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An informative article on riding and the effect of fatigue! International Travel Tips and Help
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2002 Friday, January 18 Dear Readers, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Chewy, Way to wake us up Chewy! Thanks. Mama Dear VTwin Mama, A friend I know who has a Road King Standard, has a real problem when packing for long trips, she watched as I stuffed (OVER-STUFFED) my leather bags, even though they have the leather stretched over the top of hard fiberglass, the top of the bag being that it closes with a buckle -- with an adjustable buckle a woman can get A LOT in it. Well she struggled and swore and finally she left a few items out of her trip, such as an extra jacket, a hooded sweatshirt and a few other things. Well I of course can get a whole lot more in my bags then she can, and with not much conversation about this she has now ordered the leather bags, and will be forever grateful. Well have you ever heard a WOMAN complain about this problem. When I had my hugger 883, I had soft leather bags too, but they were not as roomy as these on my Road King Classic. So my question, is: What do other VTwin Mamas do for packing for long trips without looking like the traveling side show. I have seen them, the T-Bags, stuffed strapped to the forks, backpacks etc. I have a removable backrest on my bike, for me , and the passenger edition too. I have already put a bag or two on the passenger seat and strapped it down. I am curious what do other women do, I know some never need more then a toothbrush, well lets be honest what do you carry for weekend trips, and how do you pack, what about week long trips cross country?? Doesn't this make you think about the upcoming season? Thanks Petra for a great website. Jo Ann Dear Jo Ann, Also, who wants to do laundry on a vacation?!?!?! Not me, so the tendency to want to pack enough for the complete run is natural, but simply doesn't work with our limited capacity. So I dump everything I want to take, look at the available storage things I have, and stuff, stuff, stuff! Maybe it's like a traveling sideshow, but I've yet to come up with a neater solution. I really like the little travel trailers that some bikers pull behind them. Is that an option for you? So VTwin Mama sisters, what is your advice? Let's turn this into a Top Five list -- send me your top five packing tips for longer hauls and we'll blob them together for a VTwin Mama recommendation. By the by, I'm still looking for a home for our Top Five Riding Tips that we gathered towards the tale end of last year. Yes, you are right, I could post them on this site, but I'm hoping to spread the word about VTwin Mama and the sisters a bit more and thought this might be a fun way to do it. If you have any ideas, let me know. Mama Thursday, January 31 Dear VTwin Mama, Now this was for a Fri/Sat/Sun. trip. Does this seem like a lot to pack? We roll everything very tightly and had plenty of space. We were staying in motels, so didn't have to pack sleeping bags and towels. I'm looking forward to the return trip, only this time riding my own bike. And I have leather saddlebags. So do you think I should take more stuff? Just kidding. Sharon in Georgia Dear Sharon, Im a study in messy packing, taking the wrong things (although its usually more about taking too much rather than anything else) and in general, by the end of the trip, my wrenches are sharing intimate moments with my underwear and theres always something sticky at the bottom of one of the bags! So I really appreciate that you quickly sent in your Top Five Packing Tips. And so does Jo Ann, who started this whole Top Five category! 1. Instead of folding the clothes, roll them up tightly.
Saves space and helps prevent wrinkles. So there it is VTwin Mama sisters -- if you've got your own Top Five Packing Tips to share, then by all means, do so! Mama Friday, February 1 Dear VTwin Mama, As for what to pack on your bike, don't forget the faithful ball cap for the flat hair, and I didn't see anyone mention an extra pair of shoes (for a rainy day). I also want to mention for the winter riders, watch out for the sand left on the roads. Here in Indiana they have too much salt and sand on hand, they hear bad weather and they are out dumping sand and salt every where. Shorty600 Dear Shorty600, Monday, February 4 Dear Readers, My guy and I each ride our own, so we each pack for ourselves. I have a HD Sportster with aftermarket soft bags, which I use for bike cover, rain gear, hooded sweatshirt, towel or two, extra parts, things I want handy. I then take my 'Rally Pack', (the luggage that we strap to the bar) and mount it on the back seat. I roll clothes tightly, and only worry about a lot of socks and clean underwear. I take at least one tank top, one tee, one long sleeve, etc. I figure that I will be buying shirts on the road, and one pair of jeans for every 2-3 days. I stock up on travel sizes of everything from make up to shampoos, and keep a travel bag stocked. One extra pair of sandals-double as slippers. I will usually throw a pair of shorts in, just in case, and try to sleep in something that doesn't take much room. All of this doesn't even pack the seat bag. The bag also doubles as a backrest. Over this I put a cargo bungee (great in case I need the extra room. I also have a luggage rack roll type bag that I can fill with souvenirs, water, munchies for the hotel. It's nice when your hotel has laundry facilities, just in case, but I once used the sink to hand wash a few things and hung them up in my room. My guy takes more than I do, and he just downsized storage wise to a Duece. He will be deciding what's really important this year. I did pick up some travel size 'Space Bags' to help him condense his gear. After a trip or two, you see what you have to have and what you can live without. And, I try to remember--double duty--for things I take. I also warned my neighbor-if you get a box in the mail