Looking to get into long distance riding, need some pointers

**tricky** · 12-21-2011, 03:31 PM

I'm thinking next season I'd love to get a taste of longer distance rides (weekends, day rides, etc). The most I've done so far is a few individual day rides from Toronto to the Haliburton area and back, around 500km or so. My ultimate goal is to ride to Calgary, and spend a few days there riding in the mountains, but I figured I should get some serious practice in Ontario before I go off doing that.

My bike is a naked GS500, and I have a knapsack, tank bag, tail bag and saddle bags. I don't really want to have to use all of them though, I'm more interested in keeping luggage at a minimum. I was just planning out a list of everything I would need to pack (because I'm bored to tears) and would like some input on whether or not I'm missing anything important

Basics
---------------------------
- Keys
- Wallet
- Registration
- Proof of insurance
- Spare key
- Ear plugs

Clothes - How many of each becomes the question

---------------------------
- Shirts
- Pants/shorts
- Underwear
- Socks

Electronics (Might ditch a bunch of this if I'm short on space)
---------------------------
- Phone and charger
- Contour Video Camera
- SD Cards
- Batteries
- Netbook and charger
- Razor and charger

Misc.
---------------------------
- Contact lenses
- First Aid kit
- Chain lube
- Paper towel
- Water bottle
- Clear visor

So I was thinking next summer I'd cover a lot of Ontario, for experience, and then do my Calgary journey either in August or sometime in 2013. I just have a few questions,

Hotels/motels - do you book before hand? Or do you just wing it? Seems like this is going to be the most expensive part of the journey
Servicing - how hard is it to locate a shop to do maintenance (oil change, tire change, etc)? Do you plan this ahead of time, and map your route accordingly?
Rain - I am looking into buying new textile gear for next season. If the jacket and pants are both supposedly waterproof (Tour Master gear is what I'm eying) do I need to bother with rain gear?

**ATTS** · 12-21-2011, 04:01 PM

The amount of clothes completely depends on the amount of days you go for. I would definately say bring rain gear, unless you don't mind riding in wet gear but that really sucks if you aren't headed home to change.

Hotels/motels you can either book ahead of time or just find one as you go. If you book ahead of time then you know where you have to be and when you have to be there, if you book as you go then you can explore more along the way.

Servicing - When you are out in the middle of nowhere such as everywhere between norther ontario and calgary there wont be as many shops. Make sure to do all your maintenance and check over the bike thoroughly before you leave.

Depending how many kms you can get on your tank, bringing a gas can is something to think of. Some stretches have a long distance between gas stops.

Another option is to go east or south. If you really want to do Calgary go for it however the ride in Canada would be boring for most of it. In the same amount of time you can get out east or down into a lot of nice roads south of the border.

Make sure you have general tools with you and a tire plug kit.

MP3 player would be nice also.

You wont need all of your luggage and backpack to fit everything. Just pack properly and you can get it all in there.

Lastly, remember to bring a map or GPS if you have a timeline to follow. Maps are good even if you are just out exploring in case you get completely turned around and lost.

**honduhmatic** · 12-21-2011, 04:03 PM

I've only done a few smaller rides, and i'm actually planning my first big ride this summer. But I can advise on a few things...

I have Joe Rocket textile 'waterproof' gear, and... it's not. Would invest in a rainsuit - I plan to next year.
Hard luggage is really nice, as it's lockable and your stuff stays bone dry. But I know it's an investment.
A throttle rocker, a more comfty seat and a decent windscreen really help.
I'd bring a liter of engine oil, a few phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, a spark plug wrench, a spare plug or two, a few fuses, a set of metric allen keys, and 8, 10, 12, 14 and 17mm box wrenches. (Your bike might have a tool kit with most of this stuff, but it's worth checking and practicing with.)
CAA Plus covers motorbikes with 200 kms of free towing, and gets you free maps and tour guides and so-so hotel discounts . It's probably worth $110 for the insurance factor.

**honduhmatic** · 12-21-2011, 04:05 PM

Also, I've done this drive - I grew up in Regina, lived in Calgary and drove to take a job here.

Going through the US would be quicker, and the UP of Michigan is beautiful. But it's remote too. The prairies go on forever but at least there's an interstate from Bemidji to Minot (or farther, into Montana.)

