Patience please! Long post...

[meistre]

Wow!

Wow! IÔÇÖm overwhelmed at the response to my post! This has become a very interesting topic for me. I really have enjoyed reading everyoneÔÇÖs introspective thoughts on what drives you to ride. I especially appreciate those of you (almost everyone) who tried to help me with my struggle ÔÇô it has really forced me to think and rethink why I ended up with such a love/hate relationship with my month-long excursion.

The one theme that seems to prevail throughout this thread is that traveling is always most enjoyable when the emphasis is the journey rather than the destination. I wholeheartedly agree with this philosophy and have always traveled with that attitude. In fact, I pretty much live my life in that way because I feel that the journey of life is what we live while the destination puts is in another dimension, a different beginning and/or at the pearly gates depending on our beliefs (whew, this is getting deep now).

Specific to my travels last month, I do feel as though, for the most part, I kept my focus on the moment. I had no deadlines whatsoever and concentrated on getting the most out of what I knew would eventually feel like a way-too-short trip. Even now, after having been safe at home for two weeks, I get excited to jump on the Rock whenever possible (a 40 minute jaunt to Seal Beach, 2 hours to visit mom in Hemet, etc.) but still feel like I will choose a car for traversing the country. In fact, my wife and I were able to get away last weekend to return to Carmel (weÔÇÖre hoping to relocate near there soon) and the comfortable and leisurely pace of the trip was much more to my liking.

Another recurring premise is the ÔÇ£outdoorÔÇØ feeling ÔÇô the wind, the smells, the weather, etc. - a concept that eludes me completely, even when riding ÔÇ£nakedÔÇØ. Since I ride with what I feel to be at least the minimum amount of safety equipment, I find myself so wrapped up in padded clothing (I wear mesh with additional layers when necessary), gloves and a helmet that the connection with the ÔÇ£elementsÔÇØ is almost entirely diminished. I hate to keep bringing up travel by car, but with the sunroof open and the windows down I get all the smells and weather I want at any temperature I choose.

I also enjoyed, and wanted to revisit one statement:

- I think you fundimentally [sic] have to enjoy a "suffer" sport such as distance motorcycling, rock climbing, mountain climbing, snowshoeing, distance bicycling, and the like to "get it".

While I agree with the statement and the point that it makes, I have trouble considering motorcycling a ÔÇ£sufferÔÇØ sport due to its passive nature. Perhaps itÔÇÖs because I am a distance bicyclist that it seems out of place when listed with activities such as climbing and snowshoeing. The only place I actually built up any strength after 30 days of motorcycling was in my wrists and forearms. The ÔÇ£workÔÇØ involved just didnÔÇÖt seem to be as physically taxing as it was emotionally or attitudinally challenging (which were the challenges I had expected). Yet, as I ponder all these new theories and philosophies, I canÔÇÖt help thinking that this might be a major contributor to my turmoil. I do remember the envy I felt with each touring bicyclist I saw on the road last month.

Anyway, thanx again to everyone, and hereÔÇÖs hoping that IÔÇÖll get to wave to each one of you from seat of the Rockster as you pass through the southern California area. When you see me out on the open road, IÔÇÖll probably still hold my arm out the window to say hi.

PS. widebmw, what exactly is "trolling?"

 

[widebmw]

PS. widebmw, what exactly is "trolling?"

Trolling, is a custom online where one puts out a statement that may or may not be reasonable in order to create a controversy.
In most cases the statement is not what the board it is posted to is used to seeing. In your case it was that you took a sporty type bike out for 30 days
and did not enjoy it.
Many times the person who started the thread never comes back.
I am glad you did return.
Thanks

 

[callmethebreeze]

Zen of Touring

There are "destination" and "passage" people.
Destination people press on regardless of the discomfort.
Passage people stop when they hurt, adapt, improvise and accomodate.
Each of us has to find ourselves.
Best of luck.
Breeze

 

[knary]

Boiled down, I like riding a motorcycle far more than I like driving a car.

 

[callmethebreeze]

Ditto

Boiled down, I like riding a motorcycle far more than I like driving a car.