from me while I'm on the road, DO NOT OPEN IT!!!!! It's probably my dirty laundry. Happy riding Glenda (note from VTM -- now that's innovative and funny!) I just wanted to let you know that I have learned how to pack for a vacation on my bike. The best way to keep you clothes from getting to wrinkle is you can pack your shirt, underclothes, socks, pants and etc. in a plastic zip lock baggies. Galloon size. I have taken trips packing clothes like this and it can save al ot of room in your saddle bags and when they are dirty repack them the same way. This air tight bag will not wrinkle your clothes badly. I have put 4 shirts in one bag and this saves a lot of room for more stuff to bring along. Put clothes in the plastic bag and press down to get the air out and zip. Also I would like to help April out on wanting to buy woman biker clothes. I have found this web-site that carry ladies chaps and etc. Go to this web-site www.womanbiker.com see if they have what you are looking for and save money too. Also if you go to bike rally's you can get a good deal on the last day the vendor's will be there. I bought a lot of my items in Myrtle Beach on the last day of the events. VTwin Mama, keep the good information coming. Debbie Poole of Kingsport, Tennessee (note from VTM -- thanks for the "atta girl" Debbie) I travel a lot and am away from home in some cases for months at a time. Because I also work on the road (I publish Biker Ally Magazine) I need to take a lap-top and a couple of cameras as well as notebook paper. Needless to say I really need to be organized with my packing abilities. First, I have a t-bag. In this I have my lap-top, clothes and toilet articles. For the toilet articles I went to K-Mart and bought a cute little bag which holds samples of shampoo, toothbrush and a whole lot of other items. This also has a hanger on it to be able to hang it up in a hotel. It's about 8" X 5" and cost was under $20. This is always on the top. Next all of my clothes are in zip lock bags. I am not known for my ability to roll clothes without wrinkles, I'm actually rolling impaired. When using zip lock bags you can either put in all your long sleeve in one bag, short sleeve in another, tank tops in another, socks in another and so on, or you can place one outfit per day in a zip lock bag, having your extra socks and underwear in a separate bag. Once you have these folded, you close the zip lock bag part way and roll the bag up--removing the air. I kneel on this and then I zip it the rest of the way. I use the 2 gallon size or the 1 gallon size. This compresses the clothing and absolutely no wrinkles and saves a lot of space. Plus I can just reach in and get what I want in a snap. The bags are reusable and you can even put your dirty clothes in a separate bag, keeping the smell out of the rest of your clothing. And yes, I do laundry at the hotels since I'm gone for more than one week at a time. I usually pack all dark items for a couple of reasons, 1. Shows less road dirt and 2. I only need to do one or two loads of laundry and not worry about fading, etc. I always have my rain suit in my saddle bag for easy access and again it's in a zip lock bag along with extra gloves, bandanas, etc. in a separate zip lock bag. My other saddle bag contains my tools and extra oil in a special tool bag. I do have bungee cords for some extra just in case times, but I generally have two bungee nets, which are great for quick packing of jackets when the day warms up. Why two nets, well as I said I pack a lot of stuff. I have a large camera case, which is basically a suitcase, then the jacket, helmet, vest, and a bunch of other items are held in place by the nets. I carry extra plastic bags to put my feet into when it rains to help keep my feet dry. Sun screen is keep in a side pouch on the t-bag as well as my cell phone is in another side pouch on the t-bag and you guessed it, in a zip lock bag. I should actually take stock in zip-lock bags since I'm a firm believer of keep things dry and air tight. These are just a few suggestions and I hope it helps some of you. Rain (note from VTM -- my goodness, after all this good advice I'm going to be a packing wizard!) Dear VTwin Mama, Next time you're mote ling it on a road trip, swipe the shower caps. They make great covers for your shoes that your going to pack with you. Don't forget to bring a pair of rubber flip flops - great for those showers at campsites or around the motel pool. Anything that can spill, will. Put all your little bottles of stuff into a Ziplock bag. Carry an extra one for that not quite dry swim suit or hand washables. And finally... the holy trinity of over the counter medications that every traveler should have.... Tylenol, Pepto Bismol and Benadryl. Cheers. CJ Dear CJ, Wednesday, February 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Evil Twin, Dear VTwin Mama, In the article he says to always carry a deposable camera with you, and if there is an accident to take pictures even if the police do and not to let anyone move anything until you have taken the pictures. I highly recommend Motorcycle Consumer News to every motorcyclist. They take no advertisements so their reviews and tests of products are totally objective. Bobbye, aka Hondiana Dear Bobbye, Friday, March 1 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Just a Girl, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Karen, Ok, that's my list. What else VTwin Mama sisters? Mama Monday, April 8 I would add a flashlight and a mattress pad. A brand that is self inflating like Ther-0-Rest. And mostly a jug of wine to treat yourself around that campfire. Cheryl (note from Mama: hmmm . . . wine and marshmallows . . . whadda ya know? Hi, Just for fun! .....invite along someone who has a shit-load of money. That way when you get to where your going you can just buy new! Then when it's time to move on, simply donate the camping good's to the camp ground for the C.N.S.S. "Campers Need Stuff Stockpile." Ok, unreal, maybe...but wouldn't it be