**tricky** · 12-21-2011, 04:57 PM

Thanks for all the input! Very helpful

There are 2 reasons I'm focused on Alberta/BC area. Firstly, the roads! And second, one of my roommates is from Calgary, and he heads back there between semesters and in the summer. I have a standing invite from his family to stay there with them, it would make a good base from which to explore.

CAA makes perfect sense, I'll definitely get on that, along with the rain gear. My bike has a pretty comprehensive tool-kit, but I'll double check to make sure I have everything I need to stay outta trouble. I wanted to avoid riding with a gas can, but it would be comforting to know it was there.

Thanks again for all the other ideas, I'll be sure to write 'em down and take them into consideration

**honduhmatic** · 12-21-2011, 06:02 PM

For roads, highly recommended:

Highway 1A from Calgary to Canmore;
Highway 66 past Bragg Creek up to Elbow Loop trail (turns to gravel);
Highway 1A through Banff National Park;
Highway 22 South from Calgary to Blairmore / Crowsnest (flat and not too exciting, but very pretty and remote);
Highway 23 South from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay / Nakusp.

Not that you can really go wrong at any rate

For gas, your GS must carry more than 15L of gas, and get better than 350 kms on a tank. At least in Canada, that should be adequate range/capacity.

**psycho44** · 02-21-2012, 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by honduhmatic

For roads, highly recommended:

Highway 1A from Calgary to Canmore;
Highway 66 past Bragg Creek up to Elbow Loop trail (turns to gravel);
Highway 1A through Banff National Park;
Highway 22 South from Calgary to Blairmore / Crowsnest (flat and not too exciting, but very pretty and remote);
Highway 23 South from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay / Nakusp.

Not that you can really go wrong at any rate

For gas, your GS must carry more than 15L of gas, and get better than 350 kms on a tank. At least in Canada, that should be adequate range/capacity.

I rode from Toronto to Vancouver Island on 10L tank with about 220 kms for every gas stop. Make sure you hit the prairies gas stations because they're like 2 hours apart and most gas station close in the late evenings.

I stayed at Hostels along the way. $20 you get a comfy bed, shower, kitchen to cook, tv. It's like a 2nd home. I'd recommend the Thunder Bay International Hostel which is the HQ for all of Canada's hostel.

A little further West if you get the chance take the Coquihalla (hwy 5) passage instead of Highway 1. It's lots of fun and there's a run off for trucks that can't slow down in time to make the turns.\

Hmm.. I wonder what it be like to tackle Ice mountain (hwy 93 from Banff) on a motorcycle? I had lots of problems with it in my car because of the high altitude. But man the scenery is spectacular.

**shanekingsley** · 12-21-2011, 06:13 PM

I also make a photocopy of all my important ID and put into a ziploc bag with about $20-50 (keep it waterproof). I then find a nice spot on my bike to attach it to that I only know about and is a reasonably difficult spot to get at (requiring minimum tools). This way if my wallet gets misplaced or stolen, I still have a bit of cash and copies of my ID in a pinch.

I also keep a set of spare keys somewhere on my bike, just in case something happens to my main set.

My rain gear is totally waterproof. I don't need to bring an extra rainsuit, so it all depends on the type of gear you get. Other people with my exact same jacket have reported it not being waterproof, so I don't know what the magic secret is. If you don't have waterproof boots, then these MEC boot covers are pretty in expensive and much better than than using plastic bags (which I have done too).

You may not like wearing a knapsack for extended periods of time on the bike, because it's a drag on the back and shoulders. It's also bad for posture over the long haul. The tail bag can be really good as a backrest depending on how yours sits on your bike.

If you don't have a GPS, then when you get your CAA membership, go down to the nearest office and they can give you free maps that you can plan out your route on and keep as back-ups if necessary. There's nothing like your GPS not working and it's getting dark and you are lost and looking for your hotel or campsite.

I also wear a hydration knapsack like a camelback, so I can drink while I ride - staying hydrated is a great way to stave off fatigue and knock off serious miles without having to stop.

For clothing I only bring stuff that I can wash in a sink and have dry in the morning - so it's usually either my synthetic running gear or I have tops made from bamboo or eucalyptus which are much softer on the skin than cotton and never stink and are easy to wash.

