Developing stamina for long rides

[Paragon]

I've been reading here a lot and I am so envious of you ladies taking off on trips.

The best I can do is about 2 hours. Then I have to rest and recover. I can't even imagine a long ride on the super slab.

My gear doesn't flap around, and I wear ear plugs to reduce the wind noise.

How do I build up my stamina? I feel as if I have the bike just for short jaunts and commuting. That's great, but I bought a touring bike that can tour. I'd like to go camping and stuff, too. I have the gear, but not the stamina for a really good camping trip.

How did you ladies do it, or are you just naturally blessed?

[Unforgiven]

I have to admit the title of thread had me jumping right in but alas, no. It is motorcycle related.

Two hours is a long stretch and nothing to sneeze at. Being on sportbikes and in my mid 40's, I'd be dead after two hours in the seat. If you really want to improve though, you need to make sure you have your bike as comfortable as possible. How is the seat? How are the grips? Do you get vibration through the grips and foot pegs? How is the reach to the bars? Position of the pegs? If the bike is a comfortable as you can make it, it's more or less conditioning then of the body. Not being over weight, working on the trunk muscles and making sure you are well hydrated.

[Paragon]

Well, the bike is not quite as comfy as it should be. I have no trouble with the grips and reach. No vibration on my feet. It is an upright bike, so the pressure is on my tailbone. After a while, it begins to hurt. I can always lean forward to take the pressure off, though--I also want some of those gel-filled bike shorts. I noticed that when I wear my Bohn adventure pants under my Draggin' Jeans that I don't get that pain for quite some time. The pants have a piece of tailbone armor.

I guess the seat thing I can work around with padding.

That's a good point about the muscles, though. I stopped going to the gym when I started hormones (felt lousy all the time), and I have lost some of the muscle I built.

Maybe dehydration, too? I'm not known for my hydrating skills. :): I do have a camelbak-type of thing that I bought on a whim (ok, it was on sale in the Norway showcase in EPCOT). It's still in the bag.

[Astir]

I have to admit the title of thread had me jumping right in but alas, no. It is motorcycle related.


:smack:


Unforgiven has some great advise, even if he is a turkey.

You are doing great with the ear plugs, I didn't realize how much they helped until I finally started riding with a decent pair.

Just like they drill into our heads at work about ergonomics (for those of us trapped in padded cells for 9-5), it also applies to motorcycles. Most bikes are designed for average size men, so those in the lower portion of the human size statistics have to reach farther forward for the bars, wider for the grips, the clutch and brakes levers are a reach as well. All this can add up over a period of two hours.

After riding my GS for 1000 miles, I put barbacks on and the bike was instantly transformed into a much tamer creature. Suddenly a u-turn was a snap. Next on my 'ergonomic' list is adjustable clutch and brake levers, and I have decided to drop the bike an inch and a half.

Motorcycle Ergonomics (http://sampson-sporttouring.com/ergonomics.html)

There was a really good article in BMW magazine as well, I will post it when I find it.

[ridingAK]

A lot of being able to do long days is planning your time OFF the bike as much as your time ON. We have found that getting off the bike and walking around for about five minutes every hour and a half or so allows us to add an extra couple hours of riding without adding any additional discomfort. We stop, drink something, stretch out the muscles and get the blood flowing and are ready to go again. If we are doing back to back very long days (500 +) we'll also take an ibuprofin in the morning, at lunch, and before bed. It doesn't take as much if you stop the pain before it starts, and can make a big difference.

[Tractor]

I love long rides, and do not take any medication. Maybe you are to up-right, can you adjust the bars a little? I do power yoga to build up for the long days on my 1947 ridged during the Velo Rally (I must confess to a little slacking lately). It has made a huge differance

[sweptwingnut]

I have to admit the title of thread had me jumping right in but alas, no. It is motorcycle related.



:lol:

:smack:

Take the time to get off the bike. While we (rAK and I) can run 200 miles on a tank,,, we don't. We generally stop every 100 or so miles and fillup whether we need it or not. It gives us a chance to stretch, walk, hydrate, etc.

Take PICTURES!! It forces you off the bike, documents your ride, and entices other folks to enjoy in your adventure. Get a smugmug or flicker account to make it easy to share your enjoyment! Not that I am prejudice,,,smugmug rocks!!

Also, look into a custom seat. I an not kidding when I say that your seat can make the difference. It PAYS exponentially to spend the money for a GOOD custom seat.

[KCDakar]

I have to admit the title of thread had me jumping right in but alas, no. It is motorcycle related.