lov-ily, if the truth be known, I make them pay for a room {with a view} of the bike's of course!..Could'nt resist..........Flyer...........Please forgive me Mama! HDFlyer (note from Mama: innovative thinking and "out there" at the same time. Thanks for the chuckle) Various camp stores have towels that are like felt and dry in about 30 minutes. They are not big, but do the job. Cindy (note from Mama: so very, very smart!) Don't forget the insect repellent! There are alot of very small sticks and roll ons. Cerider (note from Mama: you're from a bug state, aren't you? I used to ride in Wisconsin and if the June bugs don't get you the State bird, the mosquito, will ; )Wednesday, April 10 Dear VTwin Mama, We went to a sporting goods store that carries back pack equipment and found quite a few of the items. Although we don't cook, with the stove we could use the coffee pot and heat soup, hot dogs, etc. I always keep extra bungees -- greatest invention there is. Add extra bags, self sealing like zip loc-they come in 2 gallon size now -- for damp towels, etc. It took a little practice to learn the art of packing, but all fits easily. After getting the items, she should try an overnighter close to home to see what works and what didn't. Good luck. Glenda Dear Glenda, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bobbye, Tuesday, May 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Thursday, May 9 I have most of my payables set up to be paid thru my bank thru the internet. You can post date the payments, and set up multiple times of an item to be paid. You can visit an internet cafe while on travel and check your account balance. For bills that can't be paid that way, you could sign some chqs payable to the known supplier and leave them with a trusted person to take care of. Hope this helps. Knees in the breeze, and ride safe. Denny If you have online banking you can do one of two things get a laptop and you can pay your bills anywhere you can get a phone line most motels have setups for laptops or online banking allows you to schedule all your bills and pays them on the dates you setup.....hope this helps. LadyHD (Mary) Well, even though I have yet to embark on a long bike trek, I have traveled frequently and have friends that do likewise. In these days of internet access, electronic payments, etc there are many options. As Mama suggested, having the bills deducted from your checking is one, another is to have them charged to a credit card, leaving only 1 bill to have to worry about. (plus, depending on the card, you can even accumulate air miles, points towards discounts, etc) Then just mail a check at the necessary time, or, my preference, log on and do an electronic transfer. Internet access is easy to find almost everywhere these days. Good luck and safe riding! Becky Get rid of ALL your credit cards but two. Use only one for gas, food, repairs, clothes--everything. Everybody takes VISA now so there is no reason to have several gas and department store cards. Use the second card as a back-up if the 1st card doesn't work, is lost or stolen. Get both of them from your bank. The bank will draft the minimum payment for you if you set it up with them. Also, about all utilities--gas, water, electric, telephone--have automatic draft. All I write checks for now are for donations. Problem solved, now let's get back on another trip across country! Diddy I used to travel every week Monday thru Friday for work.... I was able to pay everything on line. I signed up w/my credit card companies to notify me when my payment was due and they sent me an email and I would go on-ine and pay. If you don't carry a laptop w/you (and really while on my motorcycle I can live without everything but lip balm, water, cell phone and pistol) a lot of the public libraries have internet access. So log on once or twice a week and take care of business! Good Luck to Bobbye while travelin' ... I'm jealous. This work thing is really cutting into my personal time! Pnlp (Paula) If you have Internet access and do your banking online you can schedule payments to be made on any date you choose. Annie Most banks have electronic banking. You could try this if you know your account numbers and how much is due on each bill. I travel a lot and most people I know use this form of banking. Radbikers Tuesday, May 28 Dear VTwin Mama, Another thing that I do on the road... is bring or buy postcard stamps. Not only for friends and relatives, but when I stop at some attraction or interesting destination, I buy a postcard and mail to myself right then and there (most tourist attractions will mail them for you). That way when I get home, with all the confusion and sorting things out... I know exactly what day I was where by the postmark.. it sure helps when you are back home and sharing your vacation or travels with your friends or scrapbook. Its great because if will help you remember where and when you took your pictures. Thank you. Judirika Dear Judirika, Monday, December 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Shorty600, For tips on traveling by bike, including camping and paying bills while you're on the road, I've put past discussions on this subject in a new VTwin Mama section called Trip Tips. Check it out! Mama Thursday, January 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jamie, Wednesday, February 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Christina, For a look at what you're in for, check out the official site for Daytona Bike Week. There are virtual tours of the main drag, a diagram of the Loop ride and tons of other stuff. On the practical end, here are my top things about huge
bike events: I'm pretty sure there is more, but you can read up about trips and tips and group riding tips at this site from previous postings. Last, but most important, have the greatest time imaginable! You're going to love it! Mama Thursday, May 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Angela, Top Wednesday, June 18 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Inga, Top Dear