 

[GeoffMiller]

Maybe I can offer a different perspective. Quit thinking about it so much. With good sunglasses, you can ride a bare bike with your faceshield open. To heck with the atgatt guys. Get some brown arms and enjoy the breeze. Sometimes we get caught up with gear, proceedures, destinations or whatever. I normally don't even carry a camera anymore. That's why I have a memory! I'll probably get a few brickbats thrown at me, but the last thing I would put on my bike is a gps. Same with radios of anytype. The beauty of the road is to put your thoughts together without the static caused by your regular (non traveling) life. GPS' don't give the same satisfaction as a real map! Stopping and unfolding a map across the tank is kind of like smoking a pipe. Heck, on those snowy evenings I can spend hours looking through the atlas thinking about past trips and planning for the future. Sometimes, I think that we all take ourselves a little too seriously. By the way, I think the Iron Butt folks are somewhat demented

 

[ppaintguy]

Perhaps it also comes down to a notion that the motorcycle just represents different things to each of us, kind of like a mode of escape it is just the difference btween what we interpret escape to mean to ourselves? For myself I enjoy riding and have done for almost 30 years now, it allows me to forget everything beacuase I need to concerntrate on what I am doing on those wheels thus relaxing me, also the exhillaration factor of being able to feel the g's going through corners etc.

After tasting various really long trips of late, I can truthfully say that I probably will not make a profession out of distance riding although their craft really intrigues me to no end and I am in awe of the lengths that the folks do to stay in their saddles for 11K plus miles. I am happy to do my thing at my own pace be that large or small compared to others...frankly I don't care a rat's a** but I do know that I love bikes and riding, I have lots more rides planned and what a great concept Meistre to analyze this in this particular way.

A car is sure a more conenient way of hauling and traveling...although I agree with another post that the bike makes the ride if you want to spend time in the adventure fully and spend the time fully engaged in the surroundings. After a recent trip in peak season too...it really can suck trying to find even a skank hole of a motel at times...lol. I am revisiting the notion of canvass me thinks for the next rips....good riding

 

[Sidmariner]

Reminds me of a previous life. . .

Meistre,

I couldn't help but be reminded of similar thoughts I had when I went on a sailing holiday. The expectations were high but soon dashed when I realized I was always outside in the wet in layers of weather gear, sitting sideways at an uncomfortable angle all day and living in "the basement" at night when the power boaters were in their comfy salons with big windows. The worst part was the lack of speed and the uncertainty that I could make my objecive for the day. Upon hearing my complaints my sailing buddies reminded me: Forget the destination - you're already there.
I switched to power boating for my next holiday, thinking that all would be better, but only disovered constant noise and huuuuge fuel bills. I could make lots of miles, but driving on autopilot (cruise control) meant I might as well have rented a video; I was so bored.
A few years ago I drove to San Francisco from Victoria BC with my now-ex wife in a new Ford Ranger. The scenery was grand but the trip was boring, apart from some nice scenery. I spent most of my time trying to find a decent radio station (can't be done) just to keep me awake and drown out the drivel coming from the right seat.
Now, as a born-again bachelor with a new-to-me '93 K1100LT and a girl-friend with a Honda Pacific Coast I can't wait to repeat the trip. Learning from your observations; the legs will be short, I'll focus on comfort, and I'll take good accommodations when I find them. From my past experience, I will avoid any thought of inter-bike radios and travel with only the harmonic sound of the Flying Brick in my ears.
I suggest you try again, only next time take a comfy bike and tear up the itinerary. Forget the destination - you'll already be there.

 

[HODAG]

I must have missed this post.....

I don't enjoy long tours either, I blame my kids.
After a day or so I miss them too much to really enjoy the tour. I do like stopping and eating though.

 

[jgr451]

Why do we do it?

Sigh.Long thoughtful revealing posts for sure.

I did 8500km last summer in 2 weeks,meistre,headed to the lima rally.I have a K1200GT which is a prince of a tourer.I never made the rally as I stopped short with friends in Michigan who really didn't want to go to the Rally after all.I have no regrets.I experienced all that you talked about in your first post.I fully expect I will go again next summer,somewhere.I am not an Iron Butter ,though I find such dedication fascinating.My long day is 600-800 miles,but I know I could do a 1000 mile day if I had a reason to.Hard to say why I do it,especially given the negatives you described so accurately.

All I can say is that I love it,and will keep doing it.Bubbazanetti displayed an answer-I followed his "entry level posts",when he took his first adventure trip,and look at him now.