:rofl::rofl::rofl: Me too...:redface1:

Here I'll get that for you....:smack:


I ride year-round and I tend to now just ride one bike. My BMW1150GS is set up for just me. I have a custom seat, barbacks, pegs and I ride in gear that feels comfortable on me and use Under Armor under my gear to help my gear move smooth over my old body.. My helmet fits well and I use good ear plugs. I have spent a lot of time and money to get it to this point. (I still have stuff I want to do:devilsmile:)

When I start riding I tend to ride from tank to tank. About 200 miles. I have a camelback and I use electrolytes in the water to help me stay hydrated as much as I can. I snack often and always stop and sit down for one meal a day. I rotate it from day to day as to it being breakfast, lunch or dinner that I stop.

That said, I stop when I feel tired or cold, wet or just need to pull over and take in the view. But I have been doing this for YEARS. My problem is learning how to stop and smell the roses MORE...:shrug:

Two hours is a long time on the bike without stopping if you do not have good core strength. I would think about going back to the gym and see if you started to work out that it might make you feel better and you might want to go on longer rides. A win win situation? :thumbup:

Now I need to go climb on the treadmill...:grump:

[kari-star]

halfway through the summer I started going to one of those "adventure boot camps" that people run in local parks all over the place these days, and I noticed that as my core strength increased motorcycling became MUCH more comfortable for long periods. it's amazing!

we ride tank-to-tank too, which is also about 200 miles. some days that's just too far to go at once, other days it's no big deal. it's important to listen to your body and enjoy the ride, not concentrate too much on the destination. that way you don't feel too bad if your back is screaming and you have to stop every 100 miles to stretch out!

and you said two hours on the super slab - I don't think that's fun at all! that is definately when you have to take more frequent breaks, just to relax a little.

[Paragon]

This is just more reason to go back to the gym. I am going to give up the stupid hormones, anyway. They did what they were supposed to do already. I need to put off some weight again, and my bad knee is bothering me (it will get better if it is stronger).

I have the membership. So I think that is the place to start. On Tuesday, my day off. Get down there and get back into it....slowly. I have a rally to go to this weekend, so being too sore to walk would not be a good idea. :):

I have also considered a Corbin seat. Heck, they are only $400. ;) Other people rave about them. Maybe that is the next upgrade to the bike.

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who likes to take the bigger trips in smaller bites. Thank you. :worthy:

[Maleficent]

A lot of being able to do long days is planning your time OFF the bike as much as your time ON. We have found that getting off the bike and walking around for about five minutes every hour and a half or so allows us to add an extra couple hours of riding without adding any additional discomfort. We stop, drink something, stretch out the muscles and get the blood flowing and are ready to go again. If we are doing back to back very long days (500 +) we'll also take an ibuprofin in the morning, at lunch, and before bed. It doesn't take as much if you stop the pain before it starts, and can make a big difference.

Great advice rAK! I like to stop every hour or a little less depending upon the terrain (twisties can wear you out faster). And Ibuprofen is my best friend for all day rides. I agree that taking it ahead of time is much more effective. Hydration is important--so a six-pack the night before is not a good idea. Other than that, I have found that hitting the gym three days a week makes a HUGE difference. Even if it's just the treadmill for 30 minutes each time, my stamina is markedly improved. Lastly, as someone on this forum recommended to me when I first started, do a 'body scan' often while you're riding and make it a point to relax muscles you're tightening up (e.g. arms, low back, hands on grips, etc.) :thumbup:

[Paragon]

Body scan! When I first started riding last year, my right arm would ache the next day. Well, yeah, if you are squeezing the living daylights out of the throttle!

I had to force my shoulders to relax. Scooter buds told me that I would get used to it, and not feel as if I would tip over at any moment.

I got over that, and no longer have that ache. I have learned to relax. Finally realized that Sasha did not WANT to tip over and she is a very well-balanced scoot. The death grip on the throttle just ticked her off, I think.

I still do find myself tensing up sometimes. Got to relax.....:zen:

OMG, just realized the avatar did work after all....that is Sasha at the Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha, FL

[Unforgiven]

Oh, if it's just your tail bone, get a Honda 1000RR like I have. Your tailbone never touches the seat. Of course then you will have to worry about all the other things that are not giving you a problem right now.

If you are looking at Corbin seats, see what Sargents offers also. They make excellent seats. Check little things also like the angle of your clutch and brake lever. You would be surprised how much having them off 5 degrees matters when you reach to squeeze them.

Best advice yet though it to just stop more often and enjoy the ride. It's the ride you are out to enjoy, not the destination so take your time getting there and if you can't ride as far in one day, plan a shorter route.

[indianscout]

There is alot of excellent advice here. Address each issue you have one by one and find a solution for it. What options do you have and what would work the best for you. Over time you will find that you will increase your time on the road. If two hours is about all you can handle, then ride for an hour and take a half hour break. Then repeat it and see how it goes. Extend you breaks if need be depending on how you feel.