VTwin Mama, First of all, my husband & I went early. We hauled our bikes out to Golden, from Tennessee. We unloaded the bikes on Friday morning there & left out on a road trip. We went to Cheyenne, WO, then off to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mtn. & Sturgis, before the crowd. Man it looked like a ghost town!!! We didn't have to wait in line to eat at One Eyed Jack's, which was awesome for a great steak. Then we found a little motel to crash in. Then the next morning it was off to Wyoming. We went to Sundance, Devil's Tower, Newcastle, Rode thru Thunder National Grassland's (man this place was desolate!), over to Casper, Independence Rock, then down to Medicine Bow, where we found an old hotel, called the Virginian. This place was like stepping off the old horse back & into the 1800's, but it was off the iron horse & into memories. This place was set up just like in the old days, old claw foot tubs, no TV's, radios, or AIR! But there was a cool breeze blowing in the evenings. So we decided to spend the next 2 days & nights there (for $23 a night), & ride the area for awhile. Check it out www.medicinebow.org. We left there on Weds, & headed back to Golden. We went thru Laramie down into Ft. Collins to Boulder, then back into Golden. We found the hotel to check in. We got there at 12 pm, then our friends from Long Island NY came in at 12:30, so the WITW sister's started checking in. It looked like this was going to be a great weekend to an end of a good trip. Well on Thursday, the girls all had to go pick up their rentals, so Jasmaine Bluecreek, one of our host for the national, wanted to get her new bike (her husband & her built) out & ride. Well, I was the only one ready to ride, so I went with her. She took me on some very nice curvy roads thru the Rockies. It was nearing 100 back in town & we were up high enuff, I felt a few chills. She took me up to a peak that was 9253 elevation. We stopped at the top there & took each other's picture with the snow capped mtns. in the background. Very beautiful. Well, no one told me about altitude sickness!?!? What is this? Well, if your not use to being in that kind of altitude, be aware! I went up fast & came back down fast. Got hot & cold, my ears popped bad. Then when we got back, I took a warm bath, because my shoulders were hurting & sore. I laid down for about an hour ( I thought). Friends were ringing the phone & banging on my door 3hrs later. I was burning up with fever & sick as a dog. Luckily, there was a Dr. & nurse practioner in WITW, who were there. The Dr. told my husband that altitude sickness affects about 1 in a 100. Out of 178 WITW sister's there for the national's, 2 of us got it!!!! By Friday I was feeling very poorly. Tried to go out, but ended up back at the hotel in the bed. After all was said & done, I was finally better & able to ride Sat. The last day of the national's. What an end. We logged 1470 miles around there, just touring & goofing off on the bikes, & I have to get sick at the end of the trip. The one thing I am thankful of, I got sick at the end & not while we were out riding in the middle of the trip. I made the banquet dinner Sat. night. It was a great time. This was our largest national to date! We were all proud of that fact. We had women from all over the U.S. Overall, I really enjoyed this trip. My 1st time out west. I got to visit alot of national historic places, see a lot of wildlife, met a lot of nice people, & seen some beautiful places. Rain (Renate from Biker Ally Magazine) was there also. She & I were talking & she said if you want to do another ride in at Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, she will be the leader again. I will try to make sure she stays on her bike this time. Anyway, just keep me posted on Biketoberfest, for I will be there for sure. Connie, "Kountry Gurlz" chapter of WITW Dear
Connie, Thursday, August 14 A thought on altitude sickness in response to Connie's recent bout with it: Drink more water (or Gatorade, Poweraide, etc ...NOT Beer:>). I grew up in Colorado. . . re-hydrate and keep hydrating. High-altitude climbers try to pee a quart of pee a day. . . think how much that implies one needs to drink. There are very nice hydration backpacks with long tube-type straws. Super critical -- it's been in the high nineties in the west all summer. No Name (note from Mama: here is a site that discusses altitude sickness in more detail. Hydration is a key important factor -- that and an awareness that you are going to be traveling in areas that are much higher in altitude than your normal environment, and ascending too quickly -- which is really easy for motorists to do.) Thursday, September 11 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Carrie, Now, a bit of a reality check. At it's peak, the Pass is at an altitude of 9,945 ft. Think very, very cold and think thin air. Dress accordingly and if you already don't live in a high altitude area, be aware that altitude sickness is possible, especially if you are ascending/descending quickly. So read up on this issue so you are prepared and know the symptoms. Other than that -- have fun! Readers with Tioga Pass experience, share your thoughts! Mama Wednesday, October 1 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Terri, Monday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, When riding avoid using any lip product that is glossy or flavored. The gloss will make you lick your lips and dry them out, not to mention catch any stray hairs. Any flavored gloss attracts bugs (even at 55 miles per hour) as well as most contain alcohol that will also dry your lips. After arriving at your destination make sure, you use a cleaning cloth to remove any road grime before applying you lip color. Avoid any of the 8 hour, semi permanent lips colors, as they will cause your lips to crack. Use a moisturizing lip color. Mary Kay has several wonderful products, a Triple Lip Enhancer, which lessens moisture loss, reduces the fine lines in your lips, and exfoliates. The Mary Kay Lip Balm has been proven to moisturized and protect for up to 6hours. Lastly, there is the Satin Lips, which is an overnight protector. See these and others at www.marykay.com/dshellhouse. The hell with the Pink Caddie -- I am shootin for the Pink Harley (aka Darlene (Dee) Shellhouse) Dear
