BentAero
04-01-2005, 12:38 AM
It sounded like a good idea at the time, "Let's run up to Mark Huffman's place and pick up the Uni-Go trailer. It's only 400 miles".
We had what looked like a nice weather window, so I set it up with Mark to ride up to his Schoolhouse Motorcycle Accessories shop to pick up the UniGo that I was purchasing from him. I live south of Asheville, he's north of Cincinnatti.
I left the local greasy/fat breakfast muffin place at 6:45 am Wed. 3/30 to meet up with my goldwing riding pal Louis in Waynesville. A few minutes later we were on the road again.
While stopped for lunch at a Bob Evans, I remarked to Louis, "wouldn't it be somethin' to ride all the way up here and find out that hitch is mismarked or defective and it won't fit my bike?"
Arrived at Mark's place about 2:45 pm and backed the ST into his shop to install the hitch. "Uhmmm, Mark, that doesn't look right..."
Our best guess is that the hitch labeled ST1300, actually fits an ST1100 or Pacific Coast. We hit the road about 4:00 pm empty handed and disappointed.
The original plan was to ride up, get the trailer, then head back south 100 miles or so, and get a motel and a nice dinner. Ride the rest of the way back Thursday.
Well, we got such an early start back, and the air temp was so warm, and the forecast was for rain, rain, and more rain Thursday, we decided to "see how we feel and stop for the night if we have to."
I made it back to my house at 12:15 am Thursday morning. Very tired, but still functioning. 815 miles in 17.5 hours -and it never was intended.
Having already signed up for the upcoming MTF Iron Butt ride on June 11-12, (my first attempt) http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2005SS1000/index.htm I learned a lot about what to expect, and confirmed a lot of advice IBA veterans have provided. Such as:
Carry protective riding gear for a wide range of temps. We rode thru temps as low as 42º F in the morning, to 82º F in the afternoon.
Carry lots of snacks and water, and some pain reliever (Ibuprofin, etc.)
Keep telling yourself in the late hours "I'm not as think as you alert I am." By around the 700 mile mark, I started to notice the fatigue factor. Felt sort of like being impaired, or 'under the influence.'
My knees began to bother me after 600 miles or so. I've never had that happen before. The Ibuprofin comes in here.
If you don't already have heated grips, GET THEM! Mine cost $35. and a few hours to hook up. http://www.2wheelinnovations.com/Heated%20Grips.htm By 11:00 pm, the temp had dropped down into the low 50's. Just enough to put a chill through you. Heated grips are 'da bomb.
We were only 185 miles short of an "Iron Butt" ride, and I had the receipts to prove it, but since the immediate return trip was totally unplanned, I just couldn't convince myself to ride to Atlanta or Charlotte and back to Asheville just to log another 200 miles. Under the circumstances, I'll call it an "Aluminum Butt" ride and be thankful we made it home safe and sound.
We had what looked like a nice weather window, so I set it up with Mark to ride up to his Schoolhouse Motorcycle Accessories shop to pick up the UniGo that I was purchasing from him. I live south of Asheville, he's north of Cincinnatti.
I left the local greasy/fat breakfast muffin place at 6:45 am Wed. 3/30 to meet up with my goldwing riding pal Louis in Waynesville. A few minutes later we were on the road again.
While stopped for lunch at a Bob Evans, I remarked to Louis, "wouldn't it be somethin' to ride all the way up here and find out that hitch is mismarked or defective and it won't fit my bike?"
Arrived at Mark's place about 2:45 pm and backed the ST into his shop to install the hitch. "Uhmmm, Mark, that doesn't look right..."
Our best guess is that the hitch labeled ST1300, actually fits an ST1100 or Pacific Coast. We hit the road about 4:00 pm empty handed and disappointed.
The original plan was to ride up, get the trailer, then head back south 100 miles or so, and get a motel and a nice dinner. Ride the rest of the way back Thursday.
Well, we got such an early start back, and the air temp was so warm, and the forecast was for rain, rain, and more rain Thursday, we decided to "see how we feel and stop for the night if we have to."
I made it back to my house at 12:15 am Thursday morning. Very tired, but still functioning. 815 miles in 17.5 hours -and it never was intended.
Having already signed up for the upcoming MTF Iron Butt ride on June 11-12, (my first attempt) http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2005SS1000/index.htm I learned a lot about what to expect, and confirmed a lot of advice IBA veterans have provided. Such as:
Carry protective riding gear for a wide range of temps. We rode thru temps as low as 42º F in the morning, to 82º F in the afternoon.
Carry lots of snacks and water, and some pain reliever (Ibuprofin, etc.)
Keep telling yourself in the late hours "I'm not as think as you alert I am." By around the 700 mile mark, I started to notice the fatigue factor. Felt sort of like being impaired, or 'under the influence.'
My knees began to bother me after 600 miles or so. I've never had that happen before. The Ibuprofin comes in here.
If you don't already have heated grips, GET THEM! Mine cost $35. and a few hours to hook up. http://www.2wheelinnovations.com/Heated%20Grips.htm By 11:00 pm, the temp had dropped down into the low 50's. Just enough to put a chill through you. Heated grips are 'da bomb.
We were only 185 miles short of an "Iron Butt" ride, and I had the receipts to prove it, but since the immediate return trip was totally unplanned, I just couldn't convince myself to ride to Atlanta or Charlotte and back to Asheville just to log another 200 miles. Under the circumstances, I'll call it an "Aluminum Butt" ride and be thankful we made it home safe and sound.