Am I Inzane???

[biguglyman]

Have permission from the boss to consider this.  From my house (upstate NY) just over 1100 miles and 18+ hours!  Would make it the biggest road trip I ever made.  Are there campgrounds in the area?  Might be cheaper to stay in my tent...

[RoadKill]

If you have not done 1100 mile trip before you may want to re consider the time it will take. I am assuming that your 18 hr figure came from mapquest/google maps or the like  ???  ?   I would definitely plan an over night stay along the way if you have not done this before.   800 miles in 24hrs is a rough ride,especially for some one not accustom to distance riding. 1100 in 18 hrs is for the seasoned distance riders only  IMHO.

[biguglyman]

DEFINITELY make a stop along the way.

[art]

I've done 1171 miles in 23 hours on my valk no problem.A lot depends on the type of weather you are riding in.I enjoyed the ride but i'm used to it even when I did it at 67 yrs old.I'd do it again in a heart beat but thats me.I did need to take a nap to refresh myself.Just be careful.I only average 50 mph over the trip.Its best to stop for the night.

[FPG52]

well i can't give you much advice; never went on that big of a ride myself... but I am you neighbor... live in Webster and when I looked at the destination and Googled it I have become a bit apprehensive about making that ride myself.  But I give you credit for trying it my friend.  Good luck... ride safe!

[RoadKill]

well i can't give you much advice; never went on that big of a ride myself... but I am you neighbor... live in Webster and when I looked at the destination and Googled it I have become a bit apprehensive about making that ride myself.  But I give you credit for trying it my friend.  Good luck... ride safe!

2 day trip and NOT riding alone would be a good scenario for both of you....?  ?   ?

[Alien]

Why not a few weekend rides of increasing mileage to get used to longer rides?  A windshield will greatly reduce your fatigue on a long ride as will the proper clothing.  How are your tires, bearings, u-joints, splines etc? 

IMO, and I've ridden enough to know, you just can not adhere to a time schedule while on a motorcycle.  It's much more physically exhausting than driving, especially over unfamiliar territory.

My first long trip was 1836 miles from Los Angeles, CA to Baton Rouge, LA.  I was riding a 1978 KZ1000 that I had only ridden on 100-200 mile trips up to that point.  Have you ever ridden/driven across Texas on I-10?  It.  Is.  Endless.  Oh, did I mention that it was August?  Ever see a dehydrated fat man cry? 

I'm not trying to discourage you from going, just plan on double the amount of time you think it will take plus one day. 

[Oss]

did that ride from Ossining (half an hour north of nyc) to Eureka about 1400 miles  in 2 full days alone
as most of my distance rides are alone

It was a great ride but I have a Russell Daylong seat

I would not attempt that on a stock seat unless I had either beads or an airhawk cushion

Try a few 300-400 mile rides out and see how you feel. On an earlier pre Russell ride when I rode to Denver on a stock seat I was in agony by the time I got to Indy, bought a lumbar support and tied it to the seat and it was better
till Denver, but then my wife got to use it on the rear seat  

  Allow 2 days for the trip each way, if you only need one you have lost nothing, except the opportunity to stop along the way to stretch walk take picture etc I Drink something, eat a bite of something
and use the bathroom at each gas stop and stretch a minute or two as IMHO you never get
untired once you are tired unless you take a nap. It takes just a second for your time on
this planet to end so be sharp. If you dont remember having done something for the past few miles it may be time for a rest walk

[Willow]

For an experienced long distance rider, 800 miles or more is an attainable target.  For one who has not become accustomed to long distance riding, 500 miles per day is a very aggressive target.  In either case, plan for more time than you think you'll need so you can enjoy the ride.

Make the ride, you'll enjoy the time there and the rides to and from.

There is plenty of camping in the vicinity of Eureka Springs.  Give me a little time to see if we can contact a campground in the area so we can get more of our people in one place.  The experience is enhanced if you have other InZaniacs staying near you.  

Staying at ground zero is best and it contributes to he support of the event, but I understand that some can't or choose not to.  We'd like to do our best for those folks too.

[Cliff]

Don't forget to factor in gas stops, they eat up time when there are several.  Even though googlemaps lists a trip as 10 hours we have found that it actually becomes 11-12 hours.  We do about 600 miles a day as a good compromise,, not so long as to make the trip un-enjoyable but long enough to be getting somewhere without using too many days.  On avg we take about 11-12 hours to do a 600 mile day and we stop for quick meals and try and combine stops (meal, gas and potty all in one stop)  We will be riding to Inzane this year coming down form New Hampshire and are planning 2 overnight stops along the way.  We rode to Tampa, FL last summer and did 2 overnight stops each way for that ride also.  We usually hit the throttle at first light and stop before sunset.

NOTE:  We have a Russell Day Long and added an airhawk cushion for my wife.  Even with this setup 12 hours is the most we like to ride.

