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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 10 Jun 2013
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Thank you!
Hi all! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It helps a lot to know I'm not alone with these feelings. And the tips are great too. Will try them all on next trips. One by one that is or I'll get fat in no time !
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  #2  
Old 10 Jun 2013
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Do you have a GPS?
I often do the same, forego breaks etc. but now I use the GPS to look for a park on the map and add it as a Via Point (so I don't lose the original destination). First choice are water feature parks such as seawalls and lakefronts, next downtown parks or squares. I also use the POI details for Libraries (for free wifi access) or restaurants such at Subway (free water and healthy food choices or a cup of soup to warm up.

I avoid the multi moto stops as I really don't know much about the finer details of the moto workings and I hate feeling like an idiot when they ask me about bleeding the ABS brakes or some such thing. I just want to ride it and NOT take it apart.

Just a few thoughts.

s.
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  #3  
Old 10 Jun 2013
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I try not to be dependant on the services of restaurants, pubs, etc. Instead I bring my own food and drink with me on the bike and make many short frequent stops rather than a few longer ones. There are several reasons for why I do his, and none of them have to do with finances. In general though, what I do is that I start looking for a place near my road to do a quick stop every 60 minutes - a park, a rest stop, down a side road, etc. I seldom ride more than 90 minutes before I find a place to pull over, and I hardly ever go looking for services, unless; I need fuel, I have heard of some special place, or if I really want a pub/resto for a change. If I pass some really inviting place, I will usually allow myself to stop, especially if it alligns well with my rest time.


I try not to be dependant on cafes, pubs or restaurants, for several reasons:

  1. Eating or drinking in solitude in a public place is often a lonely experience. I'm not a loner, and therefore I prefer any solitude I have to be completely free of people near by
  2. The company and attention of stranger can at times be nice, but can also be both dreadfull and also drag on forever
  3. Few establishments can beat taking a breather in nature
  4. First seeking out, and then waiting for service, eats up a lot of riding time. In turn this means that I will either cover less distance that day, or finish later. Finishing later means that I am more fatigued and that I have less time to rest properly, explore and do other things besides riding
  5. Efforts involved in leaving the bike unattended eats up time and energy
  6. Energy management is disrupted when services dictate when and for how long I am to stop. I like to dish out my energy in a manner that will get me where I want to go as quick and effortlessly as possible - leaving me fit to enjoy whatever the destination offers, day after day (I'm in it for the riding... mostly). To do this I need to get out of the saddle every 60-90 minutes to prevent fatigue setting in. I only stop long enough to take off the helmet, have a piss, have a swig of water, a few mouthfulls of some snack, and maybe the occasional cigarette. When I need to refuel I also make this my rest time for that hour. For lunch I allow myself 15-20 minutes, and for dinner 20-30 minutes. With this approach I can force myself to ride 15 hour/1000 km days several days in a row if I have to (but 5 hour/350 km days is sustainable indefinantly). With this approach it is the clock that dictates when I stop, not some establishment.
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Old 11 Jun 2013
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I agree with a lot of what Wheelie says, which is well described. The only point that doesn't apply to how I do things is point six. I don't operate like a clock and don't wish to be synchronised to one. I flow with what presents itself. I always carry food with me and like to continue being independent from having to buy ready made food. At the end of the day, just before finding camp or once I have set camp up, I like to take a walk, usually to the village to buy food for the evening meal and in the morning. In France, well, you can guess three items always on the list, vin rouge, fromage et baguette.

He's a typical stop for me on last's years trip. July 25 in south east of France in the excellent touring roads near St Sauveur Sur Tinée.

This was on the edge of a sharp drop off, I mean a long way down. That little building has an alter and religious ornaments inside. You would never know unless you made the choice then and there to stop as it was on a sharp bend going higher. I stayed there for lunch and watched many other motos just zoom by, many that I could see hesitating whether they should stop also. Stops like this allow you to take in, to make impressions that stay long after. I will probably ride past here again.



I located the actual spot on googly mapsies and found this to be nearer to the larger village of Sospel. The little building is Saint Honorat . Now after finding the exact spot I can give my photos a location, bonus. Actually, if you go to the link for Saint Honorat, and you turn the view to your right, so you look down around the corner, you will see another person on a moto with a redish helmet, it's not me, but obviously a popular riding road.
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Paul
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Last edited by rockwallaby; 14 Jun 2013 at 14:22.
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  #5  
Old 11 Jun 2013
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i always try to do as much iron butting as possible , just can get fed of riding and thats it, only a must stop is what i make, that means as soon as i cannot hold anymore to leak my pants and then continue
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  #6  
Old 11 Jun 2013
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I try to always carry dried fruit and almonds or peanuts in the summer. When its colder I always care chocolate. Some good hard salami is great also.. and hard cheese like parmesan you don't need to refrigerate.

Right now I'm in central asia. I stop when I see a good Shashlik (bbq) stand where I can park the bike and sit in the shade. Sometimes its a quick stop to get an icecream to try to cool you down.

I usually avoid the crowded centers and anywhere I see graffiti on buildings.
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  #7  
Old 14 Jun 2013
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Hi Karolien

I read your post with interest, as someone returning to bikes after a number of years, I will be biting the bullit, and heading into Europe at the end of June with Turkey as my turn around point. I am a little anxious about the trip, however, I feel it would be worse for me if I did not go. I enjoy meeting people and travelling alone I hope to meet many, I will of course exercise caution when my instincts indicate I should. I have the view that treat people well and in general they will treat you the same way, there are always exceptions, but that's part of life.

Best wishes for your future travels.

Tom
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  #8  
Old 15 Jun 2013
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I dont know what its like in Belgium but in Australia no matter where you stop, most people don't even notice you if their not into bikes.

I would imagine a woman on a bike might get more interest.

I ride a Triumph Bonneville so get lots of older guys coming up to me reminiscing about their bike from the 60"s.(The Bonneville is old man's porn it seems!) Sports bike riders tend to ignore me. Harley riders absolutely ignore everyone. (am developing a hatred for them. The bloody arrogance

So yes your probably worrying too much :-) I don't give it a second thought.
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