Dee, Tuesday, April 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
A., Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Garrison, Saturday, June 12 For Garrison who was looking for a great route from Connecticut to Laconia, NH: I live in So. East NH and we often ride to Laconia. We also have a place in CT but, don't usually ride our bikes down there. I don't know of any great routes from CT but, I can tell you how I would go. Take 91N to Brattleboro VT (91 is a nice highway through VT). This is right on the NH border. From there head towards Keene, NH. I believe this would be rt. 12 east. Take rt. 12 East to 101 East. Route 101 is one of my favorite roads. Windy through wooded areas, a big lake, Mt. Monadnock and Pack Monadnock are some of the sites. From rt. 101 east get onto route 43 (not sure if it is north or east) to route 27 east. Then take route 107 north to Laconia. Route 107 is considered one the best windy roads for motorcyclists (in this portion of the state). SG in NH (note from Mama: thanks for the input!) Monday, June 14 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Billy, Wednesday, June 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
HD Hawk, Two, on the final leg, enter Sturgis via the Black Hills
route that starts out in Newcastle, WY. I traveled this road so many times
and its truly wonderful (the picture on my home page in the upper left
hand corner is me looking south from about 2 miles into the ride on that
road). Thursday, July 29 Dear
VTwin Mama, While I'm writing I might as well add a tip I've discovered on making traveling/camping trips on your bike a little easier. To help pack lighter, I take along those Dove facial cloths. If you've never seen them you take one out of the pack and wet it- it lathers up, use it to wash those bug parts off ya and throw away! No wash rags to keep track of...wash/dry...or have rolling around wet in your luggage 'til you get home! All the best... Oh those saddle bags can seem so small from VA Dear
Oh from VA, Dear
VTwin Mama, Would it be possible to do the same with members submitting by state their most scenic roads in their state? I think this would be most helpful when planning trips it would allow us to have input on scenic highways in other states and map out those scenic highways when traveling those states. For example: The Women On Wheels Ride-In is in Boise, Idaho next year. I have never traveled in Idaho and am looking for some scenic roads to ride on my way to the Ride-In through Idaho. Laurie Long Dear
Laurie, Or, at the very least, offer some ride ideas for Laurie who will be leaving from Nebraska, isn't that it Laurie?!?!??! Gosh, I hope I got your home state right! Your idea for a page with road routes is a good one and will go into my hopper of expansion ideas. I'll have to noodle out how it could be organized without becoming messy. Hmmmm . . . Mama Thursday, September 2 For Laurie who is looking for travel routes to Boise, ID and I said there was a site somewhere . . . Here's a link to California motorcycle trips via interesting roads. I'm a 53 single lady and recently bought a '03 Volusia. I rode a Virago 250 for 9 years and a 125 scooter for 10 years. This is mountain and desert road riding. NO dirt for me! I had no one to teach me so I taught myself! It took some getting used to the weight of the Vol but we are one with the machine now! Desertcricket, aka Linda (note from Mama: yes Linda, this is the CA site I was thinking of! Unfortunately, it only contains some NV road trips in addition, so we're still on the hunt for a good site that chronicles other rides throughout the US. Kudos to you on your own riding adventures and everything you have achieved . . . the Volusia sounds absolutely devine!) For Laurie, she may want to check out www.chromeroads.us. I don't know if Idaho is included but it's worth a shot. Also, for riders in/around/going to CT, there's a site (www.ride4ever.org) Hugs, Bryna (note from Mama: ok, Chrome Roads documents parts of NJ, PA and DE. And now we have something for CT! It looks like we could build a page here at VTwin Mama with other site links to get the whole country cataloged!) Thursday, September 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Kathy, Friday, September 3 For Laurie who is looking for travel routes to Boise, ID: VTwin Mama here with another suggestion! Have you checked out Road Runner Motorcycle Cruising & Touring magazine? Chock full of adventure routes and savvy no holds bared reviews -- published since 2001. If you click on the individual issues, you might find ones that cover various portions of the route you'll be traveling! http://www.rrmotorcycling.com. Hi Mama, Dear
Michele, Thursday, September 23 For Michelle who is trying to keep highway numbers straight: My husband told me about a friend of his who writes on his tank and/or windshield with a grease pen. That way at the end of your ride you can clean it off and write your next day's adventure on the tank. What a novel idea! I'd never thought about this. I haven't tried it yet either so I don't know how easy it is to clean off. Another idea is using a tank bag with a clear window on the top of it. One of the ladies I ride with always has a map in this window with the route highlighted. I suppose you could also just write out the sequence of Hwys on a sheet of paper and put that in there instead. Good luck! Jennifer (note from Mama: tank bags are cool but the grease pen is novel! Quite frankly, for myself, as I tend to stop every 100 miles for gas, I just know the sequence for that 100 miles and while gassing up, recheck my next section. Seems to be ok on the brain power!) Dear
