need help planning a run

[Heathen]

I'm planning to take my new Valk up to Machesney Park, IL next month.

According to Google maps it's about 1100 miles (roughly).

My question is how long should this take?   I was thinking 2 solid days of riding..  600 miles the first day and and easy 500 the second day.    I know I've done 1200 miles straight through before, so this would be eminently do-able for me..   But my problem is that I won't be alone.  There will be a guy on a VTX1300 traveling along with me, and I've ridden on my own for so long I know longer know what is reasonable for a "normal" person and someone not on a Valkyrie!  LOL!   

So, anyway..  I don't wanna kill the guy, but I also don't want to take 3 days to get there.  For those of you that travel around the country with more than one rider on occasion:   Is 600 miles in a day reasonable for the average rider?

Thanks!

[HayHauler]

My $.02.
Yes, 600 is a reasonable amount for an unknown rider.  You just need to discuss how long each gas/rest stop will be.  It also depends on the temps.  If it is HOT, like now, 600 is a pretty long day.  If it is 75-85, 700 miles is a good day for a beginner.
When I ride with others (1 or 2) we stop for gas and water.  10 minutes max.  During that time, we eat come trail mix while drinking our water, use the facilities, and get back on the road.  This is of course, if you are doing the Super Slab route (most direct) and just want to "get there".
If you are going to travel the back roads, I like to take my time a little more and enjoy the ride.

Just really depends on what the plans are for the trip.

P.S.  For riding in the heat, a CamelBak is a life saver.  Makes it super easy to drink while riding.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[SideCar]

Agree with Hay, but there are lots of folks who think 300 miles is a long day, so talk with your other rider ahead of time to plan it out and get a feel for how fast you guys will travel and what you want to stop to see along the way (if anything).  

IMO, the key to getting a lot of miles under your belt without it seeming to be as long a day is to get an early start and keep the fuel stops short.  Doing it that way and , a 600 mile day and hitting the hotel/campground at 4:00 seems (to me) to be even shorter than getting a leisurely start and getting in at 6 or 7 o'clock.

In summer, I fill my camelback with at least 1/2 ice and the rest water or lemonade when I start and refill at occasional fuel stops when needed.

Have a great trip.

Forgot to mention. Blue jeans are one of the worst long distance clothing choices so if you're wearing them, anti-monkey butt powder is a big help.  Riding pants with bicycle shorts underneath are the gear of choice for iron butt riders.

[Heathen]

Thanks for the tips guys.. good things to keep in mind.  I know I'll be missing my Ultimate Seat that I had on my old Valk..  This new girl only has a stock seat!   But..   I can only afford a few upgrades at a time!  I have to be at a Class in Machesney Park, IL  on Tuesday morning, so I have to be at my motel by Monday night.   

The guy going with me is older (about 71??), but says he is used to 1000 mile+ rides.  He seems to be in good health, and is used to working all day in the heat.   But he is also wanting to take 3 days to get to this class.  I don't mind sight-seeing a bit on the way back.. but I don't want to leave Saturday morning..   so I think my solution might be to tell him he can leave Saturday morning and I'll leave Sunday morning, and I'll catch up to him sometime along the way!  LOL!  kidding (maybe).   anyway  I guess he goes on longer rides, but is just used to covering ground more leisurely. 

Which is great when you have the time for it! 

I felt 600 should be doable for most riders, so thanks for confirming it should be possible.  Just a few weekends ago I took my g/f to Georgetown, TX to visit her mom.  I live on the Southeast side of Houston, so it was a 200 mile trip.  We left "early" that morning around 9 am and got to Georgetown around noon, hiked, had lunch, played in the san Gabriel river, and then rode 200 miles back to Houston that evening.   I thought if my g/f who is not used to riding can do 400 miles on the stock passenger seat in one day with plenty of time for visiting family in between, then 600 miles is not much of a stretch!   

But maybe I'm crazy..  There's always that possibility..

[MarcusS]

I spoke to two people that had VTX1300 about long hauls before I purchased my Valk. One was a girl that had a lot of seat time and she had the riser modification to bring the grips back 2" and said she could ride all day. This may have been her height issue as she was only about 5'4". The second owner was a 20 year old kid in Montgomery. I asked him what his longest ride was and he said it was to San Antonio. I asked the young man if anything hurt when he got there and he said is back was shot.

Be sure the new rider has a good comfortable set up before the long haul. Foot and hand position can make or break a ride. VTX grips appear to be slightly forward.

[LandElephant]

You may not like my reply but, as a long distance rider it sounds as if he wants to ride at a different pace than you do.  Nothing can make a ride more stressful than 2 riders who don't agree on a trips pace can be a trip buster.

Mileage isn't the issue here.  If your riding partner doesn't match up with you, you will be stressed and the ride will suck.  My suggestion is to use the plan you stated.  Let him leave on Saturday and you leave on Sunday.  But, you probably won't hook up somewhere along the route. Too much stress.

You both would probably have a better ride.  If I haven't ridden with someone on a fairly long ride, I try not to make that first one a two dayer.  By the end of the trip I'm ready to tell them to KMA.

My humble worthless $0.02.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[RainMaker]

You may not like my reply but, as a long distance rider it sounds as if he wants to ride at a different pace than you do.  Nothing can make a ride more stressful than 2 riders who don't agree on a trips pace can be a trip buster.

Mileage isn't the issue here.  If your riding partner doesn't match up with you, you will be stressed and the ride will suck.  My suggestion is to use the plan you stated.  Let him leave on Saturday and you leave on Sunday.  But, you probably won't hook up somewhere along the route. Too much stress.

You both would probably have a better ride.  If I haven't ridden with someone on a fairly long ride, I try not to make that first one a two dayer.  By the end of the trip I'm ready to tell them to KMA.

My humble worthless $0.02.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Charlie hit the hail on the head. 

There has to be one leader and all else follow on a group ride.  Your buddy either goes as you planned or you need to find another riding partner or go it alone.  See if you have compatible plans for the return trip and join up for that.

RainMaker

[Heathen]

you're right Charlie.  That's probably the best plan..  After talking to him some more he is looking forward to sight seeing.  I guess that's why he wanted to leave a day before we technically HAD to leave.  I am pressed for time that particular week and loathe to spare the extra day.  So, yeah, we'll go separately.

Thanks for all the pointers and advice..  I will try the bike shorts trick, and I'll also suggest he take a look at his riding posture before the trip.

Cheers!
Sam

[Rocketman]

I felt 600 should be doable for most riders, so thanks for confirming it should be possible. 

Everyone has a different definition of "doable".  The group you're talking to has a tendency to lean toward the higher mileage side.  Some people think 200 miles is doable, but not much more.  Just gotta get to know who you're talking to, but it sounds like you've taken care of that.  Making sure that expectations are compatible is a good idea.  Of course, you and I didn't really consider that before our Colorado trip, and it seemed to work out OK.

But maybe I'm crazy..  There's always that possibility..

I'm going to go with that.

Mark