I ride a small bike (750 cc) and is easy to handle, but since it is a ridgid frame bike it lacks the suspention of a modern bike. I stop every 100 miles or so for two reasons, one is for a short rest/strech and the second is for fuel since I only get about 120 miles per tank. The smaller gas tank is an unexpected bonus since it forces me to stop for fuel. Also a sheep skin on the seat has been wonderfull and has allowed me additional time on the bike per day. I know some may dissagree with me but I find that riding slower makes the ride more relaxing and I feel alot better at the end of the day. Riding white-knuckle slabs is too stressfull and I only ride them if I absolutly have to always resorting to the slower but more enjoyable back roads. As Nut has stated, stop and take pictures. Not only does it force you to take a short break and allow you to share your trip with us, but it is a great research tool for planning future trips.

.

[bobcat]

A regular checkup and blood tests can uncover health problems that might be related to lack of stamina. Four years ago my doctor found that I had an underfunctioning thyroid that was causing me to have very little energy for long-distance riding. I had just completed a 10 day, 3200 mile tour that left me completely exhausted.

And things like mowing the yard would cause me to be exhausted for hours afterwards, I mean it would wipe me out, I'd have to take a 3 hour nap after mowing for 45 minutes.

I thought it was just because I was getting older and was also incredibly out of shape. :lol:

Daily thyroid meds fixed the problem within weeks. :ecstasy: And then I got a dog that needs lots of exercise, so the fitness angle has also been addressed somewhat. My next strength-building tactic is yoga, I'm trying to make that a part of my weekly routine, currently doing it twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes. :meditation:

[Luna Tique]

:clapping:Some really get advise everyone
#1. "Preventative" Ibprofin tablets :thumbup:
#2. Stay hydrated:thumbup:
#3. Make simple adjustments to personalize the comfort of your reach. :thumbup:
#4. an Alaska Sheep Skin Butt pad :thumbup: ( JT has both a Sargent seat & a butt pad)
#5. Stop for pictures :thumbup:
#6. Stop before you are fatigued. :thumbup:
#7. Load your bike with all the gear for your trip and get used to it being on the bike BEFORE you head on on your real trip.:thumbup:
and you will be racking up the daily (s)MILES in no time :riding: :cheers:

[indianscout]

And things like mowing the yard would cause me to be exhausted for hours afterwards, I mean it would wipe me out, I'd have to take a 3 hour nap after mowing for 45 minutes.


What?!?! You meen a three hour nap after mowing the yard is not manditory?!?! :eek:



Let's keep this to ourselves now shall we? :angel:




.

[bobcat]

What?!?! You meen a three hour nap after mowing the yard is not manditory?!?! :eek:



Let's keep this to ourselves now shall we? :angel:




:oops:


:lol:

[msyzf2u]

What?!?! You meen a three hour nap after mowing the yard is not manditory?!?! :eek:



Let's keep this to ourselves now shall we? :angel:




.




:clapping: :rofl: :thumbsup:

[Mazer]

You might want to get one of those sheepskin seat pads as well.
You are doing well if you are paying attention to your body, riding fatigued is just as detrimental as riding or driving distracted. It is no fun to ride when you are sore and achy. I even get out of my car every 100 miles or so to stretch my legs and walk around a bit. It is better for your body anyway - keeps the blood flowing and the muscles warm.

[ridingAK]

Y I even get out of my car every 100 miles or so to stretch my legs and walk around a bit. It is better for your body anyway - keeps the blood flowing and the muscles warm.

Yep. My knees get VERY achy if I don't change positions every so often. They are the only thing that hurts me on long rides, but boy do they hurt if I don't stop often enough!

[Lion_Lady]

I'll venture a guess that probably 50% of your "issues" are your physical condition (or lack thereof ) BTDT :w2: Improving your basic physical stamina will make a huge improvement in your ability to ride farther/longer.

My hubby likes to ride in Long Distance Rallies, I often tag along with him to the start point. One of these is about 7 hours away, in North Carolina. A year ago on the trip, I was ready to be off the bike at about the 2/3 point in the trip. . .

In February of this year, looking ahead to my planned 1700 mile trip from Baltimore to Keystone, CO, I started with just basic walking. Not "strolling" but brisk walking, 6 days a week. I started with 20 minutes that kicked my butt. Now, I'm up to an hour.

This year, riding with hubby to that NC rally (in April) I realized that I was still feeling "fresh" at the 2/3 mark. I was amazed at the drastic improvement with so "little" effort.

By all means, get your doctor's approval first, but get yourself moving when you can.