VTwin Mama, I had a really spectacular time, on the road, with friends and family, and seeing the sights in our beautiful country. I was exceedingly lucky regarding the weather and I only got sprinkled on three times. The Stone is a great bike - on a trip like this (as I know you know), your bike becomes your companion in some regards, but in other ways, it's like a pair of good hiking boots - an invaluable piece of "gear" that gives you special traveling abilities. Anyways, I've got to get caught up on everything now - e-mail, bills, my webpage, and reading the VTwin Mama and www.Wildguzzi.com sites! Marina in El Cerrito, CA Dear
Marina, Friday, October 8 For Marina and her wonderful pictorial travelogue: I wanted to say that Marina's photojournal was excellent. It makes me wish it wasn't getting cold outside. I loved the giant insects! Terri in Baltimore (note from Mama: it is fun seeing one of our sister's journeys and I'm also glad that Marina put it together. Marina sent me an email thanking me for sharing the address on my site. Here's the link again for those who are curious!) Tuesday, December 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, Terri and I wish everyone at VTwin Mama a very Happy Xmas and New Year. Have fun, ride safe, stay upright. Kevin and Terris tips for the end of this year: * If you want to ride safer and faster, keep your glasses,
goggles or visor clean. Dear
K & T, Monday, January 24 Dear
VTwin Mama, We are planning some bike trips for this spring/summer. In the interest of time, and so that we might experience a variety of terrain (we live in the panhandle of Florida, usually warm weather, but very flat!) we thought it might be fun to ride the Harleys to Jacksonville, then put them on an Amtrak train and head to the Boston area then ride from there up to Nova Scotia. I am wondering if any of your readers have done this sort of thing (not the trip necessarily, but the train part). In reading the find print in Amtrak's material, motorcycles are required to have a 5" clearance. Until mine was lowered, the stock clearance was 5.1 inches so this may be a problem. Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback you or your readers might have. Thanks so much! LR in PC Dear
LR, Of course, you could also revisit the method you used to lower the bike. Perhaps it was just new shocks? Perhaps the modification could be "undone" to meet regulations and then reinstalled when you're at your destination. Just a thought. Mama Wednesday, April 27 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Kathleen, Dear
VTwin Mama, Hubby and I plan all our vacations and trips on our bikes, he on a 2000 Fatboy and I on my new 2003 Anniversary Edition Springer Softail. Ok, here goes the question. I try so hard not to drink any coffee, OJ, or anything before we go for a ride. I will then pee anywhere from 2-3 times in a 10 minute period before we leave on a ride. Then, ten minutes into a ride, I feel like my back teeth are floating. I know that I am not nervous about riding, been riding for 5 years. I sometimes think it is the motion of the bike, the up and down, and the coolness of the morning that makes me feel like I have to pee, or the fact that I won't see a gas station and I just can't make it to the next stop, 50 miles later. If we stop, I pee like a racehorse. My question is, do other ladies feel like this? I just turned 49 in February. Is it my age? Or just the thought of it? But then, OK, to solve the problem, has anyone thought of or used DEPENDS undergarments??? :) I am serious here . . . don't laugh as it took courage to write this. We have a 4,000 mile trip planned for July from Florida to Buffalo and I am borderline on maybe using these things. Don't NASCAR racers wear them? HELP!!!!!!! I am so embarrassed to ask for input from other ladies out there. Hubby is great though, he will stop whenever I ask, but I guess I want to make it thru longer. HELP!!!! Sandy Dear
Sandy, Well, I guess I have to start out by saying that you should always get a check-up with the doctor. My thought is this: even though you're not nervous about the upcoming ride, there is a high level of anticipation, last minute running around, and general chaos. Then, once you fire up the bike and get on the road, your body relaxes from "alert, omigosh, gotta get going" status to "yahoo, we're on the road" mode. Hence, you're ready to pee again! Even if you haven't indulged in lots of fluids first thing in the a.m., what's happening in the previous p.m.? Limiting fluid intake after dinner might help. While I think if the Depends undergarment gives you a measure of assurance, perhaps taking a look at your preparation for the long ride is also in order. You might try this: get the bike running, double check that everything is ready to go, and while the bike is warming up, leisurely return to take a final pee. You're ready to go! I can't wait to see what responses we get this letter . . . come on gals, let's hear it! Mama Thursday, May 19 More for Sandy who had the courage to write in about pitstops to pee: First of all, I would advise Sandy that she go to see a urologist. She might have something called interstitial cystitis. I, unfortunately, do have it and it makes you have the frequent/urgent need to pee. The vibration of the bike could make it worse. There could be many other reasons she needs to go that often, but she definitely should check it out. I was just recently diagnosed and with diet and medication, she can get better. Just from removing some things in my diet (coffee being one of the worst offenders), I already see an improvement. Secondly, I would urge Sandy NOT to restrict her fluid intake. Just drink water. If she restricts her fluid intake, she will put herself at risk of dehydration. Having to pee a lot does make it more difficult to go on long trips, but communication is key. My husband and I typically ride alone, and we travel (driving) quite frequently as well. He is very understanding (greatest guy in the world), so he always makes sure he takes frequent breaks