[biguglyman]

Staying at "ground zero" may be an option depending on cost.  I do have the stock seat with a backrest and it is, to me anyway, more comfortable than my old Gold Wing.  "Boss" doesn't have the vacation time to accompany me so it will be a solo ride.  Just bought the bike last fall and tires/mechanics are all good.  Have a windshield although it is a little too short for me.  Highway pegs are da bomb!

[ptgb]

We are a tinkle under 900 miles door-to-door. Could do it in one day, ironbutt-style. Instead, going to take our time to enjoy the ride in. Be able to stop and sit down for meals, etc.

Two days in, with the first day your heavy miles and the second much lighter, should make for a pretty good riding experience. *As long as the weather decides to cooperate.

Off the cuff, I can see us doing 600 or more the first day and 300 or less the second.

Good luck, and come on out... Inzanes are a blast!

[Bigdog]

make sure you have a windshield.

[Doc809]

Rode 1085 miles in 19 hours and 25 minutes.  No time to enjoy the ride, gas, potty, burger and ride!  Did that on a sanctioned Ironbutt ride so it was all about the miles and time not about the enjoyment of a ride.  I would prefer to take my time on a ride where the destination is the ultimate goal.  Just adds to the pleasure of the entire experience.  Just my humble opinion.

[MP]

I am at just under 1100 miles, one way.  Bringing the wife and sidecar.  2 or 3 days, depending on how slow of a route I take!  LOL

MP

[Jack]

For an experienced long distance rider, 800 miles or more is an attainable target.  For one who has not become accustomed to long distance riding, 500 miles per day is a very aggressive target.  In either case, plan for more time than you think you'll need so you can enjoy the ride.

Make the ride, you'll enjoy the time there and the rides to and from.

There is plenty of camping in the vicinity of Eureka Springs.  Give me a little time to see if we can contact a campground in the area so we can get more of our people in one place.  The experience is enhanced if you have other InZaniacs staying near you.  

Staying at ground zero is best and it contributes to he support of the event, but I understand that some can't or choose not to.  We'd like to do our best for those folks too.

Carl, I will likely stay at a campground also.  Haven't looked for a place yet.  Need hookups.  Plan to get there Saturday and stay the following week to Friday.

[texaninsouthfl]

Good advice from all...  

There's a group of us coming from Florida (1222 miles for me) and at this point we're planning to take about 2 and half days. I'd rather take it easy and not arrive feeling worn to a nubbin. Long trips on two wheels are as much about the journey as the destination....  

[old2soon]

From when i left my house last june/july it was 622 miles up to my brothers place in the N W Chicago suburbs. I was stopping at 100 to 150 miles for fuel cold drinks and potty. From my 3d fuel stop on the stops got progressivly longer. I found out i WAS NOT 40 years old anymore. You also need to factor in the HEAT. And i did not just leave out on that trip. My rides in the local area were getting longer by the day. When you think you have drunk enough fluid-drink some more. You will also be finding muscles and joints you didn't even know you had. I used all 3 sets of pegs on my ride just to releive the pressure on my hips. I have the stock I/S seat with an Ultimate backrest and a sheep skin. And i DO NOT leave home without them. And being as i ONLY live approx 150 miles from ground zero i'm gonna allow about 3 or 4 hours to get there. RIDE SAFE.

[RainMaker]

Spread it out over a few days - make the trip an adventure.  It looks like a long way before you start. Daniel Meyer told me the trick to long distance riding was staying hydrated.  At every gas stop, I drank at least 16oz of water or Gatorade and always made a pit stop.  If you don't have to go at a gas stop, you aren't drinking enough.  A cruise control or a throttle stop will help a lot.  You could easily plot a ride to go on some great roads like the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala skyway on your trip to Arkansas.  In my trip to Inzane last year, it took 5 days to get there but only 1 day to get back (1336 miles in 23 hours).   The trip up was definitely more fun.

Highly recommend you stay at ground zero hotel if at all possible.   

my 2 cents.

RainMaker

[Willow]

Bigugly and Jack, here's my post regarding the Wanderlust campground from the InZane Registration thread:

For those who asked or were thinking of asking about camping, the recommended campground is the Wanderlust RV Park about four miles east of Ground Zero.  There are likely closer campgrounds, but this one was specifically recommended by our host.

The owner of Wanderlust has set aside sites together specifically for those attending InZane, so be sure to mention InZane, VRCC, or Valkyries when you call.  The number is 800-253-7385.

Let me emphasize again that the best InZane experience will be had at Ground Zero and staying there will help support the event.  However, if camping is the only way you'll get to be at InZane, staying where there will be other InZaniacs will make your camping experience, and theirs, more enjoyable.

[Jack]

   http://wanderlustrv.com/
Noticed they also have cottages and cabins and a swimming pool.