P

[jfike]

You might want to get one of those sheepskin seat pads as well.
You are doing well if you are paying attention to your body, riding fatigued is just as detrimental as riding or driving distracted. It is no fun to ride when you are sore and achy. I even get out of my car every 100 miles or so to stretch my legs and walk around a bit. It is better for your body anyway - keeps the blood flowing and the muscles warm.


and if you don't want to spend the $$ right away.... buy one of those $10 wash mitts and open it up. apparently they're almost as good

[KansasKawboy]

and if you don't want to spend the $$ right away.... buy one of those $10 wash mitts and open it up. apparently they're almost as good
A true KLR rider. :rofl: :smack:




I'm old, I need to stop every 50 miles and stretch my legs.

[Paragon]

Hey, that's a good idea about the wash mitts! I also think we are heading to JoAnns to day and see if they have any of the fleece fabric. Couple of layers of that, and some elastic to fasten it around the seat.....hmmmm....great idea.... I can take off the ATV seat cover that is there, and apparently does me no good anyway.

And I am going back to the gym this week....

[jfike]

A true KLR rider. :rofl: :smack:



:thankyou:thank you!! from you, i'll take that as a compliment!! :lol:

[jingletrails]

Lots of great advise. The sheep skin pads are nice but one thing you might try is a beaded seat pad. Thats right, wooden beads for your butt (there not just for porn anymore). Not only are they cooler in the summer because you get some air flow under your crotch, but they sort of give you a butt message. One of the reasons your butt gets numb or falls asleep is lack of circulation. The beads promote circulation when you move around by changing the pressure points on your butt, thus helping with the circulation. I have a Sargent seat on my BMW GS and it really helped, butt the beads add another 100 miles to the day.

Another thing is proper underwear like Under Armor. They help wick moisture and don't chafe your skin (the two ingredients that cause monkey butt).

The picture below shows the beaded seat pads on our bikes. My husband cut them from a beaded seat pad he purchased for a car seat at Wal-Mart for $8.95 or you can purchase them from www.beadrider.com/index.htm (http://www.beadrider.com/index.htm) for about $40.00 already made for your bike. The ones from beadrider are black and will blend in better with your seat.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/445/colorado2009246.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/colorado2009246.jpg/)

[Unforgiven]

(there not just for porn anymore).

Whoa! What did I miss?

[Luna Tique]

My husband cut them from a beaded seat pad he purchased for a car seat at Wal-Mart for $8.95 or you can purchase them from www.beadrider.com/index.htm (http://www.beadrider.com/index.htm) for about $40.00 already made for your bike. The ones from beadrider are black and will blend in better with your seat.

I like how you think :chin:$8.99 vs $40 plus shipping I know which side of the fence I would be on here :lol:

[KansasKawboy]

:thankyou:thank you!! from you, i'll take that as a compliment!! :lol:
:hug2:

[KansasKawboy]

Whoa! What did I miss?
:rofl:

[Lion_Lady]

For some folks a sheepskin is "It" for others its a beadrider. I've tried both (together AND separately) and for me the sheepskin is more comfy.

As for using a wash mitt instead, what makes the sheepskin so nice is the fact that its an actual sheep's fleece. Natural wool is much more resilient than any synthetic product. They run around $50, and if you catch the Alaska Leather folks at a rally, etc. You can often get a free trial ride.

P

[jfike]

For some folks a sheepskin is "It" for others its a beadrider. I've tried both (together AND separately) and for me the sheepskin is more comfy.

As for using a wash mitt instead, what makes the sheepskin so nice is the fact that its an actual sheep's fleece. Natural wool is much more resilient than any synthetic product. They run around $50, and if you catch the Alaska Leather folks at a rally, etc. You can often get a free trial ride.

P

true! but if $ is an issue... and you want to 'try' it.... it gives the idea of how it will work without the $$ output.... the first time i tried the hubbies $ 60+ sheepskin, it bunched up between my legs and made it even more uncomfortable than it was before! :): that's why i would 'try' it first before buying.... but if you're allowed a free trial ride, then by all means!! :lol:

[Abosit]

Aprently I am already so old,
that I have a wooden butt, that doesn't feel anything anymore!!:redface1:

[indianscout]

Aprently I am already so old,
that I have a wooden butt, that doesn't feel anything anymore!!:redface1:

I take it that means you now have a "bench" seat on your bike. :lol:



.

[jfike]

Aprently I am already so old,
that I have a wooden butt, that doesn't feel anything anymore!!:redface1:


:rofl:


:rofl:

[Wildhooves]

AWESOME INFO!

I must say that we tried riding with Camelbaks just recently and we're hooked! Hydration really makes a big difference in how you feel!

