of that?"

It sucks! 1.5 hours each way, 3 hours round trip, 15 hours a week, 60 hours a month you are sitting in or on a vehicle. You will grow to hate it. All that time wasted sitting when you could be living.

It will begin to eat on you the additional cost of commuting. Tires, gas, wear and tear will eat on you.

I did 100 miles for 8 months with winter driving in Idaho, so my opinion may be biased.

Did I mention that this is going to SUCK!


DW

[Walküre]

I suppose as long as the "dig" is eloquent, spelled properly and clever its ok to insult

I was wondering about that. Opinions asked for, and received, I thought. Must not be me...I charged $.02....

[Walküre]

Oh yeah, ANYthing that bothers you in a 10-mile ride, will bother you 100 times worse, in a 90 mile ride, when driven daily.

Years back I worked 120 miles from home, for 4 or 5 months. Ended up finding a cheap rental, and commuting on weekends. I was really bent when I got home when I tried commuting, and wasn't worth it. Of course, I knew it was short term, and we handled it. I understand about the necessities of long commutes - a few months ago Readers Digest did an article about long distance commuters, due to the economic situation the country is in right now. Some of them were 750 miles away, if I recall. Would hate to be in that position, but you have to go where the work is. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I suppose as long as the "dig" is eloquent, spelled properly and clever its ok to insult

I was wondering about that. Opinions asked for, and received, I thought. Must not be me...I charged $.02....

I have a feeling you and I may be going on a vacation if we keep this up.  Wheres good for you, I like Maui

[fudgie]

Oh yeah, ANYthing that bothers you in a 10-mile ride, will bother you 100 times worse, in a 90 mile ride, when driven daily.

Years back I worked 120 miles from home, for 4 or 5 months. Ended up finding a cheap rental, and commuting on weekends.  

Yea what he said. Might be better then a 2 hr ride to work and another 2 hr ride home. Thats what we do in the summer when we work Indy. We crash for free but still saves the drive back and forth. We have some GM'ers that live here and then on the weekends go back to MI. They are less then 2 hrs from home now. Maybe find a rental buddy. Also our ER doc stays at a local hotel during the week.

[Willow]

Even for free some people's advise is over priced.      

I suppose as long as the "dig" is eloquent, spelled properly and clever its ok to insult

If so, that one doesn't qualify.  It contains a misspelling.

Would it have seemed less insulting if I used the old adage,  free advice is usually worth what you paid for it?

I sincerely apologize to any experienced commuters who feel their advice was belittled.    

[Stanley Steamer]

Oxtar Matrix boots. http://www.oxtar-boots.com/matrix.html

Waterproof.

Cool when needed.

Warm when needed.

Rode 990 miles across CO, KS  and MO in 105F summer heat in a day. My feet were the coolest part of me.

Thanks Britman...for turning me onto those boots a few years ago....they are still holding up....400+ miles to hattiesburg in a frog strangler a few years ago and those boots and my frog toggs kept me snug as a bug in a rug!!.....and dry....

[X Ring]

Oxtar Matrix boots. http://www.oxtar-boots.com/matrix.html

Waterproof.

Cool when needed.

Warm when needed.

Rode 990 miles across CO, KS  and MO in 105F summer heat in a day. My feet were the coolest part of me.

Thanks Britman...for turning me onto those boots a few years ago....they are still holding up....400+ miles to hattiesburg in a frog strangler a few years ago and those boots and my frog toggs kept me snug as a bug in a rug!!.....and dry....

What do you expect driving the Kia?   

Marty

[sheets]

My commute is 48 miles each way. I seldom ride the bike. The few days I ride... by the end of the day I wish I hadn't. I'm just toooo-o-o-o tired at the end of the day to hop on the bike for the return trip.  I have a beater daily driver rig. Operating expense on the 4-wheeler is much less than the Valk. Yrmv, 

[alph]

these work pretty good at keeping your feet dry.

http://www.bikebandit.com/hopnel-rain-gators-legwear

[Dave Weaver]

One thing you may want to improve upon is lighting.  You will undoubtedly be riding in the dark at some time, so you may want to find some good quality driving lights to see the critters and road hazards with.

[Chrisj CMA]

Would it have seemed less insulting if I used the old adage,  free advice is usually worth what you paid for it?

  [/i]

Yes, to answer your question....it would have been a whole different statement........not insulting at all 

[Kaiser]

Thanks to all for their input.  My hope/goal is that this commute would only last for maybe a month or two.  But that decision is out of my hands.

I appreciate the rain gear recommendations.  I'll check those out as soon as I have a chance.