for me. We recently went on a motorcylce tour with another guy and I just told him upfront that I need to take frequent breaks to pee. It made all the difference in the world. He just made sure that he checked with me when we had opportunities to stop to see if I needed to. Now, I realize not everyone is as happy to stop frequently, but you shouldn't avoid doing something you love because you have to, and I believe those that love you will understand and accommodate you. Good luck!!! D'Lilah (note from Mama: thanks for the sage advice from many different angles!) Hi Mama, We both ride 500 Vulcans and they love to cruise at 60-65 MPH. We live in the Midwest and have already gone long distances with them. We are wondering what the altitude will do to the power they have. That's why I'm asking input from someone who has a similar powered bike and has or does ride in the higher altitude. Thanks in advance. Bev from IL Dear
Bev, Because the Vulcan does not employ a fuel injection system, but instead uses a carburetor, you could notice shifts in performance as you ride in higher altitudes. This is because the air is thinner, so the carb is mixing the same amount of gas while drawing in less air. The result is a "rich" mixture and you might notice a decline in your gas mileage per gallon of gas, a bit of performance decline, and quicker fouling of the spark plugs. However, the 2005 Vulcan 500 uses a Keihin CV carb (not sure what your year model is) and according to the Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance, "CV carbs are altitude compensating." If you have the service manual you'll be able to look up the stock carb on your year and see if it's CV . . . if not, just type in "specifications for (year) Vulcan 500 motorcycle" in a search engine and it should lead you to the information. Carrying the service manual on this trip wouldn't be a bad idea! Because you'll be going up and down in altitude, one site noted that if you do experience a decline in performance, the quick solution is to temporarily remove the air filter if you're up in altitude for awhile and then replace it when you come down again. The bike gets more air with the filter removed (but I'm a little concerned that crap could enter the system). At the very least you'll want to carry tools to remove spark plugs for cleaning and spare plugs if replacement is warranted (a good idea for any long-range trip anyway!). Readers with up/down altitude riding tips are encouraged to chime in now! Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Amy, The sites chiefly talked about sexual activity, not peeing enough (causing the bladder to force the bacteria that causes UTI down the UT) and possible home remedies to minimize reoccurrence . . . such as drinking lots of water (flushes the system) and cranberry juice (a natural source that combats the bacteria). I seem to also recall that wearing 100% cotton underwear (rather than synthetic materials) is helpful. My suggestion is that you revisit the situation with your doctor, specifically noting the bike's seat and whether they think it could be a contributing factor (and how that is) . . . if you have not already. Yes, a gel insert would certainly soften the impact area, but cannot venure a guess whether it would alleviate the problem. Readers with knowledge should chime in now! Mama Saturday, May 28 For Amy who is battling reoccurring urinary tract infections, worse on longer rides: I have 62K miles on my current bike and prefer long distance rides. UTI's are a problem for me as I tend to dehydrate quickly. I have never been a water drinker and milk/sodas sure don't help the situation. I would think that the seat position is not the issue as much as losing moisture through the skin. Having driven from Colorado to Vegas to No. California in 2 days in the middle of July.....UTI was held at bay with Pedialite...I hate the taste! but knew I had to drink it. Get the seat fixed anyway if for no other reason, you can concentrate more on your riding. Alta V. Gardner (note from Mama: thank you for pointing out the dehydration factor of riding . . . another reason that drinking plenty of natural fluids or a dehydration prevention fluid like Pedialite while riding is a must, and doubly so for riders susceptible to UTIs. I did some more research and did find a correlation between UTI and caffeine consumption . . . so avoiding coffee, tea and soda as well as alcohol, does make a difference. I found this site to be highly informative on the subject of UTI.) Sunday, May 29 More for Amy who is battling reoccurring urinary tract infections, worse on longer rides: When I first started riding (Honda Shadow 600) I had a similar problem; the gel pad certainly helped cushion those "female parts" . . . along with more frequent stops to get off the bike and drink something. Since I started riding the Indian Spirit with a Corbin seat, I've not had any problem of that kind. Now, my Spirit's been in the shop for the last two months and I have been riding a Chief with a Corbin seat, and had a problem with that seat. I think it depends on how the seat fits you and where it situates the "female parts." I noticed on the Chief that the seat pushed my bones forward more and therefore more pressure on the pubic area, whereas the Corbin seat on my Spirit has a more rounded shape and I'm not putting all that pressure or weight on the pubic area. So I dug out the gel pad and plan to use that on the Chief until I get my Spirit back (Hopefully for Americade!). Hope this helps Amy . . . Claire (note from Mama: ok, confirmation that the type of seat does introduce a factor which should be considered!) I agree with you and Alta, in response to Amy's question about UTI's. My experience comes from gardening. You've got to drink lots of water, not just enough to stay hydrated but enough to make you pee regularly. In fact, I'm taking a water break right now. Keeping the fluids moving through the bladder is very important. On a long ride, I drink almost as much as if I'm