The seat on my bike pushed me forward and I could only ride wearing padded bicycle pants. We "shaved" the foam on the seat to angle back slightly and what a huge difference it has made. BUT, what I noticed is that the very slight modification effected everything...all my "parts". It is WAY better and I'm happy and can ride and ride but I do wonder...if I could be happier :D: The grass is always greener over there right? So, I'm very interested in the ergonomics article! I've also heard of a guy on adv rider that is a guru of ergonomics and apparently has very good info.

I think there is more going on with "butt comfort" than just the seat or what you put on it. I know people that rave about their stock seat. I know people with really nice aftermarket or custom seats that were uncomfortable before they spent the $$$ and are still uncomfortable after. My husband has a Sargent and he is less than thrilled. Other people love their Sargent seat. He had a Corbin on his Harley and loved it...wishes he'd gotten a Corbin but I think...different bike, different position may mean that he is still not thrilled. I have a friend that has gone through a Corbin and then a Rich's and he is still not comfy...just depressed.

I guess my point is that we are talking physics here and the hip bone is connected to the leg bone and the leg bone is....you know what I'm talking about... something else might be going on. The bike ergo theory makes sense to me. I changed my seat and now I "feel" my shoulders.
But...with all that said...I LOVE the idea of cutting up the auto beaded seat! So many people love those beads and I've just had a difficult time believing they'd be comfy...what a great way to try it out. Brilliant Jingletrails :wootrock: And it looks like hubby did a real professional job! :thumbup:

[Astir]

I am still searching for that article in BMW magazine. I searched the site to no avail. Why don't they at least list the cover articles?

Here is a couple others I did find while searching.

THROTTLE, POSTURE, AND RELATED MOTORCYCLE ERGONOMICS (http://home.ica.net/%7Ebarkow/Bike%20Stuff/Bike%20write-ups%20and%20pictures/Bike%20writings/Ergonomics%20and%20biking.pdf)

http://www.concours.org/long.distance.tips.html

http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/distance/

But the article I am thinking of talked a lot about relaxing as well. Don't have a death grip on the handlebars or on the tank with your legs, that will cause fatigue. It is driving me crazy that I can't find it. Now I know why people keep their magazines. (I donate mine after a couple months)

[Lion_Lady]

Another potential source for "long distance preparation" would be the Iron Butt Rally site and accompanying links for LD Riders. Hubby subscribes to the LDR newsgroup, and he's always sharing tips for staying comfortable and alert on long rides.

Overall, your bike has to fit your physical geometry. Get that part right, and then all you've got to do is tweak things. 4, 6-8 hour days in a row on my bike, heading to Denver and back, pretty well confirmed that my bike fits me perfectly.

Now... how to put this... our (female) anatomy is different than guys' <NO DUH!> and men will focus on different features for a comfy seat than we should. If the the seat has too steep or prominent hump at the very front, it can be AGONY on a certain highly sensitive part of our female bits. The stock "high seat" that I opted for on my Rockster had just that kind of shape. It was awful. No amount of padding seemed to ease the discomfort. Found a used Sargent seat, and I've never looked back.

As it was cool on our departure, I made the mistake of wearing jeans (with the giganitic seam apex right "there") for the first leg of our return trip from Denver. . . just WALKING after spending a couple hours on the bike was excruciating. Never again!

P

[Wildhooves]

Lion Lady - that is EXACTLY what was happening to me on my stock F650 seat. Whoa was it painful. And it is person to person because other women I've talked to don't have the same problem with that seat. When we shaved it, the angle / leveling that was needed was SO slight (a fraction of an inch over a span of about 12 inches - it angled down from the front and then back up...EXTREMELY slight). At first I thought it was too slight to make a difference but it has made a HUGE difference! No more bicycle pants for me!

I know women that wear the "compression" type UnderArmor (long or capri - even in summer) but I've found that the non-cotton "boy short" style underwear works great if all you are looking for is comfort. (compression would be to speed circulation - although also comfort related not what I want) The boy shorts have a wide flat crotch with no hard seams anywhere and they are popular so very inexpensive. At Target I saw them 2 pairs for $9.99. AND they dry quick (overnight) for moto touring. I found the inexpensive versions only after forking out $$ for a pair of Ex Officio brand "boy short" style underwear. (The "17 Countries 6 Weeks 1 pair of underwear" very expensive brand) :D:

Astir, thanks for all the reading material!

