RESOURCES FOR RIDE PLANS -
By Jetman (Bill P.)
Thought I would offer a little input for those of you wanting to plan an organized ride. (Okay, so I was drafted) Anyway, just to start out, the two biggest items most of us already have; common sense and flexibility. Right up front I have to admit that the planning for a short vs a long ride are vastly different. With that said, lets look at short rides like we commonly do. As a rule of thumb these would be rides of less than 200 miles. Here are a few considerations:
 1.
Weather
This is more involved than just looking out the window to see if the tires will have any traction! Hot days are great for a ride in the mountains. Cool days might send you to the plains. Cold days can be fun too. These usually involve shorter legs between stops and longer stops as well. Maybe start off in town and move to the foothills as the day warms up. Check out the Weather Channel, TV and internet weather sites to guide you.
|
2. STARTING AND STOPPING POINTS
Places everyone knows, like a coffee shop to start, and maybe the dealership to terminate, work well. The enroute points can be places with food, gas, activities, entertainment, sightseeing or any combination. For most of us, the ride and the route itself is the reason, but the other things just add to it. Parking usually isn't a problem, but give it a thought. Still unsure? Where have you been that you would like to repeat or to share with a fellow biker? Now you've got an idea but still not sure? Maybe it is time for a pre-ride by yourself. The worst (best) that can happen is you get to go twice as far!
3. MAPPING
Okay, we're done day dreaming; time for a little more research. First choice for me is a mapping program on a PC or laptop. Microsoft Streets and DeLorme are just a couple. These things are a veritable treasure chests of information. Map out the route you want (with a motorcycle this is seldom the shortest). If one of your stops is a restaurant, most of them are in the programs complete with address and phone numbers. If not, call the places you intend to stop and get that info plus their operating hours. A lot of these trips occur on weekends and the hours can be different. You lose a lot of face leading a group to an empty parking lot at a closed restaurant! While you're on the phone with them, ask about M/C parking, group handling or maybe even a group discount. The map program will give you distances and approximate times for each leg. Even turn by turn maps and text directions are there. One other function is the ability of the program to go on-line and get up-to-date road construction info as well. No program? Go on-line and AOL, MSN, Google, Mapquest and many others will get you what you need. You'll give up some of the information, flexibility, ease of use and printing of the home program, but it will still work. No computer? No excuse. Pull out the Texaco map, calculator and the phone book and go at it.
4. Put it all together
When you finish, you should end up with one or two sheets of paper that any lead rider or Road Captain could look at and know exactly how far it is to get to or how to contact any of the places you've chosen. Does this actually work? Usually. There will always be the change in the weather or the fender-bender that blocks the road or the power outage that closes the restaurant and causes you to change everything on the fly and just wing it. The point is you have a plan to start from. Flexibility is a wonderful thing that will always be there for you. You just don't want to start out a planning group ride as you pull out of the driveway. You want to just enjoy the ride, scenery and the sound of the pipes like everyone else. That means doing the extra stuff first.
Enjoy the ride,
JETMAN
Bill P
Home
| Our Chapter
| News | Rides/Events
| Ladies of Harley
| Safety
| Members
| Contact
The information contained on this site is published
with the permission of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, High Country
Harley-Davidson Inc. and the High Country Chapter Colorado #422.
No guarantee, real or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or completeness
of information contained herein. Opinions do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, High Country
Harley-Davidson Inc., High Country Chapter Colorado #422, their employees,
officers or members. Harley-Davidson, Harley, H-D, H.O.G., Hog
Tales, the Harley-Davidson logo are registered trademarks of the Harley-Davidson
Motor Company, the High Country Harley-Davidson logo is a registered
trademark of High Country Harley-Davidson, Firestone, CO.
© 2001-2007 High Country Chapter Colorado #422.
All rights reserved.
