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what do you consider short short ride or The Long Ride ?
What do most consider a short ride or a long ride.
This is my opinion on it, I hope I don't hurt anyone feelings
I think short rides are around 90-100 miles mostly you are stay around your own known riding area, see the same things but you are out riding enjoying life most the time weather is perfect.
I don't drink and I don't jump on the harley to run down to local bar/pub to sit and throw down cold ones all day then ride the short ride back home to me that's just using the Bike for general transportation, much like the person who says they ride to work everyday even in the cold weather, They forgot to mention they only live a block or two away from work takes less than 5min to get to work. I am glad you can do that but it don't count as going for a ride.
Iron Butt rides that are 100-200 miles in length with frequent stops for the liquid nourishment many seem to need, (remember I don't drink but it doesn't bother me for other to enjoy). route most the time is known or laid out before hand and everyone stays in the group/pack amin goal is to enjoy the ride and the party that almost always follows a Iron but ride. Live Bands, Dancing with your main squeeze. a chance to talk to friend that you dont get to see regular like. or it could be a money raising charity event to help a fellow rider. I always did one or two a year
Also sponsoring club may have a crash truck following the pack just in case of breakdown just to see friends in different area.
The Long Ride: over 500 mile and you are not going to make it back home same day you leave. Most the time you will have a small group 4-5 bikes more if man and women are riding their own machines. I know couples who both ride their own bikes but they also like to take trips with wife or girlfriend on back seat, my wife like to ride but she also enjoys it when we are together on my Ride. ( we are newly weds since only been married 37 years).
Anyway you might have trip laid out to where you plan to stop in the evening, what time you will leave out in the morning( flexable ) may have events and sightseeing mapped out, I mean would you want to ride past Old Faithful in yellowstone or do you think you just might stop or a small detour to see Niagra Falls, maybe go thru the badlands instead of passing it all doing 75 mph on 90 across the upper western states.
Hell No everyone ,even those who have already seen would want to do the detour. Or it could just be a ride with friend who want to make a coast to coast ride while they still can. The Long Ride is the true open road ride, if you have not done it spring and summer are soon here, get together with other riders and make plans, then don't back out at last minute because your favorite sitcom is going to be on.
Don't over pack but make sure you take what you need. and another thing, just because it leave the house with don't mean it has to make the whole trip, Me and my better half learned long ago about UPS and FedEx.
You can send dirty clothes home or when you find that special souvenir, ship it home so it will be there when you get back. I've start with full expandable pack on sissy bar but when I got back home I didn't have a half full pack. everyone here know you will be meeting other riders while on the road. maybe stopping at a cracker barrel or some other stop.
Talk to them, don't make fun of what they are riding, they could be your next life long friend. some tips on making trip special Ask locals location of place to stay. ask where are some of the places local people like to go eat, we are not talking McD's or arby's .
There is a place out in Iowa that is middle of big big corn fields that you go in pick the piece of meat you want and get to grill them your self (or they will grill for you ) they have huge salad bar. its a great and fun time, I just cant remember what it was call, Des Moines has a all you can eat buffet the the food cant be beat, you can find that one by just asking local people.
Sometime this coming summer I will take a long ride out to the valley of the sun to see friends and family I plan on taking no less than 3 weeks maybe more, check is direct deposit so I can time right and have more fun than allowed by most. I also want to see Sturgis black Hills again, the devils tower . the giant red woods, old faithful,
Grand canyon during the warm season, maybe stop and walk around the big auto auction they have in flagstaff AZ. The Wall in South Dakota, needles tower, mount rushmore, crazy horse monument, petrified forest, swing back thru Texas and see the alamo just so I don't ever forget. Maybe swing back and go into the New England States and coast check out a light house or two.
The Long Ride is for those who love being on any type of Motorcycle, you ride? you should do the Long Ride
Originally Posted by 1dn5up