[Paragon]

There is a tall stool at work that I sit on sometimes, and some things go numb if I am not careful. On a female, there are some things that should NEVER go numb; having the feeling come back is, um, "interesting" and distracting. I can imagine some seats cutting off circulation to certain areas....hmmmm....:D:

[tarzan77]

This is a really great thread!! I can sit on the seat for the range of my tank usually (about 170mi I stop to fill up) but I definitely feel better if I stop more often on a long ride. Also, as others have said, I've found staying hydrated helps with my fatique and attention - though I'm still finding a way to work the Camelback thing due to collarbone and shoulder injuries it hurts quite alot to have any sort of straps over my shoulders. Also, as LionLady said, I really believe fitness plays a HUGE role in comfort on the bike - I need to work hard this winter on core strength and general fitness. Not sure on what to do about my seat, my sheepskin helps but I still have problems in the sit-bone area (my girl parts are fine) - I sit right up on the tank and my seat is like a 2x4.

[Calif Girl]

though I'm still finding a way to work the Camelback thing due to collarbone and shoulder injuries it hurts quite alot to have any sort of straps over my shoulders.

I use a camelback, but I put the bag on the back of my bike and run an extension tube and hook the tube to my jacket, because I don't like wearing a backpack and my seat rest is in the way..

[tarzan77]

I use a camelback, but I put the bag on the back of my bike and run an extension tube and hook the tube to my jacket, because I don't like wearing a backpack and my seat rest is in the way..

I've been bungeeing mine to my bike...but can't get a non-irritating way to get it to my mouth. I do have the extension tube which makes it plenty long. How do you fasten it to your jacket?

[sweptwingnut]

I use a camelback, but I put the bag on the back of my bike and run an extension tube and hook the tube to my jacket, because I don't like wearing a backpack and my seat rest is in the way..

How do you fasten it to your jacket?

Ditto.

:ears:

[Luna Tique]

:slaphead:Maybe those that have not yet found true comfort with their seating should try sitting on their camelback :rofl:







Just kidding

I just couldn't stop myself :D:

[Calif Girl]

I use a small clip from an ID card .2430

I just hook it on the shoulder of my jacket and it is ready to go.

[Paragon]

:slaphead:Maybe those that have not yet found true comfort with their seating should try sitting on their camelback :rofl:







Just kidding

I just couldn't stop myself :D:

You might have something there. How much to those Airhawk cushions go for again...? :lol:

[Luna Tique]

:lol:

[KansasKawboy]

I have put my Camebak in my tankbag with an extended tube. You could just put the bladder in and leave the rest at home.

[jfike]

Lion Lady - that is EXACTLY what was happening to me on my stock F650 seat. Whoa was it painful. And it is person to person because other women I've talked to don't have the same problem with that seat. When we shaved it, the angle / leveling that was needed was SO slight (a fraction of an inch over a span of about 12 inches - it angled down from the front and then back up...EXTREMELY slight). At first I thought it was too slight to make a difference but it has made a HUGE difference! No more bicycle pants for me!

!


yes, exactly!! and my rich's seat just makes it worse.... my fault i guess, for not trying to find the words to say what you said so eloquently....
and in jeans.... seam confluence hitting just the wrong spot.....

[KCDakar]

I have put my Camebak in my tankbag with an extended tube. You could just put the bladder in and leave the rest at home.

That's what LD did and she went a mile or two down the road like that...:D:

[sweptwingnut]

yes, exactly!! and my rich's seat just makes it worse.... my fault i guess, for not trying to find the words to say what you said so eloquently....
and in jeans.... seam confluence hitting just the wrong spot.....

Last I checked, Rich will "adjust" your Rich's Custom seat for free. When we did ours, he encouraged us to put some miles on it and let him know if there were any tweaks that needed to be made.

May be as simple as giving him a buzz about it considering how closely you are located.

[Luna Tique]

Last I checked, Rich will "adjust" your Rich's Custom seat for free. When we did ours, he encouraged us to put some miles on it and let him know if there were any tweaks that needed to be made.

May be as simple as giving him a buzz about it considering how closely you are located.


That is a great idea :thumbup: I am sure he would want to call if you are unhappy. After all you had him make a seat "CUSTOM" for your butt.:lol:

[Lion_Lady]

Another change/upgrade to consider for the camelbak is to add the 90 degree bite valve. Makes it less awkward to get the valve under the chinbar of my helmet while riding. It also has a "lock" feature so you can't accidentally squash the bite valve enough to make it leak.

P

[Medic319]

The first thing that comes to mind when I read this thread is what I was told and helped me TREMENDOUSLY. When I first got my BMW R1200RT, I could only ride it about 120 miles at a time. That may seem like a lot to some, but since I was told a few tips, I routinely ride until the low fuel light illuminates and fill up without getting off of the bike, and ride out another tank. Last week, I rode a 730 mile day and only got off of the bike for lunch (20 minutes).

