Re: Long Distance Riding

Must needed tips and info for every rider.
Thank you.

Re: Long Distance Riding

Excellent thread. A virtual gold mine. Here are my additions if they have not already been covered

1. Have your blood group tag stuck prominently on your riding jacket or helmet.

2. Emergency contact numbers and address should be prominently displayed - tank bag map or mobile holder is a good place.

3. Never take a bike straight out of service for touring. Test ride it for a week. Usual niggles that come out are engine oil leakage due to loose fasteners, spark plugs going bust due to water ingress into the lead and such.

4. Carry a head mounted torch like cyclists. It helps greatly during working on the bike at night.

5. When passing through agricultural areas be very wary of overloaded tractors. The trailers on tractors have no tail lights and do not even have reflective tapes. They are the most dangerous.

6. Keep stretching even while riding. Start with neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, fingers, waist, thighs, calves, ankles and end with your feet. Repeat this every 30 mins to keep the circulation going. When you get off the bike you will not be so sore.

Ride hard stay safe.

Re: Long Distance Riding

This is an amazing list and I would like to add a few more to it:

1. Always use the pass light while overtaking on double lane roads (for opposite traffic to notice) or in the highways (for the driver riding before you to notice) in addition to the honk of a horn.

2. Never do overlapping overtakes (in case a car is overtaking a lorry do not follow the car blindly or do not overtake the car which might put you in the extreme right lane).

3. Clean your helmet visor immediately in case you experience a blurred vision.

4. Always remember to use the rear brake first (as still a fair chunk of riders have drum brakes in the rear and not disc) in case you need to stop at a high speed and do not hit your disc with all your might which might lead to a skid (especially for bikes without ABS).

Cheers!!!