Blatherings From The Editor

Touring Tips

(July 2006)  

Always bring your rain suit.  Even in the middle of summer, riding the coast or crossing high, mountain passes may well require a rain suit to keep off the rain or fog.  Makes for another layer to keep off the cold, too.  Same goes for winter gloves.  Bottom line: bring enough clothes to layer from hot as Hades to freezing cold no matter what time of the year.

     Helmet to helmet intercoms are great to just chat, but they also serve as an emergency communication system.  Two sets of eyes, when they can communicate quickly and clearly, are better than one to spot a car, pedestrian, deer, etc.

     Carry a spare key on a lanyard with a small LED flashlight when you camp.  At the rally site wear it around your neck.  You have the safety of a spare key and a flashlight to help find the way to and from the port-a-potty at 0-dark thirty.   On the road, keep them in one of the lower pockets of your jacket…don’t want any sharp objects that might stab you in the chest in the event of a mishap.

     Planning your route is important if you are on a limited amount of time.  Maps, maps, and more maps, I have hundreds.  Then there are the map programs that have gas stops and hotels/motels listed in the smallest of towns.  Armed with some telephone numbers and/or web sites, you can plan your stops for gas and hotels/motels with no fear of running out or finding nothing but No Vacancy signs.  You spend your time riding and enjoying the scenery rather than looking for gas or searching for a place to stay.

     Listen to your pillion.  Riding two up requires compromises and concessions.  You may have the bladder of a cross country rider; your riding partner may not.  Same goes for when its time to fill up the human gas tank, not everyone likes fast food calories.  Plan ahead and be happy together, it makes for a better evening ;)

     Never make a last minute decision in the middle of a turn...your bike and your passenger may suffer from the result.  Continue on and come back if necessary.  Getting lost can result in some interesting side trips that you may never have seen without that wrong or missed turn.

     Wait for your friends.  If you get separated, wait for your friends on the planned route.  Going back to find them could result in neither of you finding each other.  Having a meeting spot planned beforehand really helps when traveling through densely populated areas.

     Single birds present hazards; a whole flock of birds can actually take you off your bike.  I caught a dove out of the middle of a flock in the chest.  Wanda knew something happened; the loud grunt through the intercom was a hint.  Looked it over and then dropped it, all at mumble-cough-mumble miles per hour.  Later that night I was pretty sore where the bird ended its life.

     In many places there are only two seasons:  winter and construction.  Just about every state has a web site where you can check for road construction or closures.  Arizona and several other states are using the state abbreviation along with 511 as the web site.

     Don’t forget we live in the desert.  No matter which direction we take off for, we have to travel through some pretty hot and desolate country.  Carry lots of water.  We carry a Camel Back we can both drink out of, and at least two bottles of "pure" water. 

     By the way, buying bottled, brand named drinking water when on the road is one way to help prevent Montezuma's Revenge; it doesn't subject you to the foreign flora and fauna found in the local drinking water. 

     And...ride safe.  Deryle & Wanda Mehrten.