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preparing for a long ride

B

Bobcat

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
30
Hey all,

I was wondering if any of you have done a long, multiple days ride. I am planning one for around June and need some advice as to how to prepare. I really need some exercises to strengthen my upper back muscles, lower back muscles and legs. any ideas as to what works? Also, my left thumb gets quite painful at the end of even a short ride. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ann
 
Sounds like you want to do some basic weight training. Start light and work your way up. Or gain access to a nautilus machine. If you have a physical therapy group nearby many offer a preliminary evaluation and a low cost access to their equipment in off peak times. As for the thumb, sounds like you just need to relax more on the bike and not tense up. The not tensing up will help with back and neck discomfort as well.
 
Long rides over several days or more like a week or two, are actually the only rides I do.
A strong back is good, of course. You need that in any case even not riding a bike. Riding during longer time and distances, are, IME, very much a capability to relax, as John said.
You don't need to keep a firm grip on the bar and gas grip, you don't necessarily steer the vehicle by physical activity unless you're doing terrain or track racing.
Are your bike set up to your needs? Knee angle comfortable? gear- and brake pedals maneuvrable without lifting your feet off the footrest? Can you reach the steering bar without putting weight on it?
Key words are relaxing and keeping your mind focused. And two fingers on the front brake lever. ;)
 
I make it a point to stop every hour for a few minutes. I can walk around, stretch joints, etc. Stopping often really makes the ride better and easier on the body.

Joe
 
The bike fits me pretty well. I just had the seat customized to my fanny and I can touch both feet down while in riding boots. The clutch is a bit of a reach for me and is a stiff pull. I've tried to find some adjustable levers but no one seems to know what a Moto Guzzi is let alone a Nevada :). I do believe that getting stronger would help and yes, RELAX already!
 
A couple days ride sounds great!

As to comfort... how about a few long day trips in preparation? Leave early AM and get back late PM. After a few of those you not only will get some more specific stregnth but you also might discover some things that you want to take along with you on the biggie?

I've found that one of the most usefull things I need to take is an open mind and a credit card... :D

Have a great one and let us know how it went.

Al
 
Hi Ann

I think most of the basic stuff has been covered like getting your riding position right, relaxing your grip on the controls, etc. Sounds like you're putting too much weight on your wrists and your thumb joint is getting pushed against the grip. If that's the case I would try raising the bars slightly, Bill told me about some bar raisers that have improved the riding position for me. The other thing to look at is riding gear. Clothing that is too tight can cause restricted circulation and cramping. Too loose and it balloons out in the wind causing drag and that means you're always fighting against it. Does your helmet fit you properly or do you find it moving or vibrating at speed? Helmets with peaks can often suffer from this effect and the answer is to take the peak off. Wind noise is another factor because even the quietist helmets cause quite high levels of wind noise, so earplugs are a good idea. Other than that just get out and ride as much as you can, there's no substitute and it's good fun!
 
Bobcat said:
The bike fits me pretty well. I just had the seat customized to my fanny and I can touch both feet down while in riding boots. The clutch is a bit of a reach for me and is a stiff pull. I've tried to find some adjustable levers but no one seems to know what a Moto Guzzi is let alone a Nevada :). I do believe that getting stronger would help and yes, RELAX already!
Click to expand...

For the clutch reach, if you are in the US contact Harper's http://www.harpermotoguzzi.com/harpersn ... _rewrite=1 and ask if they have a dog leg lever that will fit the Nevada. It will shorten your reach, improve leverage, and give the same travel in relation to the cable.
 
At 70 years young went on my first road trip of 1750 miles in a week, on my V7C. Have installed bar risers which has shortened my reach to both levers. Had a sheep skin pad for the seat, which made the seat bearable :lol: Most riders do not like to approach the subject, what you wear for pants and undergarments is important. For the first two days I wore bicycle shorts, or riding underwear which wick away moisture, as it was in the 80 and 90's most of the time. My problem of a sore butt at the end of the first two days was the pants I was wearing, Cortex denim with leather in the butt area for protection. Good idea but it is not breathable. After two days I switched to my draggen jeans with the Kevlar butt panels which are breathable and condition corrected.