In my tool kit I also keep a pair of latex surgical gloves which are great for keeping my hands clean if I need to do something dirty on the bike and don't want to transfer that dirt inside my nice gloves. I also keep a moist facecloth in a ziplock bag that I can use to wipe down my visor and windscreen if there's lots of bugs out. It better than using disposable wetnaps and I can just wash it at night if need be.

Since I wear a tinted visor during the day, I also tent to take along my clear visor in case I get stuck riding at night. Bring a small flashlight, or even better are the small LED headlamps.

Last of all, you can also ship a small amount of non-riding clothes to the address in Alberta, and then before you head home, ship them back so you save the space on your bike. Greyhound ships cheap.

Ride safe

**Wheelieboy** · 12-21-2011, 06:57 PM

This was my packing list for a 2 week trip:

Packing List:

Clothes/Gear:
1 textile jacket
1 textile pants
2 riding gloves
1 winter gloves
1 pair of mittens
1 riding boots
1 helmet + helmet bag
5 t-shirts
5 socks
1 pair of pants
1 pair of shorts
1 hoodie
1 windbreaker
1 rain suit
1 pair of shoes
5 Pairs of earplugs

Documents:
-insurance
-DL
-registration
-passport
-travel insurance
-credit/debit copies
-emergency contact
-maps
-paper/pen/sharpie

Living:
-tent
-sleeping bag
-utility knife
-toilet paper
-heat pads
-camelback
-first aid items
-towel
-shampoo
-bug spray
-Tylenol
-sleeping pills
-non perishable foods

Tools:
-wrenchs
-allen keys
-flat tire repair
-chain lube
-chain clean
-rags
-pliers
-vice grips
-portable air pump
-air pressure gauge
-zipties
-duct tape
-plastic/garbage bags

Equipment:
-flashlight
-jerry cans
-tie downs
-bungee cords
-bungee net
-U-lock
-compass

Electronics:
-GPS
-iPhone
-iTouch
-2 pairs of noise canceling headphones
-fuses
-SPOT GPS tracker
-extra batteries
-extra fuses
-USB charger
-apple charger
-watch
-GoPro cam
-Digital Camera

Dont weigh your backpack down too much, it gets very uncomfortable...only put in lightweight items which you will probably use throughout the day.

Rain suit is a must, you dont want to be wet (and cold) for hours at a time. I was wearing a rain suit and textile jacket/pants but still got very wet after riding throughout the whole day. It may hold out for a couple of hours but eventually you're going to get wet. Waterproof socks is something I wish I had as well. And if you're riding in the cold, heated gloves. Anything under 10 degrees will become unbearable on your hands after 1-2 hours especially if wet.

Extra bungee cords are helpful incase you dont like how things are strapped or if one breaks.

For hotels, I just stopped wherever was convenient. It gives a bit of extra flexibility and in my experience, there should be a motel within 50-100km along the highway. GPS' are very useful in this case.

**MotoBini** · 12-21-2011, 04:04 PM

Get a CAA Plus Membership, they cover Motorcycle Towing, in case of need...

. I would book the first night beforehand and then book day to day. If you go straight to Calgary you should be ok with one oil change before your trip, you can always do another one in Calgary before your return trip. As of tire change, they have a great bike shop there, Blackfoot Motorsports http://www.blackfootonline.com/ As of raingear I would just get some inexpensive rainsuit from Canadian Tire because it can get pretty dirty not just wet from all the crap on the road when it's raining. Get also a couple of plastic bags to pull over your boots if they are not waterproof or to put over your feet in already soaked boots. Nothing is more unpleasant than riding in the rain with wet feet. Other than that you will have a ton of fun on your trip and you will meet a lot of friendly people in this great country of ours.
Ride safe and Merry Christmas!

**Rotten_Ronnie** · 12-22-2011, 02:13 PM

I got a set of summer weight and medium weight thermals from Machine Racing, BRP snowmobile wear, for $86 bucks a set taxes inclu.

While on tour last Oct to the Catskills, I bought some stuff in a US Walmart that worked very well under my jeans and riding pants for an extra layer, for $30 bucks, top and bottom. Gotta love it.

Cotton blows. It gets wet, stays wet and chills you to the bone.

Next year is a bike tour in Germany, then a ride out to my sister's B&B on the island to save cash.