This is such a big place,North America and it is all accessible.Sure,by car too.But that is not the same.I think a motorcyclist cresting a ridge onto a new valley is like a horseman of old,he is going to have to pause to take it in.

 

[mika]

I tour long distances and have traveled for a month on my R1150R Roadster. I can understand how you feel at this point and how you have come to the conclusions that you have. Perhaps you are not a long distance bike tourer, and that is alright. Put a couple more things in your thoughts however.

Touring on a Rockster or Roadster is more akin to backpacking on wheels than any other form of travel. It is definitely not related to car travel at all in any terms of comfort.

Do you have the right tools for how you want to tour? Our bikes are wonderful commuter bikes. What makes them great commuter bikes also can turn them into torture machines on a long trip. Subtle changes can improve them greatly and make the bike livable, even comfortable. That discussion is for another thread. Yet for all the improvements you can make to the Rockster you will still be backpacking. If that is not what you want consider another bike for touring.

The approach to covering miles in a car is very different than how I do it on my bike. In my car I conquer the trip in big chunks. I have driven cars coast to coast with few breaks beyond gas and sleep. To cover miles on a bike you build the miles. Ron Ayers in his excellent book ÔÇ£Going the Extra MileÔÇØ talks about this approach. You can come up with similar miles covered to a car but the way the day is tackled is very different in planning and mindset.

You have cut off a major hunk by touring for a month on your Rockster.

 

[tourunigo]

...my wife's first long distance tour (pillion) with me was 12,000 miles on a /5. What was she thinking??!! No complaints;great memories -Bob

 

[Voni]

Meistre,
SNIP
. . . Forget the destination - you'll already be there.

The BEST advice I've read here.

Voni
sMiling

 

[Rinty]

patience please

Meistre:
A very brave post; I missed it earlier and I'm glad it's been revived. Let me make one last attempt to keep you in the game. In your post you stated 4 problem areas.
1. Comfort. Your bike does not fit you well. In consultation with your BMW specialist, you could find out which bike dimension(s) is wrong for you and change it to suit, or you could demo other BMW models or other types of bikes to find something that is comfortable for you. One of my riding buddies had to change the handlebars on his K 100 RS by one quarter of an inch before he could ride it any distance. It may take some time to find something that works.
2. Getting organized before launching. Riding a bike is a bit like flying an airplane; it's a systems thing. You just need to develop a routine and execute it before releasing the clutch. It may take some time to develop your own personal routine. Be patient. We all forget to do stuff all the time, and have to pull over, it's no big deal. Also, decide whether you really need music, GPS, radar detector, cell phone etc. Each extra piece of equipment requires a bit more work.
3. Bike can't be used as a motel. This is a tough one, but my experience is that even in high season, I can usually get motel accomodation in smaller centres. You may just need to start looking a bit earlier in the afternoon.
4. Convenience for short walks at stops. This is a mission issue. The two activities, riding and doing hikes, may be incompatible, depending on the temperature and distance you want to walk. Most riders will not want to leave their bikes unattended for more than a few minutes. Hopefully, we will have enough time each summer to do the walks/hikes that we want to do, in addition to our riding.

You are a long distance cyclist, so you have the stamina and mental toughness required for motorcycle touring. It's a subliminal sport, and it may take time for it to grow on you. Give it that time. It's a lot like hiking, but you don't have to do 300 milers all the time, you can do day trips. You can still tour with your car(s), it's just a different kind of experience.

Rinty

 

[tourunigo]

Rinty wrote: 2. Getting organized before launching. Riding a bike is a bit like flying an airplane; it's a systems thing. You just need to develop a routine and execute it before releasing the clutch. It may take some time to develop your own personal routine. Be patient. We all forget to do stuff all the time, and have to pull over, it's no big deal. Also, decide whether you really need music, GPS, radar detector, cell phone etc. Each extra piece of equipment requires a bit more work.

Some wise points. My father was a test pilot who crashed and died in 1949. From the crash is that aircraft's (AT-6) pilot's checklist, which I was (years later) able to obtain from the accident report file. When I set out on any trip I have that checklist on top of the tankbag as a constant reminder. Of course, a little bit of 'magic thinking' is going on as well but the main point is that, as Rinty points out, "it's a systems thing" and deserves serious attention. -Bob