Stopping and smelling the roses is important. While riding the Blue Ridge Pky and the Shenandoah Sky-way we would stop numerous time at the over looks, otherwise it was every 100 miles because Son Joe's VTX was a gas guzzler :lol: The idea is to enjoy the ride and keep in mind it is not an iron butt run :eek: . And plan on things changing daily. We had originally planned on doing 2000 miles but the VTX's water pump decided to change our plans, and we had to spend an extra day in Watkins Glen NY waiting for a new pump to be flown in and installed. We had the bike repaired at a small Honda dealer at the Glen and they were terrific. Ordered the pump 10:00 AM on Wed, and it was flown in from Iowa and arrived on Thurs at 11:00 AM and we were back on the road by 1:30 PM. So this bump in the road changed the mileage plan and travel directions. The whole ball of wax is to enjoy the ride, stop often, and at the end of the day not to feel like you were run over by a train :lol: :lol:

Bill Maier
 
john zibell said:
Bobcat said:
The bike fits me pretty well. I just had the seat customized to my fanny and I can touch both feet down while in riding boots. The clutch is a bit of a reach for me and is a stiff pull. I've tried to find some adjustable levers but no one seems to know what a Moto Guzzi is let alone a Nevada :). I do believe that getting stronger would help and yes, RELAX already!
Click to expand...

For the clutch reach, if you are in the US contact Harper's http://www.harpermotoguzzi.com/harpersn ... _rewrite=1 and ask if they have a dog leg lever that will fit the Nevada. It will shorten your reach, improve leverage, and give the same travel in relation to the cable.
Click to expand...

I will remember that Guzzimundi mounted the adjustable 1200 Sports levers right on.
 
Thanks Joe for the info on the adjustable levers. I purchased my bike from Moto International so I'm familiar with them. Will check into getting some adjustable levers.

Happy and safe riding!

Ann
 
Was there any answer from Harpers regarding the replacement clutch and brake levers for the V7C?
 
HA! A topic I can actually speak intellegently to and have a great deal of experience with. Here are some thoughts;

Depending on what type of riding you'll be doing over several days has a great deal to do with how you pack, what you wear, how you will be affected by staminia issues, hydration, seat height, lever reach...FWIW, there have been a few books written on the topic, but start with this link:

http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

The best pieces of advice I can give you, in nor particular order:

1) Ear plugs. Don't leave home without them

2) Don't EVER leave on a trip without first testing EVERYTHING you are packing, how you're packing, and what you're wearing.

3) Tools: don't take tools that you can't use, or won't likely have a use for. I see people packing all sorts of parts and tools...most of which they have no idea what to do with and are preparing for a doomsday scenario. Take a credit card instead. They are much more efficient and knowledgable :) . I'd take a tire repair kit and your standard tool kit.

4)Lay everything out you want to take...then remove half of it. You won't miss it. LD comfort shorts or other microfiber undies can be washed in a stream or sink. Two pair in rotation have taken me 11 days and 12.5K miles. Same with socks. Think smartwool, yes, even when it's hot.

5) Two pair of gloves.

6) Cell phone. Let somebody know where the heck you're going and which route you're taking. It's agonizing looking for a missing rider over 100's of square miles. Don't ask me how I know this.

7) Wear dog tags. You need your name, SS# and emergency contact info and any drug alergies.

8) Have a ball.

Allen Dye
Ironbut Rally Finisher 2003, 2005 with over 100,000 miles of long distance rally experience.
 
Hi Paxo,

Yes I contacted Harpers and now have a set of adjustable levers for my bike. I sure hope they help. I had an injury to my left forearm playing golf. Something in it tore and it swelled and bruised pretty bad. Since then when I ride and work the clutch my left forearm gets very sore and stiff, even on short jaunts. Doesn't seem to have much strength. Frustrating.

Ann
 
Hi Ann

Hope you manage to sort your arm out in time. Sounds painful. I've been putting in a few miles myself over the last week or so but had to take a couple of days off the bike with a few joint niggles. Should have gone down the gym over the winter break!

Any chance of some pix of the new levers?

Cheers, Paxo
 
Here are the lever's I got from Moto International in America. They were quite economically priced.
 

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    Moto Int Levers 003.JPG
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If you are doing a really long ride, more than 2 or 3 days, programme in a rest day. personally I do it ever 3rd day. Since iIretired my touring tends to be for a couple of months rather than weeks. I found that riding 3-400 each day for more than 3 days gets very wearing.
I normally choose a motocamp, a day drinking beer in the sun and chatting to bikers from other countries is a good break.
 
Thanks Joe. Might see if I can get the wife to bring a pair back for me when she's in the US in August. (I'll be on the Isle of Man!)
 
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