working outdoors on a hot day. It's good to stop for breaks anyway. Cheers, Sarah (note from Mama: ever since I moved to Nevada, where the humidity was so low, my Mama and I got in the habit of huge quantities of water consumption. Now in SC, I continue that habit! Thanks for sharing!) Monday, May 30 More for Amy who is battling reoccurring urinary tract infections, worse on longer rides: Not drinking enough water is a very common problem. Eight glasses of water a day is recommended. Be aware, though, that drinking a lot of water during physical activity can also pose problems by altering your body's electrolytes which can potentially cause heart arrhythmias. You need to be working really hard and drink quite a bit before this happens though - think marathon/triathalon - or working outside on really hot days. This is where drinks like Gatorade help, by replacing sodium and potassium lost though sweat. But how do you know you're getting enough on hot, dry days or when you're engaged in a physical activity? Well, what color is your pee? If it's clear then you're getting enough water. (Please note that some medications and foods can alter your urine color.) Also consider that for each soda or coffee you drink you should compensate with an additional glass of water to maintain hydration as these beverages will dehydrate you further. Dehydration causes or contributes to many problems including constipation, kidney stones, bladder and kidney infections, and FATIGUE! Yes, even mild dehydration will cause you to feel tired and sluggish. One of the ladies I ride with introduced me to the hydration pack. It's a small back pack with a water bladder in it. A tube from the bottom of the bladder is attached along one of the shoulder straps and has a piece at the end that will let water through when pinched between the teeth. This works great if you have a half or 3/4 helmet. I bought one and it is a life saver on long trips. One popular brand is CamelBak, but many of the others are just as good (I can't think of the other names at the moment) - you can find many brands at sporting goods stores that have equipment for camping, hiking, biking, etc. I like to fill mine with ice and Propel. On hot days you can wear it under your jacket and it will help to keep you cool for a little while at least. If you have the straps adjusted right you shouldn't feel it on your back at all. I didn't all the way to Sturgis and back! Also realize that riding in shorts or tee shirt will speed the rate at which you dehydrate! Cover your skin so you are protected from this as well as the sun and road rash (should you go down). Ride Safe and Ride With Pride! Jennifer from Wisconsin (note from Mama: I've seen the water systems worn on motocross and other endurance bike riders and can see the wisdom in the easy access to fluids . . . thanks for noting this is a great idea for long rides on regular bikes as well!) Tuesday, May 31 More for Amy who is battling reoccurring urinary tract infections, worse on longer rides: I am hooked on your site. (hee, hee, hee!) Thank you for being a great venue for women riders (ok, all riders) to unite! I am new to riding, but not new to uti's. For Amy, I have battled frequent uti's for years for which the doctors have not been able to come up with a solution. In short I went to another practitioner who suggested I change my diet, specifically coffee. What, no coffee? Just for a few months. I substituted black and green tea (with milk, can't give up the latte idea). That did the trick. I am back to drinking coffee again and back off when my system starts to act up. Especially in the summer. Increasing water as Jennifer said will help as you decrease the irritants like coffee. If you don't like water, try Vitamin Water and gradually increase pure water intake. Just a suggestion from someone who is athletic and has been struggling with this for years. Your website has been a great motivator and resource for my new obsession. I just took a MSF Basic Rider Course in April and just because I passed the exam didn't mean I was ready for the road. I bought a Yamaha Silverado 1100 and was terrified. What was I thinking. Big bike for a beginner. But the bike felt stable and I could stand flat footed (5'4" so a tad vertically challenged). My resources really felt I would get the hang of it once I 'respected' the weight of the bike vs. being 'afraid." I read through your site and found out others have chosen this bike and love it. I was disappointed with my overall experience with the school, loved the motorcycle experience but knew I wasn't ready to head out. I decided to spend money and take the class again, this time from a different (and much better) school in May. Thank you Ride-Chicago, great course! I live in a very busy area and have to ride a steep and curvy ramp where I garage my baby. Another cage. A friend drove over to help me (motorcycle riding brings out the nicest and most helpful lot of people). Jitters and adrenaline were in my throat. He took me to a parking lot (hard to find where I live). It was small, so I practiced slow tight turns. Stops and turns and signaling. When he brought me back home, I watched how he rode the ramp up and down. While I had the courage, I asked to do it while I had supervision. I did it! I was so happy. Up and back down again (and the other two ramps needed to reach my parking spot). Yeah! Thank you Mama for all of your motivating postings. I have a long, long way to go and a lot to learn. Baby steps, but out of the cage! Sandra in Illinois (note from Mama: it seems Amy has lots of sisters who understand what she's going through . . . it's an interesting discussion . . . and very informative. Congrats on your own excellent journey into the adventure of riding . . . it sounds like you're paying attention to the details, planning out your learning, not overdoing it, and realizing that you've time on your side! Good for you, you're being very VTwin Mama smart!) |
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