I'm giving serious thought to riding up for the V8's in a months time need advice for long distance riding, I know the road up n back quite well but that's as far as it goes. Any tips?? For the first time it's actually cheaper to ride than drive or bus or train or fly.

Take into account pretty regular stops unlike a car you will need to pull over and stretch the legs every hour or so especially if you are not used to longer trips. Also make sure you don't run out of fuel between petrol stations.

Thanks yeah I went for a 4hr ride over twisty stuff on Monday and noticed I was slowly getting sore n stiff. Yeah I worked out my possible fuel stops so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm thinking of investing in a tank bag should I go magnets or suction caps?

I'm from Calliope, near Gladstone, so i travel north and south quite frequntly

The road is pretty terrible in some sections, especially north of Rockhampton, but just dont ride too much at night and it'll be easy.

It's about a 15hr drive if you dont stop for too long, but if i was doing it, personally i'd stop overnight so im not riding tired, 9-10hrs of which is from Gladstone to Townsville.

Thanks Mart3y thanks for the road info did it get torn up in the floods? I was planning on doing it in one stretch the rocky tville stretch in the day and the brissy rocky stretch early morning. How are the roo's?

For long distance riding you'll first need to get your body accustomed to it. If you cannot ride one hour without feeling aches and pains, then start with a bunch of 30 minute stints. Stretch them to 45 minutes and then an hour. Ride for an hour then have a 15 to 20 minute break then ride for another hour. After doing this a few times, take it to 90 minutes in one go with a 15 to 20 minute break between.

As you near the 90 minute mark you May begin feeling parts of your body. The trick is to make micro adjustments Before you begin feeling your body. Sit on one side of the seat so one cheek is hanging off. A few minutes later try the other cheek. Place your toes on the pegs and lift your heel up high and hold. Place your heel on the pegs and point your toes down and then up. Sit with a slight twist in your body - so one side is closer to the bars than the other. Make a conscious effort to look around a lot to help exercise your beck. Look down and up as well. Occassionally rest your left hand on your knee or just let it drop straight down next to your leg. Basically, you are doing small exercises to keep your body from cramping up.

When you get off the bike do side stretches, to hamstring stretches. Reach for the stars. Stretch your quads.

The times you've been given do NOT include breaks. If, for example, it takes 6 hours to get to Rocky in a car, add at least an hour and a half for a bike. For example... leave Brissy and stop at Nambour for a break. Then ride through to Mayborough for another break. Etc. And just for example. This way you are NOT as physically fatigued as you might otherwise be. And make sure you have plenty of liquid to drink as dehydration on long trips sneaks up on you.

I've got a nice almost 500km route that goes down to The Channon from Yamanto. That would be a good test/indication of your riding stamina. See it here Yamanto To The Channon and Back (By the time you add getting to the starting point and then home from the finishing point, you'll have probably done 500 for the day and spent over 6 hours in the seat.

Michael

Cheers for the tips I'll give your route a go on the weekend hopefully, yamanto is just around the corner from me so it will be an interesting ride. So basically keep moving around on the bike and keep alert and rest often just like in a car. I think the most worrying part of the journey will be the rocky to Mackay stretch (marlbrough stretch).

If you ride it by yourself then...

Start with a full tank. Fill up at Kyogle in both directions. No need to go into Woodenbong on the way back it was there only as a way to make Google Maps draw a route Up the Summerland Way. Bring a few snacks with you in case the Rathdowney store is still closed. Leave at 8am from Yamanto Maccas, have lunch at The Channon pub and you'll get back some time after 4pm

Michael

Another good run is this one http://tinyurl.com/3syjlmc Around a 460km loop from Yamanto. Stop Rathdowney, Kyogle, Urbenville (though, the turn off from the Bruxner hiway has a small rest stop area you could have a small toilet break there if you so wished). Bumpy in a few places but the scenery is well worth the ride. And the Crown hotel at Urbenville does good food. This route is the run I did here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spFYOf7SN5c

Something else... wear soft underwear. Soft flannel boxers works well. this way you do not sit on a seam  Alternatively, get yourself some padded bicycle shorts to wear underneath.

Michael

Quote from: aussiegs on June 22, 2011, 05:20:41 AM
I'm thinking of investing in a tank bag should I go magnets or suction caps?

Definitely the magnets. I don't even use the straps supplied with my magnetic tank bag. I just plop it on and away I ago. It is not going to come off in a hurry.

This is the tank bag I use http://www.motonational.com.au/product_details.php?pid=1218



Only negative is the clear cover is a tad too narrow at the bottom for a folded A4. Creases the corners a little. Otherwise, no probs. Stays on over 100 with ease. I don't use an expandable one cause I have the Ventura rack on the GS and hard luggage and panniers on the 900 Hornet.

Michael

Sweet as yeah I'll check out the routes and the bag I was looking at a couple at pro Westside.

Quote from: aussiegs on June 22, 2011, 05:37:44 PM
Thanks Mart3y thanks for the road info did it get torn up in the floods? I was planning on doing it in one stretch the rocky tville stretch in the day and the brissy rocky stretch early morning. How are the roo's?

Sorry its taken so long to reply, been pretty busy.

The roads aren't as bad as you'd expect from the floods, just potholes here and there (easy to dodge on a bike  ), but it has been a few months since i've been all the way to townsville.

Splitting the ride in two like that is a good idea, the ride from gin gin through to rocky is boring, especially the calliope to rocky stretch.

As for the roos, since we've had rain, there is nice green grass for them elsewhere so they arent along the sides of the road much at all.

I did a ride from calliope - many peaks - almost monto - gin gin (through state forest  ) - calliope, left at 2pm and got home at 9:30pm, didnt see a single roo

Ah sweet as, cheers for the info. But Roos being Roos don't stay out of the way the whole time u don't want them too.

Quote from: aussiegs on June 27, 2011, 04:22:22 AM
Ah sweet as, cheers for the info. But Roos being Roos don't stay out of the way the whole time u don't want them too.

Oddly, riding past the Correctional Facility at Wacol - the road behind Wagners - there are plenty of roos. And early in the morning they like to gather near the road. I have found, as a roo is approached if you come OFF the throttle all the way, the compression exhaust noise makes them shy away as if ready to hop away. I'm wondering if the suddenly deeper Brrrrrrrrr sounds to them like some kind of growl. Either way, as they are now looking away they are more likely to hop in that direction and less likely to Intercept me.

I'm not a roo expert, but I have a theory that they are actually trying to ram you on purpose as they see you as some kind of threat in their territory.

Michael

You wouldn't think a roo would be territorial, I've shot plenty but yeah. Interesting.

Kangaroos aren't territorial. They jump in front of you because they're as dumb as dog poo.

Quote from: bubba zanetti on June 29, 2011, 06:43:44 PM
Kangaroos aren't territorial. They jump in front of you because they're as dumb as dog poo.

Well, there is That 

Michael

I've thrown my own spanner in my own works, v8's are next weekend and the frame won't be back from the powdercoaters till next weekend *slaps forehead making donkey sounds*. Typical gen Y me couldn't wait till after had to do it now.

Quote from: aussiegs on July 02, 2011, 09:14:30 PM
I've thrown my own spanner in my own works, v8's are next weekend and the frame won't be back from the powdercoaters till next weekend *slaps forehead making donkey sounds*. Typical gen Y me couldn't wait till after had to do it now.

Well, that'll give you Plenty of time to grow accustomed to longer rides. 

Michael