The first thing to understand is the the human body was not ever designed to support your weight on your butt. Not until the chair was invented, did people sit on their butts. I sit so that about 80%-90% of the pressure (my values, not actually measured) is supported by my thighs on the seat. I ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs. My feet are actually supporting a lot of weight. This may be a reason that I do not use "highway pegs" on my bike. On my old bike, they only made me feel worse while riding, because more weight rests on my tailbone.

Here is the original post at the link. It is quite long, but worth the read. The highlights follow below.
http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2744


Learn how to sit on your bike: Meet Master Yoda
Few, if any of us, were taught how to sit on a motorcycle. Or much of anything for that matter. As a result, we just go with what our bodies learned (squatting if we grew up in Asia, "sitting up straight" if we grew up here in the big PX) or what the motorcycle designers had in mind.

If you spend any time at all around motorcycles you can intuit what the designers had in mind for your body by looking at the placement of the controls (and I include the seat in this list).
Sport Bikes want your weight forward (load the front wheel) and your butt off the saddle so you can move laterally on the saddle. So that’s how they’re set-up: pegs high, bars (clip-ons) low
Sport-Touring, Standards, and Touring bikes all have in mind the "sit up and beg" riding posture. The details of control placement are different but in general, you look in profile like you’re reaching for the mashed potatoes. Your weight tends to be on your butt, or more specifically the base of your spine via your hips.
Cruisers promote anything from a "sit up and beg" to "sit back and relax" riding position with hands placed anywhere from here to there . . . same with your feet.
Dirt bikes and big Trailees have in mind that you’ll spend more or all your time on your feet and the bars, in particular, are place accordingly.
If you have any desire to ride for more than a couple of hours on any of the many Sport-Touring or Standard bikes that are popular with us "mid-life" riders, it’s time you actually learned how to sit properly if you hope to survive in style. Towards that, you may have run across this thread elsewhere. If not, you’re in luck. It’s a long post on the bmwsporttouring forum by "Master Yoda", in which MY details what is now popularly referred to as the "Master Yoda" riding position.

The keynotes to "the" Riding Position are:

Bend at the HIPS, not waist
Maintain a SLIGHT arch to the back, not allowing it ever to "curve"
Move the butt AFT so the weight is OVER YOUR FEET.
Apply pressure to the feet, using the THIGH muscles, so you are sitting "lightly"
ELBOWS BENT, now DROP the hands to the bars.
One needs to move fore and aft on the seat to make ALL those things happen. Except for the Hip Bend, they are NOT Absolutes, but rather RANGES. Move about until you can see ALL of them are happening to some extent — and NO weight is being placed on the handlebars.

Do this when the bike is STATIONARY. Sit on the stopped bike. TAKE TIME TO do this. PRACTICE. LEARN.

In fact, one must TEACH their own body. This is called TRAINING. You’ll notice all GOOD training is done by ABSTRACT EXERCISES, not "just running off to the playing field and doing what you HEARD."

LEARN to press down with the feet. Then, when riding, CHECK that’s what you are actually doing. You SHOULD be able to lift your butt off the seat at a milisecond’s notice: As when knowingly approaching a severe bump in the road.

LEARN to bend at the hips. Do it BOTH ways, and show YOURSELF that you CAN operate the body differently. BE WILLING to touch that frigging gas tank. SOME people are incredibly fearful of touching a gas tank — It’s almost laughable. WHO SAID you shouldn’t touch the gas tank? (Afraid of scratches? Poo, poo. Get some clear tank protector.) Better to think "The gas tank is my FRIEND." It WILL be some day when you are six hundred miles into your ride and still two hundred miles from your destination. OR, while you are LEARNING to ride this bike and may be only an hour or so into your ride. Your body is NOT YET… TRAINED to operate that way.

FLOP YOUR ELBOWS. PROVE you have your weight supported, mostly by your feet, and by your butt. Do it while riding too. Even after 25,000 miles on an RS I STILL end up leaning onto the bars somewhat and need to readjust my position.

Practice this. It works.



I hope this helps. It changed my riding completely.

[Astir]

:worthy: :thumbup:

[indianscout]

Very informative Medic319. Guess I'll have some thing to do this winter.......practice my riding techniqes in the garage so I'll be ready next spring!



.

[Medic319]

I found out how to fix my riding position, instead of how to fix my bike. Granted, some people will need a set of bar backs, or foot pegs lowered or raised. It is important to make the bike fit you, but most people just need to fix how they ride their bike, and you can't believe how you will feel after long rides. I had to "unlearn" years of bad habits.

[Luna Tique]

Very informative Medic319. Guess I'll have some thing to do this winter.......practice my riding techniqes in the garage so I'll be ready next spring!
.

Me too :riding:
Only I do hope this abnormally COLD weather changes back to normal soon so I can get out of the "BatCave" and enjoy the Autumn months :shrug:

[indianscout]

Me too :riding:
Only I do hope this abnormally COLD weather changes back to normal soon so I can get out of the "BatCave" and enjoy the Autumn months :shrug:


(Sigh....) Same here LT. With all the wind, rain and snow we've had here over the last few weeks, I doubt I'll get another chance to do any riding before winter sets in for good. Most of the leaves have fallen so even if I did get a chance to do any riding there won't be much to see but bare trees. :shrug: Gon'na be a loooong winter! :cry1:

[jfike]

i don't like riding on fallen leaves.....

[KCDakar]

(Sigh....) Same here LT. With all the wind, rain and snow we've had here over the last few weeks, I doubt I'll get another chance to do any riding before winter sets in for good. Most of the leaves have fallen so even if I did get a chance to do any riding there won't be much to see but bare trees. :shrug: Gon'na be a loooong winter! :cry1:

Move South...:devilsmile:

[indianscout]

Move South...:devilsmile:

Trouble maker............

but then it doesn't sound like your weather has been much better now has it? :D:

[KCDakar]

Trouble maker............

but then it doesn't sound like your weather has been much better now has it? :D:

Think, no snow yet Bro. AND! I can ride almost all year round...:devilsmile:

Move South...:devilsmile::devilsmile::devilsmile:

[indianscout]

Think, no snow yet Bro. AND! I can ride almost all year round...:devilsmile:

Move South...:devilsmile::devilsmile::devilsmile:



:mgbanghead::mgbanghead::mgbanghead:



:shrug:

[KCDakar]

:mgbanghead::mgbanghead::mgbanghead:



:shrug:
:D::hug2: See you Thursday Bro...



Is it Thursday yet?:devilsmile:

[indianscout]

:D::hug2: See you Thursday Bro...



Is it Thursday yet?:devilsmile:


:cheers: Close....but not close enough!! :shrug:



Love you too Bro.....:hug2:

[KCDakar]

Hey Bro we got it a Bit off topic...:angel:



OK back to your regular programed station...:D:

[Paragon]

Move to Florida. Ride all year......:)

[Luna Tique]

I tried that. I moved to to Lake Worth Florida in 1973 and left 18 moths later.
There are no mountains & no twisties :shrug:
I can not breathe without the mountains and life is sweeter with curvy roads.:thumbup:

[indianscout]

I tried that. I moved to to Lake Worth Florida in 1973 and left 18 moths later.
There are no mountains & no twisties :shrug:
I can not breathe without the mountains and life is sweeter with curvy roads.:thumbup:



I hear you there LT. I am hooked on riding around the lakes enjoying the small hills and curves that most of MN has to offer. That and the wonderfull people who help make the phrase "Minnesota nice". Sure the winters are brutal and long but it's tough to get bored in this state with everything that is going on around here.



.

[Tractor]

I never thought it could happen, but I actually almost fell asleep crossing a long boring stretch of Oregon on the I-5. It was like a little devil was riding on my shoulder saying "It's okay, you can close your eyes. Just for a minute won't hurt." I opened my viser instead! Long straight roads can be very mesmorizing.

[Paragon]

There are hills and twisties in FL. Just not so much in south FL.

[Mazer]

Move to California - ride all year, in all kinds of beautiful scenery (not sorry) to answer the developing stamina question...redbull - a motorcyclists best friend!! Actually good brain food - lots of vitamin B stuff. Justifies all the caffiene and suger in there :wootrock:

[Lion_Lady]

Move to California - ride all year, in all kinds of beautiful scenery (not sorry) to answer the developing stamina question...redbull - a motorcyclists best friend!! Actually good brain food - lots of vitamin B stuff. Justifies all the caffiene and suger in there :wootrock:
Sorry, but Redbull may give energy, but it certainly can't provide stamina. Stamina is something that you've got to work at building.

As for moving to California, I'll take my mid-atlantic weather, thank you very much. Though the the cold months can be a bit unpleasant, I ride pretty much year 'round (take the car when there's "frozen water" about). Those brisk, days may make for shorter rides, but they are their own kind of pleasure! And the cold season makes warm weather riding that much more enjoyable!

I'm reminded of a comment overheard while hanging out in the ski lodge in Park City, Utah, "I'm not going out today, I heard there's ICE up there. :hiding:" Hubby and I just looked at each other and laughed... Skiing in the east nearly ALWAYS involves icy patches. We had most of the mountain to ourselves that day. Just us and the other East Coast refugees. :roflmao:

P

[Mazer]

Ohhh Lion Lady, I agreee - we here in the west are spoiled rotten. Puff powder snow, and a couple of hours from that 80 degree and balmy beaches.....Nice twisties through it all.
As far as the Red Bull goes - it was a joke.....purely for fun.